It was a total rout. Romney dominated the debate from beginning to end. Obama was attempting to sit on a lead which is the worst strategy against an able opponent, and Romney demonstrated that he is a very able opponent tonight in spades. A few thoughts:
1. Best Performance Since Reagan-I have watched every presidential debate. Except for the 1980 Carter-Reagan debate I have never seen any debate where one candidate dominated as much as Romney did tonight.
2. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs-Romney kept the focus fixed throughout the debate on the 23,000,000 unemployed and continually returned to the subject of job creation.
3. Teleprompter Where Art Thou?-Obama gave a wretched performance. He rarely looked at Romney, while Romney always looked at him. Obama either looked at the moderator or had his head bent down, looking at his notes, with a half smirk on his face. His answers meandered and often had no point. Obama needs to dump Lurch, (Senator Kerry), and get someone to coach him who can actually prepare him for a debate. His performance was pathetic, and even his most rabid partisans, as indicated by the video of Chris “Tingle up my leg” Matthews at the beginning of this post indicates, realize it.
4. Mitt the King Wonk-The amount of detailed knowledge that Romney had at his fingertips was astounding. I know it astounded Obama, the pretender policy wonk.
5. Lehrer the Zombie-Before the debate began I thought Jim Lehrer was looking incredibly old. Romney was able to push him aside effortlessly and talk about what he wanted to talk about. Lehrer attempted to throw a few lifelines to Obama when Obama was floundering but his efforts were futile. Lehrer has moderated many presidential debates, but I guarantee the Democrats will make certain this is his last one.
6. Change-Romney clearly indicated throughout the evening that he was going to change the policies of the Federal government, and Obama was cast as the champion of the status quo. In a time when the great majority of the American people believe the nation is on the wrong track, standing pat is a disastrous stance.
7. Drinking his Kool-Aid-Obama obviously believed his own campaign propaganda of Romney being an inept rich guy who wasn’t in his league. One of the biggest errors in politics is to believe your own campaign talking points.
8. With a Smile-Like Reagan Romney unleashed a root and branch attack on his opponent and did it with a pleasant demeanor. That is a devastating combination against an incumbent president.
9. Stature Gap Gone-Any challenger has a stature gap with a President. Debating a President usually closes the gap. After tonight, Obama has a negative stature gap with Romney.
10. Biden to the Rescue!-One Democrat stated that after this debacle the pressure would be on Biden to win his debate with Paul Ryan. Yeah, good luck with that one!
If this were a fight, it would have been stopped. The referee would have determined that one fighter (President Obama) didn’t want to be there. Therefore for his own safety, the fight would have to be stopped. One need only look at the meltdown that Chris Matthews just exhibited toward President Obama on MSNBC. In addition, look at the comments of Andrew Sullivan, “disaster,” and Bill Maher saying maybe the President does need a teleprompter. Governor Romney won a lot of votes tonight which means the attack machine is going to be amped up like never before.
I am no fan of Romney, but I’ll give the guy credit, he seems very sincere and capable when debating an empty chair.
With regards to point #3, even Bill Maher Tweeted that Obama needed a teleprompter. My only worry is that Romney gets overconfident.
Romney was very smart not to let Obama and Lehrer work as a team. However debates don’t change votes; at best they keep everyone who is not sold on the other guy from defecting or staying home. Romney would need to do something similar in every debate to get a point or two from the other side.
Watched the debate at my mate’s place on Fox, with a check on CNN afterwards, plus Hannity. Romney waa certainly a clear winner. Obama’s body language was not good – looked like a loser. But things will be very different next debate. i don’t think Romney has any illusions about winning the first debate – a good mouthful does not a meal make. Obama’s team will have him attack much more, and Romney will be aware of it – the gloves will be off.
I think it was telling that, in his closing address, Romney referred to the Constitution, with an emphasis on “Our Creator”. Excellent. I hope he keeps up the attack, and the principles.
