TAILSPIN!

Nothing better than to see the Dems in total disarray. First the Confederate Flag flap by Howard Dean, then Gephardt comes out on top in an Iowa poll, and now poor ol’ John Kerry’s staff is resigning en masse!

Many Democratic strategists, however, say the problems were caused by the candidate himself, that he has campaigned as if the nomination was his entitlement while allowing former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (search) to catapult ahead.

Dean sealed two key union endorsements last week, forcing Kerry to examine his presidential prospects.

The staff shake-up consolidates power around Kennedy’s former staff after months of internal division. Kerry’s team has consisted of roughly three factions — his Washington team, paid consultants and friends and family from Boston.

“We’re sorry to see them go. They served the senator well,” campaign spokeswoman Christine Anderson said of Gibbs and Chidlow.

How smug! Hee hee! Not that I take any particular pleasure out of seeing the Kerry campaign squirm, but the French-looking senator from Taxachusetts going down in flames only makes a Dean nomination all the more likely. . . and we all know what Gee Dubya is going to do with a powder puff like that!