Hello, how are you today? I finally finished an MSNBC story, and emerging from my cave, I find that the great web-based steamroller through the American political landscape that was the Dean campaign, has been at least temporarily flummoxed by a surprise third place finish in Iowa.
And on top of that, the guy totally lost his shit, as demonstrated by this audio clip from Drudge (okay, Drudge isn't ALL bad). I mean, listen to this guy - would you trust him with his thumb on the trigger? Dude, I can feel the spit on my face from here.
Now I've got to get something to eat before my stomach consumes itself.
Article comments
1 - Hal Pawluk
I watched him on TV and agree - he lost it. All.
On reflection, though, there is an upside: better now than as the Democratic nominee.
But what was he thinking?
2 - Ms. Tek
I didn't think it was all that bad. A bit WWE but not too big of a deal.
3 - Mark Saleski
if you see the tv footage it just looks like he's having some fun & trying to rally the troops.
now, is it honest emotion? don't know...only dean and his campaign handler thingies know for sure.
4 - TDavid
He sounds like Krusty the Clown. Almost.
5 - Natalie Davis
He was having fun. Clearly. I'm not a Dean supporter, but I enjoyed watching him have fun. Good for Dean -- his enthusiastic performance is better than if he had been crying in his beer. Although, if he watched the sick joke that was tonight's SOTU as I did, he's got to be miserable now -- not about Iowa, but about the thug squatting in the White House.
This one's for you, Dr. Dean: YAAHHRRR!
6 - duane
Yeah, sure. Nuthin spells fun like getting your ass kicked when you figured you were unbeatable.
7 - Natalie Davis
You saw it differently. Mileage varies.
8 - Jazzy
Dean was unglued. Also, look at the clip again and see the judgement of harkin, cheering on his madness.
If democrats want to regain the throne, they had better steer clear of mad Dean.
9 - Joe
I read somewhere it was referred to as his "Stillson Moment." Perhaps a little gratuitous, but somewhat fitting.
10 - Jim Carruthers
Maybe I've had too much exposure to Don Cherry, but I saw Dean on the news last night, and he sounded like a coach rallying the team for the next period. Now all he needs is the Hanson Brothers.
After all, he's spent his career telling people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear (you've got cancer, take two aspirins and it'll be fine).
11 - ZMethos
My initial thought when watching Dean's speech in Iowa was that he was trying to be upbeat. I just think he has trouble moderating himself. He's a bit over the top.
12 - Hal Pawluk
The SOTU message _was_ depressing, Natalie.
Another slider on the unilateral, unjustified invasion of Iraq; making permanent the "temporary" tax cuts for the rich; moving Social Security dollars into the stock market; a No Child Left Behind Act that is only an act - there's no funding; etc.
But Dean clearly would not be able to beat him in a face-off.
Lieberman is just a baby-Bush in wimp's clothing, so the choice is now Kerry-Edwards-Clark. Not too bad.
13 - Natalie Davis
For some, I'd wager. I get no choice at all except for a blank ballot. Can't vote for someone I consider unqualified, and that would include all except Kucinich or Nader. For me, it's about principle and doing what's right, not politricks, and one must do what one knows is right whether or not "winning" is inevitable or even possible.
14 - Eric Olsen
I totally agree with your policy Nat - I very much wish everyone would just vote for the person who best represents their views rather than strategizing and the like, the pernicious influence of polls. The system becomes distorted when people don't vote their conscience.
15 - Mark Saleski
yep, i'm sick of the horserace aspect of all of this.
..and i very much enjoy hanging up on each and every pollster.
let me tell you, as a resident of new hampshire, next tuesday can't come soon enough!
16 - Eric Olsen
Back to the original issue: yes, of course he was trying to rally the troops, energize his base, give his supporters a pep talk. I understand the context, but that doesn't change the unhinged tone of his voice at the end, the maniacal weirdness - rightly or wrongly, it's going to scare a lot of people.
17 - TDavid
I still say that groan/grunt/barely human sound qualifies as Krusty material. I laughed when the local Seattle radio station kept playing it over and over and over again. :)
On the serious side, it was a bit odd for a third place finisher to emerge and celebrate more than Kool & The Gang.
I do like how Dean has utilyzed the web, and more specifically blogging, as a candidate. Perhaps he has used it a little too much, but he helped to define and bring to the front the internet as a viable place for a candidate to get his message out there.
18 - Hal Pawluk
The system becomes distorted when people don't vote their conscience.
Now if someone could just get 100 Senators, 435 Representatives and the whole administration to act on that.
19 - mike
The media constantly shields the public from Bush's stupidity and mis-steps and then micromanages the Democratic candidates. It's an outrageous double-standard, and that's why we'll be having the Bush standard next year: tax increases and spending cuts.
Since the GOP has a virtual lock on Congress, owing to gerrymandering and the Southern bias of the system, it doesn't have to worry about public reaction, and will be free to pursue these draconian policies next year.
A year from now, what Krugman and others are warning about will be common consensuse: the United States is no longer a democracy.
20 - Jim Carruthers
Two suggestions:
Have you considered a constitutional quasi-monarchy with a parliament proportionally elected. You have as your head of state, the President who makes speeches, holds state dinners, etc. You have the head of government, the Prime Minister who is the leader of the party with the most seats in parliament. The seats are held by the proportion of the popular vote, so Republicrats, Greens, Pat Paulson, American Fascists, all get a seat if they pass a certain threshold of votes. If the majority or coalition can't survive a vote of convidence, then you have an election.
Of course the PRI won't like this, so it probably won't happen since the electorate have abandoned their civic responsibility.
Then, there is always Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong. Franchises now available.