Debate 2012 Round 1- Quick thoughts!
Alright, so 1st debate just ended, here are my initial thoughts from it:
Neither Romney or Obama won, but Jim Lehrer lost. Seriously, he was not equipped to control a debate like this. The whole thing was like trying to wrangle cats, and he just didn't handle it well.
No direct questions on international stuff at all, and it didn't even come up until the very end, which I found odd. I realize that the main focus tonight was economy and domestic stuff, but still. As I said, odd.
It was the 20th wedding anniversary for the Obama's: It was smart to mention that at the top of the night, and Romney's reply was an even better move.
Best line: "No it isn't" Obama, when Romney described the panel overseeing the Affortable Care Act as a group of un-elected people controlling healthcare choices
Second best line: Obama saying that Romney's new plan was to say "Well, nevermind" to his earlier plans
Most wasted line: Romney: "You're not entitled to your own facts." That should have been a zinger, but he threw it away.
Other thoughts:
The Dems should have been comparing the competing economic plans of Romney and Obama to Bush vs. Clinton MONTHS ago.
Romney's PBS jab at Lehrer was pretty damn stupid. Saving Big Bird is now the internet's top priority.
Neil deGrasse Tyson tweeted "Hmm. Obama & Romney spent 22 min on job-creation with hardly a sentence on the seminal role of sci-tech innovation in 21st century economies" Agree with his point 100%"
Romney kept double-speaking about a lot of things, but his back and forth on Simpson-Bowles and his "We can raise money without raising taxes by getting people to have more money and taxing them more" were especially bad. I see what he was trying to say there, but it really was not very elegantly stated.
Obama was very cool and professorial throughout the night. This worked at first, but Romney found his footing in the second half and Obama became less effective.
Romney sure was intense and stuff, but "Romney intense" comes off as "Romney angry" which may hurt him.
Going forward: Obama needs to stop being afraid to say the "Bush" word. Romney hasn't been able to demonstrate much difference between his economic policies and Bush's, but that argument doesn't work without saying the man's name. Romney needs to learn how to smile without looking like such a smug, privileged rich boy. I mean, he is, obviously. But he doesn't need to keep screaming it from the top of the mountain.
Above all, what I'd like to see change, if the moderator asks a "yes or no" question, the candidates need to answer with a "yes" or a "no". THEN they can further expand, not before. Seriously! Ugh,
Next week is the VP debates, which I usually think are more fun. See you then!
Neither Romney or Obama won, but Jim Lehrer lost. Seriously, he was not equipped to control a debate like this. The whole thing was like trying to wrangle cats, and he just didn't handle it well.
No direct questions on international stuff at all, and it didn't even come up until the very end, which I found odd. I realize that the main focus tonight was economy and domestic stuff, but still. As I said, odd.
It was the 20th wedding anniversary for the Obama's: It was smart to mention that at the top of the night, and Romney's reply was an even better move.
Best line: "No it isn't" Obama, when Romney described the panel overseeing the Affortable Care Act as a group of un-elected people controlling healthcare choices
Second best line: Obama saying that Romney's new plan was to say "Well, nevermind" to his earlier plans
Most wasted line: Romney: "You're not entitled to your own facts." That should have been a zinger, but he threw it away.
Other thoughts:
The Dems should have been comparing the competing economic plans of Romney and Obama to Bush vs. Clinton MONTHS ago.
Romney's PBS jab at Lehrer was pretty damn stupid. Saving Big Bird is now the internet's top priority.
Neil deGrasse Tyson tweeted "Hmm. Obama & Romney spent 22 min on job-creation with hardly a sentence on the seminal role of sci-tech innovation in 21st century economies" Agree with his point 100%"
Romney kept double-speaking about a lot of things, but his back and forth on Simpson-Bowles and his "We can raise money without raising taxes by getting people to have more money and taxing them more" were especially bad. I see what he was trying to say there, but it really was not very elegantly stated.
Obama was very cool and professorial throughout the night. This worked at first, but Romney found his footing in the second half and Obama became less effective.
Romney sure was intense and stuff, but "Romney intense" comes off as "Romney angry" which may hurt him.
Going forward: Obama needs to stop being afraid to say the "Bush" word. Romney hasn't been able to demonstrate much difference between his economic policies and Bush's, but that argument doesn't work without saying the man's name. Romney needs to learn how to smile without looking like such a smug, privileged rich boy. I mean, he is, obviously. But he doesn't need to keep screaming it from the top of the mountain.
Above all, what I'd like to see change, if the moderator asks a "yes or no" question, the candidates need to answer with a "yes" or a "no". THEN they can further expand, not before. Seriously! Ugh,
Next week is the VP debates, which I usually think are more fun. See you then!
Intense Romney is way too crazy-eyed. I think Obama could use some acting lessons because it's far too clear when he's angry about something, but at least I don't assume that he's got a knife.
ReplyDeleteRe: Acting lessons- Agreed. I suspect we'll see a lot more passion on stuff next time from Camp Obama.
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