Posted on 10/22/2012 8:32:42 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Covering a lot of ground, from Libya and Syria to Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq, the third presidential debate was alternately frustrating, boring, and repetitive. Mitt Romney grew stronger throughout the debate, while the President grew weaker. Romney's closing statement struck the exact right note of working in a bi-partisan manner to "carry the torch" of freedom back to America in the future.
Romney also did something the President neglected to do: He asked for the job.
The President may have hurt himself with a few snarky comments early in the debate with comments like, "I'm glad you recognize Al Qaeda as a threat," and "You seem to think foreign policy is playing Battleship."
Another way the President hurt himself was his repeated tendency to use his answering time to attack Mitt Romney. Romney himself pointed this out toward the end of the debate, saying, "Attacking me does nothing to answer the question about China."
Mr. Romney maintained a benign expression through most of the debate, while the President looked more aggressive and dismissive while Mr. Romney was speaking. Throughout the past two debates, this aggressive demeanor has proven appealing to the Democrat party base, and less appealing to undecided and independent voters.
The Romney team has said that Mr. Romney selected the approach, tone and demeanor for this debate. He maintained a "happy warrior" demeanor throughout, with only a few disagreements with the President that veered toward the contentiousness of the second debate.
Based on a strong closing statement that looked and sounded presidential, Romney won the debate. Offering a more clear vision for the future and a positive vision, Romney did the job he needed to do. As to the President, Victor Davis Hanson identified the issue.
I had a lot of Obamas in class. They sat in the front of the room, posed long eloquent questions, mellifluously interrupted the lectures with clever refinements and qualifications, often self-referenced all that they had read and done and then pow!: you grade their first test and there is simply nothing there: a D or F. It was quite stunning: how could a student be so confident in his rhetoric and so dismal in his performance?
It's been that way for the past four years. I am certain Mr. Obama believes he "won." He also thought he didn't even need to ask for the job. All he had to do was repeat his assertion that he is "fighting for Americans" and "thinking of them." If there is one thing the past four years has proven, it's that the thought does not count.
For a full recap and analysis of the debate, including real-time play by play, see here.
I watched with the sound off —flipping between the Giants/Cards game.
Obama looked furious and indignant, as if he had to lower himself to appear! He looked like a loser to me, like he knew he was going to lose the election (GOOD).
Romney looked cool, calm and collected — presidential and as a world leader should. Romney looked like he was in control — 0bama looked like he was about to implode.
IMHO with the sound off — I’d go with Romney as the clear winner!!
The winner tonight? Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Neither showed any understanding of al Qaeda’s self-declared purpose or the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood and harder-core Salafist parties taking control of Egypt, Tunsia, at least parts of Libya, and preparing to take control of Syria all represent victories for the program for which al Qaeda proposed itself as “the Base”. Their both nattering on about their domestic agendas as purported bases for American strength abroad felt like they were deliberately averting their eyes from the real problems Obama’s loss of North Africa are creating.
We need to elect Romney to stop the collapse of the American economy and Obama’s push toward fascism, but unless Romney picks some very highly placed advisors who have a clear understanding, free from politically-correct rubbish, of the Muslim world, Romney, too will give four more years of slack to the Salafist threat.
If I was on Romneys Secret Service detail I would jump to take the assassins bullet.
Obama, well you see somethings just don’t go...like the leg won’t listen etc.
Once again, we need to take a deep breath and realize that a televised “debate” two weeks before an election is not the last word on foreign policy or what Romney would or would not do. It is a campaign event, with the primary focus on removing whatever doubt he can from those who are undecided to persuade them to vote for him. This is not a difficult concept, but it seems to elude many here.
As with every President, we vote for the man based on his character and expect he will act according to his life history and philosophy when the time comes. Obama certainly did so, in ways that have caused great harm. Not one Romney supporter has been persuaded to vote for Obama because of tonight’s debate, so why let it cause such angst?
Relax, get out the vote, and let’s put the Kenyan back where he belongs, in a millionaires home on the golf course in The Peoples Republik of Hawaii.
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.
Sage!
I watched the debate and I thought that Romney didn’t look like he was up for the game tonight.Maybe it was me,but I thought there were many times he could have hammered Obama on his trade policies and the GM bailout and he just let it go by the wayside.
Another thing that ripped me pretty good was toward the end when he mentioned how he planned to work across the isle like he did when he was Governor.Well if he does that he’s going to have a rough Presidency because the dem’s are not going to cooperate with him and he’d be crazy to think they will.
We know how this chapter ends, FRiend. We are in the last days and we seek to strengthen the things that remain..
Catch you on the other side.
Meanwhile, we’ll do what we can until we can’t.
Romney and all the pundits are smarter than I am. But why can’t they come up with a decent response to the military technology remark. All Romney had to say was “And our enemy has the same technology. That’s why we need more of it.”
Then it's Romney's to lose or win as it should be.
I think he blew it on Libya, but scored knocks-out's on China and the Marxist's apology tour.
Romney won hands down on all economy issues. The Marxist cannot run on his unconscionable record.
Romney is the winner, tonight, and on November 6, 2012.
Then it's Romney's to lose or win as it should be.
I think he blew it on Libya, but scored knocks-out's on China and the Marxist's apology tour.
Romney won hands down on all economy issues. The Marxist cannot run on his unconscionable record.
Romney is the winner, tonight, and on November 6, 2012.
I remember seeing that Obama look before and I thought and thought and it finally occurred to me.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f02d0b8cca/word-association-from-nino
Esp 1:32
Romney showed himself a leader. With all the technology/weaponry in the world, it is nothing without great warriors and leaders.
Did you see Frank Luntz’s South Florida focus group tonight on Sean Hannity’s show? They almost all voted for Mr. Obama in 2008, yet there’s maybe 1 or 2 who’ll vote for him now.
I had a bayonette when I was in the Army. We still have horses and mules, too. How is it that the commander of our military doesn’t know that?
Jerry Bruckheimer Shopping Afghanistan War Story HORSE SOLDIERS
http://collider.com/jerry-bruckheimer-horse-soldiers/130077/
Soldiers get horse training before Afghan tour
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/09/ap-army-afghanistan-soldiers-get-horse-training-before-deployment-090510/
I thought Romney did just fine tonight. Don't let the MSM polls saying that Obama won fool you. They were going to say that even if Obama didn't show up.Romney wasn't as combative tonight, and I think that was by design because undecideds are turned off by that. I think Romney came across as steady and presidential and that, I think, is what undecideds are looking for. There has been too much turbulence the last 4 years that has affected everyone, so a steady hand with a bright outlook for the future, and the ability to lead should look attractive to those who are undecided. I think he did it just right.
Very good point!
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