The closings:
Seems like the debate reminded the current President that he likes Americans tonight; for giving up perks to stay in business and finding meaning in building cars ‘n stuff, because he promised to keep on supporting them the way he has been, and if they vote for him … he promises. Maybe during October, November, and December, he’ll do some good for a change as a courtesy to Americans, if he can rise above the msnbc plan.
Gov. Romney wants to do the work of President of the United States because he both loves this country and its foundation and is capable to do so. For how much more can Americans ask? We are so lucky to have this man for a candidate. Things are a such a huge mess.
Keep in mind there are 8 days before the next debate which is the Vice Presidential debate. The onus is on the President now who is a known commodity. Though Mitt Romney is well known to us political junkies, he was not to a good many Americans. The Governor can simply say the characticature of me seen on the negative attack ads are false and what you saw in the debate and in my term as Governor of a very liberal state (the Commonwealth of Massachussets) is the real Mitt Romney.
The President and the media going on the attack against Governor Romney risk being seen in a even more negative light than they are already seen by a good many Americans. A very good night for Mitt Romney, a real game changer as seen by a CNN poll that shows he won 2-1, and focus groups of independent voters that state they are definitely leaning toward Romney. Remember before the debate, polls indicated that voters expected President Obama to win the debate 2-1.
David.
I can’t believe that the result from the first debate is a game changer. Sure, Romney has shown himself to be “human” – not the ogre portrayed by the Dem attack ads. But if he can perform in the next two debates as he has done here, then the game MAY change.
Jim Lehrer did what any good moderator should do. He got out of the way and let the candidates have at it. The last thing I want to see in a debate is the moderator demanding “control”. In fact they should not even be there at all. The candidates should question each other directly, with only a timekeeper to keep some semblance of order, but as long as there is a moderator and/or panel, picked from the national press corps, Jim Lehrer is about as good as it is going to get.
Happy to hear that Mitt did well.
I was watching the Bronx Bombers put away the AL East championship against their arch-rival BoSox, 14 – 2.
I wouldn’t have watched the debate if they paid me. Obama nauseates me.
Don’t get cocky.
Seems even Matthews can’t put lipstick on that incumbent. Put Chris on suicide watch.
Chris,
I agree about Lehrer. “In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.”
I am overjoyed.
Don the Kiwi, hope all is well down under. Actually, I am not being a big Romney cheerleader, as I didn’t vote for Governor Romney in the primary (I voted for Senator Santorum.) However, when any candidate, sports team actor, actress, business leader etc rises to the top on emotion, hoopla etc. they are bound to have a big crash. It is the law of physics.
The Middle East expert Dr. Fouad Ajami noted in a revelatory Wall Street Journal article in October of 2008 that he had seen the Obama effect before in the Middle East; where leaders were treated as conquering heroes only to come crashing down to earth. The Greek columns from President Obama’s 2008 Denver convention speech are cracking as we speak. He wouldn’t be the first charsimatic leader to see his fortunes come tumbling down Mt. Olympus.
I didn’t get to watch the debate last night, but this is about as unanimous a verdict I’ve ever seen regarding a presidential debate since I started following politics.
I disagree slightly with Rozin. First of all, John Kerry was helped by good debate performances, closing the gap between he and Bush after the first set of debates (though one could argue that correlation does not equal causation). Second, many Republicans and conservatives before last night had become convinced that Romney was all but finished, and now there has been a marked revitalization of spirits. Don’t discount the impact on voter enthusiasm, especially among the GOP.
what I enjoyed was the gentle and forthright way that Romney corrected the mendacity, pointing it out quietly (not shouting– as that one guy did during a State of the Union speech)
I would have liked a direct discussion of the Three Branches. The arrogance of this pres is to in effect put the Supreme Court on trial in a real battle for Supremacy.
