We can't vouch for the accuracy of this information, but Bob Harris has a chart contrasting Howard Dean's and Dennic Kucinich's positions on issues. He lists his sources as the candidates' own websites and searching via Google. He offers to make any corrections, so if you know of any, let him know.

As to crime, Harris reports that Dean opposes all use of medical marijuana. We didn't know that. Kucinich supports "compassionate use." Harris says Dean supports more federal funding for all aspects of the drug war.

We did know that Dean favors the death penalty for "extreme" crimes like terrorism or the killing of a police officer, although he is critical of Bush administration's "careless" approach to executions. We'd add that Dean has promised to direct his Attorney General to study the death penalty and any need for a moratorium to protect the innocent the day he takes office. Kucinich opposes the death penalty.

On the Patriot Act, Harris says Dean would repeal parts of it, but he also wants to expand intelligence agencies. Dean has praised Russ Feingold as the only Senator who opposed the act. Harris points out Kucinich voted against the Patriot Act.

Harris says,

Finally, Dean is basically a good guy, and if he's nominated I'll vote for him in a heartbeat. It's just that it's simply not accurate to refer to him as a progressive candidate. I'm also not saying that Kucinich's positions are the "right" ones on every issue; I just personally agree with him on most of them, and I think other progressives will, too.

If nominated, we'll support Dean as well. We think his criminal justice positions could use a progressive jolt, and since those are our primary concern, we're holding off declaring a favorite candidate at this point. But if anyone from his campaign is reading, we recommend going here to print out the Legislative Priorities and views on criminal justice issues of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and putting them in Mr. Dean's briefcase.

Update: Ezra Klein writes in the following correction to Harris's chart:

Dean's position on medical marijuana is neither for nor against, his stated position is that we have processes set up to evaluate the worth of new drugs, they should not be brought in a political decision. Dean would send medical marijuana to the FDA and abide by whatever they said.