Let's go back to Dean. I've noticed a similar theme between Dean now and Gore in 2000.
And that is "Dean is done, gone, dead...and it's his own fault. He played into the negative image around him. Don't blame the media. Dean did it to himself."
And all I can think is "Like Gore did it to himself?"
After all, Gore made the horrendous mistake of confusing Watt with his assistant. He made the horrendous mistake of not using maximum anal retentiveness when talking about the bills he supported relating to the internet.
He made the mistake of accurately quoting an article that, as it turned out, had only gotten the story half-right.
Gore was a serial liar. That was his "negative meme", and he made the mistake of playing into it every time he opened his mouth.
Yet I see people blaming Dean for the way the media portrayed his rally. Admittedly, it's the same three people over and over again....so there's no telling how prevelant this particular notion is. They're certainly saying it a lot...
Dean played into his negative meme. Gore played into his negative meme. So why do we blame the press for Gore, but excuse the press for Dean?
Frankly, ladies and gentlemen, I'd be shitting bricks if I supported Edwards, Clark or Kerry. Because while I know what the media will do to Dean, what the GOP will do to Dean (I'm seeing it right now), I don't have a clue how they're going to hammer Clark, Edwards or Kerry.
But I have no doubt that whenever someone stands out of the pack, whether it's after New Hampshire or after Super Tuesday....that the instant they step out of the pack the GOP and the media are going to rip them a new one.
And nothing will stop it. Not the shiny general stars, nor the southern charm, nor the veteran status.
And I'm going to have a real hard time, when you come whining and complaining about how "unfair" the media is being, to take you seriously at all.
So to those slamming Dean: Feel free to join into the chorus. Enjoy yourselves. Feel superior, and smug, and enjoy your righteous certainty. Just don't expect any sympathy when your guy takes it up the ass. Because trust me, unless he drops out, he's going to get the shaft like you wouldn't believe....