Fall Debates

[WhyteRain]

I think Obama will win the debates, because he has a lot more to lose than does Romney.  If Obama loses just one of these debates, with the current state of the economy, he'd better start packing his bags and hiring some movers for Sunday, 20 January 2013.  I think he knows it, too.  If Romney loses the election, he doesn't lose a whole lot except, possibly, the potential of a 3rd run at the White House in 2016.  If Obama loses, not only will he lose his job, but his reputation will largely be damaged on the fact that he promised hope and change, but nothing happened.  He can blame the Republican Congress all he wants, but, ultimately, the American People place all the blame and credit on the President.  The Republican Congress will have their "day in court" on Tuesday, 4 November, 2014.

I largely agree with this, except that Obama won't win the debates.  But he doesn't have to.  All he has to do is earn a "tie", as he did in 2008 when he kept saying "John is absolutely right" (eight times!).  With a tie, Obama will be proclaimed the winner by the Obamamania media.  He just has to keep it close and not make any major mistakes.  (Btw, I said in 2000 that I thought Gore won all three debates with Bush, so I'm not being partisan here.)

Obama's problem this year is that, yes, he's a lawyer -- that is, he has years of experience in thinking on his feet and sounding reasonable even if he has to say something silly -- but for the first time, he's going to be facing another Harvard Law School graduate.

I recall watching the 2011-12 GOP debates, and, trust me, I wanted Romney to fall on his face so badly -- just one time!  He didn't, to my chagrin.  So, Obama cannot count on Romney making any mistakes in October.  He's going to have to be flawless, too, to earn the "tie" that will get him proclaimed the winner.

[WhyteRain]

Write-in: Rick Perry.

Compared with the two mooks the major parties will nominate, the three-term governor (and former lieutenant governor, which in Texas is an even more powerful post than governor) of America's most successful big state looks really attractive.

However, you needn't waste energy on a write-in ballot.  Vote for Gov. Gary Johnson (R-NM).

[WhyteRain]

WhyteRayne, while Romney won't be a disaster at the debate, neither will he be able to land a heavy blow.  A tie works to Obama's advantage not because of how the MSM might spin it but because Romney will likely be in the position that Gingrinch was in during the primaries of needing to land heavy blows on his opponent and his campaign crumbling when he failed to land them.

I don't think Romney needs to "win" the debates.  As I said, I thought Bush lost all three debates in 2000, but he still won.  But while I thought Bush "lost", I thought he never lost BADLY.  He did decently -- in boxing terms, Gore was winning by close decisions, not knockouts.

[WhyteRain]

Write-in: Rick Perry.

Compared with the two mooks the major parties will nominate, the three-term governor (and former lieutenant governor, which in Texas is an even more powerful post than governor) of America's most successful big state looks really attractive.

However, you needn't waste energy on a write-in ballot.  Vote for Gov. Gary Johnson (R-NM).

Reading your posts makes me ill.

I'm sorry.  Why do they?

[WhyteRain]

Write-in: Rick Perry.

Compared with the two mooks the major parties will nominate, the three-term governor (and former lieutenant governor, which in Texas is an even more powerful post than governor) of America's most successful big state looks really attractive.

However, you needn't waste energy on a write-in ballot.  Vote for Gov. Gary Johnson (R-NM).

Reading your posts makes me ill.

I'm sorry.  Why do they?

You just stated that Rick Perry would be better than Romney or Obama.

I'm sorry, I at least want a President that can count to three.

Ah, then you have very low standards.  And very superficial ones, too.

When I look for a leader, I look for "a record of success", not his ability to look clever on TV.  I'm sorry that causes you to be sick.

[WhyteRain]

Oh boy. I'm sure Rick Perry's all fine and dandy, but if he can't communicate his positions on issues, how am I (the future voter) supposed to understand where he stands? Action is only half the game in politics. You gotta speak pretty, too.

As I say, your standards are sadly, even disturbingly, low.

And what did Perry "fail to communicate"?  On one occasion when he said he wanted to abolish three federal government agencies and had a brain-fart when he tried to name the third?  Nevermind that he's had the most successful tenure of any big state governor probably in all of U.S. history -- That disqualified him for you?

Well, I guess you better stick with the "pretty speakers" then.

[modify:]  I notice that your "political matrix" scores indicate that your views are similar to Gov. Perry's, so I have to ask:  Are you, like so many Northerners, congenitally repelled by Southern accents?

[modify2:]  I hope you realize that the "purdy talkers" will almost invariably be lawyers (the exception, Reagan, was a long-time actor) like Obama and Romney.  Law school is three years of intensive public speaking practice, especially in terms of making bullsh!t sound brilliant.

[WhyteRain]

I notice that your "political matrix" scores indicate that your views are similar to Gov. Perry's

Sorry, I should have said specifically your "economic score" on your political matrix.  I realize that Perry's not much of a social liberal.

Btw, in case you missed my "modify2" above, I said:

I hope you realize that the "purdy talkers" will almost invariably be lawyers (the exception, Reagan, was a long-time actor) like Obama and Romney.  Law school is three years of intensive public speaking practice, especially in terms of making bullsh!t sound brilliant.

[WhyteRain]

It seems fairly clear to me that Perry's poor debate performances were, at least in part, caused by the pain medication that he was taking for his back. I would not have suggested that 20RP12 or anyone else support him, but WhyteRain is correct in objecting to your dismissing Perry over an overplayed gaffe.

