It's the Fourth Debate, This Must Be Milwaukee

From not answering questions to spewing out right-wing bromides, last night's Republican talking points debate participants were true to form. To think there are eight more of these torturous gatherings to come is enough to want to be knifed by Ben "Mental Ben" Carson.

For relief, we found Ana Marie Cox's evaluation delightfully wry, snarky and accurate.  Samples:

Jeb Bush

Style: F+

He so obviously didn’t want to be there, I suspect he somehow wasn’t. Could barely even protest getting interrupted. I’m giving him a F+ rather an F because pity.

Substance: F

At one point, started an anecdote, then stopped it, then tried to start it again and wound up saying, “Uh, anyway.” This is the epitaph of the Bush campaign.

Overall: Off-brand diet cola.

Carly Fiorina

Style: B+

Forest green looks fantastic on her, her hair was molten steel and her jaw was something even stronger. I don’t think her forehead moved but her teeth didn’t much either.

Substance: F

Said that “the secret sauce of America is entrepreneurship,” which it may be, but rampant inequality is the gray-pink meat by-product poor people are forced to eat. Spouted the same fake-specific military nonsense as before, with the same confidence. Cited Dodd-Frank as a “great example of how socialism starts,” which suggests she doesn’t understand socialism or banking regulations.

Overall: Needing to use the bathroom at the end of a long car ride.

Maybe that last line should read, "at the end of a long clown bus ride."

BONUS:  Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press, sums it up nicely: