Tucker Carson Moderates Family Leadership Forum in Iowa [Livestream]

RealClearPolitics ^ | July 14, 2023 | Tim Haines

[Reno89519]

[TUCKER CARLSON Hosts the Family Leadership Forum featuring, in order, Tim Scott, Asa Hutchinson, Mike Pence, Haley, Ramaswamy, and DeSantis. Trump turned down an invitation to participate.]

"Tucker Carlson is moderating a series of conversations with most of the major non-Trump GOP presidential candidates Friday in Des Moines hosted by the Family Leader and The Blaze."

"Carlson is expected to spend about half an hour with each candidate, starting with Scott and Hutchinson in the morning, while Pence, Haley, Ramaswamy, and DeSantis are expected in the afternoon. You can rewind the live stream as it plays."

[Reno89519]

Jumped forward to Karri Lake. Oops, she congratulated the signing of new Iowa pro-life legislation, which conflicts with Trump’s stand, and a congratulation of Iowa’s governor. Not pro-Trump stands. Maybe they, Trump and Lake, are done?

[Reno89519]

Nikki Halley did great. She should run for Senate. Yes, I’d love to see her in the Senate.

[bankwalker]

maybe in a yankee state ... she’s done in dixie ...

[Reno89519]

Listening to Karri Lake, she’d be refreshing voice in the Senate.

[Reno89519]

Now on to anchor baby Vivek Ramaswamy. Mistake to be holding mic instead of wearing one. Too young for his comments and observations. Not life-learned authenticity. LIKE LISTENING TO A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.

[Reno89519]

in listening to the Vivek, I cannot imagine him in any public role.

[Reno89519]

As a practicing Hindu, Vivek is absolutely incredible talking about Christian tradition and values, conservative values. Again, he reminds me of a high school student, debater, given a position to defender or promote, he’s talking but he’s clueless about what he’s talking about

[Reno89519]

Not credible, not incredible.

[Swirl]

“Maybe Pence can be ambassador to Gitmo.”

How about director of the mint. He like collecting strange congressional medallions as on j6 /s

[ducttape45]

A lot of commentators mentioned that too.

[Reno89519]

Tucker’s questions and focus shifted during the course of the day. Maybe these are tailored for each candidate but I was struck by him asking DeSantis about red tide in Florida. And, yes, each candidate got questions unique to them.

[Reno89519]

Long... yes, all-day binge. Just finished watching Tucker and DeSantis.

My notes on DeSantis:

• "Common sense and sanity in traditional American values"
• Good discussion on foreign policiy, tying to his military service and changing mission.
• As a speaker, a criticism, he like others during the day, needs to give the audiance time to digest what he says and give them time to react. Maybe as simply as slowing down.
• Dismisses Ukraine war as top priority, key is China. European NATO needs to step up, find sustainable peace. Goal is to get US out of Ukraine.
• Like Scott, DeSantis good at picking up his topic instead of answering the question asked.
• Strong argument against CBDC, no to unilateral Fed action.
• Clearly knows how to arrive in DC, fire everyone, have people thousands of people ready, don't let bureaucrats take over. Fire people.
• Will use executive power to fire FBI agents.
• Will use pardon power to address unfair prosecution.
• Sees Newsome as Biden replacement is the wings.

And some good zingers and bantering, e.g., about Hunter Biden's laptop.

[Reno89519]

Quick rundown...

Scott... Good opener for the day, strong religious content. Leadership? Not convinced.

Hutchison... Totally out of step for today.

Pence... More concerned with Ukraine than US.

Haley... Good talk, experienced answers.

Ramaswamy... High school debater. No experience, life or otherwise. Just not credible and not ready for big leagues.

DeSantis... Experienced answers, energetic, prepared. Strong.

In order: DeSantis, Haley, and Scott. The others should go home.

As and once you've watch some or all, what do you think?

[Alter Kaker]

Despite his neohawk views, Scott would make a good VP or especially a cabinet member in the next administration.

He could definitely help with the gay black vote.

[EliRoom8]

but realistically it would have only hurt him.

Most voters don't know about this "conclave." But for many of us who witnessed the fiery questioning by Tucker, it was enlightening. Kudos to all those who faced the fire.

DJT had best heed the many admonitions in Proverbs about haughtiness and arrogance.

[EliRoom8]

Vivek was also very impressive. Scott and Haley did not shine well, Pence was quite obviously bitter towards Tucker. —But at least these showed up; Kudos for that.

[dforest]

He chose wrongly with the purple tie. The people behind him should already know that.

https://www.vogue.com/article/hillary-clinton-concession-speech-purple-suit

It has meaning.

[EliRoom8]

"Lower tier" included everyone but DJT.

As to It doesn’t play to his strengths. these were one-on-one talks with Tucker before a very conservative audience. For Trump to skip out makes him look disdainful towards others--and that is not a good look to most people.

Hopefully, you're not absolving DJT of making any mistakes.