Critical Analysis: The GOP Debate, Round 2

This is the second in a critical series of political debate fashion analysis.

 

September 13th marked the third GOP debate in the last couple months, and it did not disappoint. Yes, Rick Perry and Mitt Romeny got in a fight again, but more importantly Wolf Blitzer borrowed his tie from Newt Gingrich! Let’s break down the evening, style-wise.

The evening’s moderator, Wolf Blitzer, was clearly impressed by Brian Williams’ tie the last time around, because he went for even more garish shade of purple that verged on pink to try to out do him—and it was strikingly similar to the one Newt Gingrich wore at the September 7th Politico debate. Coincidence? I think not. We can all take this to mean that Wolf and Newt are best friends who have tea-parties and tie-swaps.

Rick Perry bored me to death again in his black jacket and red tie. There’s literally nothing else to say about him, except that he must hate getting dressed with the lights on as much as he hates Social Security.

Mitt Romney was charming as usual in his crisp blue jacket and red tie with cute little white dots. He looked like he was wearing a piece of strawberry short cake. Mitt Romney: delicious, but terrible for your health.Thankfully, Michele Bachmann threw out the hundreds of cans of hair spray her stylist must have been hoarding in a bathroom somewhere, and actually managed to look like she cared about her appearance. The gold jewelry combined with the red jacket made her look very lady-like while she declared that giving ladies a vaccine that might prevent cancer offends her.

 

Another change for the better? Someone scrubbed off Jon Huntsman’s drugstore tanning lotion. The bright pink tie he sported contrasted perfectly with his salt and pepper hair and navy jacket, too. Plus he called that bore-fest Perry “treasonous,” so he is my best-dressed pick of the night.

Ron Paul is starting to grow on me. His suit jacket looked about two sizes too big for him and his tie looked like a well-meaning third grader picked it out for him, so that was adorable.  I can’t bring myself to name him worst-dressed.

I have to admit, Newt Gingrich’s tie was actually very stylish. He took a risk: brown and purple stripes, highlighted by yellow bars, and it paid off. It doesn’t matter what kind of tie he wears though. He can proclaim how scary Romney and Perry are all day—I still don’t think he realizes that looking like a toad and being named after a reptile are both pretty terrifying.

Rick Santorum made some smart-ass zinger about how Obama’s economy would have to make “a drastic improvement” to even be a disaster, solidifying his school-boy persona. The real disaster is how confused and childish he always looks. Grow-up, Rick. Buy an age appropriate tie.

Herman Cain was wearing exactly what Rick Perry was wearing. They wore the same thing. How did that even happen? Aren’t you supposed to call your friends and ask what they plan on wearing before you guys meet up at the big party? For the most part though, everyone looked far less frazzled and put together than last week. The fact remains, however, like politics, fashion is not the GOP’s strong point.