"The reality behind Senator McCain's new rhetoric is that his plans either ignore the problems he identifies or actually makes them worse," Mr. Dean said before Mr. McCain took the stage. "Whether he is taking President Bush's fiscal policies to new extremes, continuing a stay-the-course strategy in Iraq that has distracted from the real war on terror, or pretending he would bring transparency to government after refusing to even release his own tax records, Senator McCain found yet another way to show he's the wrong choice for America's future."

Grab a crowbar

Sen. Sam Brownback was having trouble finding the temporary entrance to the Heritage Foundation when he showed up to give the opening remarks at this week's forum on U.S.-European relations.

The venerable conservative think tank on Capitol Hill has been undergoing renovation, and the Kansas Republican cited the construction as a metaphor.

"The conservative movement needs a bit of renovation," he said. "We have to learn ways to do things differently."

Mickey in D.C.

We've learned that Mickey Rooney, Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna are the three Hollywood actors who will be riding in the National Memorial Day Parade on May 26.

Mr. Mantegna and Mr. Sinise are the parade's honorary marshals and Mr. Rooney will be honorary marshal for the World War II section when the 2 p.m. procession, presented by the American Veterans Center, steps off at Constitution Avenue and Seventh Street Northwest, proceeds west down Constitution Avenue past the White House and ends at 17th Street.