An unprepared, unfocused Obama pays the price
Remember the classic nightmare in which you show up unprepared for a test in a class that you completely forgot you had?
That’s what Barack Obama looked like last night. From the opening question, he came off as unprepared, unsteady and almost uninterested in the task at hand. He found himself on defense throughout the debate, and when opportunities arose, he failed to recognize them.
As I noted last night during the live blog, Obama seemed overconfident coming in, as if he had underestimated both his opponent and the occasion. By the end of the evening, overconfidence should no longer have been a problem. As CNN noted, 67 percent of those polled who had watched the debate declared Mitt Romney the victor.
“No presidential candidate has topped 60 percent in that question since it was first asked in 1984,” CNN polling director Keating Holland pointed out.
And a good part of that was caused by Mitt Romney. He came in hungry, needing a win, and it showed in his focus and preparation. He got the better of almost every exchange, in part because at some point in his debate prep he decided to finally make the transition from “severely conservative” GOP primary candidate to general-election candidate.
The new Romney endorsed regulation of business. He dismissed tax cuts as an economic policy. He embraced his own Massachusetts health-care plan. He talked of compromise and working together. A surprised Obama wasn’t ready to handle this latest Romney incarnation and repeatedly failed to tie the moderate, genial GOP candidate on that stage in Denver to the GOP candidate on the campaign trail.
Will the outcome of this debate, the first of three between Obama and Romney, create a ripple in the polls? It almost certainly will. I doubt it will cost Obama his lead, but it should shrink it and introduce doubt in many minds that had not previously doubted. Romney had the night that he needed to keep his funders happy and his base engaged.
The next debate, covering foreign and domestic policy in a townhall forum, will be Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in New York. I suspect that they’ll be scrambling at the White House this morning to clear more time from the president’s calendar for prep work between now and then. He can’t afford a repeat of what happened last night in Denver.
– Jay Bookman
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,788 comments Add your comment
getalife
October 4th, 2012
12:56 pm
“Did the President give Romney enough to hang himself?”
If you listen to our President’s stump speech today, that seems to fit.
USMC
October 4th, 2012
12:57 pm
“It’s all good though. Mitt playing the mental midget for his devoted low IQ base is much more entertaining…”
… Says the out of touch and angry Loser.
…his devoted low IQ base is much more entertaining… LOL!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpAOwJvTOio
DannyX
October 4th, 2012
12:58 pm
“Fact checkers have been busy as bees all day pointing
out the lies and backtracking.”
Fortunately for Republicans fact don’t matter.
Republican 2012 slogan…Tippecanoe and no facts for you.
getalife
October 4th, 2012
12:58 pm
Sorry,
Sick of the bs.
RB from Gwinnett
October 4th, 2012
12:59 pm
“Fact checkers have been busy as bees all day pointing”
And of course nothing labled “fact checker” could possibly be biased, right?
The term has become meaningless since every entity on both sides lables everything they do a fact check.
stevie ray...clowns and jokers
October 4th, 2012
12:59 pm
LIBS
It doesn’t matter who was lying (both) or not….your guy was a stuttering, angry, arrogant president not used to getting challenged on his policies…his folks around him simply shelter him from critism..
Despite the amoung of fodder either has going into the next 2 debates, I think BO will improve significantly but I also expect Romney to improve marginally.
Joe Hussein Mama
October 4th, 2012
12:59 pm
Doom — “It doesn’t matter what you think. Or me or anyone else on here. What matters is what businesses think about the economy and future prospects.”
Which you don’t know and I don’t know. So it really doesn’t matter what *you* think, either. You articulated your thoughts and I articulated mine. No need to be all butthurty about it, Doom.
“Large profits are part of the reason for the strong stock market.”
Which argues against “uncertainty.”
“Another reason is all the money printing. Did you notice what happened when QE3 was announced? Stock prices surged. The reason given by the financial pundits is because all of that fresh cash has to go somewhere and it will go into equities. So part of the runup could very well be illusory.”
