Live Thread: GOP Debate

[bigheadfred]

I have no doubt the dems have a plan to take out every person on the stage last night. Remember, after the Georgia indictments, EVERYTHING you say can and will be used against you.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

We've been through this before and RIV knows this -- I live in FL.  DeSantis shut us down for a very short while and QUICKLY opened us up in steps.  We were opened up fully in a very short time.  Yes he defied the recommendations by the gov't and was heavily criticized. He took us forward anyways.  We are known now for being a 'free' state and hundreds of thousands have moved here during the past few years. I have posted numerous links backing up my claims as well. 

@Right_in_Virginia stop spewing your darn bogus talking points.

IMHO I think DeSantis was the clear winner last night; his record speaks volumes. However, I think Haley did very well, calling out Ramsy and I believe that she was a winner last night as well.

Scott was weak and I was disappointed.

Pence seemed to try to ride on the Trump administration's coattails; but failures aren't a good thing to run on.

I liked the fact that Christie had a jab to Ramsy likening him to Obama. But that was about his only highlight of the evening.

Ramsy came across to me as about as phony and plastic as they come and I kept thinking he'd be great for a chewing gum commercial.

Hutchison - lackluster and really never got off the ground, Brugman surprised me and did a little better than Asa.

I'm still on the DeSantis train, but here were the things I didn't like:

1) how he -- at least initially -- dodged the question on whether Pence did the right thing on January 6.  He eventually agreed that Pence did, but it would have been a deal breaker for me personally if he hadn't answered that way.

2)  When they asked candidates if they would still support Trump as the nominee if he was convicted, DeSantis seemed to look around and see who else was putting up their hand before putting up his. 

3) I thought his answers on Ukraine and abortion were a bit weaselly.  On abortion,I respected both Haley's position (she was probably right about the 60 votes), and Pence/Scott, etc. position of supporting a federal law.  I wish DeSantis had more clearly taken one side or the other.

I still think he's the most conservative one up there, and a true fighter.  I just wish he'd be more clear and not worry so much about what folks will think on those specific issues.

I thought both Haley and Christie were really good on Ukraine.  To me, Ramaswamy's position is either jaw-droppingly ignorant, or outright evil.

[Kamaji]

I have no doubt the dems have a plan to take out every person on the stage last night. Remember, after the Georgia indictments, EVERYTHING you say can and will be used against you.

Trump is the only person who wove the rope being used to hang him in those indictments.  That's what happens when you support an idiot who shoots from the hip without thinking things through and who ignores the advice of his more experienced advisers.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

I have no doubt the dems have a plan to take out every person on the stage last night. Remember, after the Georgia indictments, EVERYTHING you say can and will be used against you.

Well sure.  So the trick is to be disciplined in terms of what you say and do so you don't give them the legal wedge.  The best example of that to me is how DeSantis got rid of CRT, gender studies, and two Soros prosecutors, and did it all in such a way that it withstood legal scrutiny.  He gets his ducks in a row and doesn't say stupid things that undercut the case he's making.

[libertybele]

Well sure.  So the trick is to be disciplined in terms of what you say and do so you don't give them the legal wedge.  The best example of that to me is how DeSantis got rid of CRT, gender studies, and two Soros prosecutors, and did it all in such a way that it withstood legal scrutiny.  He gets his ducks in a row and doesn't say stupid things that undercut the case he's making.

    DeSantis is the biggest DEM target and with Trump ridiculing him he is helping them.  They are hoping that Trump will take out DeSantis for them.

[Right_in_Virginia]

We've been through this before and RIV knows this -- I live in FL.  DeSantis shut us down for a very short while and QUICKLY opened us up in steps.

@Right_in_Virginia stop spewing your darn bogus talking points.

Rather than getting angry with me for correcting the record, why not ask your governor and his team to stop lying about how he handled COVID @libertybele   

DeSantis War Room
@DeSantisWarRoom

FACT CHECK: DeSantis stood up to Fauci and saved the country from CCP lockdowns.



12:03 AM · Aug 24, 2023

"Really? Roll the tape.". (Video)

https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1694564831943082404

LOCKDOWN RON!" (Video)

https://twitter.com/TeamTrump/status/1694509354119004274

"Just suspend the license..."DeSantis threatened to suspend small businesses' licenses if they didn't enforce social distancing in 2020." (Video)

https://twitter.com/LukeTBall/status/1661893437526777857

"Rick “jab!” DeSantis" (Video) Jul 22, 2021

https://twitter.com/TAftermath2020/status/1692222808582160850

[libertybele]

Rather than getting angry with me for correcting the record, why not ask your governor and his team to stop lying about how he handled COVID @libertybele   

"Really? Roll the tape.". (Video)

https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1694564831943082404

LOCKDOWN RON!" (Video)

https://twitter.com/TeamTrump/status/1694509354119004274

"Just suspend the license..."DeSantis threatened to suspend small businesses' licenses if they didn't enforce social distancing in 2020." (Video)

https://twitter.com/LukeTBall/status/1661893437526777857

"Rick “jab!” DeSantis" (Video) Jul 22, 2021

https://twitter.com/TAftermath2020/status/1692222808582160850

Angry?  Why? The truth is the truth. I truly feel sorry for you that you are so wrapped up in Trump tweets and talking points that you can't open your eyes.

