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Why Obama is likely to blow the second debate too
Hotair ^ | 10/15/2012 | J.E. Dyer

Posted on 10/15/2012 7:14:40 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

The short answer is: because he’s got nothing. There is no record to run on, no argument to make for four more years. The ideology that drives him is outdated and bankrupt. He has, in fact, implemented his policies – Republicans have had little means of stopping him – and those policies are the problem.

But there’s a slightly longer answer too. Obama’s advisors will read the mainstream media assessment of the vice-presidential debate – they actually think a debate that turned women across America off of Biden was a draw, or a Biden win – and conclude that what the president needs to do is find his inner Joe Biden. Appeal to his base by going on the attack, perhaps interrupting, being visibly annoyed at the trend of Romney’s statements, and vigorously asserting untruths in the interest of racking up effective soundbites.

Petulant attack-doggery isn’t Obama’s style, so I don’t predict that he will simply adopt the Biden posture for this week’s debate. What I do think is that Obama and his handlers will be looking to enhance the president’s trademark pace and balance in public speaking (which does descend rather often into a sonorous drone) with more Biden-like spice. This won’t come naturally to Obama, any more than his occasionally put-on “black accent” sounds natural. It’s not who he is, and he won’t be good at it.

Of course, the townhall format this week can be worked to Obama’s advantage, and no doubt will be. Obama need not be thrown softballs, but he will get questions framed to suit the answers he is likely to have – and he probably won’t be troubled much with questions framed in a confrontational manner.

Romney probably will be. He will have to think more quickly on his feet, turning hostile questions into jumping-off points for getting his message across, while conveying a sense of goodwill and avoiding red herrings. If there is a “silly question” for the debaters – say, “If you were an Oscar-winning movie, which one would you be?” – it may well be barbed with false implications about conservatism, Republicans, or even Romney himself.

Romney will have more choices to make in his approach and substance. There are a lot of things he could say; what will be the most effective? We can reasonably suppose he will perform again as well as he did in Debate 1.

Obama doesn’t have those choices, because he’s trying to stay in office – to tend cronies and inflict ideological constraints on the people – using arguments that don’t accurately represent what he’s been doing for nearly four years. He has no intention of changing course, regardless of what the current course is inflicting on the American people. Yet he can’t argue in the campaign for his current course – at least not to anyone but his base – because it is so ridden with failure and the scent of corruption. Americans continue to turn against his signature legislation, ObamaCare, and even the New York Times is beginning to doubt the effectiveness of his foreign policy.

So we can expect to hear more about Romney giving a “$5 trillion tax break” to the richest Americans, along with the other canards about Romney-Ryan policy (e.g., tossing Grandma off the cliff) being trotted out over and over by the Obama campaign. These mendacious soundbites have lost their impact, but what else does Obama have? Personal attacks on Romney?

If the president makes a decision on retaliating in Libya before Tuesday night, he may be able to speak at the debate from a perspective of putative decisiveness, the commander-in-chief moving forces around. A new line of tactical operations would blunt Romney’s justifiable criticism of how the White House has handled the whole matter. I don’t foresee this dynamic winning the debate for Obama – a belated military response has little hope of trumping the public’s nearer-to-home concern about the US economy, the national debt, and constitutional freedoms – but if it comes off, it will probably be gratifying for his Amen corner in the MSM.

Gratifying them is not enough, however. Whether he plays to his base or the MSM, Obama will not be playing to the constituency that matters: the majority of likely voters. His appeal to that constituency in 2008 depended on his being an unknown quantity, and that’s what he no longer is. Obama doesn’t have any more tricks in his bag. This is it.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012debates; debate; obama; romney
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To: traditional1

I have never seen a man more able to keep his cool than Mitt.


21 posted on 10/15/2012 7:34:08 PM PDT by arrogantsob (The Disaster MUST Go. Sarah herself supports Romney.)
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To: arrogantsob

I got to agree with you. Obama has run into one slick dude in Romney. IN the GOP debates they tried to hang a ton of stuff on him and failed.

Newt Gingrich found that out. And I was for Newt at the time.


22 posted on 10/15/2012 7:34:48 PM PDT by crz
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To: sergeantdave

I about spit my drink out on that one! LOL!


23 posted on 10/15/2012 7:36:10 PM PDT by crz
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To: SeekAndFind

I think he will try to make up for his dull performance in the last debate by coming on like gangbusters. He will end up looking hostile and petty.


24 posted on 10/15/2012 7:36:34 PM PDT by TigersEye (dishonorabledisclosure.com - OPSEC (give them support))
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To: SeekAndFind
He has something. Plenty.

The main problem he has is he can't clearly state what he really believes in - communism or socialism or "progressive" politics. He knows the American people won't buy it this time around. He got the benefit of the doubt last time but I think many have figured out what his game really is.

His second big problem is he was never that great of a speaker but McCain was not capable of exploiting that obvious fact.

While I can't say I agree with Mitt on some things I have no worries about if he is a loyal American, understands that everything we are depends on on keeping our nose in the Constitution or understands the simple fact that capitalism and the United States are inseparable and for good reason.

