I have read a bunch of retrospectives on Thursday\’s Republican presidential debates.
Obviously I think mine is the best, because, by definition, I agree with everything it says.
But who provided the best of the rest?
In my opinion, the winner, hands-down, is Camille Paglia, writing for hollywoodreport.com.
You can read Ms. Paglia\’s entire piece by clicking here. But let me give you a thumbnail of her reaction to each candidate in the main debate…and one in the preliminary:
-Donald Trump: Does Trump have any facial expression beyond knotted, squinting scowl? It\’s a strain even to look at him.
-Jeb Bush: Is there a blander, more boring personality in American politics? The guy looks like the runny yolk of a fried egg.
-Ben Carson: What is this brilliant brain surgeon doing in the political arena?
–Chris Christie: A refreshing flow of specifics from a hands-on governor…
-Marco Rubio: What a nice, bright, earnest young man! When he graduates from the college debating team, he will have a rosy future! Oh, er, he\’s 44 years old?
-Mike Huckabee: …seems like a survivor from the Bob Hope or Art Linkletter era of TV pitchman. He\’s like a retro character actor you\’ve seen in a hundred movies but whose name you can\’t remember.
-Rand Paul: What a disaster! This was probably the worst debate performance in recent memory…He seemed surly, seething and discourteous from start to finish.
-Ted Cruz: …a bruiser of a politician who thinks he has a corner on truth. Cruz\’s expression is habitually close to a sneer, which he offsets with pleading, faux puppy-dog eyebrows.
-Scott Walker: Underwhelming tonight. Comes off as cheerful and upbeat, like a pleasant sitcom dad.
-John Kasich: …a genuine populist with working-class family ties. He made the Princeton-educated Cruz look effete tonight. Kasich was full of specifics about his congressional experience on the armed services and budget committees. I think he won the debate.
-Carly Fiorina: …There is universal agreement that Fiorina won her debate hands down. Let\’s hope she is automatically promoted to the big league at the next GOP debate. Throw the male duds overboard!
Great job, Camille! Terrific writing, terrific insight. I love your use of imagery.
To all readers: please, please use the link I\’ve provided and read the entire piece. It is beautifully written, highly entertaining and highly informative. The writer\’s trifecta.
