Republican South Carolina Debate

Six small men walked onto a small stage in a small South Carolina city. Each hoped to earn stature as a giant who could walk onto a much larger world stage. Other hopefuls have already fallen from the path, culled not by actual elections, but as victims of pollsters, bloggers, pundits and members of a highly partisan press. Now people from one of the original thirteen colonies are scheduled to provide either head or tail winds, propelling the "chosen" one to captain the sinking ship called America. Which one exhibited knowledge, temperament and charisma necessary to reunite a highly fractured country?

Ben Carson observed he had a proven track record of going where no man had ever gone before and therefore no one had relevant experience for these changing times. He hopes to take that skill, which he called judgement, to lead this country to reclaim its world role as a powerful and godly nation.

John Kasich observed the shouting, interruptions, and general disarray around the stage and called for a kumbaya moment. He thinks he has the savvy to deal with people who say, "Death to America," with tact and forbearance.

Jeb Bush defended his family and the past without much comment on direction for the future. His strongest credential was his ability to help Florida swiftly recover after numerous natural disasters. There was some debate as to whether his term in office left the state financially well off or in debt.

Marco Rubio, determined to not repeat his robotic New Hampshire performance, was solid in his denial that he never said or did what the record shows he did say and do regarding amnesty.... a heated exchange with Ted Cruz degenerated into a childish you did, I did not, you did, I did not shouting match.

Donald Trump, son of a rich man, parleyed his inheritance into a successful commercial empire. In the business world, one sets a vision. Trump did, "Make America Great Again." After that he failed to articulate what comes next...setting goals, establishing strategies to reach these goals and then allocating resources and creating programs to reach goals within the overarching framework of the vision. He yelled, got red in the face, called some fellow candidates, "liars," and generally acted like a schoolyard bully, not the temperament I would want to observe in a man I would want to follow as we move into increasingly troubled times. Yes the American people want to end political correctness, want honesty and not duplicity, are tired of the same old same old Washington gridlock and want to see something done. I am just not sure we want "The Donald" as our savior.

Ted Cruz realizes the problem is Washington and big government is not the solution. He has devoted his life to defending the Constitution, a document that offers the best hope for self government. He offers vision, goals, strategy, and programs. He has a track record. He is willing to define an enemy and to annihilate that enemy. He has the temperament, world stage presence and ability to restore America.

There was but one man on that stage who deserves our votes.