Again, I lived through the COVID lockdowns having DeSantis as our governor.  Contrary to what you want to believe, he SAVED jobs, businesses, and our State from going under.  I'm not going to continue to rehash this over and over.  Carry on with your ridiculous tweets .... hundreds of thousands of people flocked here for a reason; we are known as a FREE state.

I'm done on this subject with you @Right_in_Virginia    Peace

[Kamaji]

Angry?  Why? The truth is the truth. I truly feel sorry for you that you are so wrapped up in Trump tweets and talking points that you can't open your eyes.

Again, I lived through the COVID lockdowns having DeSantis as our governor.  Contrary to what you want to believe, he SAVED jobs, businesses, and our State from going under.  I'm not going to continue to rehash this over and over.  Carry on with your ridiculous tweets .... hundreds of thousands of people flocked here for a reason; we are known as a FREE state.

I'm done on this subject with you @Right_in_Virginia    Peace

[jmyrlefuller]

What did he get wrong here @Maj. Bill Martin :

Reminder that Ron Desantis has filed to run for 4 offices in just 7 years.  No more career politicians"  (Video)

https://twitter.com/_johnnymaga/status/1694405173890715859

As opposed to three campaigns in eight for the same post? That's not a huge difference,  and besides, you thought this was the kiddie debate, remember? So why are you so desperate to even foodies it? It's irrelevant, right?

[mystery-ak]

Vivek Ramaswamy ripped one of his debate one-liners straight from Barack Obama
Anders Hagstrom

Vivek Ramaswamy stole one of his opening lines at Wednesday night's GOP primary debate straight from former President Barack Obama.

Ramaswamy introduced himself as a "skinny guy with a funny last name" after receiving his first question from moderator Bret Baier in Milwaukee on Wednesday. The phrase echoed Obama's own choice of words when he introduced himself to the country while delivering the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004.

"So, first let me just address a question that's on everybody's mind at home tonight Who the heck is this skinny guy with a funny last name and what the heck is he doing in the middle of this debate stage?" Ramaswamy joked, echoing Obama almost word-for-word.

"I'll tell you, I'm not a politician, Bret, you're right about that. I'm an entrepreneur. My parents came to this country with no money 40 years ago. I have gone on to found multibillion-dollar companies," he continued.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/vivek-ramaswamy-ripped-one-his-debate-one-liners-straight-barack-obama

[catfish1957]

As opposed to three campaigns in eight for the same post? That's not a huge difference,  and besides, you thought this was the kiddie debate, remember? So why are you so desperate to even foodies it? It's irrelevant, right?

She is so in love with His-Orange-ness that she can't help herself.  RIV is Legal American, but with a few more brain cells.

[catfish1957]

Vivek Ramaswamy ripped one of his debate one-liners straight from Barack Obama
Anders Hagstrom

I've come to the conclusion that Swampy had and has only one intent in this process.  Suck up to Tumpy and land the VPOTUS spot.  After what I heard last night, they deserve each other.

[GtHawk]

"Reminder that Ron Desantis has filed to run for 4 offices in just 7 years.  No more career politicians"  (Video)

https://twitter.com/_johnnymaga/status/1694405173890715859

And what may I ask is it that you think Trump has become, if not a career politician, albeit one with no understanding of how government works?

[Right_in_Virginia]

I know you (and others) become upset when I challenge RDS's revisionist history on COVID --- and I am sorry about that @libertybele because my goal is not to upset you.

But, a pillar of Ron's campaign is the "Free State of Florida" and this pillar rests on his handling of the pandemic ---- and he's lying about what he actually did. The irony is I do not fault him for his decisions, but I do fault him for the lies. 

DeSantis did fully lock down his state and reopened it more slowly than even CDC guidelines called for.  He suspended business licenses for not following social distancing, continued masks, including for children, into 2021.  He cancelled non emergency surgeries and closed nursing homes to visitors.

DeSantis imposed mandatory 14 day quarantines for visitors from NY, CT, NJ and LA, sending state troopers to impose the restrictions.  He even petitioned Trump to implement a shutdown of national travel, which Trump rejected.