Pres. Obama disrespects of the Supreme Court- dissing them at his S of the U speech, and on a regular daily basis with DOMA etc —
PZ I think we are in violent agreement. Debates don’t convince the other side’s voters to switch, they can only work on people who already are leaning against the other candidate. If a majority has decided or “all but decided” to vote for Obama (or Romney) then the debates wouldn’t matter at all. Fortunately, I don’t think Obama has anywhere close to 50% committed to him (FWIW Rasmussen put the number at 42%).
Recommendations for Romney and GOP:
Be humble.
“If you would be loved, be lovable.” Ben Franklin
Work harder.
Here’s the real reason Obama lost:
http://www.politico.com/politico44/2012/10/gore-blames-obama-debate-performance-on-denvers-altitude-137503.html?hp=r1
wow- blame atmospheric pressure! Blame Mr. Lehrer. Is there any way Sarah Palin can be blamed?
Credit Romney, credit all the thorough Republican debates last year. Credit the power of all the prayers going up all over this country!
Phillip I guess the answer to Chris M. question “where was O?” is
He disappeared into thin air!
One must be careful with decreased air pressure when one is an airhead.
Where was “O?” He was looking for his chair…
Anzlyne, yes as to your credits. Last night, I couldn’t turn on the TV thinking about preserving my mental ‘health’ from media, as I already have the season’s ‘flu’. I went to mittromney.com debate page and watched the tweets. Don’t have tweets or facebook things here, but it was as close as possible for me. I had time to allow consider ation of how deeply we, as a people, need some reason and sanity to antidote the daily government and media poison dosed out for these years – not as an excuse to be ‘cocky’, but as an acceptable reality in the world to breathe, if even for an evening.
Mostly, it was a powerful experience to consider that Our Lord in Heaven has somehow had a hand in bringing hope to so many with this event by lifting hearts. I fell asleep trying to say thanks for so much.
Before the debate began I thought Jim Lehrer was looking incredibly old.
He is 78. His sidekick Robert MacNeill retired 19 years ago.
Anzlyne says:
“I would have liked a direct discussion of the Three Branches. The arrogance of this pres is to in effect put the Supreme Court on trial in a real battle for Supremacy.
Pres. Obama disrespects of the Supreme Court-”
I, too, enjoyed the gentleness of the debates. I appreciated the way Romney did not let Lehrer cut him off, William Buckley style.
from President Obama, one of his 923 executive orders:
“EXECUTIVE ORDER 11921 provides that when a state of emergency is declared by the President, Congress cannot review the action for six months.”
Who will reinstate representative government if Congress is defunct? Who will represent the people? Obama has overruled all of our unalienable rights and our sovereignty and wishes to give us over to be taxed by the United Nations. Anything Obama might have said last night would have given away the fact that he does not ascribe to our founding principles. The anger on his face when Romney did speak of our Constitution and Declaration of Independence, but I did not hear Obama growl. Maybe next time.
I’ve got to pat myself on the back for a moment. I’m usually terrible at calling this kind of thing, but a couple of weeks ago I said that Romney needs to embrace Romneycare as proof that he can work with the opposition, and then hammer at the President for his partisanship. The President wouldn’t be prepared for it. It seems to have worked. Although, from the look of it, the President wasn’t prepared for much of anything.
Excellent editorial:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443768804578036490415028514.html
Romney came out swinging and Obama looked as if he was uncomfortable up there.
You know its bad when the New Yorker does this:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/10/cover-story-the-first-presidential-debate.html
I was astounded by that Phillip. It has been interesting to see the degree of scorn that Obama’s poor performance has earned from the port side of our politics.
DID OBAMA REALLY LOSE—OR WAS HIS PERFORMANCE PART OF AN OVERALL DEBATE STRATEGY THAT HE WILL DEPLOY IN THE FUTURE?