More reason for business to *like* Obama’s policies, but according to you, all that additional liquidity just doesn’t do it because everything’s so *uncertain.* I swear I can hear the whining when you post that word.
“That’s about as *simplistic and juvenile* reasoning as the reasons that I proffered as to why the business is not expanding.”
In your opinion. Which you’re welcome to.
“The second problem is that it does not jive with what the liberals on here are constantly preaching about pent up demand in the middle class.”
Silly, silly Doom. I’m not obliged to make my argument congruent with what you think it should be. I’m expressing my opinion, not some synthesis of Alleged Liberal Doctrine a la Doom.
“The third problem is that the liberals on here have often opined that Obama’s policies of tax cuts to the middle class and the stimulus aimed toward the middle class would release this pent up demand and grow the economy.”
When have I argued that?
“To date it not only has not worked but has failed miserably. It would seem that you have some explaining to do to the other liberals on here. Or they have some splaining to do to you.”
The latter.
“So. As for those *unsophisticated consumers* sounds like just more of that liberal elitism coming through again.”
Not at all. Consumers in rising economies in Asia (China most especially) are starting to discover that unbridled economic development sometimes comes at the cost of LIVES. There’s been a significant increase in Chinese consumer protests in the last five years as Chinese citizens have been seriously sickened and even *killed* by shoddily-made products. The Chinese government has encouraged growth, but not *responsible* growth, and the Chinese populace is starting to figure that out.
“Looks like you and big gubment know better than these *unsophisticated consumers* that you deride.”
Wrong perception, Doom. Big gubment HELPS those consumers by imposing rules and regulations on businesses that helps save lives. If you want to go to China and enjoy some melamine-infused milk (should ruin your kidneys right quick) or buy some toys for a neighbor kid’s birthday (the toys being either *made* of lead or painted with lead-based paint), you go right ahead. Consumers will buy that sheet if they don’t know any better AND if the gubment lets businesses get away with it. And the average Chinese consumer is only just waking up to the notion that businesses don’t really seem to care what happens to their customers if they know they can get away with it.
You know the Chinese gubment will actually *execute* businessmen for malfeasance now, don’t you?
“Sounds like another *simplistic and juvenile* explanation IMO.”
Again, you’re welcome to your opinion. Observers can decide for themselves which they like better. Or they might even come up with their own explanation.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 4th, 2012
12:59 pm
Due to the overwhelming demand, I no longer have the blog BINGO cards with “The View”. I have called the printers and it seems that there is a high demand for this card.
Your patience is appreciated.
DannyX
October 4th, 2012
1:00 pm
“The term has become meaningless since every entity on both sides lables everything they do a fact check.”
RB, do you need to see it on a billboard before you think of it as a fact?
Thulsa Doom
October 4th, 2012
1:00 pm
“The closest Romney’s ever been to actual “industry” is when that mining company forced those miners to take an unpaid day off to be window dressing for his campaign experience.”
And next Joe is going to trot out that steelworker who blatantly lied about Romney and bain capital taking away his wife’s health insurance and her then dying as a result.
“And Romney doesn’t actually “lead” anyone. He is, however, an experienced *firer* of men. Women, too.”
The folks at companies that Bain capital helped like target, sports authority, and others disagree with you. He is, however, an experienced *hirer* of men. Women too. And the enormous business successes and companies that prospered under Bain flat out prove it. But go ahead and pick out the few business failures they had since it will fit your narrative. What it won’t do is change the big picture success of what Romney did overall at Bain capital.
larry
October 4th, 2012
1:01 pm
Larry, if you are a Kia dealer and the government comes along and tells you you must sell ferraris too, are you going to sell them for the same price as the Kia? Think about it?
Gee, comparing healthcare with a car dealership?
Emergency room at a small rural hospital alone runs $800, typical doctors visit $135.
Those with insurance pay higher premiums for those that dont that has to use the ER.
barking frog
October 4th, 2012
1:01 pm
getalife
the prez is a tricky man.
