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.