It is so easy to conclude that Obama lost in the last debate or for Obama’s antagonists to claim that he can’t debate. Sen. McCain cautions against such assumptions, saying Obama should not be under-estimated by his opponent. Let us recall that Obama did quite well in many debates as he sought the Presidency in 2007-2008. Now, here is my take on Obama’s debate encounter with Romney on September 3, 2012:
As it unfolded, I, like almost everyone else, was puzzled, frustrated, even angry about Obama’s performance. Upon further reflection long after the event, I have come to the following conclusions:
1. At that debate, Obama was feeling his opponent out, trying to draw him out knowing there are future debates. That partly explains Obama’s smiles and smirks as the debate went on. So, he let Romney exhaust himself on his main arguments, talking points and spins, some would say on his many prevarications, about-faces and falsehoods. He made these statements before a huge national. He can’t retract or correct them in future without losing credibility—and, by pundits’ count, Romney made about 28 mendacious statements that night. He has already tried to correct one—that his own health care law in Mass. has a provision for pre-existing condition.
2. Therefore, since the debate, Obama has gone on the offensives debunking or making fun of Romney’s false and misleading assertions. Expect him to do so even more aggressively in the second debate! He would be hammering Romney on his false logic, bad math and deliberate lies, though he may not outrightly call them “lies.”
3. At the debate, Obama revealed little of himself. So Romney has little to work on. At the debate, Romney was out to prove himself and reverse a bad trend. Obama simply watched—at the end he said ominously that he “enjoyed it.” Obama did not even get into Romney’s disastrous 47% comments. Thus, he denied Romney the opportunity to pedal back before a national audience.
4. Having set Romney up, Obama would be ready for the kill in the next encounter! He knows and can anticipate Romney’s well-rehearsed answers. Obama will do his home work on all of those. Romney can’t on Obama’s; he doesn’t know.
5. The final debate on foreign policy is uniquely Obama’s territory. Romney know little that is meaningful here except what former Bush aids would feed him. But Bush is toxic for this election season. Here, Romney would receive his final body blow!
6. Finally, the new job report bodes well for Obama. It takes the wind out of Romney’s sail. It undercuts severely his main selling point. Obama wins!
“It is so easy to conclude that Obama lost in the last debate”
Because it is a self-evident fact.
“At that debate, Obama was feeling his opponent out,”
If so, what Obama discovered is that he is up against an opponent who can out-think and out-talk him.
“Therefore, since the debate, Obama has gone on the offensives”
Completely ineffectually, judging from the polls and early voting which show Romney surging, especially in the key states of Florida, Ohio and Virginia.
“At the debate, Obama revealed little of himself.”
Little that we didn’t already know. He is inarticulate without a teleprompter. His policy knowledge is lacking. He tends to allow his unfiltered statements to meander badly and often pointlessly.
“Obama would be ready for the kill in the next encounter!”
The next debate will be the Veep debate and I expect Biden to be badly humiliated in that, adding to the Romney momentum. I doubt if Obama will manage better than a draw in the last two debates, and there is always the possibility that Obama will come across as over the top and desperate if he attempts to overcompensate for his passive and unagressive stance in the first debate.
“Finally, the new job report bodes well for Obama”
It really doesn’t. The vast majority of voters understand that the economy is wretched and these last minute “save Obama’s” job numbers are being met with cynicism and derision.
“The vast majority of voters understand that the economy is wretched and these last minute “save Obama’s” job numbers are being met with cynicism and derision.”
Yes. Just one example:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/jack-welch-refuses-to-back-down-on-unemployment-numbers-in-fiery-exchange-with-chris-matthews/
Brilliant satire, Dr. Sam, though I don’t think you’re quite ready for the New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/10/obamas-old-friends-react-to-the-debate.html?mobify=0
To sum up: Obama lost the debate because he’s too awesome.
I wouldn’t write off Dr. Sam completely. I saw the entire debate and Obama could have embarassed Romney to no end on two points that I was aware of…but Obama didn’t. Romney said he would create 12 million jobs but Wall Streeters like Romney know that Moody’s Analytics and other financial advisory companies are saying the economy will produce 12 million jobs no matter who wins.
