At my darling alma mater, The University of Alabama, DeSantis squared off with Republican B-listers.
The debate was moderated by Megyn Kelly, Elizabeth Vargas, and Eliana Johnson. Kelly’s questions were important and fresh–– and her competent performance as a moderator was the best in memory.
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In recent days, the Republican party establishment, including the billionaire Koch Brothers, have rallied behind Nikki Haley in an attempt to create a political vehicle that could defeat Trump.
This turned the debate into an interrogation of Haley’s record.
Key Takeaways
DeSantis broke the back of the Haley campaign less than nine minutes into the debate. DeSantis hammered Haley for recently telling CBS This Morning that she thought the law should stay out of transgender issues with children.
Haley was roundly embarrassed and unprepared for basic questions and attacks on her positions
Every candidate focused far too much on China, yet no one highlighted China stealing American jobs and manufacturing, genetic information, and capturing international institutions like the WHO
DeSantis promised to clear the house at the CDC, NIH, and FDA over the agency’s repeated abuses, overreaches and distortions during the COVID pandemic
Transgender isusses and children persisted as an issue for the candidates
DeSantis was repeatedly met with raucous cheers from the audience when he spoke about protecting children from transgender surgery
Key Theme: Haley’s Corruption
The singular biggest theme of this debate was DeSantis and Ramaswamy taking a torch to Nikki Haley for her alleged incompetence, weakness, and corruption.
“Nikki will cave to those big donors when it counts,” DeSantis said, highlighting Haley’s coziness with the Republican party establishment and elite donors
“Haley read my book as a how-to manual,” Ramaswamy said referencing his book about elites and their sudden drift towards wokeness
Haley claimed “I have been a conservative my entire life,” but DeSantis was quick to point out “[Nikki Haley] Caves anytime the left comes after her.”
DeSantis was spot on. Haley was the first to signal weakness in defending traditional American symbols against leftist attacks in South Carolina, opening the door to situations like Thomas Jefferson’s statue being removed from New York City’s Council building.
However, DeSantis was wrong about the fact that Haley only folds when the left comes for her. Sometimes she folds on things that do not involve her.
We should not forget when Haley jumped on the bandwagon, buying the Bubba Wallace race hoax and attacking (obviously) nonexistent ‘racist cowards’ to score political points with the left.
Kelly asked some pointed questions about Haley’s association with banks, billionaires, and Boeing.
Haley responded by saying she passed tort reform in South Carolina. This caused me and 95% of the audience to have a stroke. Tort reform does not make you a populist, indeed it is a policy that often allows products from large corporations to cause injury without injured parties being able to sue for damages. Haley’s response was bizarre. It was like defending yourself against arson charges by lighting the jury on fire.
She later stated, “I love Boeing.”
Immigration
DeSantis was the only candidate who detected the party's feelings on immigration. “We should not be importing people from cultures that are hostile,” the Florida Governor said, properly identifying and referencing Europe’s struggles with mass Islamic migration.
DeSantis reiterated his support for using terrorism designations and lethal force against the Cartels. This position was met with roars and cheers from the audience.
Christie failed to answer the one question on immigration he was asked. He failed to identify the ways Islamic immigration is changing the country, then brought up the Trump indictments, then failed to get why the line “I am your retribution” is so appealing to the heartland.
To find out why Americans want “retribution”, Christie should refer back to the first two subjects he meandered through. After he concluded his time-wasting ramble, Christie was booed.
Unfortunately, no one talked about what mass immigration from Latin America is doing in terms of crime, culture, and suppressing the wages of Americans.
Trans Kids
Kelly was appropriately tough on the candidates about their positions on transgender policy regarding children. During these questions, Christie made an expression reminiscent of Droopy Dog (pictured above). Christie was clear he opposes laws that protect children from transgender surgery.
Later, Haley got pummeled by DeSantis (again) for taking the same position as Christie.
“You, as a parent, do not have a right to abuse your kids,” DeSantis said about transgender surgeries with minors. The audience was overcome with cheers.
Epic Fails (Ukraine)
Ramaswamy challenged Haley to name three of the Eastern Ukrainians she signaled she would be willing to use American troops to defend. Haley remained silent and made this expression. “Look at that blank expression,” Ramaswamy said.
Christie defended Haley’s “basic intelligence” and attacked Ramaswamy… and then also failed to name the three eastern Ukrainian provinces he wanted to send American boys to war for.
After ten painful minutes, Haley finally said “Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea.” Which was incorrect. Crimea is not part of Eastern Ukraine. Ramaswamy swiftly pointed this out.
Kharkiv is the third Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory Haley was looking for and it has been the source of considerable fighting since the Russia-Ukraine war started.
This was a small scrap but it will be perceived as humiliating to the internationalists who support Haley.
Funny Moments
DeSantis cracked up at-home viewers by calling Arab robes “man dresses.” I admit, it is not as funny written-down but it was funny at the time.
The South rose again and this time it was to repeatedly boo Chris Christie, the only Yankee on the stage.
The Rock-Em-Sock-Em Hindus went at it for several rounds (again), with Ramaswamy emerging as the clear victor in the prolonged scrap.
For almost half an hour Chris Christie did not speak, at one point. Christie’s presence was only made known because he stampeded off the stage when he heard a nearby rancher’s feeding bell.
During the debate on transgender policy, Ramaswamy again zeroed in on Haley’s wishy-washiness and evasiveness on many issues; prompting him to hold up this sign.
Haley refused the moderator’s offer of a moment to respond.
Who won:
The Alabamian audience was fabulously vocal. They booed when candidates did not tell the truth and cheered when candidates were honest and bold.
Through their cheers and enthusiasm, it was clear the audience thought DeSantis won. Cowtown Caller concurs.
DeSantis was charismatic and loose and finally appears to be on a roll after his debate against California Governor Gavin Newsom. Will it be enough to help him in Iowa? We’ll see.
DeSantis said his presidency would be inspired by Calvin Coolidge, the president who ended immigration for a generation, this statement alone could’ve won DeSantis the debate (notwithstanding his otherwise excellent performance).
