Romney did well in 1st Presidential Debate

[Guest]

i watched the debate and thought both cadidates did well. they both explained their ideas and principles clearly, niether commited any gaffes, and neither landed any hard punches on the other. all of the criticisms they brought up were just more politely stated versions of the stuff they've been saying in ads and on the stump for months. also they were both largely respectful towards each other, and occasionally allowed that they agreed on certain points. compared to the contentiousness of the Republican primary debates, this looked like a love fest, not to mention pretty boring.

so i'm a little confused by the pundit reaction this morning. i suspect a lot of liberal commentators were alarmed that Obama didn't push back aggressively on the lies that Romney repeated. i don't really share their concern. for one thing, Obama is the one currently sitting on a formidable lead in the electoral college, so he could afford to sit back some -- the pressure to move votes was all on Romney. and also, these lies are not new -- so whatever affect they have on voters is largely already "priced in". furthermore, some of these lies have been debunked so thoroughly by now that polls are finding people are wising up to them. case in point, the $700B Medicare "cut" lie (which Romney repeated like 10 times) is no longer getting the traction it once did, as Ryan's reception at AARP also clearly shows.

one thing i will say for Romney though. by finally tacking toward the center, etch-a-sketching many of his unpopular proposals, putting on the 'compassionate conservative' mask, and dialing down the dickishness, he made by far the most appealing pitch to voters that he's made thus far in the campaign. as David Frum put it, "I like Debate Romney way better than Platform Romney." if we'd seen this Romney earlier in the race, things could have turned out much differently.

anyway, this was likely Romney's best last chance to change the trajectory of the race. if he doesn't have a small lead in the tracking polls and in Florida, OH, VA by the end of the week i'd say he's toast.

[_bcspace]

I agree that he won on style points. But is that really an accurate measure of being a strong leader of a country?

Liberals seem to have been and continue to be banking on the likability factor, a very similar type of measure.

he made by far the most appealing pitch to voters that he's made thus far in the campaign

Complete BS. He's been making this kind of pitch from day one. The mainstream media won't normally let you see it.

[_subgenius]

I agree that he won on style points. But is that really an accurate measure of being a strong leader of a country?

without a doubt it is, has been for quite some time...the modern day President, etc..is titular, and intends to only represent a platform etc......much like the accuracy of a genotype is all that measures one deserving to be Queen!
Not to say that some degree of competence is not required...but in America...anyone can be President!

[_subgenius]

i watched the debate and thought both cadidates did well. they both explained their ideas and principles clearly, niether commited any gaffes, and neither landed any hard punches on the other. all of the criticism they brought up were just more politely stated versions of the stuff they've been saying in ads and on the stump for months. also they were both largely respectful towards each other, and occasionally allowed that they agreed on certain points. compared to the contentiousness of the Republican primary debates, this looked like a love fest, not to mention pretty boring.

wow, which debate were you watching?
Obama had his hat handed to him - that is not an opinion, but as close to a fact in politics as it ever gets.

so I'm a little confused by the pundit reaction this morning. i suspect a lot of liberal commentators were alarmed that Obama didn't push back aggressively on the lies that Romney repeated. i don't really share their concern. for one thing, Obama is the one currently sitting on a formidable lead in the electoral college, so he could afford to sit back some

Huh? votes have not been counted yet....Obama's "formidable lead" is speculation...

-- the pressure to move votes was all on Romney. and also, these lies are not new -- so whatever affect they have on voters is largely already "priced in". furthermore, some of these lies have been debunked so thoroughly by now that polls are finding people are wising up to them. case in point, the $700B Medicare "cut" lie (which Romney repeated like 10 times) is no longer getting the traction it once did, as Ryan's reception at AARP also clearly shows.

of course the pressure is on Romney....that is why he is being called the "challenger".

one thing i will say for Romney though. by finally tacking toward the center, etch-a-sketching many of his unpopular proposals, putting on the 'compassionate conservative' mask, and dialing down the dickishness, he made by far the most appealing pitch to voters that he's made thus far in the campaign. as David Frum put it, "I like Debate Romney way better than Platform Romney." if we'd seen this Romney earlier in the race, things could have turned out much differently.

you mean debate Romney versus "news clip" Romney. Nicely veiled concession here, but to the rest of us, it was obvious who won the debate. Rationalize the loss however you like, but it can't be spun into a win like you are trying to do here.

anyway, this was likely Romney's best last chance to change the trajectory of the race. if he doesn't have a small lead in the tracking polls and in Florida, OH, VA by the end of the week i'd say he's toast.

Tell that to Al Gore

[_subgenius]

anyway, this was likely Romney's best last chance to change the trajectory of the race. if he doesn't have a small lead in the tracking polls and in Florida, OH, VA by the end of the week i'd say he's toast.

a footnote about polls
http://www.gallup.com/poll/157835/ameri ... bates.aspx
"Americans Predict Obama Will Do a Better Job in Debates"
57% to 33% before debate (Obama to Romney) - will do
then the after debate poll
25% to 67% after debate (Obama to Romney) - actually did

[_Brackite]

Mitt Romney clearly did well in the debate last night, because he has the gift of the Holy Ghost.

[_palerobber]

He's been making this kind of pitch from day one. The mainstream media won't normally let you see it.

yes, from day one he's been talking about the importance of regulation, working with Democrats, helping the poor (a particular concern of his), federal spending on education, and absolutely positively not cutting everyone's taxes by $5B. it was just that the "mainstream media" (which i don't read or watch) wasn't letting me see it.

[_msnobody]

I hate to say it, but Romney wiped the floor with Obama tonight. I felt embarrassed for Obama. His stammering rambling remarks were almost as bad as Clint Eastwood's at the RNC. I still think Mitt's a douchebag, but he came across as a stronger leader tonight.

I think he wiped the floor with O'bama too and in my opinion, he did it gracefully.

[_moksha]

I heard about half the debate on the radio, and I was actually more impressed with Obama.

The overpowering nature of Romney's winning smirk could not be seen through the radio. You had only the words to contend with.

Right now I think the vote will tally in favor of Romney 53-47%. How can he lose when he has both sides of every issue covered?

[_palerobber]

Obama had his hat handed to him - that is not an opinion, but as close to a fact in politics as it ever gets.

yeah i'm aware that was the general consensus of the "mainstream media". but can you actually back up that opinion with any specifics from the debate itself? what were Romney's top 2or 3 moments which viewers will still remember a week from now and which will sway them over to Romney's side?

Huh? votes have not been counted yet....Obama's "formidable lead" is speculation...

sorry, but the consensus of scientifically conducted public opinion polls isn't 'speculation', it's evidence. and currently the evidence suggests Romney is losing the E.C., badly. even if he were able to win every state where Obama currently leads in polls by 5 points or less (using RCP composites), he'd still lose the E.C.

of course the pressure is on Romney....that is why he is being called the "challenger".

no, the pressure is on him because he's trailing by 2 touchdowns in the 4th quarter.

you mean debate Romney versus "news clip" Romney. Nicely veiled concession here, but to the rest of us, it was obvious who won the debate. Rationalize the loss however you like, but it can't be spun into a win like you are trying to do here.

no, i mean Platform Romney -- the guy who proposed voucherizing Medicare to help pay for another round of huge tax cuts for the rich. nothing veiled about my praise for Romney here, he helped himself tremendously by ignoring the advice of the fringe right on how to best make his case Wed., and by pretending not to know Platform Romney (my favorite was the almost hurt quality in his voice when he sincerely denied wanting to give everyone a big tax cut).

we'll see how much of a loss it was for Obama when the next polls come out for Florida, OH, VA.