I've said it before and I will say it again. The disgrace in this election is that it remains so close. It shows you that a significant percentage of our population don't have a clue as to what this Country is really all about.

25 posted on 10/15/2012 7:37:28 PM PDT by Condor 63
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To: SeekAndFind

I heard that this will be the first Presidential Debate in history to be covered by a blimp!


26 posted on 10/15/2012 7:38:23 PM PDT by Batman11 (We came for the chicken sandwiches and a Sweet Tea Party broke out!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Trying to decide which one to DVR, the debate or the Tigers game.


27 posted on 10/15/2012 7:39:05 PM PDT by MomwithHope (Buy and read Ameritopia by Mark Levin!)
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To: Batman11

There is no reason to bring Moochelle into this.


28 posted on 10/15/2012 7:40:08 PM PDT by eyedigress ((zOld storm chaser from the west)/?)
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To: SeekAndFind
The Obama campaign has a deal with CNN to have planted questions in the audience. He already knows what's going to be asked. I have a feeling that the reason they want less of a moderator roll in this debate is because it will disturb the already planned questions, and answers. This is a theory that I have, and it is not based on any rumors or anything that I have heard.
29 posted on 10/15/2012 7:40:58 PM PDT by political1 (Love your neighbors)
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To: SeekAndFind

Romney should diss O in a polite way...figure out a way to get under his skin and make him blow his cool and forget his script and go on a rant. Let people see who he really is.


30 posted on 10/15/2012 7:41:19 PM PDT by oneolcop (Lead, Follow or Get the Hell Out of the Way!)
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To: MNJohnnie

What I hear from women that I know is that Joe Biden reminded them either of a) their EX-husband or b) their WORST boyfriend

No wonder Romney’s getting the support of women in the key swing states


31 posted on 10/15/2012 7:46:20 PM PDT by Nifster
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To: arrogantsob
They are going to have to talk to the audience and answer its questions . . .

As I understand it the questions are to come only from undecided voters, and Crowley gets to cherry pick them.

32 posted on 10/15/2012 7:48:40 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew (ABO to the core.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Obama’s first debate performance was no surprise. He’s is a strident ideologue to his core that does great when speaking about a idea, a vision, a new path, a shining way. Now that that the facade of hope and change is worn thin, and he needs to be a politician to even compete in a debate with Romney he has nothing. Nada, zilch to speak about. He’s lousy at politics, is ashamed at his failure to get traction and materialize his great and wonderful ideas. His only refuge will be to attack, and will be made to look foolish by Romney. It will be a slaughter.


33 posted on 10/15/2012 7:48:55 PM PDT by Fzob (In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. Jefferson)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

Rules leaked.

http://gawker.com/5951977/leaked-debate-agreement-shows-both-obama-and-romney-are-sniveling-cowards


34 posted on 10/15/2012 7:49:35 PM PDT by TigerClaws
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To: eyedigress

“There is no reason to bring Moochelle into this.”

That was actually referring to the Candy Gram Blimp that will be covering the debate! But Manchelle’s big butt would also qualify.


35 posted on 10/15/2012 7:49:56 PM PDT by Batman11 (We came for the chicken sandwiches and a Sweet Tea Party broke out!)
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To: eyedigress

LOL!!!


36 posted on 10/15/2012 7:57:30 PM PDT by TXBlair (Don't stop at Hasan's beard; shave off his entire head.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Has the NYT declared Ohbummer the winner yet? You know Mathews has.

Pray for America


37 posted on 10/15/2012 7:59:45 PM PDT by bray (Islam- A billion medieval savages can't be wrong!)
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To: ObozoMustGo2012

Obama will come out stronger this time, but I don’t think Romney will drop the ball either. I thinking it’ll be a tie.


38 posted on 10/15/2012 8:00:34 PM PDT by virgil
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To: tatown
Romney can't play it safe neither, he needs to attack him at every turn. ESPECIALLY the moment Obumbler calls him a lair. To be honest this debate as it stands is hard to tell who will be the victor. I hate this kind of town hall debates... Romney BETTER NOT play it safe....TOO MUCH at stake...the mediaWHORES are salivating at the thought of Obumbler attacking Romney every which way, by audience, moderator and by the bumbling fool! IF Romney stumbles just a bit the mediaWHORES are going to go after him with a vengeance! This could potentially be devastating to Romney...of course I'm just guessing here! I just wish Ryan would have destroyed Biden. Instead he gave them an open door. I know the majority here say Ryan won the debate, but biden emboldened the Demon Muslim and his cronies. They were on life support now they have a chance at a comeback! So let's unite in prayer and ask our Merciful Father in Heaven to give Romney the wisdom of Solomon and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Please join me tomorrow with a day of fasting and prayer before the debate. Romney is going to need all the prayer we can give him.
39 posted on 10/15/2012 8:03:29 PM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: SeekAndFind

What would a narcissist more likely do if the polls after the second debate portray him as losing? Which would cater most to his ego?

Go to the finish line, lose the election and look like a loser
or
Step down before the election using an outrageous excuse and look like a victim.

It’s pretty clear something critical is being planned by this administration.


40 posted on 10/15/2012 8:03:47 PM PDT by 1_Rain_Drop
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