Now, I purposely didn’t mention his opener because I knew (later) the reason behind it. But the hearing aid thing - assuming the source is correct, as I don’t have a memory of it any longer - certainly did not help. We were still thinking about Reagan’s age and were concerned about advanced age and/or memory issues in older candidates.
Nixon looked haggard and sick after refusing makeup (and just getting out of the hospital) for the televised debate against Kennedy, while JFK was the proverbial “tan, rested, and ready”. This was a dramatic gaffe that Nixon wisely learned from.
Actually, Dean was a goner by the time of his scream. His scream was basically an emphasis on his speech that even though he had received his almost total obituary, he was going on, in spite of the severe defeats, and would win, win win! YAAAAAHHHHHH!
Of course, you are correct that the media makes the winner, not the winner.
I always thought Quayle was the Republican party’s strategic tool. Bush senior blockaded the Iran/Contra investigations and pissed off the constituency? Within a week, Quayle said something ridiculous and the media jumped all over it. Bush senior stomped on the Drexel junk bond investigations? Within a week, Quayle said something ridiculous and the media jumped all over it. It just seemed like he was always uttering some gaffe just in time to divert attention from the real issues.
Seems to me we remember it more when the candidate wins – because then he continues to get attention while holding office.
And I’ll note (in a rare bit of generosity to W) that many of the horrible sound-bites attributed to Bush junior just after he left office were actually gaffes made by Quayle.
—G!
They’re trying to divide
The indivisible
Because they think we’re fools
So foolable
I’m tryin’ not to laugh
But man it’s laughable
Boom times for Wall Street dreamers
. --Dennis DeYoung (Styx)
. High Crimes and Misdemeanors
. Brave New World