TiredOfIt
October 4th, 2012
1:01 pm
I think if Mitt is elected, there are going to be a lot of disappointed right-wingers. He is saying what he believes the audience wants to hear. I believe he is a moderate not a conservative (whatever that is today anyway?) judging from his past in MA.
DannyX
October 4th, 2012
1:02 pm
“It doesn’t matter who was lying (both) or not”
And here folks is your proof that Romney supporters have no use for the truth.
JamVet
October 4th, 2012
1:02 pm
Jarhead, squealing like a hit low IQ dog, huh? Niiice.
Read book a two and try to change that!
Paul, you did make me laugh earlier.
These fake conservatives are actually going to let Mitt get away with NOT lowering taxes on the over-taxed, unfairly punished job producers and the super-rich???
I knew these bloggers were fake conservatives and this proves it!
Joe Hussein Mama
October 4th, 2012
1:03 pm
larry — “And i still would like to know how he got over 100 million into his IRA when we , by law, can only put in $5,000 a year?”
You can put stock and even real estate in an IRA. Rules on contributions and deductibility are different than for cash contributions, though.
Former Reagan Republican
October 4th, 2012
1:05 pm
Snoozefest………I’m voting for Gary Johnson.
getalife
October 4th, 2012
1:05 pm
frog,
Definitely pulled his punches but it looked to me he has something more troubling than a flip flopping liar on his mind.
Something big.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 4th, 2012
1:05 pm
“It doesn’t matter who was lying (both) or not”
And here folks is your proof that Romney supporters have no use for the truth.
It’s what happened when they set the bar so low that a neutrino couldn’t slither under it.
Granny Godzilla - Union Thugette
October 4th, 2012
1:06 pm
RB from Gwinnett
October 4th, 2012
12:59 pm
“Fact checkers have been busy as bees all day pointing”
And of course nothing labled “fact checker” could possibly be biased, right?
.
.
.
.
WRONG
Fact checkers aren’t always spot on. We both know that.
What I am reading today though, seems thoughtful, supported by
existing video and in the long term hurtful to the Romney campaign.
I remain optimistic.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
October 4th, 2012
1:07 pm
Heard this today:
“Obama bombed for the following reasons:
1) NO SPEECH (It wasn’t a prepared speech written by someone else)
2) NO CRUTCH (Mr. Teleprompter was on vacation in Hawaii)
3) NO PROPS (Hand picked crowd unavailable)
4) NO SHIELD (No protection from the press)”
A TAT
October 4th, 2012
1:08 pm
In last night’s debate, Romney declared it’s:
Time to Ax Public Programs That Don’t Yield Results
From what I’ve read, Romney wants to do away with Head Start.
Joe Klein of “Time” agreed back in 2011.
It is now 45 years later. We spend more than $7 billion providing Head Start to nearly 1 million children each year. And finally there is indisputable evidence about the program’s effectiveness, provided by the Department of Health and Human Services: Head Start simply does not work.
According to the Head Start Impact Study, which was quite comprehensive, the positive effects of the program were minimal and vanished by the end of first grade. Head Start graduates performed about the same as students of similar income and social status who were not part of the program. These results were so shocking that the HHS team sat on them for several years, according to Russ Whitehurst of the Brookings Institution, who said, “I guess they were trying to rerun the data to see if they could come up with anything positive. They couldn’t.”
JamVet
October 4th, 2012
1:08 pm
I think if Mitt is elected, anthropogenic climate change is an Al Gore foisted, liberal hoax designed to bankrupt the USA and the rest of the world. (The North Koreans and Republicans told me so!)
And that Christianity is not a religion.
RB from Gwinnett
October 4th, 2012
1:08 pm
Larry, you just don’t seem to be getting the point. Requiring the insurance company to sell the 53 year old heart patient is nothing but liberal feel-good BS if the premium is so high he can’t afford it. They are not going to sell him a Ferrari for the price of a Kia. What about that is so hard for you to get through your head?
