I think there have been many but Howard Dean's screech after the Iowa caucuses did him in.
We haven't heard much from Dan Quayle since his spelling mishap
I saw on one of those humorous daily calendars where Dan Quayle was giving a speech to a collection of injured veterans, most of them wheelchair-bound, when he actually said, "Stand and be recognized." Derp.
I think there have been many but Howard Dean's screech after the Iowa caucuses did him in.
Not that the screech wasn't freaky or I like Howard Dean, but I never quite understood how this was the thing that did him in (more than other politicians that actually say offensive or stupid things, or flat-out lies). He was excited. It really didn't bother me that much.
I guess based on Tom Cruise on Oprah, Americans just don't like the sound of awkward excitement.
It wasn't the biggest because the ones posted in this thread were all bigger gaffes, IMO, but I thought about the time when Bush and Cheney were campaigning in 2000 and Bush thought his mic was off at a political event so he called a reporter(?) a "major league asshole" and it was recorded, with Cheney responding "big time, big time." Not major, but still LOL-worthy.
Count me in as another one that still can't figure out why Howard Dean's screech thing ended his career. Trent effing Lott got to stick around but Dean has to take his ball and go home?
The things I tend to think of as gaffes are apparently unnoticeable to the general electorate and therefore probably not worth sharing here.
Dan Quayle for sure. I actually didn't think the Howard Dean thing was that weird and it surprised me how it ended his bid for the white house. I really liked him too and I think we would have fared much better with him in 2004 than with Kerry. I'm actually still sad about it.
Same here.
And to make this bi-partisan, I don't get how Bobby Jindal's position as the GOP's next sweetheart came to a crashing halt after his - admittedly awkward - commentary after the State of the Union a few year ago. Michele Bachmann says random, awkward things everyday. I just think the things that have sunk careers have been weird and completely random at times.
Dan Quayle for sure. I actually didn't think the Howard Dean thing was that weird and it surprised me how it ended his bid for the white house. I really liked him too and I think we would have fared much better with him in 2004 than with Kerry. I'm actually still sad about it.
Same here.
And to make this bi-partisan, I don't get how Bobby Jindal's position as the GOP's next sweetheart came to a crashing halt after his - admittedly awkward - commentary after the State of the Union a few year ago. Michele Bachmann says random, awkward things everyday. I just think the things that have sunk careers have been weird and completely random at times.
Really great point. I guess awkward speeches are worse than confidently-spoken BSC comments?
It's been forever, but I remember reading a piece years ago about how the killing of the Dean campaign was, essentially, a move by the media because some of his policies were about breaking up big media conglomerates. He had come out with some policy or other on the issue in the days before the infamous scream, and the media seized on it, and started the "he's unelectable!!" meme, and it was THAT which killed his candidacy.
It's been forever, but I remember reading a piece years ago about how the killing of the Dean campaign was, essentially, a move by the media because some of his policies were about breaking up big media conglomerates. He had come out with some policy or other on the issue in the days before the infamous scream, and the media seized on it, and started the "he's unelectable!!" meme, and it was THAT which killed his candidacy.
I totally agree with the media effect (although I didn't know of the policy/big media connection...interesting). I remember thinking it was a strange speech, but almost moving in it's enthusiasm. I think if the media had ignored it or let it go quickly things would have turned out much differently for Dean. But they sunk their teeth into it and basically turned it into this characterization of Dean that completely undid his campaign. It was almost bizarre.
Post by lyssbobiss, Command, B613 on Aug 8, 2012 12:48:39 GMT -5
I felt like Howard Dean was losing momentum by that time anyway, and it was just easier to pin the loss of the Dem nomination on that moment that analyze what was really happening. The Jindal speech really confuses me too. Can I vote for Bush opening his mouth pretty much ever? Like "too many obstetricians can't practice their love of women" or "fool me once, shame on...shame on you. Fool me, you won't be fooled again." And of course, continuing to read a book to some kids after being told about 9-11.
"This prick is asking for someone here to bring him to task Somebody give me some dirt on this vacuous mass so we can at last unmask him I'll pull the trigger on it, someone load the gun and cock it While we were all watching, he got Washington in his pocket."
Looking back I think I can give Dan Quayle a pass. Things look different on a chalkboard in cursive. It's not like I've had to spell anything correctly since 1994 anyway due to modern technology.
Bush II made far far worse gaffes. Let me get my "Is our children learning" book off the shelf...
It's been forever, but I remember reading a piece years ago about how the killing of the Dean campaign was, essentially, a move by the media because some of his policies were about breaking up big media conglomerates. He had come out with some policy or other on the issue in the days before the infamous scream, and the media seized on it, and started the "he's unelectable!!" meme, and it was THAT which killed his candidacy.
