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 ...
So back to this post, Trump ceded the nomination, likely watched this debate at home by some reports, resting up to turn himself in for arraignment today.
DeSantis won.
DeSantis can say words he’s paid to say!
Yay!
I think Pence and Vivek also did very well. I would like to see those 4 alone in future debates along with Trump if he would like to show up
He says what he wants. Did you watch the debate?
This morning I listened to Fox & Friends on XM radio. They were gushing over Haley and DeSantis.
Figures, Murdock owns the Post too.
LOL. Shocking. The #1 DeSimp on this forum posting from Rupert Murdoch’s rag. Just the print version of Fox News.
Carlson has 177M views as we speak.
A Murdoch organ anoints their great non-Trump hope.
DeSantis was laser focused in the debate last night, very good performance. Pence has experience, as Trump VP, and played that but has zero chance. Christie and Haley did well, performance wise. Same with Burgum at times. Vivek self-destructed by being a jerk throughout the entire evening. Scott was nice guy, but clearly out of his element. Hutchison was there, why?
Murdoch gave this writer his marching orders.
I didn’t watch, but it appears the Sweaty, Swathy Meatball continued his Lead Balloon tour with a predictable result. It’s time for him to return to Florida and do the job he was hired for. Dontca think??
And you realize that the 175 where people that somehow opened the tweet. It has NOTHING to do with watching the video. Only 43K commented, so likely closer to the count. But good luck with that. Besides, the debate was on Rumble, where I watched it, and on Fox. It was live, not pre-recorded and edited. The conversation was interesting, but quiet, boring. The debate, live and exciting.
Figures, Murdock owns the Post too and Fox. No bias from them. Bwahahahaha
I didn’t bother watching the GOP debate. Did any of them say anything interesting ?
Trump is up by 36 points in ... Florida.
DeSantis can't even hold on to the people who once supported him.
DeSantis won. ROFL.
I watched him losing the Florida governorship until Trump endorsed him, then watch him put his own ambition over MAGA.
Don’t need to see anything else of the self-serving Bush Crime Family, Inc. asset.
“DeSantis won.”
Even if true, it doesn’t matter as he has no path to get Trump voters to support him. The only question at this point is who can get Trump voters on board, assuming that Trump is somehow ‘removed’ from contention.
Maybe Vivek or someone else jumps into the Republican Primary (Younkin, maybe)? But it has to be someone who hasn’t pissed off Trump voters, or he’ll simply get blown apart in November.
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