With the first Republican debate, one of the most critical election seasons is officially open. With so much at stake, the results were as much as I expected. As I predicted, Trump didn’t show up, and his Atlanta arrest pushed it off the news in less than 24 hours. Still, looking at the discourse might give us insight into the future.

Eight people on the stage with limited time isn’t any honest debate. Two hours with commercial breaks leaves little time for an in-depth discussion. Worse, the moderators needed to steer the conversation to Americans’ concerns. Economic issues dominate the top of what Americans care about—yet inflation and the economy command little time. 

The debate gave those with little chance of winning the nomination most of the time while failing to address the real concerns of the viewers:

The Republic National Committee and Fox need to address these failings to reduce the number on the stage and ensure the moderates direct the discussion to the top concerns. 

Even though Abortion is down the list of concerns, the lack of a coherent Republican response has damaged their results in recent elections. Democrats have done an excellent job of demonizing Republicans for a six-week or less ban on allowable abortions while masking their position on Abortion right up to birth. Pence and Haley pointed to compromise somewhere between the two extremes. 

Pence favored a ban after 15 weeks, while Haley felt the Senate would only go for a more extended period. Polls show the public rejects both extremes. I think Pence has the better argument at fifteen weeks. Most other nations have settled at or near 15 weeks. 

There are good reasons for this consensus. The first sonogram is generally done weeks earlier and evaluated. Grandparents, seeing it, already love their grandchild. We do blood testing for congenital disabilities at 11-14 weeks, and at ten weeks, we do DNA testing. Surgeons undertake corrective procedures starting at sixteen weeks. It’s hard to argue you’re doing life-saving action on something that isn’t alive. 

While Ron DeSantis, as a practicing Catholic, signed Florida’s six-week ban, he earlier signed a fifteen-week ban.

There is something else nobody is considering. The idea “they are born that way” applies to autistics, gays, transgender, and, sadly, pedophiles, among others. As yet, we haven’t identified the gene or genes responsible; with AI and other advances, it’s only a matter of time. As I’ve said before, we have to consider the effects of this identification on these groups. Knowledge of sex coupled with unlimited Abortion led to China’s destructive imbalance. For all these reasons, it’s great to debate Abortion before we do something foolish. 

Still, this doesn’t excuse failing to discuss our challenging economy robustly. Instead, the moderators managed to ask a UFO question. Also confusing was the question of supporting Trump as the nominee if convicted. The group had to pledge to back the party’s nominee to appear on that stage. Conviction wasn’t out. Who wrote that question, a Democrat? Let’s hope the next Debate on Fox Business may correct these glaring failures.

I thought Trump would duck the debate, and everyone would aim their fire at Ron DeSantis. I was right about Trump, but the Florida Governor took virtually no incoming. While the other seven took up much of the time brawling with each other, he seemed the adult above the fray. How could this be?

It became apparent when the others talked about things such as getting rid of weak prosecutors and taming the teacher’s unions; DeSantis showed he had already done it. What exactly could they attack him on? DeSantis has a record of accomplishment the other can only aspire to in the economy, education, COVID response, or woke policies.

Christie and Haley have criticized the Governor on his Disney dispute, but did they want to be seen in bed with the mouse? It’s not a popular position with most conservatives. Previously, Tim Scott joined Vice President Kamala Harris in attacking DeSantis over a line in the Florida curriculum, stating some enslaved people benefitted from acquiring skills that aided them later. As I’ve pointed out, Florida’s statement mirrors similar conclusions by the Library of Congress and the National Park Service. Scott, not surprisingly, didn’t bring it up.

The Florida Governor mentioned the military being mission-orientated, reminding me of learning that lesson in the army and military school. If the mission is possible, find a way to accomplish it. Don’t risk your troops on a fool’s errand if it isn’t. Rather than saying you’ll do something, DeSantis does it.

This attitude may explain his reluctance to commit to anything he can’t see through to success. From this point of view, he has no control over supporting Ukraine in war and might call for flexibility in dealing with our allies and foes. While I’m all in supporting Ukraine, I’m mystified by how we’re doing it. While Russia bombs everything in the country, we refuse to give Ukraine weapons to hit Russia back. Is there some agreement with our allies for this strange policy? How committed are Germany and France to success? DeSantis and I would like answers.

While The Florida Governor approved a six-week abortion ban, he previously signed Florida’s fifteen-week ban, leaving an open for a consensus bill. Convicting Trump on New York’s Alvin Bragg’s super weak case or the solid Federal documents case makes a big difference.

Some on the stage claimed they would do away with the Education Department. We’ve heard Republicans saying this for decades, yet it’s still getting bigger with more money. Based on his history, if DeSantis says he will get rid of the Department, it would be history toast. He does what he says, and that’s the difference.

His history of doing what he says he’ll do may explain the reluctance of many of the elite wing of the Republican party to embrace the Florida governor even though he has the best chance to unite the party, win, and achieve conservative goals. If the Republicans win, they expect big jobs, grants, and influence. DeSantis says he’ll cut the bureaucracy down to a workable size. It means less for elites, either on the left or right. My God, the Education department will finally disappear.  

New York and Florida are similar-sized states, yet Florida spends half as much and achieves much better outcomes. If DeSantis achieves the same success at the federal level, millions of federal employees, academics, lobbyists, and others dependent on the government will be out of a job. The vast majority are college-educated elites. Whether on the left or right, this has to be terrifying. No wonder they oppose the man.

This trait may explain why Desantis won the night and improved his position even with less time speaking than others. In truth, only two people on the stage can be the next president: DeSantis and Nicky Haley. 

The former South Carolina Governor exposed Ramaswamy for the lightweight hustler he is. She also revealed Trump as “The most disliked Politian in America,” and Republicans as big spenders. These two form my dream ticket to save America. By the way, was Tim Scott there? I didn’t notice.