PS - to ensure fairness, I'll tell you that I voted for Gary Johnson last Friday. I have no dog in this fight.
Question 1: Libya
Mitt Romney is first. He thanks every applicable party, as he has done in the prior two debates. He sums up some of the turmoil in the middle east as a whole. Romney congratulates Obama on the Bin Laden kill, but states we cannot kill our way out of this. He speaks of strong negotiation, and cultural shift.
Obama does not thank anybody, but starts taking credit for all the good from the get-go. He looks overly focused, as he was in the prior debate. He starts explaining away Libya. He goes back to taking credit for the Bin Laden kill, but says that Romney's strategy is all over the map. Correct on that point.
Romney goes back at Obama with basic strategy points, and fires back with holding the Muslim world responsible for rejecting extremism from their own. Romney calls for more foreign aid to the middle east! Bad move! He shifts to pushing for cultural shift for the whole area.
The moderator interrupts Mittens, and allows Obama to butt in.
Obama talks about Mitt's talk that Russia is our biggest threat. First zinger of the evening as the President says: "the 1980's have called and want their foreign policy back." Obama also hits on Romney not having been in a position to make those calls. He points out Mitt's flip-flops on foreign policy.
Romney looks not defensive, but as though he does not wish to lose. He zingers back with "attacking me is not an agenda." Obama tries to interrupt, but Romney calls him down and gets a bit upset in the face. He is back to alpha male in the room. He looks definitely in charge, and directly asks the President a direct question. Obama lies about the troop movement. Romney charges back and states fact. Obama interrupts a few more times, and the moderator steps in and allows Obama a moment to speak.
Obama attacks Romney's position that we should still have troops in Iraq. Obama lists his points of what we need to do in the middle east. Obama talks a good talk about not needing to do nation-building, but first building the US first. Good point, too bad he doesn't do it.
Winner: Ronmey edges this one.
Obama started strong, but Romney got pissed and started firing back.
Question 2: Syria
Obama is first, and takes credit for organizing the international community. Ultimately, he states, Syria must determine its own future. He almost seems to not want to get involved. He backs off wanting to send military in. His waffling is being seen by the whole world right now. It is something that our enemies have seen for years.
Romney outlines why Syria is a threat and worthy of mention. He talks about things that must be done. He speaks of arming legitimate authorities in Syria that they may defend themselves, but he weighs it with arming the right people so it does not come back to bite us later. Funny, he doesn't want Americans to have our Constitutionally-guaranteed right to keep an bear arms. He attacks the President directly and says we need to assume a leadership role.
Obama answers that we are in a leadership role. Evidently, the President is back to smoking weed, and he had some powerful shit tonight. He attacks Romney for wHe states we must do the same in Syria.
Romney answers back and talks about not involving our military in Syria, but arming the right people. He also talks of supporting them. He goes back to his statement about how America should have taken a leadership role. He looks directly at Obama when he says this, but back at the announcer for the rest of the response.
Obama counters by saying Romney has the right idea, because it is the same as his own. He takes credit for doing it right.
Winner: Romney.
Not a big win, but Obama gave it to him in the end.
Question 3: Hosni Mubarak (Egypt)
Obama talks about the need for Egypt to allow more freedoms, and not to attack Israel. Sounds good, but his policies do not reflect this. He wants more demonstrations and uprisings in Egypt. He talks again about nation building everywhere, but that we need to focus on the USA first. Again, sounds good, but too bad he does not believe it. There was also a "Blame-Bush" moment in there, too.
Romney answers. He says we need free voices there and that the uprising was good. Again, Romney talks about big-picture idea for the middle east as a whole. He talks about taking a leadership role. He talks about being strong. He ties it into not having a strong economy at home setting a bad example. He looks like a leader. He shows, not tells, how Obama is not a leader. Obama looks somewhat defeated, and ABC takes the President off the split-screen. Romney wraps up by talking about our freedom and how we need to lead again.
