The “top ten” debate last night was an amazing spectacle.
Between the genuinely tough questions (do not ever expect to hear questions like that in a Democrat debate), the adult, elevated tone of Bush, Kasich and Rubio, the churlish bombast of Donald Trump, the bombast – but fact and logic-based bombast – of Chris Christie, the hard right red meat of Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee, the ???? of Ben Carson (though I loved his line about half brains and he had the single best criticism of Hillary Clinton I heard) and the sinking ships of Rand Paul and Scott Walker, it was quite a show.
In previous blogs I have referred to Donald Trump as “the world\’s richest barroom loudmouth”. I would like to thank Mr. Trump for again demonstrating why.
Yeah, I know all about the polls. But let me point out that there is a segment of the population that, early in the campaigns before we have to get serious, loves hearing someone get on stage and say things like “I\’ll tell those bastards to go eff themselves”. He/she will own that segment. And when there are 15 or so other candidates splitting the rest of the vote, that candidate will wind up on top.
Bottom line: the numbers for Trump are meaningless artifacts. The only purpose they serve is to stoke his ego (as if that needs any stoking) and wow the media.
More on the debate in subsequent blogs.
