So what to make of the GOP debate last night at the Reagan Library? You wanted President Ronald Reagan? Most of the time you got Bedtime With Bonzo.

I mean, did Vice President Pence really boast about having slept with a teacher for 38 years?

Did Gov. Christie really call Donald Trump “Donald Duck”?

Did the genial Sen. Tim Scott really get into a fight with Nikki Haley over curtains at the U.N.?! Curtains?!

Did Haley really tell Vivek Ramaswamy, “Every time I hear you I feel a little dumber”?

Did all these accomplished people really gibber-gabber and interrupt and demean other like Mean Girls on speed for much of the two hours?

Did moderator Dana Perino really end the debate by asking candidates to write on a piece of paper which person on the stage should be “voted off the island”?

Sure, the DOJ’s been weaponized against the administration’s political opponents. Sure, an impeachment inquiry starts tomorrow. Sure we are creeping toward a world war that could easily go nuclear. But hey, let’s play like we’re on Survivor or Real Candidates of Simi Valley.

“We’re not doing that,” muttered Gov. Ron DeSantis. “It’s disrespectful.”

Bully for him.

DeSantis Was All Business

Going into the debate, a key question was whether the Florida governor could reassert his claim as the number one challenger/heir apparent to Trump. His performance in the first debate, while smart, solid and steady did little to dispel the notion he has no “umph” as a candidate. Little he’s done on the campaign trail since has changed that. You’d think his beast job handling Hurricane Idalia would have scored points. But it wasn’t like the media would shout “hosanna” over his good work there, so who outside of Florida noticed? And the residents of Florida already know what they’ve got in him.

So how’d he do?

A steel cage match with six other candidates, including some reality-TV worthy personalities and savvy, ambitious foes, just ain’t his wheel-house. But the good news is, DeSantis actually shined in the debate, even though oddly it took a full 18 minutes before he was asked a question.

Naturally, DeSantis had the wonky policy stuff down. And proudly touted his record in Florida and the big fights he’s won. But unlike the first debate, DeSantis stepped up and took command. He swatted away Telemundo moderator Ilia Calderon’s gotcha question about Florida and it’s supposed praise for the benefits of slavery in its school curriculum. “What do you have to say to those who were hurt?”

“So, first of all, that’s a hoax that was perpetrated by Kamala Harris, we are not going to be doing that,” he barked. “Second of all, that was written by descendants of slaves, these are great Black history scholars.” Shut her cold like a storm window.

He also effectively told his personal story of joining the military after 9/11, and stories he’s heard on the campaign trail. The candidate who’s had a hard time connecting connected. He filled his spot at center stage.

On the downside, DeSantis gave a gift to Joe Biden and stung the Trump supporters he’s going to need by immediately coming out of the gate and blaming Trump for inflation.

DeSantis is really out here carrying water for Joe Biden in front of America.

Beyond cringe!#RepublicanDebate pic.twitter.com/swfjqpIQi9

— Brenden Dilley (@WarlordDilley) September 28, 2023

It was a gift Biden campaign immediately exploited.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Vivek Ramaswamy made a grand impression in the first debate. In his second try out, Vivek tried to play the conciliatory unifier, praising those on stage with him and working to find common ground during exchanges. His opponents were having none of it, especially since last time he accused his rivals of all being “bought and paid for.” Nikki Haley kicked him around like a soccer ball and even Tim Scott chewed into him over TikTok and China. And while, Vivek’s smarts and enthusiasm and energy are certainly fresh, and acknowledging that he doesn’t know it all may get him thrown out of politics on principle, the young entrepreneur did not stand out. Think of the gifted rookie quarterback who lights up the scoreboard in his first game, but spends his second game throwing a couple picks and repeatedly getting sacked.

That said, Vivek gave a beautiful answer in reminding Americans the fentanyl problem and social media addiction stem from a deeper issue only faith can reach.

Ramaswamy on the "demand side problem" of the drug crisis:

"It's also our job to make sure that 17-year-olds don't turn to Percocet via Snapchat. We have to bring back mental healthcare in this country … with faith-based approaches that restore purpose and meaning." pic.twitter.com/VMdjUCwc4Q

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 28, 2023

Remember the interceptions I talked about? That was a seventy-yard bomb for a TD.

Nikki Haley

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley again showed why she’s a force to contend with. Whether you agree with her positions, she gave detailed answers, offered a commanding presence, and was ready to rumble. The polls have been showing her on the rise in the battle to be the “Not-Trump” GOP candidate. Don’t be surprised if she solidifies her spot as DeSantis’ chief rival, and she proves a handful for the rest of the campaign.

Some pundits were saying that Haley is angling to be VP. Perhaps. In that race to be Trump’s VP, she got some tough competition last night. Not from anyone on the stage. But from South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, whose latest spot pushing workers to come to her state aired during the debate. If that ad campaign isn’t really a campaign to raise Noem’s VP viability then I’m Donald Duck.

Then There’s Trump

Both Ron DeSantis and, of course, Chris Christie slammed Trump for not showing up. And notably no one mentioned the legal efforts from radical judges, DOJ scalp-hunters and prosecutors to wreck his campaign and interfere with the election. Certainly, the moderators didn’t bring it up. They didn’t even mention that Trump was meeting and holding a rally with auto workers … even though the first questions had to do with the UAW strike.

Speaking of questions, given a debate filled with snippiness, interruptions and insults, how can they now rip Trump for his snippiness, interruptions and insults?

Maybe someone could ask him at an upcoming debate. Trump will have to join the debates at some point, even if he is 50 points ahead. But last night, when he’s 35 or more points ahead and nobody did anything in the debate to threaten that lead, working for union votes in Michigan was probably a better use of his time.

Let his challengers spend their night using lines rehearsed a thousand times and debating over curtains.

 

Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream, chief barista for The Brew and co-author, with John Zmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl at GETTR, Gab, Parler, and now at TRUTH Social.