Since seeing Dean's speech last night, I've struggled to come up with an analogy to how I felt watching his bizarre performance. I finally came up with it. I swear this is a true story.
About 10 years ago, I was working for the Illinois legislature, and the chamber was debating a bill that would -- in effect -- allow local communities across the state to ban certain types of pornography.
During the debate, a representative (who was none too bright) got up to speak on behalf of the bill.
He went on to describe why this was important to his district; pointing out that his district was home to an adult bookstore situated near a local truck stop.
In presenting his case, he went on to describe the adult bookstore -- including a detailed description of the interior. He spoke of "marital aids hanging on the walls" and "peep shows". He spoke of "unspeakable acts in the peep rooms" and referenced the lack of cleanliness in said rooms.
In so doing, he exposed to everyone listening to the obvious fact that he had just a little bit too much first hand knowledge on this issue.
It was like watching a slow motion train wreck -- you couldn't bear to watch, yet couldn't pull your eyes away.
That was how I felt watching Dean last night.
Beyond playing into all of the criticisms of his anger problems, etc., Dean's speech showed that he, and his team, do not understand the power of media in the modern campaign.
Either that was an impromptu performance (which is inexcusable, given the stakes of the speech, and unprecedented media attention), or it was planned that way. In either event -- Dean's media team should be replaced immediately to have any hope of a turnaround.
By going bonkers before a national television audience, Dean has provided his opponents, both Democrat and Republican, all they need to beat him -- a devestating media clip of Dean himself, appearing unhinged, and unfit for office.
All his opposition needs to do is get that footage on the air with about 1000-1500 raitings points behind the ad to pretty much seal his fate in any media market in America.
It's sad, really. As a party, we need to learn and build on the organizational infrastructure he has basically invented. But that performance not only mortally wounds his candidacy, but makes it difficult to choose him for VP as well.