I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

kad2kar

PIP---I was going to say that exact thing----Romney looked like he was going to cry if he really had to stay on point, even one time his nose and upper lip got that red look that is ususally a precursor to actual tears. That may be WHY he had a hanky to wipe tears NOT sweat.

gardengumby

I had such a bad headache by the time the debate was over last night that I just took some Tylenol and went to bed.  This morning my husband - still angry - woke up and turned on Morning Joe so he could get PO'd all over again, I guess. 

I don't mind that Obama is cool under fire, but he needs to not look meek - which IMO he did.  He kept nodding while Romney was talking - now maybe what was going on in his head was "yeah, I expected that", but it looked like he kept agreeing with him.  The Obama of the first two years of office was back last night.  The Obama that I was angry with for two years for being an appeaser.  I want to see the Obama of the last year plus.  The one who sent the Seals after Osama bin Laden.  The one who stands up against the Republicans and says "no".  That one.  I'm not interested in seeing where they agree - I'm interested in seeing and have him stand-up and show where they disagree.  If all he keeps doing is say "Romney and I agree on this", then why the hell wouldn't I just vote for Romney?  (I'm obviously being sarcastic here - as I'd never vote for that liar.)

OK. I guess I'm all upset again - I better go back to work.

pupmom

GG, Obama's nodding when Romney spoke absolutely drove me crazy! WTHeck, it definitely looked like he was agreeing with him. I kept trying to figure out why he was doing it. 

The best description I can give for Obama's demeanor last night was depressed. He was also off his game during the convention. Clinton was the big winner there. I wonder if something is going on with the President that we don't know about. It probably is just the enormity and difficulty of the job, but I am starting to wonder. 

pip57

I do agree that Romney 'won' the night.  Simply because he didn't screw up.  However, I am thinking that Obama is going with  the long term plan in mind.  Romney is now set up so we will be expecting more from him.  Can he deliver?  And Obama can still bring out the big guns next time.

Someone brought up the debates from the last election and not being able to recall them.  The only thing I remember is the vp debate when Palin kept answering the question by saying 'that is a good question but I want to talk about .....'  At least both of them stayed pretty much on point last night. 

QuinnCat

Yorkie - I wondered during the convention if something was going on with Obama.  Everyone said it was the jobs numbers on his mind, but I also noticed he had this weird tic going on with his upper left lip. (Convention speech).  He kept swiping his tongue underneath his upper lip on that side.  Maybe it's just having had cancer, my mind immediately goes to some serious illness...yet, on the campaign trail he seems like the fired up Obama that gardengumby likes (me too!).

The news media is starting to analyze the substance, but they can't seem to get over the performance factor.  I guess we're down to American Idol type judgement of our politicians.

pupmom

Kam, I had that same dark thought, knowing how I felt after my dx. Michelle also seems kind of mellow and solumn. Have we gotten a recent medical report on the President?

gardengumby

Michelle looked so nervous.  They were both badly "off".  I sure hope there're no hugical problems going on that have them distracted. 

ananda8

I agree.  Obama looked like he hadn't seen the sun for any length of time in a long while.  He looked slightly stooped and his suit was too light weight and hung badly.  I was shocked at his appearance. He needs a couple of weeks in Hawaii to get his center back.

Romney acted like he was on something.  He spoke so fast and loud I wonder about uppers.

The debate that will be worth watching will be the last one in a town hall type setting with questions from the audience.

crazy4carrots

It's well to remember that Romney's ONLY concern is winning the Presidency, while the President literally has the weight of the world on his shoulders.  It must be bloody exhausting to campaign at the same time as trying to do one's job.

alexandria58

Here's the rub, to me.  On substance, Obama won.  Romney's performance was full of lies and position changes.  However, on appearance, Romney had energy. Obama didn't. Romney attacked.  Obama didn't. What worries me is that there may be people out there who would base a vote on the positions Romney put forward last night - as opposed to what he's been saying for the past year - or on appearance.  I hope not many people.

QuinnCat

Notself - had you heard (via his aides before the debate) that Romney had been awoken every hour on the hour by a train going by his hotel room the night before the debate (ofcourse this could have been more "if he doesn't do well it's because he didn't get good sleep.")?   Could have been he amped himself up with Mountain Dew, cheesecake, or worse, after a bad night's sleep.

crazy4carrots

Fighting back!

