The First Republican Debate
With Mr. Ramaswamy playing the role of Donald Trump lite, the wannabes took their best shot at convincing the Republican world to stop staring at the (absent) frontrunner and cast a loving gaze upon them.
It was like the 7 dwarfs (plus one) with Snow White missing.
Their positions were sometimes collectively embarrassing, from the hand raising, knee bending, support by virtually the full gaggle for Mr. Trump if (more accurately when) he becomes the party's chosen one, to climate change (while the planet burns they merely fiddle around), to gun control (the fault lays not in ourselves but in the lousy prosecutors), to that beautiful wall each of them will undoubtedly finish at Mexico's cost.
Ms. Haley played the voice of reason, Mr. Pence heard the voice of God, Mr. Christie had the practiced voice of snarky crankiness and Mr. DeSantis listened to the fat lady singing.
A group of backup singers, a gathering of poor players strutting and fretting their hour (actually two) upon the stage. All with tales of sound and fury.
Signifying nothing.