In my post last night about the Donk debate, I forgot to mention a Howie low light, but the NY Post reminded me - No Debating It: Howard Blew It Big Time
Howard Dean's worst debate performance came at the worst possible time: just as Iowans are getting ready to vote.If you've seen Howie's debate performances, you know he likes to massage the format a bit. I guess he thinks it demonstrates what an "outside the box" thinker he is. Anyhow, he tried to ask someone he planted in the audience a question, instead of one of the other candidates. Host Lester Holt quite rightly slapped him down. Then, amazed at not getting his way, he didn't have a question ready for one of the other dwarves and had to punt. I was reminded of Big Weird Al stumping across the stage to "confront" Dubya and getting a "what planet did this guy with the blusher beam down from" expression in response.
He was stuck on the defensive almost all night, and got the worst of it from Al Sharpton as Dean tried to defend his failure to hire minority Cabinet members and stumbled over citizenship for immigrants serving in the Army.
Even a preplanned stunt blew up in Dean's face - invited to ask a question of a rival, he tried to toss it to a supporter in the audience, but the moderator wouldn't let him. Flummoxed, Dean was unable to come up with an impromptu query.
