Clay vs Liston, sort of....

I'm sorry! I know you're already sick of commentary on last night's Republican candidates debate -- but I can't help it. I've just got to share a few random thoughts about this. Again, I beg your forgiveness but....onward. 

First, I love Megyn Kelly. Not romantically, of course, but as a talent, as a "package." She was plucked out of obscurity by the Fox genius Roger Ailes, who recognized her potent combination of blondness, law degree, mom of three, sorority girl, maybe kind of bitchy sometimes (but makes you love it) and also mostly a good sport. Her trademark is her indignation, She becomes more beautiful as she gets more angry, like a chameleon changing colors.

I have very mixed feelings about Donald Trump. As a deep narcissist, his basic goal is to be the center of attention, the person that everyone talks about whether they want to or not, the 800 pound gorilla, the elephant in the room, and (most importantly) the all-time greatest gold mine for media content providers (I'm one of them) who otherwise have to write about Rand Paul, Jeb Bush, or God knows who. Yes, Trump fills a need -- not only a need deep in his own bloated consciousness, but also a basic need of the pop culture machine. 

So in last night's debate, at the very start, we had a confrontation between Megyn and Donald that seemed to me -- or maybe it was just wishful thinking -- to be a reprise of Cassius Clay, later Muhammad Ali, who liked to say "I'm beautiful," against the lumbering power-puncher Sonny Liston. They fought twice, in 1964 and 1965. Clay won both bouts, but the second -- which was highly anticipated -- was controversial and frustrating. Liston was "knocked out" in the first round. Or at least he lay down on his back, since he did not apear to have been hit. 

I felt that same kind of frustration watching the debate last night. Megyn versus Trump looked like a great match-up -- and it got off to a fast start: 

KELLY: You’ve called women you don’t like fat, pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals... Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women’s looks. You once told a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president, and how will you answer the charge from Hillary Clinton, who was likely to be the Democratic nominee, that you are part of the war on women?

TRUMP: I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct. I’ve been challenged by so many people, and I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either. This country is in big trouble. We don’t win anymore. We lose to China. We lose to Mexico both in trade and at the border. We lose to everybody. And frankly, what I say, and oftentimes it’s fun, it’s kidding. We have a good time. What I say is what I say. And honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that.

But then all those "other people" -- Chris Christie, Ben Carson, etc -- had to be brought it, and we never really got to see Kelly vs Trump in all it's glory. Does anyone know if the subsequent debates will include the same moderators? I certainly hope so, and I hope the next one -- even if the running time is two hours -- goes longer than "one round." 

Here's a blandly sane-and-sensible, down-the-middle, over-the-center-of-the plate account of Megyn vs Donald from the New York Times: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/08/us/politics/fox-news-moderators-bring-a-sharpened-edge-to-gop-debate-stage.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=b-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0