Dumping Dean by George Shadroui

Let us reflect on what actually occurred. A disappointed candidate, confronted with a large crowd of supporters, wanted to thank them and reenergize them in the face of what appeared to be a crumbling campaign and candidacy. So he tried to pump up his disappointed troops. He didn’t say anything controversial or stupid. He simply growled a little. He was laughing. They were laughing. Granted, the guy isn’t Vince Lombardi, but come on. What is the big deal?

William Bennett had it right. This was a non-event and a non-issue compared to many other things done or not done by other major candidates. Consider, for example, Wesley Clark’s refusal to distance himself from Michael Moore’s charges that President Bush was a deserter. Or John Kerry’s ties to big money, even as he tries on the populist mantle of Dean. Yet, many in the media, mostly Democrats, desperate to destroy Dean’s candidacy, used the Iowa speech as excuse to fire (metaphorically) a few more shots into his still quivering political corpse, lest it rise again.

In short, what we witnessed was the assassination not of the man, but of his viability as a presidential nominee. …

Interesting to read a conservative analysis of the reaction to Dean in Iowa. sees it as proof of a liberal (yes, liberal) media consipiracy, even with his prime example being Chris Matthews, MSNBC Hardhead, er, Hardball. mjh