It happened like this: a bunch of people who are pretending to run for president congregated to pretend to debate over what they pretended were the issues, while a propaganda network that pretends to be a news channel televised it.

All of this seems an appropriate pageant for the Republican Party, since it is still pretending to be a political party and a participant within our democracy, instead of a fascist confederacy working to demolish and replace it.

All the usual hyenas were there, yapping at each other, jockeying for the best position at the hole ripped in the elephant’s belly.

Mike Pence was there, or at least a milky apparition resembling Mike Pence stumbled onto stage to mumble sour nothings into our ears.

A lot of Republican voters are confused why Mike Pence is running, but nobody so confused, it seems, as Mike Pence.

He brought his neck to the debate, which I consider pandering; it's the only part of him Republican voters have been interested in since around January 5, 2021.

Also, Ramaswamy wants to end birthright citizenship, which is a sort of curious stance for him to take specifically; yes, it's what white racists want to hear, but if implemented it would exclude him.

It's lucky for him that everything he says is as pretend as these debates.