President Obama told a crowd in Denver on Thursday that he barely recognized the “spirited fellow who claimed to be Mitt Romney” at the debate the night before.“It could not have been Mitt Romney because the real Mitt Romney has been running around the country for the last year promising $5 trillion in tax cuts that favor the wealthy,” Obama said. “The fellow on stage last night said he didn’t know anything about that.”He continued with the riff: “The real Mitt Romney said we don’t need any more teachers in our classrooms … but the fellow on stage last night, he loves teachers, can’t get enough of them. The Mitt Romney we all know invested in companies that were called pioneers of outsourcing jobs to other countries, but the guy onstage last night, he said that he does not even know that there are such laws that encourage outsourcing.”

ananda8

Since there is no reason to believe that he was drinking a caffeinated beverage (Mountain Dew has mega caffeine), I vote for a sugar high or perhaps electrodes.  

gardengumby

I think Romney was high on being able to attack Obama personally in front of the world.  I also thinks that he really gets off on lying.

gardengumby

Lindasa - where was THAT guy last night?  He's the guy who has to show up for the debates!!!

alexandria58

Lindasa:  that explains a lot.  Obama was so stunned to realized that the real Mitt Romney had been replaced by a clone double that it affected his performance.  When he was looking down, he was actually texting for the Doctor to come and investigate.     

crazy4carrots

....or the FBI.

1Athena1

I love this thread. Reading it gives ME a "high" - because right now it is this kind of day - which clouds and high humidity always produce in me:

QuinnCat

For some odd reason, Mountain Dew, atleast 10 years ago, was perfectly acceptable for the LDS.  Maybe it's one of those who owns the company things....

Athena - I have this strong urge to scratch your belly!

ananda8

1Athena1,

I can hear you purrrrr. 

1Athena1

Right you are!

Anonymous

Obama on FIRE today - reading a lot of "process stuff" about last night - seems that tone by the President was deliberate. Wouldn't surprise me to see EVERYTHING Willard said repeated in ADS to hold his feet to the fire - poor Ryan, he gonna need Depends when he meets with Our Joey!

Yes, of course we have Medicare in MA.  Also Medicaid, but don't ask for anything about what Romney did when he was gov all those years ago.  When he left office - get ready for this one - HE TOOK ALL THE COMPUTER HARD DRIVES from every department - so nothing could ever be "fact checked." Ah, values, anyone?  Shall we speak about values?  How the State "taxes"  were all changed into FEES - when you do anything, get a car, buy a house, anything - increased state fees, and so much taken away from the TOWNS that each and EVERY town had to raise real estate taxes to pay for basic services that used to be paid by state taxes distributed to the towns.  

Can't write about this anymore - gotta go send Linda's HELEN's words to everyone I know!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU

ananda8

Huckabee took all the hard drives out of every computer and had them destroyed before he left office as Governor of Arkansas.

Anonymous

Linda - I just read Helen& Margaret - and EVERYONE MUST, simply MUST read it, and especially Marget's comments at the very end.  Hysterical.  Then go to the "about us" - and be prepared to be inspired - I am IN LOVE WITH THESE WOMEN!

Remember "when I get old I shall wear purple" -  THIS IS BETTER.

Oh, THANK YOU, Linda - damn, I needed this today - and my friends are roaring with JOY over it!

YEAH, Linda......hugs, really! eta : this is Linda's link http://margaretandhelen.com/

1Athena1

What an amazing blog!

Enjoyful

Debates. Pheh. It was fun watching Mitt flip flop yet AGAIN and bat his eyes like a hooker on steroids, but other than that...*shrug*

Belinda44

Notself, it's funny that you said you thought Mitt acted like he was on something.  When he first came on stage, even though he was grinning ear to ear, his eyes were all watery and I thought...has he been crying?  They remained glassy looking during the entire debate.  Just sayin'!  Lol! 

Ya know, one good thing about Obama "losing" the debate, is that he has nowhere to go but up AND if it had been a slam dunk win for him, people might get complacent, assume he'll win and not show up at the polls.  I think we'll see a stronger showing from him next time.

Here's a good opionion piece from the NYT:

"On health care, Mr. Romney pretended that he had an actual plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, and that it covered pre-existing conditions. He has no such plan, and his false claim finally roused the president to his only strong moment of the evening. The country doesn't know the details, he said, of how Mr. Romney would replace Wall Street reform, or health care reform, or tax increases on the rich because Republicans don't want people to understand the hard trade-offs involved in these decisions.       

There are still two more presidential debates, and Mr. Obama has the facts on his side to expose the hollowness of his opponent. But first he has to decide to use them aggressively."

 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/opinion/an-unhelpful-presidential-debate.html?ref=opinion&_r=0 

Belinda44

Belinda44

crazy4carrots

Oh Belinda, that's hilarious!