Over in the A section of yesterday's New York Times, did Jodi Wilgoren, in what was supposedly a straight news story on Howard Dean, really go on about milkshakes for three paragraphs?

Yup:

And Dr. Dean, the man who would be president, stood at [Senator Tom] Harkin's feet, slurping a strawberry milkshake.

Never mind the 12 pounds, mostly from chocolate-chip cookies, he has put on in the past few months of the campaign. Forget the cameras following his every move. In 109 days of campaigning here in Iowa since February 2002, Dr. Dean has rarely missed a milkshake opportunity. He even had one poured into a glass perched on his head last month at Stella's Diner in Urbandale.

Unsure whether to believe the lengthening list of polls showing his lead here and elsewhere slipping, or the ever-expanding cadre of consultants assuring him that his ground troops are unmatched, Dr. Dean stared into his glass. Strawberry is his favorite.

And a few paragraphs later, utterly pleased with herself, she returns to the beverages again, calling Dean "shake drunk" as she describes him pressing the flesh.

Oh well -- at least she's not doing what they did to Al Gore in 2000 with all that talk about "earth tones." At least she's not wasting time talking about Dean's clothes....

He even borrowed a sweater from his deputy campaign manager to fit in better with his new roadie, Mr. Harkin, but instead of looking more comfortable, he seemed to miss having sleeves to roll above the elbow.

Whoops -- sorry. I guess she is.