Winner: Mitt Romney.
Fair sized margin
Question 4: America's role in the world.
So far, the moderator is pretty fair, other than a few interruptions of Romney.
Romney again hits on "America must be strong. America must lead!" He hits on how the weak economy ties in to how we are perceived by the rest of the world. He talks of unforeseen threats, and how terrorism was not even addressed at the 2000 debates. He hits the President on his silence on Tehran.
Obama responds by saying we are stronger now than when he took office. Again, he had some really great weed before the debate. He talks about how he has helped make a stronger America and how he is rebuilding it single-handedly. He looks like a Beta male talking about how he has done this and that which he has really not done. He speaks empty words about reducing the deficit, and says the Romney plan doesn't do it. Pot calling kettle black. He makes a Bush-assertion about Romney's plan.
Romney states he has a forward-looking plan. He talks about his plan. Romney looks in complete control and repeats his 5-point plan. Obama looks flustered and frustrated at Romney's points. He is tired of hearing them. Romney looks like a leader, ready to seize the mantle. He talks about a balanced budget. Obama looks to interrupt, but Romney waves him off literally and continues his 5th point.
Obama attacks Romney's small-business development record in Massachusetts. Empty threat, as the circumstances are not what Obama wants to attack. Obama claims we have seen progress here and there... and wants to hire more teachers. Says these teachers will make a difference. He attacks Romney for saying that hiring teachers won't make the economy grow. Problem is - Romney was right on this, and Obama looks like a clown... no... he looks worse, like an ass-clown.
Moderator tries to shift after that, but Romney insists to respond, and seizes the moment. He talks about the education highs in Massachusetts. Obama tries to interrupt, but looks like a Beta, snipping at the heels of the Alpha. Romney answers the claim dismissively.
The moderator moves it away, as the President looks bad here.
Winner: Romney
Big lead for Mittens now. Obama is on the ropes. He must win out convincingly or else he will lose this debate and the entire campaign.
Question 5: Spending / Military increases
Romney talks about it. He talks about balancing the budget by getting rid of Obamacare - says it doesn't look good and we can't afford it.
Obama responds defensively. He says we have increased military spending under his watch. Obama cannot put things together coherently. He does say it is not driven by politics... but his moves are driven by politics. He makes a weak attempt at saying things are better and he is the reason.
Romney fires back, talks about having 25 years of business experience at balancing budgets. He points out the President has never balanced the budget. Romney answers why he would increase the size of the Navy. He explains simply (and correctly) why - we have fewer ships than we need. He talks about how the President is wrong in his cuts.
Obama responds with a backtrack, saying he didn't ask for the sequester. I think he did. another zinger for Obama: "our Navy does have fewer ships than it did in WWI - we also have fewer horses and bayonets." Somebody tell the President that the US Marines still use bayonets! A few more quips about what an aircraft carrier is, and how Romney's budget doesn't work no matter how many times he visits Romney's website.
Winner: Obama
By a hair. He kept it close and wins with a zinger and some sarcasm at the end.
Question 6: Israel
Obama answers, saying he will stand beside Israel. Too bad his actions do not support those words. He talks of threats in the region to Israel: Iran specifically. He talks of more sanctions. He gives an empty promise of "not taking anything off the table" against Iran. He Betas out here.
Romney responds. Says we have Israel's back - not just in words, or diplomatically. He talks of Iran, and how to cripple them with sanctions and his plan to put the squeeze on them. He talks about a military action being a last resort.
Winner: Romney
Mainly because he got the last word.
Question 7: Iran
Obama answers that the reports in the newspaper are not true, and that Iran needs to do this and do that. He talks about how Romney wants to do the same thing that he, Obama, has done, "because they work." He talks about how Romney's only difference is to "say it louder." He lacks facts, but looks assertive. He waves off the regularly scheduled shift of talking time, and actually looks in control of the stage.
Finally, a minute and a half later, the moderator steps in.
