Posted on 10/22/2012 7:10:09 PM PDT by publius321
It is unbelievable that Mitt Romney did not answer a direct question teed up for him by the moderator Bob Schieffer - regarding the question of whether Obama mislead the American people over the unmitigated debacle and possible treason that was Benghazi. He gave Romney an open end question, inviting him to address the Libya debacle.
Romney chose to ignore the question and instead recite a monologue that sounded like a canned political speech.
Romney then allowed Obama to interrupt him and take over the question that was actually posed to himself - not Obama.
It became evident six minutes into the debate that Mitt Romney either did no debate prep or he is deliberately going into the notorious "prevent defense" - weeks before the election.
It was absolutely inconceivable that the Romney campaign could find a way to actually allow this saboteur to put ROMNEY on the defensive minutes into the debate - yet he DID. Dear God it is unbelievable. I am stunned.
People will zone out over the details of foreign policy.
What matters now is how their comportment is perceived.
Who comes across as more mature and Presidential.
Who expresses petulance or anger.
The latest on Benghazi is the annex was an intelligence gathering post. Romney's getting intel briefings and someone evidently advised him not to overreach on this (loose lips sink ships). Peter King and Darrell Issa know what they're doing. Benghazi ain't going away.
Regardless, the PEW poll shows a big majority don't like Zero's foreign policy. He's toast.
The latest on Benghazi is the annex was an intelligence gathering post. Romney's getting intel briefings and someone evidently advised him not to overreach on this (loose lips sink ships). Peter King and Darrell Issa know what they're doing. Benghazi ain't going away.
Regardless, the PEW poll shows a big majority don't like Zero's foreign policy. He's toast.
“Romney appears very Presidential tonight. Frankly Obama is interrupting, scowling and being a pretentious jerk. Just my $00.02.
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I think you’re right...I guess I was wound a little tight and wanting a “knockout punch.”
Cooler heads than mine have prevailed. Romney did fine.
This is the only one that Obama won scored on points like a H.S. debate (the media’s claims about the second debate notwithstanding) — though Romney’s closing might have meant he swayed public opinion his way a bit more, which is the real point of these.
Unfortunately, the whole thing was a disaster. The real winner tonight was Ayman al-Zawahiri. Neither showed any understanding of al Qaeda’s strategic vision, both wanted to avert their eyes from the world, and from the Muslim world in particular, and natter on about their domestic agendas. Romney’s program for the Arab world is pure vaporware; Obama’s pretending the loss of North Africa to the Muslim Brotherhood, or worse hard-core salafists, is a triumph for democracy, with Romney chiming in in support; they both want to back the Sunni insurgents in Syria.
When you watched the debate the results were much different....Romney was a big winner. The look and mannerisms of Obama was not of someone Presidential. (at least not in a free country)
I couldn't decide if Obama looked angry, depressed, or evil? Perhaps the look of all three.
Obama looked confused.
As to Mr Ryan this is not a football game, Hail Mary passes were not needed. If it were football I would say Romney went into this 4th quarter debate with a 2 touchdown lead; Obama scored 1 touchdown and Romney scored a field goal to win the debate game by 10 points.
PPP snap poll, and PPP is a dem outfit, shows 48-32 more people think Romney helped himself. Exact opposite for Obama. Romney did exactly what he needed to do, avoid Obama painting him as the mad CIC anxious to deploy boots in every country in Africa. Obama was Obama, a petuant, rude, marxist prick. Personally I don’t think that wins elections.
He sure knows how to spend a lot of money and get nothing in return.
First I thought what you said. But then thinking more deeply, I now think Romney did not need to come across as a street brawler. R+R are already ahead and gaining in polls. Romney’s main objective had to be to not come across as a war monger. He achieved that goal in spades.
Very cool.
My blood pressure is down, my adrenaline level is back to normal...
You are right. Romney did great, and exactly what he needed to do.
And he avoided the land mines that were no doubt laid for him.
“He needs to look like Ronald Reagan.”
Or, paraphrase a great line from Richard Nixon.
Nixon in 1968: “I say that when respect for the United States — respect for the United States has fallen all over the world — but when is has fallen so low, that a fourth-rate military power will hijack an American naval vessel in international waters, then it is time for new leadership for the American people.”
Romney could have said: “I say that when respect for the United States — respect for the United States has fallen all over the world — but when is has fallen so low, that a terrorist group in a fourth-rate country will assassinate our ambassador and his staff, then it is time for new leadership for the American people.”
“He needs to look like Ronald Reagan.”
Or, paraphrase a great line from Richard Nixon.
Nixon in 1968: “I say that when respect for the United States — respect for the United States has fallen all over the world — but when is has fallen so low, that a fourth-rate military power will hijack an American naval vessel in international waters, then it is time for new leadership for the American people.”
Romney could have said: “I say that when respect for the United States — respect for the United States has fallen all over the world — but when is has fallen so low, that a terrorist group in a fourth-rate country will assassinate our ambassador and his staff, then it is time for new leadership for the American people.”
Sometimes its better to keep the lips zipped, and Romney has a mind that could see problems if he said something and then had to appear in a courtroom if Obama was to be tried for some event, frankly I think it did the wise decision, of course some people will disagree.
Romney’s been consistently surging in the polls for the past two weeks. Why would he want to risk anything when he’s got the Big Mo?
It was Obama that needed the game-changer tonight, because the game is not going his way. He is the one who was forced to take risks tonight, and in doing so came off a bit Biden-esque, which I think is going to cost him.
Absolutely nothing wrong with the way Romney played it. Sure, I’d love to see Obama get a massive pummeling during the debate. But I’ll love even more to see Obama get a massive pummeling at the ballot box in 14 days.
The author is clearly too young to remember the 1994 senate race. It's deja vu all over again - - back in '94, Romney came out of the chute strong and even had an early lead over Kennedy. A lot of people in Massachusetts (believe it or not) were itching for a conservative to vote for. But Romney soon decided the "safe thing" to do would be to run scared from the Boston Globe and so he went into full, "oh-yeah?-I'm-just-as-liberal-as-Teddy!" mode and proceeded to lose in a landslide.
As they always say about the "prevent defense" - - it prevents you from winning. Romney's inability or unwillingness to go for the throat makes him look weak. But maybe that's just because he IS weak.
That’s excellent!
I have to disagree, publius.
When someone leaves themselves wid eopen, sometimes it’s a trap, and that’s what it was. Mitt avoided the trap and appeared as presidential as Ronaldus Magnus in my opinion.
Obama apeared like a tiny little boy compared to Mitt.
The illustration was stark.
Instead the Stupid Party (R) manages to put "the other side of the aisle" as their nominee in the form of a gun grabbing, baby murdering, homosexual marriage supporting liberal. What's even more laughable are those that proudly, and stupidly, claim Myth is "conservative."
Because murdering babies, "marrying" homosexuals, and banning "assault weapons" are conservative principles.
In fact these principles are so ingrained in conservatism it says "Welcome to Free Republic, America's exclusive site for fake mormon "gods," pro-abortion, anti-gun, "marriage" equality conservatives," at the top of the site.
Across the aisle pandering; it's not just for Juan McCain anymore.
If Bob has a question about whether Obama (deliberately) misled America about the 9-11-2012 terrorist attack on a US embassy, he would have pointed asked Mr. Obama directly.
Asking the OTHER candidate to draw that conclusion is the coward’s way out. The media are in the tank for Obama 2012.
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