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/economy/247081-experts-say-economy-should-grow-despite-who-wins-white-house-in-november
Secondly Romney stated he would increase Medicaid and do so by inflation plus 1%. That’s actually a big cut because unlike low ordinary inflation (2.4% for 2013), medical related inflation is projected to be 7.5% for 2013.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/31/us-usa-healthcare-costs-idUSBRE84U05620120531
So Romney will really be giving Medicaid half what it needs ( if it had no misuse which it does like most programs ). When I saw both moments ( the 12 million jobs and ” I’ll increase medicaid” ), I said to myself…this guy could sell lemon ice in the Antartic. But Obama knew Romney was conning the average listener ( not the above average listener who already know who they’ll vote for…if they are in a state where it will make any difference electorially.)
Obama could have murdered Romney on either the 12 million or the medicaid increase and he did not. My impression was that Obama had something intimate bothering him….or Dr. Sam can’t be ruled out.
“or Dr. Sam can’t be ruled out.”
Oh yes he can be. Obama is no Machiavellian genius, but rather a fairly typical liberal politician who had immense good luck when he ran for the White House in 2008. Now he has four years of failure behind him, and is confronted with the first competent opponent he has confronted in his political career.
Perhaps both Bill and Sam agree with the college students reported elsewhere who think Obama should be allowed a teleprompter for the next two debates.
Of course it is entirely possible that Romney, having demolished Obama in the first debate, will feel it would be running up the score if he made him look bad in the last 2 debates.
Rozin,
I’m against Obama way more than I’m against Romney but the debate showed that economics oral debates are a contradiction in terms. They should be done on paper as exchanges of researched responses…but the fast moving pragmatic US voter population would not read the debate on paper or on internet because the position texts would be hyper detailed and endless and boring to most voters.
Secondly Romney stated he would increase Medicaid and do so by inflation plus 1%. That’s actually a big cut because unlike low ordinary inflation (2.4% for 2013), medical related inflation is projected to be 7.5% for 2013.
1. You have a news report of an analysis done by one agency. I would not take the number at face value.
2. Much of Medicaid is devoted not to medical care but to the financing of nursing homes. Nursing homes house people, feed people, and give personal care, not services given to technology-driven cost inflation. There are rehabilitation services on site and attending physicians, but these are not financed by Medicaid.
Bill,
If you are saying that debates tell us very little about a candidate’s qualifications for executive office (as opposed to legislative office) I agree wholeheartedly. Also any plan is subject to the vagaries of Congress unless like Obama you plan to rule by fiat. However an incumbent has a quite different situation than a challenger. You would expect an incumbent to know exactly what he/she has done and why they did it and be able to explain in great detail how things happened. The debate proved what was apparent to anyone paying attention the last four years: President Obama is a goof-off who doesn’t work at the job but spends his time in recreational activities, and reading from a teleprompter at various places. Given his lack of experience and general arrogance it is not clear that him paying attention would have greatly improved the product I admit. The parties and the people have to wake up and stop nominating and electing people without sufficient executive experience and proven ability.
overheard in department lounge: “rope – a – dope” “busy with high level secret stuff in middle east”
Art Deco,
Medicaid covers 40% of the child deliveries ( prenatal and postpartum too) in the U.S inter alia. 40% of all births in the country. Go here:
http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Population/By-Population.html
Art Deco,
ps….google ” nursing home inflation”. You’ll see articles to the effect that it too fast outpaces normal inflation.
Bill,
I’m not sure what your point is unless you mean to say that taxpayers have to subsidize any cost no matter what. This was known in the old days as a cost-plus contract and for good reasons no one engages in it anymore (I hope). This is the usual Leftist argument used by Obama and every other Dem.” How dare you cut anything from teachers contracts!! How dare you cut the size and budget of anything we are already doing. How dare you not increase every budget by 7% every year no matter what.” This is how Dems end up saying Repubs want to kill seniors women and children. Why don’t you call up some people in Greece, Spain, Italy and similar places and let us know how they are doing on all their cost-plus benefits and services.
