Posted on 08/24/2023 6:16:03 AM PDT by Reno89519
Only two questions mattered going into Wednesday night’s GOP primary debate.
Number one: Would any one viable candidate stand out among the crowd?
Number two: If the answer to the first was “Yes,” would our champion distinguish themselves by acting as the absent Donald Trump’s proxy or by setting up a favorable contrast with the frontrunner?
Trump’s decision to sit out the first forum of the 2024 primary season has been cast as a cautious, cowardly decision.
It was undoubtedly the latter, but despite the illusion of political safety, the choice also came with considerable risks.
If another candidate was able to command the stage, it would be a strong sign that the race is not predestined to end with Trump atop the ticket as so many pundits have suggested.
By not showing up, Trump risked ceding centerstage to a younger, less fearful rival.
Of course, not everyone on stage represented a genuine threat.
...
DeSantis answered the first with a resounding yes.
And even if he didn’t go for the kill on Wednesday, DeSantis demonstrated a willingness – and ability – to take Trump on.
He’s playing for the top prize, not a place in Trump’s Cabinet, or more likely his court at Mar-a-Lago.
With his performance, DeSantis cemented himself as the man best suited to unseat Trump as the undisputed champion of Republican politics.
While so many of his colleagues onstage replied to questions with a decided lack of purpose, DeSantis spoke both fluently and passionately.
...
Judging from Wednesday night, DeSantis alone appears to have the stuff to beat Trump.
It may remain an uphill battle, but by beginning the climb, he may have the man at the top of the mountain second-guessing his decision to sit Wednesday out.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Election integrity
Freedom of speech
Thousands of Human beings living and dying on American streets
How will we afford the dire consequences of the open border
The threat of nuclear war
True Scientific debate on global warming
The Keystone pipeline reopening
Out of control government spending
Deadly crime throughout America
Transgender surgery for minors
I'm going to assume here that your questions are rhetorical in nature. Because we're talking about a GOP staged debate on Fox News. If someone truly had some belief that issues of the type you've identified would ever raised, well, that would just show that that someone is perfectly clueless, has no idea what's really going on, doesn't know what time it is.
It's a show, people.
Trump has been right for 30 + years!
DeSantis is on life support via fake polls. Without Larry Elder on stage there was no competition. None. The RNC AND UNIPARTY don’t want an election they want a selection fewer viewers who don’t care is the plan.Voter depprssion is the steal plan. Fewer ballots equal an easy steal down ballot.
Martha McCallum’s behavior was really distracting. She acted like a high school “mean girl”. I thought that that she was going to stand up and cheer for Niki Halle on abortion.
“He’s the reason a Republican will never be Governor in New Jersey ever again.”
mission accomplished.
Agreed also that Vivek was a bit of a pretentious jerk at times, a bit slippery here and there.
Pence did okay, but somewhat ponderous and unable to capsulize his points.
Christie and Haley both lost on optics, among other things. Haley is quite a warlord, thanks anyway. Christie is not a happy person, and does not appear to like anyone.
Bergum was a positive surprise, he managed to stay above the catfights, sort of an Andy from Mayberry approach, no knock-outs however.
Scott comported himself okay, kind of a referee for the catfights. Mister Niceguy, but nothing out of the park.
I will be curious over the coming days and next week to see how the non-engaged public view the debate. We’ve obviously got strong opinions here on FR, and the media is doing their spin, but this is the first time the American public has seen all of the candidates, less Trump, and it will be interesting to see how that settles out.
You missed the small town guy.
WOW - Ron had to check out the rest of the stage to decide whether or not to raise his hand.
Pathetic! pic.twitter.com/Vt4iantXg3— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) August 24, 2023
The debate moderators talked too much, their videos were distracting. The debate was best when I got out of the way and just let everybody on the stage talk.
So you wanna share a tweet from trump campaign? Cute. And this is probably the 10th time it’s been posted.
Ron and Vivek won the debate. Trump won the night with 150 million views and rising.
Hope you finally got the message and ditch the LOSER.
Do you really think the author calling Trump a coward, essentially, is a winning strategy? It’s a lie, for one thing. And since I detest liars, I can’t trust anything “else” this author has to say. And that also goes for anyone on a forum that lies about even ‘one thing’.
“Trump’s decision to sit out the first forum of the 2024 primary season has been cast as a cautious, cowardly decision.
It was undoubtedly the latter, but despite the illusion of political safety, the choice also came with considerable risks.”
LOL
Somebody needs to tell him that he can see the TV more clearly with his blinders off.
Besides showing voters the candidates' opinions and abilities to respond to uncomfortable questions and communicate, in many cases the event is an introduction to the candidates about whom they know little.
As an aside, over the years, I've learned much from televised debates, both parties, including some between-the-lines observations. Hillary comes to mind as unable to conceal completely her true (and scary) self. Willard as a snake-oil salesman. And more recently, Asa as a smiling lightweight.
“McCain and Romney. Both of them voluntarily hit the mat for Obama.
I agree. I remember one of the McCain-Obama debates. Afterwards, McCain and Obama were more than civil. It was like they were partners; McCain was the junior partner. Obama won some counties that had more than 100% turn out. No one, including Romney, had any complaints. It’s not just that Romney lost. Democracy and the law lost also.
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