Romney talks in return about how Iran does not see the President as being strong. He hits on the President's willingness to visit with the enemy, then the apology tour. Big blows. He had to have them here. Romney is playing for each round, knowing that is the key to the KO. He points out that is is essential for the President to show strength from the beginning, and how we have not had that. He details how he would deal with Iran.
Obama counters that nothing Romney said is true, including the reference to the apology tour. Man! The President has to be on something much more powerful that weed to actually believe that!!! Obama gets back to crippling sanctions, and being "very clear" about how things in the middle east should not have been done. He talks about mobilizing the world, and that the world was divided.
Romney's reponse is simple: "we are four years closer to a nuclear Iran." He also talks specifically of the apology tour... and points out that the President skipped Israel... and that our enemies noticed. He points out specifics and directly accuses! Big blow!
Obama talks about trips to Israel and to our troops. He is trying to deflect from his apology tour. As the President speaks, he looks at Romney. When Romney returns the glance, with Alpha presence, the President looks away.
Winner: Romney
Alpha male it is.
Question 8: Israel calls and says bombers are on the way.
Romney says let's not get into hypothetical situations. He changes to an overall big picture. The moderator tries to shift, but Romney is in control. Romney talks again about the weak economy not projecting a strong image, and being weak on military is not good.
Obama counters by pointing out Romney's flip-flops. Good counter here against the biggest flip-flopper we have ever seen in my lifetime in Romney. Obama talks about how Romney would not have "moved Heaven and Earth" to get Bin Laden, but how he, President Obama, did give that order. The President does look like a leader when he talks about making that sort of decision. Obama even talks about how Biden disagrees with him on things like that.
Winner: Obama.
His most solid performance in this debate series. Probably as strong as he's ever had.
These guys are now trading big blows. This is a good fight now!
Question 9: Withdrawal from Iraq
Romney answers first, has a momentary complaint about not getting to respond to the President's previous allegations. The Moderator says he, Romney, had laid out many steps himself. Romney looks gracious as he says "probably so," and he laughs genuinely and moves to his answer. He talks of getting out of Iraq by 2014, then moves it to Pakistan. What is he hiding here?
President Obama starts by blaming Bush, but says he ended the war in Iraq, and focused on Afghanistan. He states we are meeting many objectives in Afghanistan. He talks of how we are moving rapidly to a point where we can pull out, responsibly, from Afghanistan. The President segues into how we need to take care of these troops coming home in many ways. He actually claims the unemployment is lower now than when he took office! Where is he getting some of this bovine scatology (BS)!?!?!?
Winner: Obama
Again he looked strong. His body language has picked up. It's almost as if he just now has realized he is in the fight of his life.
Question 10: Time to divorce Pakistan?
Romney says NO. He details why. He explains it well, and talks about the dynamic, and what it will mean for us and them. Follow up form the moderator on the use of drones. Romney says we should use any and all means to take out our enemies and those who threaten our allies. He again points out how we need to move the world away from Islamic extremism and terrorism. He points out we have not seen the progress we have needed to see, and that he, Romney, will provide the strong leadership.
Obama responds again with a quip on Bin Laden. It is getting old. He talks, empty as it is, about what the middle east needs. He says we have stood on the side of democracy. Really, we stood on the side of the road and watched. He says he did so in Libya and Egypt. His intoxication is showing again. He says Al Qaeda is weaker now than it was.
Winner: Romney
He gets some of his swagger back. One more round for Romney, and this is over.
Still, it wasn't convincing, it was an edge-out at best. .
Question 11: Attitude toward China
Obama talks about the threat posed by China. He again references the previous administration. That, too, is getting old. He talks about cases where we got wins against China. He talks again about taking care of business at home with education and a strong economy.
Romney immediately responds with a zinger: "it's not government that creates business or makes the economy strong." He answers that we can be a partner with China, and not adversarial. He hits on ways China sees us as being weakening before their very eyes. He says America will be strong with him as President... a running theme tonight. He slams China for currency manipulation. Too bad he won't accuse our Federal Reserve of the same.
