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."
"You are choosing a murderer over a pro-American country," Haley tells Ramaswamy.
"You have no foreign policy experience and it shows," adds Haley, a former US ambassador to the UN.
"I am not going to send troops to Ukraine but I am going to send them to our southern border," says DeSantis.
"I will do it on day one," says DeSantis of sending US special forces across the border to #Mexico to target drug cartels.
"We will partner with the Mexican military," promises Pence if he becomes president.
"The Chinese are engaging in a war against us" by sending #fentanyl to the drug cartels, says Christie.
"Let's teach our kids to build things again," says Haley during a round of questioning about #education.
We're now in the 30-second "lightning round" of answers.
"We don't need a president who is too old (Trump and Biden) and we do not need a president who is too young (Ramaswamy)," says Pence.
"I do think we need somebody of a different generation to lead this nation," replies Ramaswamy.
US Department of Education getting attacked by the Republican candidates more than any government agency, except for perhaps DoJ.
Sen. Scott says "we have to break the backs of the teachers' unions."
"I get the UFO question?" says Christie halfway into the question.
Closing arguments coming up as this first debate begins to wind down.
Country is in trouble and the solution is not four more years of either Biden or Trump, says Hutchinson in his closing statement.
"If God made you a man you play sports -- against men," says Scott in his closest statement.
"Beating a Democratic incumbent is not easy," says Christie, noting the last time it happened it was by a Republican governor in a blue state. "I'm the one who can win this race if you give me the chance."
"I will beat Joe Biden and he knows that," says Haley in her closing remarks.
Jonathan Mull@w7voa really striving for that fuck all y'all vote
Hugh (he/him) 
Toots McGee@w7voa Tim Scott can F himself
Jill duh@w7voa every one of them are horrible
spherulitic@w7voa that’ll fix the teacher shortage. Let’s make the job even shittier.
Florrie@w7voa Teachers are poorly paid, poorly treated, and apparently should expect to be shot at work. And because of Christian terrorists they can't do much teaching. So, yeah, let's destroy the teachers union. Fucking marshmallow.
Matt Blaze@w7voa So they're unified in their opposition to both education and justice. Sounds like a platform.
Ed Dean@mattblaze @w7voa but what could a bunch of autocrats possibly have against book-learning and the rule of law?
klausfiend has moved@mattblaze @w7voa Guns Over People '24
Kris Sargent, MD@mattblaze @w7voa since the prior actual platform was literally "whatever Trump wants", I guess this is at least an attempt...
Stephen Michael Kellat@w7voa They didn’t go for the trifecta by bringing up IRS?
Chuck@w7voa I have said for years they're agenda is "Keep them poor, sick and stupid." You can't exercise absolute power over an educated, healthy and well-off populace, and Trump didn't say "I love the poorly educated" for nothing.
Maier Amsden@w7voa Priorities
Gatekeeper..@w7voa
The Alt religious Right is doing this. Book Bannin bitches. Betsy Devos and friends.
The Alt religious Right is doing this. Book Bannin bitches. Betsy Devos and friends.
Zep@w7voa same as it ever was
Smart people don't live their lives based on the fairytale's conservative people try to shove down our throats
JackEnrod@w7voa Last week, Ramalamadindongswamy handed me a slurpee.
Anomalous Human@w7voa Well, it was a nice idea anyway.
MylesRyden@w7voa Here I am hoping someone will get hit with lightning. Is that mean?
@w7voa I love how no one knows what the schools actually teach. All three high schools in our town have full blown tech ed departments with very high tech metal and woodworking equipment. And yes, the schools DO teach civics.
Charles J Gervasi ⚡🛡️🥥
James M.@w7voa "It's time to spin the Wheel of Conspiracies!"
@w7voa sounds suspiciously like they're engaging in Capitalism against us, but whatever.
That_Damn_Frank
Illyana 🏳️⚧️
@w7voa How about if we actually partner with Central American people to reduce violence and increase economic activity? I have nothing against immigrants, but isn't it easier to put up some money to improve the living situations there. I am sure if conditions were better people would much rather stay where they are.
tinydoctor@w7voa "I will invade Mexico on my first day in office." (!!!)
KanaMauna@w7voa Bold plan to push Mexico into the Chinese sphere.
Army Girl@w7voa umm...wouldn't that be an act of war?
@w7voa So, Day One: Invasion of a foreign country. Day Two?
Stefan@w7voa maybe he can get mexico to pay for it.
J. Steven York RESISTS@w7voa Always lead with an invasion. Voters love that.
WAH@w7voa Yes, thank you, I thought I heard him say “across” the border too.
Slurpfur@w7voa invading a sovereign nation just like the Nazies did with Poland in 1939 is a part of your platform?
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