From Camille Paglia writing at The Hollywood Reporter:
Ten GOP candidates turned up for the presidential audition tonight at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena. They need some work. Where’s Max Factor and Sydney Guilaroff when you need them? Here’s my report.
Donald Trump
What’s with the carpet-bombing Don Rickles routine? Does Trump have any facial expression beyond knotted, squinting scowl? It’s a strain even to look at him. The entire debate begins with Trump getting booed for refusing to rule out a third-party bid. He has a slashing, entertaining wit, but his braggart narcissism is on painful display. He speaks in simplistic polarities of “winners” versus “losers”, as if geopolitics were a jangling Atlantic City casino. He sets high goals but lacks real answers to any government issue. Trump is a Trojan Horse sent by the crafty Clinton machine. He has a bellyful of swords aimed at GOP hearts.
Jeb Bush
Is there a blander, more boring personality in American politics? The guy looks like the runny yolk of a fried egg. He’s trying to be assertive tonight, because he’s been told he needs to project “passion.” But when his lips move, there’s still a big blank. Why the heck the major media hails him as the GOP frontrunner is beyond comprehension — except that big money has been showering down on him like powdered sugar on a donut. Why do Jeb’s smiles remind me of a dimply grandmother? He could and should have been a high-school principal. I don’t see him on the world stage, holding the line against ISIS.
Read the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.