Presidential Debates

Two Issues On Each Side Of Presidential Campaign Will Decide The Election

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As we look back on the Presidential campaign of 2012, it is clear that the election being decided within hours will be based on two issues that affected each side, and occurring within the past two months.

If Mitt Romney wins, it will be because of:

The attack on the Libyan Consulate in Benghazi,which has caused grief for President Obama.

The lackadaisical performance of Barack Obama in the first Presidential debate.

If Barack Obama wins, it will be because of:

Romney’s “47 Percent” speech in Boca Raton, Florida, revealed in September.

Hurricane Sandy last week, and Obama’s reaction to it, including the “bromance” of Obama with Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and the Romney campaign’s criticism of Christie.

Much will be written about the campaign, but these factors, arising in the last two months, will be seen as key factors in what occurs!

Interesting How Obama Integrated Importance Of Domestic Policy Into Debate On Foreign Policy

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Barack Obama was masterful in last night’s debate, cleverly integrating the importance of domestic policy into the debate on foreign policy.

A strong America, with promotion of education, rebuilding of the infrastructure, and development of alternative energy resources, along with economic growth of the middle class, were all emphasized by Obama, and Mitt Romney was unable to come out against such assertions by the President.

So Romney, while trying to act more moderate than he has been in the past year of seeking the Republican nomination, ended up agreeing much of the time with Obama, which will not please hard line conservatives, who wanted a real alternative to Obama, and are not very happy with Romney, but realize he is the only alternative they now have.

Romney looked very uncomfortable much of the time, did not smile or smirk nearly as much, and seemed to look to the audience and his wife in the front row for sustenance, as the debate wore on, and it seemed clear that Romney was just glad the debate was over.

But had he scored a touchdown or a field goal? To most observers, the clear answer was no, as Obama recovered nicely from the first debate through to the second and third debates, while Romney had his best performance by far in the first debate, and then did worse in the second and even worse in this final debate!

Horses, Bayonets, Aircraft Carriers, Submarines, And Battleships: Barack Obama Ridicules Mitt Romney On Navy

Ronald 2 Comments

A high point of last night’s debate was when Mitt Romney insisted we needed more ships in the Navy.

Obama responded that things have changed since 1917, when we had more ships.

Obama said we do not need horses and bayonets as we did a century ago, and that aircraft carriers, submarines, and battleships are part of the modern navy, ridiculing Romney for his emphasis on the number of ships.

Romney looked very uncomfortable at that point, and the smirk was gone from his face, as he realized he had been made out to be a fool.

No one can say that Obama has not recovered from his lackluster performance in the first debate, and he came across as strong, assertive, knowledgeable, and made one wonder: Why would anyone want to replace the Commander in Chief, particularly when Romney agreed with him on so many issues and matters?

With the economy obviously in recovery, and a strong Commander in Chief, the case for Barack Obama to be reelected President surged forward last night!

Greatest Line Of Debate–Romney Policies Representing The Past On Foreign, Social And Economic Policies!

Ronald 2 Comments

Barack Obama scored a home run in tonight’s debate when he said that the Romney policy ideas represented :

The Foreign Policy of the 1980s

The Social Policies of the 1950s

The Economic Policies of the 1920s

The author had a hearty laugh hearing this, as that is exactly his sentiments, and to hear our President enunciate what I have thought and said was absolutely the high moment of this debate, which already, in a CBS poll of undecided voters, showed 53 percent saying Obama won, to 23 percent for Romney, and 24 percent undecided.

Imagine–a THIRTY point victory! WOW!

Total Slaughter Of Mitt Romney In Last Presidential Debate!

Ronald 9 Comments

Barack Obama won a total victory in the last Presidential debate tonight, what could be called a slaughter!

Romney was obviously uncomfortable, and his typical smirk disappeared, and he ended up agreeing on most subjects discussed with the President.

Romney contradicted past positions, and seemed totally unprepared, while Obama had his best debate performance yet.

Romney was tongue tied at times, and spent time looking at his wife in the front row, and one could sense that he was wishing the debate was over, as in his heart, he realized he was out of his league by the midpoint of the debate.

Of course, the spin will be that Romney did very well, but the public opinion polls will not show that, and for anyone to claim that Romney “won” this debate would be evidence of hallucination.

Yes, Romney won the first debate. Yes, the second debate was close, but Obama won.

On this third and last debate, as with the Vice Presidential debate, the Obama-Biden tandem won handily, and they will be reelected on November 6, and be re-inaugurated President and Vice President on January 20, 2013!