He supported and pushed vaccinations through 2021, quoting the CDC and Fauci to support their efficacy and necessity.

DeSantis flew to Washington to personally thank not only President Trump for his leadership and support, but Fauci and Birx, as well.  I have serious doubts that RDS would have fired Fauci, as he's now claiming, when he was one of Fauci's most public and devoted disciples.

Yet today, Desantis is claiming he is the one who saved the country from Fauci and the CDC.

That this lie s a pillar of his campaign raises the legitimate question:  Just how little does Ron DeSantis truly have to run on?

[Right_in_Virginia]

And what may I ask is it that you think Trump has become, if not a career politician, albeit one with no understanding of how government works?

 

[GtHawk]

DeSantis didn't deliver last night so you're angry with me and align with the federal Totalitarians.  I have no response to or respect for your POV.

Angry with you? I for one am not angry with you, irritated yes because of your incessant spamming but I really doubt you can truthfully say anyone here is angry with you for doing what we has become normal for you, like that little accusatory insult you just had to slide in against anyone that you don't believe bends knee to your Orange Deity.

I know, I know, "I have no response to or respect for your POV" goes for me too

[GtHawk]

Trump praises Ramaswamy after first GOP debate
by Caroline Vakil - 08/24/23 7:38 AM ET

Former President Trump praised biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy after the Republican millennial defended him during the first debate.

“This answer gave Vivek Ramaswamy a big WIN in the debate because of a thing called TRUTH. Thank you Vivek!” Trump posted early Thursday morning on his Truth Social platform of the 2024 GOP presidential candidate.

Trump included a clip of Ramaswamy’s remarks, in which the 38-year-old Republican contender said during the first debate: “President Trump, I believe, was the best president of the 21st Century.”

Ramaswamy was the center of much of the attention during the date Wednesday night, after candidates including former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took jabs at the GOP upstart.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4168687-trump-praises-ramaswamy-after-first-gop-debate/

Well he did pretty much kiss Trumps ring last night, so right now Vivek is in the lead for Trumpy's VP?

[catfish1957]

Well he did pretty much kiss Trumps ring last night, so right now Vivek is in the lead for Trumpy's VP?

Wonder if his knee pads were made by Indian slave labor.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I have no doubt the dems have a plan to take out every person on the stage last night. Remember, after the Georgia indictments, EVERYTHING you say can and will be used against you.

Oh they'd love to, but Trump is such an easy target.  And I mean because he's a jackass narcissist who thinks he can do anything with impunity, even if before he did it he just didn't think about what he was doing.

Trump is hard to feel sorry for, and has so much that could be used against him to hope it sticks.

My Giveadamn is about worn out when it comes to him.

[bigheadfred]

I don't think DeSantis would have fired Fauci. He didn't really start criticizing Fauci until the spring of 2021. Trump was critical of Fauci when DeSantis was still praising him.

[mystery-ak]

Well he did pretty much kiss Trumps ring last night, so right now Vivek is in the lead for Trumpy's VP?

That's what I think..

[Bigun]

Oh they'd love to, but Trump is such an easy target.  And I mean because he's a jackass narcissist who thinks he can do anything with impunity, even if before he did it he just didn't think about what he was doing.

Trump is hard to feel sorry for, and has so much that could be used against him to hope it sticks.

My Giveadamn is about worn out when it comes to him.

It isn't about Trump! It's about YOU and I! If they can do it to Trump they can do it to anyone!

[the OlLine Rebel]

   DeSantis is the biggest DEM target and with Trump ridiculing him he is helping them.  They are hoping that Trump will take out DeSantis for them.

Perhaps.  Because Trump is a very easy target.  They hate him so much, they don't mind if they get rid of him (indictments), BUT if Trump survives and gets the nom (very possible), they won't mind that either.  Trump is too hateable; Dems will be motivated to go vote against him, none or "independents" will go for him, and sadly some Repubs will sit it out, not motivated.

[Kamaji]

I don't think DeSantis would have fired Fauci. He didn't really start criticizing Fauci until the spring of 2021. Trump was critical of Fauci when DeSantis was still praising him.

Maybe so, but Trump proved the worth of his criticism - i.e., zero - when he subsequently awarded Fauci a medal.

That put the lies into whatever criticism Trump might have had for Fauci earlier.

[the OlLine Rebel]

It isn't about Trump! It's about YOU and I! If they can do it to Trump they can do it to anyone!

EverTrumpers keep saying that.

It may be true.

BUT we have MUCH less baggage, shennanigans and wheeling-dealing to pick through and find something probably nefarious.  It won't stick, and won't be worth the effort.

And that is WITHOUT his horrible narcissistic attitudes.