So predictable.

Yesterday, we predicted the "non-partisan" Putz would lob softballs in his podcast interview with GOP party chairman Ken Mehlman (he did), though he's consistently ridiculed Howard Dean.

As if on cue, Putz writes today,

DOES THIS MAKE HOWARD DEAN A "CHRISTIANIST?"

A two-fer. Putz is taking a pointed shot at Andrew Sullivan, who recently coined this term to apply those on the religious right who unabashedly embrace theocracy (which you'd think might worry a "libertarian" like Putz) and who've arguably become the most powerful bloc within the Republican party, while simultaneously taking a swipe at Dean.

Dean, who was governor of Vermont when it became the first US state to legally recognize civil unions between gays, admitted today he misstated the Democratic Party's platform. But what he said wasn't that far off from what Kerry and Edwards said about the issue in 2004: we're for civil unions but against gay marriage. This is an awkward dance the Democrats have to do, since Democrats know that when you say "gay marriage" lots of people freak out --- but when you say "civil unions", there's an entirely different response.

But the Republicans not only want to amend the US constitution to define marriage, thereby excluding gays, they also are against any form of civil unions between gays, a fundamentally undemocratic position that's totally out of the mainstream.

So to jump on Dean, who's track record on gay rights is outstanding, while giving the GOP a pass on their shameless demagaugery and exploitation of the issue, is just absurd.

Back to the Mehlman interview -- here's Putz's idea of a hard-hitting question to the GOP chairman:

The economy is certainly better than you'd think from watching the news. How are you going to address that in the next few months?

Wow.