Steve-USA "None of the Above"
October 4th, 2012
1:09 pm
I can’t believe people are still trying to spin this into an Obama win, he clearly lost. Try a little patience, he has 2 more chances and I am sure he will do better.
Joe Hussein Mama
October 4th, 2012
1:10 pm
Doom — “And next Joe is going to trot out that steelworker who blatantly lied about Romney and bain capital taking away his wife’s health insurance and her then dying as a result.”
Nope. I’m just going to reiterate my point that Romney has exactly zero experience with actual “industry.” I have no need to engage you in your foolish fabulism.
“And Romney doesn’t actually “lead” anyone. He is, however, an experienced *firer* of men. Women, too.”
“The folks at companies that Bain capital helped like target, sports authority, and others disagree with you.”
Rejected. Ownership does not imply leadership. If, however, you’d like to demonstrate that Romney had an active hand in the day-to-day operational management of those firms, I can certainly reconsider my position.
“He is, however, an experienced *hirer* of men. Women too. And the enormous business successes and companies that prospered under Bain flat out prove it.”
Denied. How many individual hiring decisions did Romney personally get engaged in?
And before you bleat that he didn’t personally *fire* anyone, bear in mind that he didn’t have to when he made the decisions to close the facilities, businesses and companies they were working for.
RB from Gwinnett
October 4th, 2012
1:12 pm
DannyX, how many other names are you posting under today from your office at the AJC to prop up their ad value? Are your ad sales people sharing that info with clients or is that “your little secret?”
Joe Hussein Mama
October 4th, 2012
1:13 pm
RB — “DannyX, how many other names are you posting under today from your office at the AJC to prop up their ad value? Are your ad sales people sharing that info with clients or is that “your little secret?”
Didn’t Jay tell you that was complete BS a week or two ago?
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:14 pm
President Obama displayed the LACK OF INTELLIGENCE that is commonly found with the democRat voter.
The “Amvets” of the world spew their ignorance…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpAOwJvTOio
The media has protected this buffoon for four years and last night America saw the result.
getalife
October 4th, 2012
1:14 pm
I wrote facts don’t matter at the start of this cycle and that has been proven .
We get terms like “new romney” that talks about using facts but never does.
The next debate will be a “newer romney” and the bs continues.
He stands for nothing and is a fairy tale.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
October 4th, 2012
1:15 pm
The worst thing about El Jeffe losing the debate was that he had to face:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3WY03qYdRs
Rockerbabe
October 4th, 2012
1:16 pm
I think the debate was a draw for the most part and still leaves a lot of questions about Romney. So which one showed up last night? Romney seemed to be a DINO and RINO all rolled into one; a far cry from the severe conservative he once claimed to be. Instead of running away from RomneyCare in MA, he is now embracing it! So, what gives? He has been proposing more tax cuts for the wealthy and now he is not going to go after those cuts? What gives with all of the flip-flopping?
President Obama was not as aggressive as I thought he should be, but I do give him credit for not stooping too low regarding the 47% comments Romney made. I think Obama should have gone after the now embracing of miralce in MA that Romeny, until last night, ran away from during the primaries. I think Obama exercised a lot of discipline in how he answere the questions. Not over the top, but this president is not an “in your face kind of person”.
Lehrer was OK – it wasn’t his job to keep the candidates under control, just to moderate and ask questions and face it, anyone can get lost when dealing with the candidates determination to speak.
JamVet
October 4th, 2012
1:17 pm
YEAH!
More welfare for the wealthy!
According to a new report, over the past three years Microsoft has used a series of complex financial maneuvers to avoid paying billions of dollars in U.S. taxes. The report is part of a United States Senate investigation.
A Senate committee memo indicates that Microsoft made transactions with subsidiary firms in other countries — including Puerto Rico, Singapore, Bermuda, and even Ireland — to save more than $6 billion it would otherwise have owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Corporate Tax Tricks “Exact a Tremendous Cost”
The memo also indicates that major PC maker Hewlett-Packard (HP) used similar maneuvering. It engaged in several short-term internal loans that permitted the firm to use international resources domestically without paying the usual U.S. taxes.