Ahem
“So Romney will really be giving Medicaid half what it needs . . . ”
When I read that, here’s what jumped upon my alleged intellect “Who gives my family and me any of what we need?”
But, that’s just me. I’m one of the execrable 53%.
And, 48 (or so) years after they declared War on Poverty, 49,000,000 Americans live in poverty. That’s a poor return for the $16,000,000,000,000.17 invested.
The progressives created a leviathan: ignorant, uneducated, illiterate, dependent, people filled with envy, hate, gluttony, lust, sloth, wrath all of whom voting Democrat. The demagogues promise more entitlements and are re-elected ad infinitum. Career GOP pols don’t cut entitlements for fear of being demagogued. Both gangs of scoundrels are united in perpetually expanding the entitlement/nanny state. The middle class is caught in the vise between the free everything entitlement hordes and Wall Street plutocrats. The elites are effective in using media, universities/public schools and think tanks to divert middle class angst to those living off the state. While the endangered middle class is fixated on poor people, elites are bribing politicians and the Fed to give them laws, Op Twists, QE’s, and stimuli that add billions to their net worths. Precious little gets to the middle class and the economy is a wreck.
Rozin,
I many years ago refused to strike with the Newark teachers’ union…fortunately I’m 6’3″ and 235lbs. with little fat. They’d drive by and yell….but no takers. But previous to that I worked one year in welfare and saw the problems of the both the real poor and the phonies on welfare. I was also in the military and I like the military but not big budgets…but I like the small smart war concept…kill lists and drones, snipers and assassins make for lower costs and fewer civilians hurt. Rearranging muslim groups at $4 trillion (Iraq/ Afghan/Pakistan/…Brown University) is more wasteful than welfare. I’ll leave you with one thought…we give the mentally ill on welfare enough money in New York to live in the most
dangerous neighborhoods. I live tin such places now sporadically for real estate
reasons. God is not pleased with our niggardliness toward the mentally ill. ” The
day of the Lord cometh like a burning oven”….Malachi 4:1.
“God is not pleased with our niggardliness toward the mentally ill. ‘The
day of the Lord cometh like a burning oven.’ Malachi 4:1.”
I agree.
Paul,
People wonder when does God punish nations? When their sins like abortion and the neglect of the mentally ill are filled up. In Genesis 15 God notes this principle to Abraham and predicts 400 years for the sins of the Amorites to be filled up:
13
* Then the LORD said to Abram: Know for certain that your descendants will reside as aliens in a land not their own, where they shall be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.f
14
But I will bring judgment on the nation they must serve, and after this they will go out with great wealth.g
15
You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace; you will be buried at a ripe old age.
16
In the fourth generation* your descendants will return here, for the wickedness of the Amorites is not yet complete.
……………………………………………………………………..
Christ tells His generation of Jewish leaders that they are at the tale end of a filling up period which is why Jerusalem will be destroyed and was:
Matt.23:31-32.
31
“Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
32
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
………………………………………
The fire comes when the sins are filled up. Only God knows if that is two years or two hundred years. But once the filling up is complete, God acts fast. If you have a sinful relative, pray daily for them because they are moving toward the “filled up” point but your prayers can affect all that.
T Shaw,
If anyone in your family dies very slowly in old age from certain illnesses that require medical machines. Here’s what happens. They are in ICU first in a hospital.
Then they are transferred to a skilled nursing home which is covted for 100 days by medicare. Then if they are the final spouse, they go through their savings at the nursing home’s rate which is anywhere from $50K a year to 80K a year. After they or you are broke, medicaid covers you or they in that home till death. Unless you have Ryan’s several million or Romney’s many millions, you could be there one day on medicaid. Young people should really note this. If you have parents who hope to leave you several hundred thousand or more or less, it may happen but a lingering, slow death by a final spouse could destroy that inheritance so retirement planning should not include that money. Slow acting lung cancer, late stage Parkinsons etc. could despoil the family saving even with medicaid’s help.