It’s like school in the summer: no class.

Joe Trippi took Howard Dean from a total unknown to frontrunner in a matter of months. Had Dean been able to avoid saying stupid things (gun racks, religion, screaming names of states) he would still be the frontrunner. Trippi has revolutionized the way money was raised and rewrote the rules on organization. Even Dean has admitted that he had no idea how to use the internet like that.

So why did Trippi effectively get fired in favor of former Al Gore Chief of Staff Roy Neel on Wednesday?

From the New Your Times

Trippi had been part of the staff faction that had urged Dean to focus on a few states that could be won, skipping all or most of the Feb. 3 contests in favor of Michigan, Washington state and Wisconsin. Dean and Neel dug in their heels, insisting that he had to play everywhere — an argument that prevailed as Trippi left.

Great move. You’re the “outsider” candidate and you get rid of your campaign manager and hire the ultimate insider because you want to compete in states where you have no chance with money that you don’t have rather than raise more money and fight where you have a chance. Sweet.

Dean’s campaign was always better than its candidate. Now things will surely even out, but not in the way Dean would want.