Here, from last night, is a quick study in the difference between dignified, post-game analysis and vulgar, in vitro boosterism.
E.J. Dionne: "Romney won this debate ... Yet [he] was not a particularly attractive figure in the process."
Mitt Romney brought the heat and ... [Romney] flattened Rick Santorum ... [and] Romney hit Santorum ... [and] Romney went after Santorum ... [and] Romney bludgeoned Santorum ... [and] Romney won on temperament.
Rubin's vulgarity could also be interpreted as desperate hysteria, of course. After all, who wouldn't be frenzied to the snapping point if one's chosen candidate has been found trailing Donald Trump, Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich and now Rick Santorum?
What Rubin and all the other rank-amateur Rubins in the "resolute" pro-Romney camp have consistently failed to appreciate, though, is that they're not supposed to let everyone see them sweat. Rubin & Co. doesn't stop at evincing mere signs of weakness; they positively gush the stuff. They're soaked in self-evident torment and saturated in (understandable) neurotic terror: their bumbling Awkwardness of a yoyo-ing frontrunner might at any inopportune moment open his mouth -- egads! -- without a script.
It's woe to any ally of the extemporaneously perilous Mitt Romney, who's eight months of self-inflicted horrors to go. I almost feel sorry for his three or four genuine supporters.
After twenty debates, this was the best they could do?
This time four years ago, the country was treated fifteen rounds of two heavyweights, both of whom were were clearly contenders for the crown.
Last night looked like some sleazy boxing matches promoted by Don King at his worst.
No, strike that. It looked like some kind of a bizzare focus group - for, I dunno, Old Spice?.
Posted by: Robert Lipscomb | February 23, 2012 at 09:48 AM
Like Newt, Rubin thinks politics is war, even between members of the same party.
Posted by: You Don't Say | February 23, 2012 at 10:54 AM