Is the Scream the killer moment for Dr. Dean?

YES–One thinks of other killer moments: Muskie weeping as he railed in the snow against the Manchester Union Leader (maybe it was melted snow on his face, not tears, but since the world believed he was weeping, he was toast); George H.W. Bush sitting awkwardly as Ronald Reagan told the crowd that he had paid for the microphone in their Union Leader debate.

NO–One also thinks of the killer moment that did not kill: the Gennifer Flowers story bursting on our Bill.

I suspect the Scream is a killer that kills. Dean, Muskie and Bush, showed something about who they were (crazed, intemperate, un-adept respectively). Clinton seemed to have been caught in something he did, allowing him and his wife to tell the world that he didn’t do that any more, and that he did other things (e.g., love her). Looking back, we see that Gennifer did show who he was (weak and self-indulgent, Kathryn insert Legacy plug here). But we didn’t know that in 1992, hence Clinton survived.

When Dr. Dean retires from the race very soon, he may need some therapy; I suggest drumming, or primal scream.