I don't really call anybody who blew thru $40 million and a 20+ point lead in the polls in 30 days a genius.
Trippi has a certain flair and he took chances on the internet when no one else would but he (and Dean)failed to capitalize on the huge advantage the netroots gave him.
We donated $40 million hard earned dollars so Dean could run a kick ass media campaign and win some elections. Instead Trippi ran a lame ass media campaign, Dean turned into a gaffe-machine, and the campaign lost site of its message in a flurry of hype and endorsements.
What Trippi did in the beginning was genius, but what he did with the opportunities his online success afforded Dean was malpractice.

I have to kind of agree, there.

Note to self:

(1) When I run my presidential campaign, sack any campaign manager who believes his own press.

(2) Have the most competent ground game.

(3) Make ads that don't suck.

Trippi is definitely an innovator but the only way he earns the genius tag in my book is if Howard Dean wins the nomination. A Dean win is the only thing that can validate Trippi's model.