This is very interesting and not a little scary. Like the others, I never understood why The Scream was a campaign killer.
Looking back I think I can give Dan Quayle a pass. Things look different on a chalkboard in cursive. It's not like I've had to spell anything correctly since 1994 anyway due to modern technology. .
By itself it probably would have simply provided fodder for late night comedians. However, it fed into the general narrative that DQ lacked gravitas and was too young and inexperienced to be a heartbeat away from being Leader of the Free World.
Dan Quayle for sure. I actually didn't think the Howard Dean thing was that weird and it surprised me how it ended his bid for the white house. I really liked him too and I think we would have fared much better with him in 2004 than with Kerry. I'm actually still sad about it.
Same here.
And to make this bi-partisan, I don't get how Bobby Jindal's position as the GOP's next sweetheart came to a crashing halt after his - admittedly awkward - commentary after the State of the Union a few year ago. Michele Bachmann says random, awkward things everyday. I just think the things that have sunk careers have been weird and completely random at times.
It is a good point. The Howard Dean thing was just one scream. Jindal though - I don't know. It's like when you're in a new relationship, the other person is perfect, and there are expectations. Then on the third date before you really know him, he comes over and lets loose in your bathroom - noises and all. If he's the right guy, you'll get over it. Jindal was just the wrong guy for me. He had the shits in my bathroom way to early.
And of course, continuing to read a book to some kids after being told about 9-11.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he sit there and finish the book so he didn't scare them?
Not trying to start anything, I just always saw it as Bush remaining "calm" instead of making a bunch of 6 and 7-year olds upset because the President walked out on them.
It's been forever, but I remember reading a piece years ago about how the killing of the Dean campaign was, essentially, a move by the media because some of his policies were about breaking up big media conglomerates. He had come out with some policy or other on the issue in the days before the infamous scream, and the media seized on it, and started the "he's unelectable!!" meme, and it was THAT which killed his candidacy.
This is very interesting and not a little scary. Like the others, I never understood why The Scream was a campaign killer.
This is a conspiracy theory I can get behind.
And maybe this was just because I was living in the DC area at the time, but the first thing that popped to my mind was George Allen being overheard dropping a racial epithet. The guy was heralded as a rock star and his name was dropped as a potential presidential contender. He was set to win the VA senate race handily until that happened. He lost to Jim Webb, and with that loss, the Dems defied predictions and took back the Senate.
Post by UMaineTeach on Aug 8, 2012 13:53:31 GMT -5
ME gov. Paul LePage: NAACP - can kiss my butt IRS - is the gestapo OBAMA - can go to hell BPA - worst that will happen is women get little beards UNIONS - I'd laugh at them, the idiots
And to make this bi-partisan, I don't get how Bobby Jindal's position as the GOP's next sweetheart came to a crashing halt after his - admittedly awkward - commentary after the State of the Union a few year ago. Michele Bachmann says random, awkward things everyday. I just think the things that have sunk careers have been weird and completely random at times.
It is a good point. The Howard Dean thing was just one scream. Jindal though - I don't know. It's like when you're in a new relationship, the other person is perfect, and there are expectations. Then on the third date before you really know him, he comes over and lets loose in your bathroom - noises and all. If he's the right guy, you'll get over it. Jindal was just the wrong guy for me. He had the shits in my bathroom way to early.
I had a friend in the front row for Dean that day, and they left after the rally, drove all night for home, crashed for a day, and woke up to a media shitstorm about The Scream.
He said he couldn't figure out what the fuck they were talking about, because it didn't sound that way in the room at all. The media filtered out all the background noise from an excited crowd, and focused on Dean.
Somewhere back in time I heard two audio files of the event. One like you said and then the other one where the scream was enhanced. At the time I didn't know if it was true, but also didn't see what the big deal was, other than the repeated hammering him about it.
If we're going to bring sex into, Weiner is nothing. Sleeping with a crazy chick, getting her pregnant while your wife has cancer...I think that would top everyone's list. But I think that crosses the gaffe line into the "WTF are you?" territory.
If we're going to bring sex into, Weiner is nothing. Sleeping with a crazy chick, getting her pregnant while your wife has cancer...I think that would top everyone's list. But I think that crosses the gaffe line into the "WTF are you?" territory.
sex scandals are more than just gaffes...
tapping your foot in the men's room.
many political careers have been destroyed by a good sex scandal ala Gary Hart
Rumors began circulating nearly immediately that Hart was having an extramarital affair. In an interview that appeared in the New York Times on May 3, 1987, Hart responded to the rumors by daring the press corps: "Follow me around. I don't care. I'm serious. If anybody wants to put a tail on me, go ahead. They'll be very bored.