Which was the icing, not the cake.

What was the cake?

[WhyteRain]

WhyteRayne, while Romney won't be a disaster at the debate, neither will he be able to land a heavy blow.  A tie works to Obama's advantage not because of how the MSM might spin it but because Romney will likely be in the position that Gingrinch was in during the primaries of needing to land heavy blows on his opponent and his campaign crumbling when he failed to land them.

I don't think Romney needs to "win" the debates.  As I said, I thought Bush lost all three debates in 2000, but he still won.  But while I thought Bush "lost", I thought he never lost BADLY.  He did decently -- in boxing terms, Gore was winning by close decisions, not knockouts.

Bush still needed unintended help from Nader to win, but if anyone is hurt by the third parties this year it is more likely to be Romney than Obama.  Also, if one is going to compare Gore and Bush to Romney and Obama, I'd say Gore is more like Romney than Obama and Bush is more like Obama in terms of their political abilities which is what will matter most to voters who don't decide based purely on the issues.  Issues voters aren't likely to be swayed at all by the debates.

I agree.  Good comment.

[WhyteRain]

Nevermind that he's had the most successful tenure of any big state governor probably in all of U.S. history

...the @#$%?!

Trolling!

Why do my posts leave so many spluttering, speechless observers in their wake?

I mean, people please -- If you're going to go to the trouble of an ad hominem attack, why not attach the semblance of a thoughtful rejoinder while you're at it?

You could have mentioned Gov. Huey Long (D-LA) or Gov. DeWitt Clinton (D-R-NY) as having been more successful governors.  (I would've objected to Long as Louisiana isn't a "big state", but I'd probably have to concede on Clinton.)

If you don't have the wits or you just don't want to engage in dialogue, I wish you wouldn't clog up the scroll with typed manifestations of your mental heart-burns.  Take some Tums in the form of a good book.

[modify:]  I need to go for a bit.  BBL

[WhyteRain]

I think Obama will win the debates, because he has a lot more to lose than does Romney.  If Obama loses just one of these debates, with the current state of the economy, he'd better start packing his bags and hiring some movers for Sunday, 20 January 2013.  I think he knows it, too.  If Romney loses the election, he doesn't lose a whole lot except, possibly, the potential of a 3rd run at the White House in 2016.  If Obama loses, not only will he lose his job, but his reputation will largely be damaged on the fact that he promised hope and change, but nothing happened.  He can blame the Republican Congress all he wants, but, ultimately, the American People place all the blame and credit on the President.  The Republican Congress will have their "day in court" on Tuesday, 4 November, 2014.

I largely agree with this, except that Obama won't win the debates.  But he doesn't have to.  All he has to do is earn a "tie", as he did in 2008 when he kept saying "John is absolutely right" (eight times!).  With a tie, Obama will be proclaimed the winner by the Obamamania media.  He just has to keep it close and not make any major mistakes.  (Btw, I said in 2000 that I thought Gore won all three debates with Bush, so I'm not being partisan here.)

Obama's problem this year is that, yes, he's a lawyer -- that is, he has years of experience in thinking on his feet and sounding reasonable even if he has to say something silly -- but for the first time, he's going to be facing another Harvard Law School graduate.

I recall watching the 2011-12 GOP debates, and, trust me, I wanted Romney to fall on his face so badly -- just one time!  He didn't, to my chagrin.  So, Obama cannot count on Romney making any mistakes in October.  He's going to have to be flawless, too, to earn the "tie" that will get him proclaimed the winner.

Obama was a lawyer, BRIEFLY, and can think on his feet, if the debates with Hillary and McCain proved anything. And there's a video of Obama on YouTube from 2010 at the Republican Caucus Dinner where they asked him questions and he answered every one with ease and humor.

I can't recall any "boffo" debate performances by Obama.  Now, Newt Gingrich had some "boffo" debate performances and they almost lifted his unlikely candidacy to the top.  I don't think anyone doubts that he would have chewed up Obama like a sophomore seminar student.  The Republicans in 2010 -- like the Democrats and the media in 2008 -- were terrified of making Obama look bad for fear of being called "racist".  Recall that 2008 SNL skit mocking the debate moderators asking "tough questions" of Obama like "Are you comfortable?", "Would you like another glass of water?"  That skit wasn't far off.  Poor George Stephanopolous -- visions of his career circling the drain -- desperately threw himself in front of Obama when Obama said something about "my Muslim faith"; "You mean your Christian faith!" hissed Stephanopolous.  Can you imagine any reporter, if Mitt Romney said something about, say, "my illegal immigrant employees" breaking in to correct him, "You mean your legal immigrant employees!"?

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Of course he is.

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Yes ... Here, I'll make it simple for you:  Obama graduated from Harvard Law School; Bush graduated from Harvard Business School; Romney graduated from both.

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I hardly ever watch Fox and I hardly ever watch interviews with politicians.  (I figure if anything exciting happens, I'll hear about it and can watch it on YouTube.)  Maybe Romney's following the "WhyteRain Advice For Conservatives", which is "Never allow yourself to be interviewed by a journalist who cannot show you that he or she has been a fair interviewer with other conservatives in the past."  That eliminates nearly every TV journalist that isn't working for Fox.  (Obviously Sarah Palin never heard of the WhyteRain Advice.)