Moderator asks if labeling China as a currency manipulator will start tension, or even a trade war.
Romney responds with facts, and talks about taking a hard-nosed approach. He hits China on counterfeit products and other unfair trade practices. He says he wants a great relationship with China.
Obama retorts with a zinger about Romney being familiar with shipping jobs overseas, since he ran a company that encouraged others to do just that. He also attacks Romney's position on the US Auto manufacturers. Obama attacks the private sector for not leading with clean air technology. He shows his Big Government roots here. He says we have increased exports since he took office.
Romney counters an attack on himself. He talks about how he was born in Detroit, and his father's involvement. He differentiates from Bush's tactics - which mirror Obama's - and says the way out was not to write checks. Obama interrupts, but Romney silences him, and states that the car companies should have had to go through normal bankruptcies like any other company. He hits the President for government investment in green cars and Solyndra. Again, Obama tries to interrupt, but Romney takes command. He hits at Obama again and again with passion and with facts.
Obama finally gets a chance to respond, and will not look at Romney directly when he attacks back. He back-bites and looks away time and time again with his disagreement. He bunny-trails off on things he states Romney wishes to do and how these things will not make us stronger. He AGAIN states we cannot go back to the same policies of the previous administration.
Romney SLAMS back with agreeing we should go forward, and certainly not the path of the last four years. He states the dismal facts. Blow after blow, indicting the President on four years of failed policies. If this was all I knew of any candidate, I'd vote for Romney in a heartbeat.
The moderator wraps it up: quip about all of us loving teachers.
Winner: Romney wraps up in spectacular fashion!
Parting thoughts: Obama
He likens Romney to Bush... AGAIN!!!! ARGHH!!!
He says he wants to control our own energy (that's what I'm afraid of!)
He gives a blank statement about being Commander in Chief. He ties it into nation building at home. Too bad he has done the opposite.
Obama did not thank anybody... again.
Parting thoughts: Romney
Again, he thanks the proper parties.
He states simply what he wants. He states simply how we haven't had success economically, and how he can do that. He talks about how he knows how to "get along" with Democrats, and how 87% of his legislature in Massachusetts was Democrat. He states how he would lead with a strong nature, and in an open and honest way.
Winner: Mitt Romney... but just by an edge.
If you believe Obama speaks the truth, you probably felt he won the final thoughts.
If you believe Romney speaks the truth, you probably felt he won the final thoughts.
If you are a realist, and do not have a preference, you probably felt Romney had more passion, and a better plan.
Overall winner: Mitt Romney
Democrats will say Obama won.
Republicans will say Romney won.
Independents will say Romney won by an edge. 5-point game if it were basketball. At first, it looked like the President would get blown out again. However, to his credit, Obama got a bit stronger, and actually took over the debate at one point. Romney was, however, the Alpha male in the room. He dictated the debate, and got Obama off track from foreign policy and onto domestic failures.
Alternately, the two candidates had few differences on foreign policy, with the exception of how to treat Israel (Obama's words do not support his actions). Romney did mirror Obama on many things, maybe for fear of being labeled too much like Bush. Maybe so he could attack on the domestic issues, which he did well.
If Obama's actual actions mirrored his talk tonight, the country wouldn't be in such a sad shape.
Post-Script thoughts:
Romney protected his lead. He still won.
Obama almost looks like he doesn't want it - like a Beta male who is in the presence of a powerful Alpha. Much like McCain looked toward the end in 2008.
Zingers goes to Obama.
Facts go to Romney just by a hair.
I wish Romney really believed what he says he does... I'd have voted for him.
I could see someone who only watches the leftist media as opining that this was a tie.
Real winner: Gary Johnson
... and all the 3rd party candidates who were not invited to debate.
What are the Democrats and Republicans and leftist media afraid of?
Real loser: the leftist media. They actually think Obama never went on an apology tour.
.
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