Overall reaction: The candidates lined up to tell us that huge tax cuts for the wealthy and massive reductions in the size of the federal government were all intended to eliminate inequality and help the average American. Hey, it worked in the first Gilded Age, didn’t it?
I thought I could hear Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Morgan laughing somewhere in the distance. The cynicism of it just takes your breath away.
Winners:
Marco Rubio: Easily fended off inept challenges from the panel and Bush. Managed to get away with a completely misleading response to a question about his tax plan.
Chris Christie: Less attention to Trump resulted in more swagger. Predictably got a positive response with his attacks on the panel.
Ted Cruz: In this crowd, he doesn’t sound like the extremist that he is.
Losers:
Jeb Bush: Foolishly telegraphed his punches at Rubio, with the preordained result. If he didn’t have so much money in the bank, he would be going home already. At least he’s a winner at fantasy football.
Ben Carson: Lacked energy as usual, but made plenty of outrageous (albeit low- key) statements about regulations, taxes, and Medicare that will provide ammunition to his opponents in the future. His tax plan appears to have been drafted on the back of an envelope.
The CNBC panel: Largely used the same aggressive tactics as the Fox News panel without understanding that the candidates would not show them the same degree of deference. Failed to follow up appropriately where opportunities presented themselves.
Also-ran
John Kasich: Started strongly as the voice of sanity in the group, but lost momentum by blathering on about the Ohio miracle.
Donald Trump: Was the light beer version of himself–the same stuff, but less of it.
Carly Fiorina and Rand Paul: No memorable moments.
Mike Huckabee: Polished, but not much air time.