GOP Debate Didn't Make Milwaukee Famous

The Milwaukee Center on Milwaukee's RiverWalk (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Republican Rolling Candidates Revue stopped in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Tuesday night for the fourth of its presidential wannabe get-togethers.  Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson and the whole gang ditched their tinfoil hats made of cheese to talk economic policy, as mandated by the sponsorship of the Wall Street Journal and something called the Fox Business Network.

When the candidates weren't plugging their websites, they were sparring over immigration reform (mainly Trump doubling down on his proposal to build a wall on the Mexican border and sending 11 million undocumented workers and their families behind it), the minimum wage (all are against raising it), tax reform and how terrible a President Hillary Clinton would be for the country.  You could set your watch by all this.

No knockout punches here, although Ohio Governor John Kasich did his best to man up and challenge Trump's immigration policies.  Kentucky Senator Rand Paul reminded folks that China is not part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, though all agreed it would be a TREMENDOUS DISASTER (as Trump would put it) for this country if it were actually passed.  And Carson, in his effervescent bedside manner (being a former neurosurgeon), said he had no problem being vetted about portions of his life story--just so long as the media doesn't lie about it.

This debate (unlike the last one) clocked in at around two hours with no opening statements, little name-calling, and fewer silly questions about such topics as fantasy football (even though this is Packers territory) that make Republicans wish they could dropkick journalists into a bottomless pit.  But then, the moderators chosen for this event were all employed by Rupert Murdoch-owned companies, so you could hardly expect them not to know on which side their bread is buttered.

Fox Business Network, not surprisingly, announced that the debate telecast was the highest-rated program they've ever had.  Viewers tuning into FBN for the first time may have been surprised to find that Maria Bartiromo, Neil Cavuto (two of the three moderators), Lou Dobbs, John Stossel, Trish Regan and Kennedy are still working in television.  Don Imus, however, is not.

The Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary is several weeks away, and we still have 15 people running for the Republican nomination.  If any of these folks besides Trump and Carson want to be the next President, they should do a better job of distinguishing themselves to the voters who will decide their fates.  Otherwise, the Revue rolls on to the next town with no one the wiser.  And Hillary Clinton is waiting at the end of the line.