Our View: We’ll tune in for Republican Roast, episode 2
Many opinion journalists are urging the Republican candidates to calm down, show some class, have a little dignity in Wednesday’s debate.
Not us. Never before have we seen a presidential election with so much interest 14 months before the vote. The debate, timed to start at 3 p.m. PDT, is can’t-miss TV. We’re interested to see who else the leading Republican contender will insult. Or to see if any of the other 15 candidates can muster enough rhetorical hot air to muss his famous coif.
With the first primary five months away, these Republican political playoffs are less a debate than a comedic roast – without the underlying goodwill. Donald Trump has been serving as roastmaster, choosing a new target every week. Sunday it was former New York Gov. George Pataki, who Trump said couldn’t be elected “dog catcher” in New York. Trump has taken on Jeb Bush (“the last thing we need is another Bush”), Lindsey Graham (“What a stiff!”) and Ben Carson (“low energy,” code for boring).
Now, some are beginning to return the favor. Carly Fiorina seems entirely capable of defending herself. And that would be fitting, considering what he said about her face.
Yes, we realize there are other candidates. But even those who won’t stoop to name-calling have recently upped their entertainment value. Will Mike Huckabee try to convince us the true Supreme Court has only one judge? Will Ted Cruz avoid using such large words (he went to Harvard Law School, after all) so as not to alienate the anti-intellectual crowd he has been so assiduously courting. Will Gov. Chris Christie wave his iphone at Rand Paul? Will Rand Paul ask Christie about the new bridge to nowhere?
It’s like big-time wrestling without the tights (thank goodness). The first primaries aren’t until February. It would be un-Californian to suggest they tone it down so soon.
Yes, we know the dangers of continuing this political farce. Few believe Trump will be the Republican candidate in 14 months, and he is already depriving supposedly more serious candidates of political oxygen (i.e., donations). Texas Gov. Rick Perry has dropped out; others are said to be considering the same. Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the intellectual of this troupe, is polling 3 percent. Big business darling Scott Walker has seen his numbers drop from 10 percent to 2, and Marco Rubio has been stuck at 6 percent for months. Then there’s Bobby Jindal, Pataki, Rick Santorum, Fiorina and even Jeb Bush – all of whom are polling well below “I don’t know.”
The serious crowd reminds us that this debate, as opposed to the first, is on CNN – apparently believing it stands for Completely No-Nonsense network. We don’t buy that. CNN would kill to have as lively a debate as Fox refereed in August.
Yes, there are serious issues demanding serious consideration – responses to climate change, income inequality, individual privacy, immigration, interest rates, Wall Street reform, etc. But there’s plenty of time to delve into these boring, we mean important, issues in the next 10 (count ’em) Republican debates.
Besides, if Trump can knock out a few of the underfunded, less-than-likely candidates, it might make it easier for those with serious answers to be heard.
Our first chance to vote for anyone isn’t until June 7. In the meantime, let’s do what Californians usually do – enjoy the show.
This story was originally published September 15, 2015 at 3:33 PM with the headline "Our View: We’ll tune in for Republican Roast, episode 2."