I am sure we all remember the run up to the democratic and republican nominations back in 2004 and the total implosion of the front runner Howard Dean. Dean started as the clear choice for the democratic party he opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003 going against most who were still following the post 9/11 “Your either with us or against us” mantra. He was a strong leader no immoral bones hiding in his closet, love child’s speaking out in the “National Enquirer” or illegal business dealings hanging over his head. There was a small story about him having hot temper but after 9/11 I believe a number of people looked at that as a strength so no one was alarmed. Until January 19, 2004, Dean came in a disappointing third in the Iowa Democratic Caucus behind John Kerry and John Edwards. Totally not expected since it was the first primary in the caucus and Dean the front runner came in third which was puzzling but actually was a precursor to what was to come. In a post-caucus rally with his volunteers Dean attempting to rally and rebound the campaign made on of the most memorable speeches in recent history, a speech who’s last minute or two was played on TV and media outlets over and over again. The infamous guttural growl Dean uttered that night put the finishing touches on a campaign that went from front runner to laughing stock in a matter of weeks.

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“Dean Scream”

That brings us to the present day campaign of John McCain who started off as an early front runner for the Republican nomination in 2008 but who’s campaign is following a similar down turn too the one Howard Dean experienced. The difference I see is that while Dean was a victim of perception and bad momentum that totally tanked his campaign John McCain is just a victim of bad out of touch policies with reality. His vote for the Iraq war was one knock against him especially in the face of the dirty politics George Bush had played on him in the past. But once the war went south instead of doing the common politician line and making an about face he has continued to champion the war. Most people feel that politicians are hypocrites and simply follow opinion polls and in most instances that is true. So when you find one who sticks to what he says is his belief you would think he would be applauded. However when the approval ratings for the war are in the 20’s and threatening to go lower and the whole country is against the war, then to continue to support it is political suicide. On top of that Dean then decided it would be in his best interest to team with Edward Kennedy to produce the McCain-Kennedy immigration bill another huge blunder by McCain. For McCain and whomever was or is helping him shape his campaign strategy to think that it was a good idea to run for the Republican nomination that has taken the “Conservative, Moral, Fiscally responsible, Bible thumping” stance lately and team up with Ed Kennedy of all people was a big mistake. Not only were conservative Republicans against the bill but Democrats too who where pushing for outright amnesty and citizenship with no border restrictions. These two issues served to drive down McCain’s campaign and then it seems like the campaign is burping it’s last few breaths this week. The week started off with the announcement that the tally for the first part of 2007 was 11 million dollars trailing behind nearly all other serious republican candidates. Then the info that the campaign had 2 million in the bank prompted the four top political strategist on the campaign to either be fired or abandon a sinking ship. Now the bad news is coming daily for McCain his main campaign manager in Florida was arrested yesterday for allegedly soliciting sex in a park and today his campaign may have only $250,000 in the bank. It looks like McCain will just like Dean before him not so quietly disappear into the night. Yeeaaaaaarrrghhhh!!!!!!!!

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