The Debates

[Kobi]

I dont know that I agree on the pundits assessment of the debate. I guess it depends on what factors one is using to determine a winner.

Wardrobe - Romney. Red power tie vs purple subdued tie.

Energy - Obama. Frenetic energy is Romneys forte. Frenetic energy tends to be contagious but it is also used to obscure a message. Frenetic energy makes one appear to be dynamic but it is also indicative of desperation and anxiety.

Obama was his usual controlled, low key self. I dont know about anyone else but I would rather the White House be occupied by someone who exudes stability, constancy, and consistency rather than a whirling dervish of contradictions.

Credibility - Obama. The man inhereted a mess. Yet his message has never waivered. It is the hallmark of an incumbent. Romney has always tailors his message to the audience du jour. It is the hallmark of a contender. Obama has always been true to himself. Romney has always been willing to be whatever anyone needs him to be.

Message - Obama. I may not always agree with him but the man has a vision of the bigger picture, the global picture, which is running the world today. He is the pioneer President who has to deal with the never before known hazards of a meltdown of a global economy. He has had to deal with the USA becoming a partner in rather than the leader of the world. Yet, his humanity and his values have never waivered.

Romney, on the other hand, is stuck on a USA only vision. He is stuck spouting policies and ideals which are outdated; economics which have failed miserably in the past and are the antithesis of what is needed for a global economy; and he is panderer.

Personality - Obama. A global economy and global world require thought, cooperation, negotiation, compromise, and a willingness to tackle the hard stuff that challenges ones own values, beliefs and principles.

Romney, no matter how hard he tries, still comes across as a bull in a china shop, a bully, an intimidator, a steamroller, and a control freak. This will not bode well in a global picture. The USA doesnt have the clout or the money to operate this way.

Humor - Obama. Obama is a master of understated irony and he got his digs in. Made me laugh at his cleverness a few times. I dont think Romney even has a humerus.

Ideas - Obama. The man is very reality based. Is a tough world out there. There are no easy answers. There is no Superman or Superwoman who is going to swoop in with a magical elixir and fix all that ails us and the world.

Romney, as a contender, is still relying on selling the fantasy of what he can and will do. It might sound good to some, it might sound like the right thing cuz he is making it seem so simple and easy. If it was that easy, dont you think someone would have done it by now?

He is stuck in Friedman economics which is famous for making 2 classes of people - the obscenely rich and the obscenely poor; and for requiring the exertion of a great deal of control over the masses.

Not exactly the way the pundits called it.

[Gráinne]

I think I disagree with most of the pundits myself, especially after a good night's sleep. I was very upset with Obama, but today I think I'm coming around.

I thought Romney acted as if he'd had several pots of strong coffee and an entire bottle of No-Doz. He jumped in and interrupted the moderator and the President. I thought he was rude and condescending there.

What some are calling listless and tired, I thought was calm and professional. Obama is never going to be Christie, Mr. Fire. He always has been, and always will be, wonky and subdued. He really hadn't changed that much.

I actually thought Obama was smart not to dig with the 47% or Bain. He was sticking to the big picture, not the sideshows (even those that show Romney's character).

Romney also contradicted himself, and I hope the Obama campaign makes use of his statements.

However, I am afraid that voters not familiar with Romney's record watched last night and liked what they saw; more energy, almost a bullyish attitude that some might want to see in foreign policy.

Romney might have "won", but fortunately this was only the first debate, and that news cycle will probably be long gone two weeks from now, or even by next week. I cannot envision how Ryan will make a better impression than Biden.

[~ocean]

I totaty agree w. u Kobi !! also, Romney's constant interuptions. Romeny had to do something to save his campaign , even if it meant to change his stand lol... Obama looked a tad surprised w. Romeny agreeing w. a few things .. like i said b4 ..

**wipes Romneys mouth on both sides**

[princessbelle]

I am a little calmer today as well. But, i still think that Bain and the 47% should have been addressed as well as many other points about Medicare and SS.

Afterall, Medicare is going to change one way or another and many, many of *us* will be the ones that it changes on. Romney was just a yes man last night IMO.

Being a yes man gets many politicians elected. That has been proven over and over. With no real substance, just saying the right things at the right time.

That's what bothers me more than anything. It was a chance to call him out and let the American people know that he has nothing and no plan to back most everything he spewed out.

Again, i believe the debate was not really what it was meant to be. It was more of a "Romney is saying the right things and Obama is standing there looking down and distracted and letting him".

I do believe the next one will be better. I believe that. I have to believe that.

please oh please

[Reader]

Bam is a brilliant strategist. I am hoping he planned this all to give Mitt a false sense of security and also to give him confidence to shoot his mouth off some more.

