You've arrived at a very bad pass when Gore comes across as the warm and playful guy. Yet when he finally switched from Oxford don to Hulk Hogan, Bradley went too much against type. He and Gore both looked like the Bickersons, but Bradley was judged by a higher standard. In last week's debate, Bradley appealed to our better angels with his soft-spoken, lofty aspiration to do big things in a time of plenty. He even brought out the best in Gore.
Some people are at their highest when their fortunes are lowest.
Face to face with the first defeat in his golden life, Bradley was dignified, thoughtful and, yes, happy. When he was at the top of his game, he showed us there could be a better way, even if it wasn't a winning one.