Political events have their build-ups and let downs but in South Carolina this whirlwind end to the campaign is one for the record books.  Here is a look back on the five most controversial, confusing or just plain ridiculous happenings over the last five days in Charleston.  

“We are in this to win!  Just wait till’ we are back here in January!”  so said Rick Perry, announcing his candidacy in South Carolina some eight months ago.  The firebrand Governor was a welcome addition to the race, hailed as a savior well before his credentials were vetted.  Perry was vaulted to the top of the pack and enjoyed approval ratings of over 70% with the base in the first week of his candidacy. Over the (mostly painful) next five months we saw that Perry was a bit too big for his britches.  Many notable debate flops, odd campaign speeches and general confusion engulfed a slowly plummeting campaign.  Two days ago, Perry dropped out, limping back to Austin without finishing the race.

4.  Ex-Wives Can Be Troublesome

Newt found himself in a predictable situation.  Everyone knows about Newt’s infidelities and the hypocrisy of impeaching the President for the same behavior.  What we all did not expect was the painful revelations that came with the infidelity and severely worse, the media’s seizing on the topic on the eve of the South Carolina contest.   Newt eventually finishes with the last laugh.  The former speaker masterfully played off John Kings first question and whiplashed the argument back at the Media, seizing on the audiences and the American public’s natural distain for electioneering by the media.

Winner: Newt, but with plenty of energy expended.

The debate was started by Newts opening KO, and kept rolling in knockout fashion.  The idea that less is more rang true in this first four person debate.  The candidates all got plenty of time in the limelight, each was able to compose well rounded answers and construct multiple counterpoints to a variety of attacks.  Each candidate went after the others in a feisty, rough-and- tumble way that left everyone bruised but for the better.   Eventually though, the focus of the debate was bashing Obama and the contenders threw these punches the hardest.  At the end, this debate won over viewers and solidified bases, while remaining entertaining.  Refreshing.   

After the Fox News debate on Monday, the race card was in full swipe.  Newt got the brunt of the charges for two comments.

1. Food Stamp President- Newt used the term to describe Obamas’ doubling of the food stamp recipients in America since he took office.  Former President Jimmy Carter chimed in and called the comment ‘subtly racist.’  In an act of extreme delusion, much of Tuesdays Liberal Media coverage focused on the sources of Newts “racism” and weather the comment was factual.  Meanwhile, J.C. watts was scratching his head, pointing out “Hey, there are more white people on food stamps than Black people.”

2. ‘Juan’- Newt referred to his longtime professional friend by his first name in a heated moment in the debate.  No big deal, right?  Not to the sensitive as tissue paper MSNBC who somehow found subtle racism in the remark.  Chris Mathews decided to say this about the exchange, “That use of the name ‘Juan,’ the way he does it. You can’t argue these things. You either see it or you don’t. It’s just the way he did that. I sensed a little applause when he said ‘Let me help you,’ when he answered the Juan question. It’s in the eye of the beholder. And, by the way, calling someone a racist is the worst way to get them to stop being a racist because everyone gets defensive…So it’s stupid to say it but, if you notice it, you sort of ought to blow the whistle. Because there is a dog whistle going on here in a lot of cases, and you have to deal with it.”Cain/Colbert Rally

1. Cain/Colbert Rally

Nothing more needs to be said.