A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis, serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. © James Conner.
I still can’t decide what was worse: the questions or the answers. Jake Tapper and his fellow interrogators asked questions designed to goad the candidates into attacking each other; television at its worst. The candidates largely succeeded in their quest to not deliver bon mots or straight answers.
We learned that Jeb Bush smoked weed, which may be why he would put Margaret Thatcher on the sawbuck; that Donald Trump doesn’t need Social Security; that belligerent Sen. Cruz has earned a new nickname, Gunboat Ted; that Mike Huckabee and Scott Walker belonged in kiddie table debate; that Chris Christy doesn’t understand Social Security; that Ben Carson understands vaccination better than he does taxes; that Marco Rubio has the group’s glibbest grasp of foreign policy and wants to land Air Force One in a free Cuba; that Carly Fiorina looks good in blue and has blond Don’s number; that John Kasich showed up; and that Rand Paul is just as flakey as Ron Paul.
Most of all, we learned how bad CNN can be at trying to turn a political debate into show biz. If this happens again, remember to plug your ears and close your eyes.