U.S. firms are allowed to operate in nations where the tax rate is substantially lower than the United States’ nominal 35 per cent rate. (Source: digitaltrends.com)
“These loopholes and abuses exact a tremendous cost,” Levin said. “What these gimmicks do is shift the burden of taxes onto citizens and business who don’t use armies of lawyers and accountants.”
In my best “I like picking up the tab for billionaires” Republican voice, “Corporate welfare??? What corporate welfare??? I don’t see any corporate welfare??? Do you see any corporate welfare???”
That Black Guy
October 4th, 2012
1:18 pm
Steve-USA “None of the Above”
October 4th, 2012
8:25 am
“When Chris Matthews says Obama is in real trouble that tells the whole story about last night!”
I forget who said it but the joke of the night was “I don’t want to know what is running down Chris Matthew’s leg tonight”.
_____________________
I think the joke of the ight was when someone said “Obama better hope ObamaCare covers azzkickings”.
Thulsa Doom
October 4th, 2012
1:18 pm
“You articulated your thoughts and I articulated mine. No need to be all butthurty about it, Doom.”
Agreed. Didn’t talk long for you to descend into the sewer did it Joe. First it started with the “simplistic and juvenile” bit. And then you followed it up with some nonsense about “butthurty”.
“Large profits are part of the reason for the strong stock market.”- Doom
Which argues against “uncertainty.”- Joe mama
Wrong. As has been written about ad nausum the profits were derived because businesses quit expanding and hiring which are enormous cash drains. They became cash cows because they weren’t hiring and expanding. At least that’s what your fellow liberals have been opining for quite awhile about.
“Silly, silly Doom.” I’m not obliged to make my argument congruent with what you think it should be. I’m expressing my opinion, not some synthesis of Alleged Liberal Doctrine a la Doom.
Further proof that once you have to resort to insults you’ve already lost.
“Not at all. Consumers in rising economies in Asia (China most especially) are starting to discover that unbridled economic development sometimes comes at the cost of LIVES. There’s been a significant increase in Chinese consumer protests in the last five years as Chinese citizens have been seriously sickened and even *killed* by shoddily-made products. The Chinese government has encouraged growth, but not *responsible* growth, and the Chinese populace is starting to figure that out.”
I don’t know why you’re going off on this tangent. It has little if any relevance to our conversation. And you’re not dispelling any new economic knowledge that most of us don’t already know. But since you know so much about what constitutes *responsible growth* perhaps you can advise them and help them out a bit.
“Big gubment HELPS those consumers by imposing rules and regulations on businesses that helps save lives. If you want to go to China and enjoy some melamine-infused milk (should ruin your kidneys right quick) or buy some toys for a neighbor kid’s birthday (the toys being either *made* of lead or painted with lead-based paint), you go right ahead. Consumers will buy that sheet if they don’t know any better AND if the gubment lets businesses get away with it. And the average Chinese consumer is only just waking up to the notion that businesses don’t really seem to care what happens to their customers if they know they can get away with it.”
With all due respect Joe please quit going off on tangents that have little if any relevance to what we speak. You’re but one poster and I don’t have time to answer essays all day from one poster. Please keep it short if you wish to converse. Now to the point about regulation. I don’t know anyone who opposes common sense regulation. It is the reason why I will not eat farm raised seafood from southeast Asia. Our stuff is safe because of regulation. Theirs is not. Your meme that cons believe that all regulatiion is bad is not only inaccurate but tiresome.
“You know the Chinese gubment will actually *execute* businessmen for malfeasance now, don’t you?”
Yes. But again. The point has little if any relevance to what we’re talking about. And again. You’re not dispelling any new wisdom on anyone but are simply adding more stuff to read.