Foreign Policy Debate Tonight Is Crucial In So Many Ways!

Ronald 2 Comments

There is a tendency among many observers to think that foreign policy is not an important campaign issue this year, but they are wrong.

Foreign policy affects the American economy and its future, as it often adds massively to the national debt.

Foreign policy affects civil liberties, much more than we realize, as our rights are being chipped away in the name of “national security”.

Foreign policy affects the military, and the likelihood of more military engagements and military spending, in a nation which already spends more on the military than the next 10 nations combined.

Foreign policy under Mitt Romney is more likely to bring about a revival of the “neoconservative” influence, and intervention in Iran, Syria and elsewhere, which only benefits the war industries and wealthy people, who are too willing to send poor, unemployed men and women in as cannon fodder for economic gains that make the plutocracy ever more powerful.

What we need is a measured and rational hand on foreign policy, and the record of Barack Obama makes him far better qualified to be our Commander in Chief and our Chief Diplomat.

Mitt Romney would be a massive gamble, a man who knows little about foreign policy, leans on George W. Bush advisers too heavily, and loves to shoot at the hip with his rhetoric, antagonizing even our friends, as well as our rivals. He does not deserve to be in charge of America’s role with the outside world!

Bob Schieffer Of CBS: An Excellent Choice For Presidential Debate Moderator

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Tonight’s last Presidential Debate moderator will be Bob Schieffer of CBS, and there could not be a better choice.

Schieffer is a veteran of five decades of journalism, and hosts Face The Nation on Sunday mornings.

He has always been seen as even handed and tough in questioning, and one should feel confident that he will suffer no fools in tonight’s debate, being equally tough on both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

This will be a memorable event, and hopefully, the television audience will be larger than for past debates, as this is the last opportunity to see the two Presidential candidates together on the same stage.

Two September 11ths—One Unifying, One Politicizing

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On September 11, 2001, the greatest attack on American soil took place, and the nation united around George W. Bush. Only much later were there political debates surrounding that tragedy.

Eleven year later, on September 11, we saw the horrible attack on our consulate in Benghazi, Libya, with the resulting death of four Americans, including our Ambassador Chris Stevens. Instead of uniting around this tragedy, which as bad as it was, is far less of a tragedy than the killing of 3,000 Americans in 2001, instead the opposition Republicans have utilized it as a way to weaken the image of Barack Obama in an area that he has a reputation of great success—foreign policy!

If it were not for this unfortunate attack, the Republican Party and Mitt Romney would have no leg to stand on in the foreign policy debate tonight in Boca Raton, Florida.

As it is, polls show that President Obama has favorable ratings in foreign policy, and the hope is that tonight, Obama will show the inadequacies of Mitt Romney to be our Commander in Chief in charge of foreign policy for the next four years!

Newspaper Endorsements For Barack Obama Smack At Mitt Romney In An Embarrassing Manner!

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Many people might say that newspaper editorial board endorsements do not matter very much in the modern age, but still it is impressive that Barack Obama is gathering newspaper endorsements in places that are embarrassing to Mitt Romney.

The Tampa Bay Tribune, in the city where the Republican National Convention was held, endorsed Obama.

The Denver Post, in the city where the first Presidential debate was held, endorsed Obama.

The Salt Lake City Tribune, in the city and state of the Mormon establishment and the Mormon temple, turned against a person who is a leader of their faith, and endorsed Obama.

Additionally, it is quite apparent that other major newspapers, more significant than those mentioned above—including the NY Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, and Los Angeles Times—will endorse Obama, and the Philadelphia Inquirer already has done so.

Sure, Mitt Romney has won some endorsements and will gain more, but it seems clear that the majority of newspapers, and the most prestigious and influential ones, will be backing Barack Obama.

Significant food for thought, one might say!

Mitt Romney “Aint” No George W. Bush! So Says Barack Obama, And He Is Right!

Ronald 3 Comments

The most interesting discussion last night at the second Presidential debate was about Mitt Romney being compared to George W. Bush, the last Republican President.

Romney tried to show how he was different from Bush, and was pretty lame at that exercise.

But Barack Obama took advantage of the situation to say that Bush was not for making Medicare a voucher system; was for a plan for illegal immigrants to become citizens; did not suggest that the government get involved in contraception decisions of women; and was for a more “compassionat” conservatism than Romney!

Imagine–George W. Bush brought to a level where he stands out on some issues as BETTER than Mitt Romney!

There is no case for Romney as President, because he is a totally callous individual, and not likeable, which George W. Bush actually was, by comparison!