My moratorium on scorn

For the past week, I have restrained my usual impulses to ridicule the individual GOP hopefuls for their looney toons, their ignorance, stupidity, pandering, and sometimes just plain weird statements (Michele Bachmann holds the life-time award for that).

Guess what? They have managed to continue the road to self-destruction all by themselves, without my piling on.

So -- I thought today I would just give an update on where I see things in this Parade of the Clowns.

Last night's CBS sponsored debate in Michigan, like others, placed the candidates on stage according to standing in the polls. So there were Romney and Cain in the center, with Perry on one side and Gingrich on the other; then Bachmann, Paul, Hunstman, and Santorum were out to the sides. So of the top four:

1. Perry had his now famous memory lapse about the third cabinet department he would abolish (Energy).

2. Cain is battling multiple accusations of sexual harassment from years ago.

3. Gingrich moves up a notch.

4. But Romeny wins the nomination.

It's instructive to see how each is handling his big hurdle.

#1. Perry immediately after the debate sought out the news media, self-deprecatingly talking about "stepping in it" and "man, how embarrassing it was." This morning he hit every news show, repeating that stance and reminding everyone that he may not be great at debates -- but we have the debate champion in the White House now and (echoes of Palin) "how's that working out?" His campaign has already gotten out a fund-raising letter, asking people to send in their choices for that third department to eliminate. Smart handling of the exposure of a dumb spot.

It may play well with his base, but it's not going to gain him any support with the more moderate Republicans and Independents -- without whose votes he can't beat Romney. Unfortunately for Rick Perry, his dumb spots will keep showing up and ultimately convincing the majority that he is unelectable.

#2. Meanwhile, Cain's accusers may or may not be telling the truth, but his handling of it has not done him any favors. First he denied even knowing about the claims and settlements; then he remembered there had been settlements but he had nothing to do with them; then he blamed the Perry campaign for the whole thing; then said it was a conspiracy by Democrats. Now the latest attack is to accuse the accusers and to expose their lives and foibles, as well as to make false charges against one based on misidentification. Now his campaign has made a threat, saying that any others who might be considering coming forward with an accusation ought to "think twice" about doing it.

That is not a good strategy. Unfortunately he's caught in a lose-lose spot. If the accusations are false, how can he possibly defend himself in a "he said-she said" plot? I don't know what the best course is, but bullying the attackers is not a good strategy. It tends to elicit sympathy for the women and further paints him as a dominating man who might have done it. Referring to former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as "Princess Nancy" in last night' debate only added to that image of him as a domineering man who denigrates women.

#3. And then there's Newt. As others self-destruct, he has had a slight uptick in polls. That's understandable, and he may now have his "flavor of the week" moment. But it won't be enough. He's not been taken as a serious candidate up to now. Once that happens, then his past will come back to sink him: questions about his finances, his ethical censure when he was in the House, his lack of an organization, and above all his character flaws, including wife #2's interview in which she said he has no integrity, with examples to prove it.

So, let him have a week in the sun, and then it's over for him too. But that's fine too, because he will have gotten the attention he craves and enhanced his book/DVD/lecture sales.

#4. The bottom line: Romney wins the GOP nomination. He looks presidential, he has the money, the organization, and -- in this crowd -- by far the best debating skills. What he lacks is charisma and rabble-rousing appeal to the right wing. But when it comes down to it, they want to win above all else. I don't think they will let the party go down in flames with an unelectable zealot.

As political theater, it continues to be fun to watch. As a measure of our country, it is appalling the low level of people being seriously considered as our choice to be President of the United States in this difficult time.

Ralph