If you want to debate then fine. But keep it short to 1 or 2 points for the sake of brevity if you would. That way we can both address other posters and points as well.
southpaw
October 4th, 2012
1:19 pm
Off-topic–a reply to something 0311 asked me a few days ago. The rest of you are welcome either to read it or to skip to the next post, as you see fit
I saw my dad (retired Eastern pilot) yesterday and asked him about the Miracle Flights you had seen. Turns out he had flown some of those trips. Your flights were from LaGuardia; he said the same thing was happening at JFK. Wheelchair service was offered as part of the ticket price, and some people were determined to use it whether they needed it or not. My dad wasn’t sure why they suddenly didn’t need wheelchair service once they got to Miami. His best guess was that the service was only covered in New York, and they would have to pay extra in Miami to be wheeled out of the plane. We’ll never know for sure, though.
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:20 pm
“More welfare for the wealthy!”–Amvet
Amvet doesn’t even know what WELFARE is… Not very intelligent.
Hint for Amvet, Wealthy people don’t receive WELFARE; they don’t qualify.
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:22 pm
An unprepared, unfocused Obama’s true self is showing through.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 4th, 2012
1:22 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
I’ve reached a conclusion about the national ID.
I’m against it.
The number, 207,643,594 is only for eligible voters and if we wanna do this right for the purposes of employment eligibility, federal benefits and voting we would have to issue IDs for the entire U.S. population which is 311,591,917.
It would require a new dept., data base and an appointed administrator which would immediately be labeled ID Czar, so instead of giving the whiners exactly what they ask for (requisite photo ID for voting, solving the, “WHAT PART OF ILLEGAL DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND”, etc… ) we would be giving them another Czar to whine about.
So I say, eff ‘em.
Soldier Mom
October 4th, 2012
1:23 pm
Why didn’t he do this last night?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/presidential-debate-obama-_n_1939852.html
getalife
October 4th, 2012
1:23 pm
There will be no “new President Obama”
He is consistent and stands up for what he said.
Regnad Kcin
October 4th, 2012
1:23 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
October 4th, 2012
1:13 pm
RB — “DannyX, how many other names are you posting under today from your office at the AJC to prop up their ad value? Are your ad sales people sharing that info with clients or is that “your little secret?”
Didn’t Jay tell you that was complete BS a week or two ago?
=====================
Never let go of a good lie…
barking frog
October 4th, 2012
1:24 pm
getalife
special ops teams are in
place in all embassies in
North Africa. Special ops
advisors are in Niger. The
recently created Africa
Command based in
germany is consulting with
African governments.
It seems the continent is
floating on oil. bye bye
middle east. good luck
Israel. hello rumble in the
jungle.
Mick
October 4th, 2012
1:24 pm
usmc
Man, gomer the lesser is just a happy camper today, unfortunately, the mittsiah has started to walk back many of his blatant lies; like the whopper about obama picking losers, 5 trillion dollar tax plan, and of course the 716 billion medicare cut which he has decided to quadruple down on. Yes, mr. jarhead, cry your tears of joy for the moment but just as surely as your steel cap is rusting away, romney the etch a sketch artist extrordinaire, will have to pony up to the truth and some decaf in the next one…
They BOTH suck
October 4th, 2012
1:24 pm
“Further proof that once you have to resort to insults you’ve already lost.”
Bookman: Not sure what Thulsa won, but please get it shipped out to his house today.
Thanks
getalife
October 4th, 2012
1:26 pm
Kam,
I am against it because we should make voting easier not harder.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 4th, 2012
1:27 pm
Bookman: Not sure what Thulsa won, but please get it shipped out to his house today.
That would be a face-to-face with the 2012 Republican nominee, Elmer Fudd.
JamVet
October 4th, 2012
1:29 pm
Go finish reading your People magazine. (Or at least looking at the pictures…)
You’re a product of Parris Island? You’re more like Paris Hilton.
(Insert stupid little smiley face icon here.)
Soldier Mom
October 4th, 2012
1:29 pm
and this:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/romneys-sick-joke/
They BOTH suck
October 4th, 2012
1:30 pm
Thulsa
I figure it is one of the following: set of Kinsu Knives, 2 tickets to White Water or a signed Copy of a picture of Jay himself.
