Lovable losers?

WHO-TV’s Dave Price headlined his blog post "Lovable Losers" and used the graphic of a red ribbon carrying the words "2nd Place" on it.  I’ll amplify it a bit.  There are 10 men living today who have been a major party candidate for the presidency and three of them were in Iowa yesterday.  John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, campaigned for Obama.  Bob Dole, the 1996 Republican presidential nominee, is in Iowa to attend World Food Prize events.  George McGovern, the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee, is in Iowa to attend World Food Prize events, too.  That’s because Dole & McGovern are the co-winners of this year’s $250,000 World Food Prize for their work in congress on world hunger.

Newsman Price did not mention that Howard Dean, the current chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the former Vermont governor and the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate, is in the midst of a two-day swing through Iowa to rally young voters.  Price did mention that Al Gore — another one of that exclusive club of 10 — was in Iowa earlier this month.  Price closed with this observation: All we need now is to invite Ernie Banks from the Chicago Cubs and Jim Kelly from the Buffalo Bills. We can have the first annual second place convention.

I’ll keep an eye out for Jimmy Carter, Walter Mondale and Michael Dukakis sightings in Iowa.  If Mr. Price oganizes one of these "Second Place" Conventions he might want to invite Bo Bice or Clay Aiken.  How about Fran Tarkenton?  Or how about any of the many tennis players who have fnished second to Roger Federer at Wimbledon?  Don’t invite Suzette Charles, Dave.  She was the runner-up to Vanessa Williams in the 1984 Miss America pageant, but remember she became Miss America when Williams resigned.  Dave you can invite Halle Berry, first runner up in the 1986 MissUSA pageant.