I have my solution - trust me this is funny
So I got to working on the dash of my GF neon this weekend. Tried the headlight switch earlier and no go. Any how I noticed that the clock radio on the radio was REALLY dimm. could hardly see it in the dark, Lights on or off.
Anyhow yanked the radio and presto the dash light fuse never blew anymore. Again bearing in mind this was a factory Casette. So I figured no biggie replace the radio. Then the frugal part of me kicked in so I proceeded to strip the radio and see if I could see what was going on.
Once I started to losen the screws on the sides I heard clink clink clink... WTF?? Got it apart and found 7 cents inside, knocking around shorting the whole thing out. Funny but the radio and the casette still worked.... go figure.
Now you know where a 2 year old keeps his spare change :-)
Thanks for everyone who replied.