Dean's message, but not his hair, will live on

[Jersey Devil]

Dean was an inspiration to Democrats, teaching them that they could fight Bush and did not have to lie down and allow Bush to run them over, especially with respect to national security and war issues. All Democrats owe him a special thank you for that.

However, voters did not think he was the best candidate to carry the message and instead chose the one with the best haircut. Actually, there are two very good haircuts still in the race but the betting is on Kerry since his trimmed down, salt and pepper hairdo gives him an air of statesmanship like Lincoln while Edwards combs (brushes?) his hair in a style that somewhat resembles a pompadour in the front, kind of Elvis-like, that gives him a badboy look. The big question is can either of them get the famous Elvis snear down in time for Super Tuesday. Who will win? Abe or Elvis?

Dean's never really had a chance with the flat, plastered down Wildroot Cream Oil look.

The whole thing will be decided at the National Conference of Barbers and Hairdressers in San Diego on March 2.

[Guaranteed]

1. LOL

Great post

[Jersey Devil]

21. My conclusion - Had Dean gone on Extreme Makeover

we wouldn't be having this discussion today because he'd be the leader.

[demnan]

2. No mention of the Sharpton flip?

How short are memories in an election year.

[meegbear]

7. True true ...

if the doo eqautes to leadership, he would be ruler of the world with Don King.

[angryinoville]

3. I notice...

you didn't mention Kucinich's sweet 'do. You know, the oiled down "my dad combed my hair for church." look.

[arwalden]

15. "my dad combed my hair for church." --- I Literally Laughed OUT LOUD

on that one... not just a typed "LOL" letting you know I merely agreed it was funny. I did indeed laugh out loud.

-- Allen

[Ficus]

17. me too

[On the Road]

4. Yup, The Hair Killed His Candidacy

Plus the fact that he was short, has no neck, and does not have a large head. Kerry beat him fair and square on those counts.
;)

[Jersey Devil]

6. Dean is short? He has a great chin though

His stature in my mind is a lot larger than most others no matter what his height may be.

He does beat Kerry by a mile in the chin department. Kerry has the Leno chin, rare but interesting. I wonder if he can do standup?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. Thanks for the insult.

Signed, A Kerry Good Hair Lemming

[Jersey Devil]

8. Hmm? Just pointing out reality

Studies show that tall people succeed more often in business than short people (being a short person this does bother me). The same goes for attractiveness in political candidates.

I don't think it is insulting to recognize that if Howard Dean had been born in Kerry's or Edwards' body he'd be the frontrunner right now.

Al Gore lost (well, not really as we know) by a whisker because he had a "wooden" image, though he was (and is) a handsome man.

That is reality. I wish it weren't so but it is.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Poppycock.

The race was close because of many issues. Height, weight and hair were the least of them.

[Jersey Devil]

12. When 500 votes decides a state (Fla), nothing is poppycock

I would be willing to bet that on any presidential election day there are literally thousands of voters who will make up their minds based on the candidates' physical characteristics, whether conscious or not.

Remember the Nixon-Kennedy debates? In that very close election some believe that Nixon's flop sweat and 5 o'clock shadow turned the tide.

Not "poppycock" - reality.

[boxster]

16. I wouldn't be so quick to underestimate the depth of reasoning

(or lack thereof) in the American public. Just look at who are current president is.

[Guaranteed]

14. We all know that many folks really believe in Kerry,

but most of those voting for him are simply following the crowd. CNN told them that he's the most electable.

[MrSlayer]

10. Edwards should do something about that thing on his lip.

It's very distracting and unbecoming.

[arwalden]

18. Same Here... It's Not Gross... Just Unflattering and Distracting.

Now don't get me started on Aaron Neville.

-- Allen

[Minstrel Boy]

11. Kerry's hair scares the shit out of me.

I think he camouflaged his Nam helmet to resemble a stump-tailed macaque and never took it off.

That will never be presidential hair.

[Jersey Devil]

13. Admittedly at first his hair was way too "big"

There was just too much hair for his head. But the trimmed down version looks much better. And, my "aha" point is that when he did trim his hair his standings in the polls shot up like a comet!!

[NoPasaran]

19. Clearly Gephardt's eyebrow deficit doomed him from the start

While Lieberman's Absent-minded Professor hair failed to excite key constituencies of the Democratic base

[Jersey Devil]

20. Good points. Don't forget Clark's military haircut

Personally I liked that look.

Of course I meant this string as a lighthearted attempt at humor but I do believe that many voters do in fact base their choices on such superficial things. If you don't believe me, ask Arnold Schwartzeneger.