So, who won last night’s Republican party debate? I believe it was probably the Democratic party.

The debate amounted to more of a brawl than a policy discussion. It pitted four candidate adversaries — Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush — and two other candidates, the “unifier” John Kasich and the totally disengaged Ben Carson. And let’s say once again up front that Ben Carson’s appearances are embarrassing; he should end his woebegone quest now.

But back to the meat of this debate. It’s hard to select winners and losers because just about everyone emerged as a loser. No one, with the possible exception of Kasich, seemed remotely presidential or exhibited the kind of leadership qualities we normally associate with the office of President. How in he world did we ever get to this impasse? Or is it morass?

Trump seems ever more incompetent. The tiny-hand vulgarian is incapable of telling the truth, and his bullying suggests nothing but a child-like emotional mentality. He has spoken of no coherent plan to oversee either the U.S. economy or its foreign policy, and the prospect of his nomination only grows more bizarre to contemplate.

Ted Cruz is undoubtedly smarter in a political sense, but he is revealed as a scheming, manipulative, unprincipled and thoroughly unlikable person. The scariest notion about Cruz is that he might actually get elected and try to do some of the dangerous things he suggests.

Marco Rubio seemed less robotic in last night’s debate, which is low praise indeed. His quick responses and general assertiveness tend to obscure his shallowness, inexperience and phony bonhomie. It’s all surface with Rubio, making it difficult to believe he can actually get to the point of winning the GOP nomination.

As for Jeb Bush, well, at least he’s gotten better in the debates. And in standing up to Trump, he looks sort of presidential, although that again seems the lowest sort of praise. Bush is a centrist, as conservatives go, but he seems unable to get anywhere in a field stacked with right-wingers.

Kasich does speak with some sense though he keeps repeating worn and not quite accurate lines. Still, if you look around for the sanest of the candidates on the stage, he tops the list. Whether or not that translates into votes remains to be seen.

Bottom line: are these really the only people the Republicans can offer this country? There is so little to be enthusiastic about in this group of men.