Steve HermanThe #GOP candidates’ debate getting underway. The media on site for the Fox News/RNC event is restricted to watching from the Fiserv Forum players’ parking garage.
The ding-ding 'your time is up' still sounds too much like a doorbell -- dogs all over America will be triggered as they were in 2016. #GOPDebate
"Our country is in decline," are the opening words spoken by a candidate at this first #GOPDebate -- #Florida Gov. DeSantis.
Political novice 38-year-old Vivek Ramaswamy is called a "blank slate" by Brett Baier. He responds that "it's going to take an outsider" to turn around America.
"I don't care about polls" says Nikki Haley when she is told by co-moderator Martha MacCallum that Ramaswamy is beating her in the polls.
"I'm incredibly proud of the record of the Trump-Pence administration," says former VP Mike Pence. "I'm unquestionably the best prepared...in this race."
"Drill, frack, burn coal and raise nuclear" pledges Ramaswamy, saying he'll declare war on the federal bureuacracy.
Pence taunting Ramaswamy saying "I'll go slower" to explain things to him and "we don't need to bring in a rookie."
"We're just going to have some fun tonight," Ramaswamy tells Pence. "Do you want a super PAC puppet or a patriot who speaks the truth?"
Doug Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, who injured his Achilles tendon quips: "I think I took it too literally when they said go to Milwaukee and break a leg."
After more than 20 minutes in to the debate, the former Arkansas governor, Asa Hutchinson, gets in his first words reminding folks he was also "head of the DEA."
"The climate change agenda is a hoax," says Ramaswamy. Many in the audience boo.
"Climate change is real, by the way," interjects the Joe Biden Twitter (X) account.
Another clash between Pence and Ramaswamy who are talking over each other.
First attack on Trump comes from Asa Hutchinson.
And the next segment will be about "the coming trials of Donald Trump," says co-moderator MacCallum as Fox goes into a commercial break.
Trump is "the elephant not in the room," says co-moderator Brett Baier.
Hutchinson and Christie are the two who do not raise their hands when asked if they'll still support Trump if he's convicted.
"The conduct (of Trump) is beneath the office of president of the United States," says Christie. "Booing is allowed but it doesn't change the truth.:"
The party in power is using its police force to indict its political opponents, says Ramaswamy.
Now Christie and Ramaswamy are talking over each other.
Ramaswamy trying to characterize Christie as an "MSNBC contributor."
"Absolutely he did the right thing," replies Sen. Scott when asked if Pence did the right thing on Jan. 6, 2021.
DeSantis trying to avoid answering the same question.
"I think Mike did his duty. I've got no beef with that thing," DeSantis finally exclaims under pressure.
Hutchinson, to boos, says Trump "morally disqualified" from being president again and brings up the 14th amendment. "I'm not going to support somebody who is convicted of a serious felony."
"Mike Pence stood for the Constitution," says Christie, standing next to the former VP. "He deserves our thanks as Americans."
"I do think Vice President Pence did the right thing," responds Haley. But let the American people decide whether Trump should be president again. "Trump is the most disliked politician in America. We can't win a general election that way."
"We'll give fair consideration to any pardon request" from Trump if he becomes president, says Pence, noting there would have to be contrition.
"No one is above the law," says Pence of Trump. "I chose the Constitution and I always will."
"I would not" support an increase of funding to #Ukraine, declares Ramaswamy. "The Russia-China alliance is the single greatest threat we face."
"If we don't stand up against this type of autocratic killing in the world, we will be next," says Christie of Putin's war on #Ukraine.
Pence also makes a vehement defense of supporting Ukraine, tangling again with Ramaswamy.
"He is a dictator and a murderer," adds Pence of Putin and chastises his former boss, Trump, for admiring the Russian president.
"Ukraine is not a priority for the United States of America," says Ramaswamy. "You cannot start another no-win war."
#Ukraine is "a pro-American country that was invaded by a thug," says Haley. "A win for Russia is a win for China. Ukraine is the first line of defense for us."
LindaMarie@w7voa Yeah. Trump admires the Russian president just like Yanukovich admires the Russian president. Both had Manafort there to help make sure that the admiration would take place from the seats of our democratic countries.🤨
You S Blues@w7voa - Note to self: don't get on plane with Pence
Grumble@w7voa What a putz. Is Christie really saying that Russia will invade the US if we don't stop them in Ukraine?
No one gets to be president if they forget that we have nukes and are the only country in the history of Earth who's ever used them and are prepared to use them again in 30 minutes or less.
James M.@w7voa how is that not a contradiction?
Jeff C. 🇺🇦🇬🇱@w7voa "The Russia-China alliance is the single greatest threat we face."
Gee, if only there was a way to greatly deteriorate Russia’s offensive military capacity without putting American service-people at risk. 🤔
That_Damn_FrankFact Checked: Megamind, he's not...
SameGirlie@w7voa what a moron!
Elizabeth Alcinoe@w7voa I think that the Russia-Republican alliance is a far greater threat.
Carl Anderson
Nihl L'Amas@w7voa Finally, someone willing to stand up and say they won't do any more to oppose the greatest threat we face.
Len Spencer@w7voa so a 38 year old podcaster has little understanding of geopolitics. ✔️
Other than a national abortion ban that is...
eyrea 🇨🇦@w7voa Please use hashtags on these posts thing forward. (Looks like you started to and then forgot?)
1. It will increase your reach. On Mastodon, a lot of people follow the hashtag, not necessarily individuals.
2. Those of us who follow you but don't want a blow-by-blow of the debate will be able to filter out the hashtag but still follow you and get your posts on everything else.
🇺🇦🌻@rogue_corq🌻🇺🇦Steve Herman (@[email protected])
"We'll give fair consideration to any pardon request" from Trump if he becomes president, says Pence, noting there would have to be contrition.
Carolyn Ebbo@w7voa I wish we'd go back to debates without a live audience. And cut the mics of candidates who run long.
@w7voa Contrition? Haha!
Robyn
chilort@w7voa even a broken clock
12foxfire@w7voa Haley is all over the place, but par for GOP course. No policy.
@w7voa Running for President is an escape-the-consequences-of-your-actions card for these people, apparently.
Scott marsroverdriver Maxwell@w7voa The American people already decided. When they passed the 14th Amendment.
George Liquor, American@w7voa The Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point.jpg
Michael Gemar@w7voa Such hypocrisy. I really want one of these gutless cowards to say that Pence should have been lynched. At least then they’d be honest.
@w7voa "I've got no beef with that thing" might be the best, most hilarious line this jackass has ever uttered
@w7voa And so ends the short and undeniably silly run of Senator Tim Scott
Doctor Historianess@w7voa wasn’t Ramaswamy on MSNBC over the weekend? Could’ve sworn he was.
@w7voa So, as many of us expected, this whole thing is just the candidates trying to establish themselves as the most delusional, most dangerous freak in a suit
Gil in fact Can@w7voa who the fuck is ramaswamy? Best i can figure he's a tech bro, why does anyone care what he has to say?
Slurpfur@w7voa that just shows he has no understanding of the Constitution and American government. The police don’t do indictments. The justice system does. And yes they are indicting their political opponents, but not because they’re opponents but because they’re criminals.
@w7voa so is a Governor threatening to punch people in the face and screaming at school teachers. Anyhoo….
@w7voa How are you even staying awake