Maybe he also wanted to make sure everyone who supported him last time, comes out in big numbers for him again like we did last time.

[Martina]

The strategy was for him to look Presidential. And it backfired, especially as Mitt lied and made him look befuddled.

Strategists admitted as much to Politico. It was a big mistake.

In fact, the debate made the President look vulnerable, the opposite of the intention of the strategy.

The President looks beatable. His base is frustrated and demoralized (I am sure temporarily) while Romney's folks are energized.

[Reader]

Originally Posted by Martina

The strategy was for him to look Presidential. And it backfired, especially as Mitt lied and made him look befuddled.

Strategists admitted as much to Politico. It was a big mistake.

In fact, the debate made the President look vulnerable, the opposite of the intention of the strategy.

The President looks beatable. His base is frustrated and demoralized (I am sure temporarily) while Romney's folks are energized.

I appreciate what you are saying. I was ripping angry last night.

But, I meant more of a medium-range strategy. I think, if it WAS an actual strategic move, we won't see its result for a week or so, until the next 2 debates.

[Corkey]

Today there has been a backlash like Obama finally gets it. Robme was being bullish and it showed. Unfortunately most voters don't get the nuances of body language or can tell a lie from spin. I do like what Obama has done today with his speeches.
The President can't do what he did, head down, not look at Robme, not look up from his notes in the next debate. He has to take Robme head on look him directly in the eye and tell him he's a lier.

[Blade]

I wasn't very happy with Obama's debate performance. I didn't think he seemed bored I thought he seemed preoccupied. I mean think about it the Pres. is a busy man with much more on his mind than a debate. Who knows what may have happened yesterday to have caused him to be off his game.

I know many others have mentioned the 47%. If I had that ammunition in my bag of arsenal, I wouldn't use it in the first debate. However I would use it in my last debate. Placement is important. Hopefully in the last debate Obama will toss out a reminder about the 47% comment that Shitty Mitty made and that will be fresh on the minds of voters when they go to the polls. I'll bet the 47% can keep Shitty Mitty out of office. If Obama had mentioned the 47% during this debate...it would give the Romney Camp time to make new commercials to take voters minds off of that comment.

I agree that mediator needs to go back to the rest home.

[BullDog]

Obama gave a good stump speech in Denver today. The frustrating part is why didn't he say a lot of those things last night during the debate.

I expected him to take the presidential route, but not being so passive. To me he appears to be disgusted with Romney and the Republicans with all of their lies and distortions. However, he still has to make his case as to why he should be president for the next four years. Also a big part of being presidential is being in command and appearing strong and decisive.

I watch the electoral college because that is what matters. If Obama's lead in Ohio starts to evaporate I will start sweating bullets. If not, I think he will win. It will be very difficult for Romney to win without Ohio. If Obama wins Ohio and one of the other remaining swing states like Iowa, New Hampshire etc. he is almost certain to win unless something really dramatic happens.

[The_Lady_Snow]

Obama kept calm, perhaps to subdued. He's in a no win situation as a President who isn't white. If he's to confrontational he's the rabid black man if he's to soft he's weak. In my opinion Mittens looked, acted, spoke like he was on a 60oz can of Monster drink, he was pushy, inconsiderate, slobbery and imposing. He danced around, waffled, repeated himself and LIED.

Obama could of been more aggressive but I feel it would of made Mittens more foamy at the mouth. The Moderator SUCKED and it made me cringe when he corrected Obama about his time being up. Mittens Interruptous wasn't spoken to in that manner and that felt icky.

I personally won't expect for Obama to be overly aggressive, it would hurt him since the kooka nuts already paint him as the hateful black Muslim guy.

[Slater]

Originally Posted by Blade

I know many others have mentioned the 47%. If I had that ammunition in my bag of arsenal, I wouldn't use it in the first debate. However I would use it in my last debate. Placement is important. Hopefully in the last debate Obama will toss out a reminder about the 47% comment that Shitty Mitty made and that will be fresh on the minds of voters when they go to the polls. I'll bet the 47% can keep Shitty Mitty out of office. If Obama had mentioned the 47% during this debate...it would give the Romney Camp time to make new commercials to take voters minds off of that comment.

I agree that mediator needs to go back to the rest home.

He can't really use it in the 3rd debate because that one is about foreign policy not domestic policy. And the middle debate isn't so much a debate as it is a joint town hall meeting. Now he might be hoping that things like the 47% and the tax returns will come up in the town hall debate--and likely they will. Then he can run with it without being the one who brought it up.