My overall impressions were as follows:
- The panel did a much better job. There were no questions beginning with “Jane, you ignorant slut.” While they were windy at times and occasionally appeared to presuppose the general correctness of GOP ideology, this was by far the best job of moderating we have seen this year.
- All of the candidates who spoke on issues pertaining to inequality reframed the question as one pitting big business against smaller businesses, not capital against labor. The conclusion was that big government, far from being the solution to inequality, is actually its principal driver, because big businesses can afford expensive lawyers, accountants, and lobbyists, and small businesses can’t. Looking at class issues without including workers is deeply weird, and ignores the lessons of the First Gilded Age, to which larger government was a response.
- I think we have reached a point of equilibrium here: the debates are unlikely to change anyone’s mind until the number of candidates on stage has been reduced significantly. No one really won or lost last night.
Reviews for the candidates:
1. John Kasich: Aggressively pursued his “adult in the room” stance–maybe to the point of rudeness. Had some good moments as the somewhat moderate conscience of the group, but needs to stop talking so much about his Congressional experience in the 1990’s and the Ohio Miracle.
2. Jeb Bush: Was more forceful than in past debates, but still looks like a guppy in a shark tank.
3. Marco Rubio: Managed to avoid difficult questions. Was not challenged on the use of his GOP credit card. Probably got the better of the exchange with Rand Paul on the issue of military spending in the eyes of the audience. Appears to have some very extreme views about the nature of work and the economy in the 21st Century; I plan to address these in a future post. Hates philosophers.
4. Donald Trump: Stayed in character throughout the debate. His uber-realist views on foreign policy will also be the subject of a future post. Didn’t help himself by arguing that wages are too high, and that the TPP will somehow help the Chinese.
5. Ben Carson: Is totally economically illiterate, but do his supporters really care?
6. Ted Cruz: Did his usual extremist thing.
7. Carly Fiorina: Sounds more like a bean counter than a politician, particularly when she goes on and on about zero-based budgeting. Most interesting point is to blame the GOP, as well as the Democrats, for our current dystopia.
8. Rand Paul: As usual, interspersed arguments that make perfect sense with complete whoppers (Blue state governors and mayors cause inequality? Huh?)