You might want to email him with your the rankings of which you would prefer……….. After all you did win.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 4th, 2012
1:31 pm
getalife
I agree about voting being easier.
We were discussing the possibility of producing, and distributing a national ID at no cost or inconvenience to the public.
Logical Dude
October 4th, 2012
1:31 pm
Jamvet@ 1:08: I think if Mitt is elected, anthropogenic climate change is an Al Gore foisted, liberal hoax designed to bankrupt the USA and the rest of the world.
Actually, Mitt’s responses to that question were that YES, humans cause climate change. But it’s too hard on business to change anything so we should just deal with it. (not an exact quote).
getalife
October 4th, 2012
1:32 pm
frog,
At least sanctions in Iran are working so the warmongering should stop.
A North African strategy is in play.
He seems to be struggling with something he does not want to do.
Chris
October 4th, 2012
1:32 pm
Unfortunately President Obama came expecting to debate on previously stated issues/positions; he didn’t realize or understand that Mitt Romney waffles and panders to the audience at hand and will do 180s on-demand!!!
Logical Dude
October 4th, 2012
1:33 pm
(of course, a week later he could have released a totally different answer)
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:33 pm
“Are Mitt’s money men putting away the checkbooks?”–JAY BOOKMAN
I would bet the answer to Jay Bookman’s foolish question is a resounding “NO”
Soldier Mom
October 4th, 2012
1:33 pm
aaaaannnnddd this:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/10/top-romney-adviser-states-will-have-to-cover-people-with-pre-existing-conditions-under-president-rom.php
getalife
October 4th, 2012
1:34 pm
Kam,
What documents do you have to get to get the id?
That is where the costs and inconvenience will come from.
Ben Shockley
October 4th, 2012
1:34 pm
Liberals have never demonstrated any significant capacity for learning. Still, after the comparative performances of the two candidates last night, one hopes that even liberals will now begin to understand why successful, accomplished businessmen often command very high slaries, and why community organizers tend to be unpaid, volunteer-like positions.
Thulsa Doom
October 4th, 2012
1:34 pm
“I’m just going to reiterate my point that Romney has exactly zero experience with actual “industry.” I have no need to engage you in your foolish fabulism.”
“Foolish fabulism”? Just what I’ve come to expect from Joe. How unfortunate.
“Rejected. Ownership does not imply leadership.”
Ownership does not imply leadership??? Bumper sticker sloganeering is not a credible response in my book. Try again sir.
“If, however, you’d like to demonstrate that Romney had an active hand in the day-to-day operational management of those firms, I can certainly reconsider my position.”
And if you would like to demonstrate how Romney’s advice, capital, and consulting didn’t help turn around and make many of these companies successful then I would be happy to reconsider. The track record of success is there. And your feeble attempts to tear down his successful track record aint gonna change that.
“Denied. How many individual hiring decisions did Romney personally get engaged in?”
Only a fool would believe that Romney didn’t have a hand in helping to bring in or hire outside consultants or executive leadership in any of these companies.
“And before you bleat that he didn’t personally *fire* anyone, bear in mind that he didn’t have to when he made the decisions to close the facilities, businesses and companies they were working for.”
Ah yes. I wondered when Joe was going to get to the part about closing facilities and plants. As you well know Joe when you are a venture capitalist or private equity capitalist you are not going to be able to save every company you take over. Some of them are going to fail no matter how hard you try to turn them around. But like I said go ahead and focus on the few failures since it fits the pre conceived narrative that you are trying to lay out. It doesn’t change the big picture. And the big picture is that while there were some inevitable failures along the way Bain capital helped turn around and grow some remarkable business enterprises such as target, sports authority, and other companies. Your attacks on Romney and Bain aren’t going to change the enormous overall successes that they had. But keep shooting your spitballs at that battleship of success if it makes ya feel better.
Joe mama trying to tear down an American success story like Bain capital and all the companies they helped make successful. Sad.
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:34 pm
The new Romney/Obama debate results are ‘devastating’, but not to Romney.
Madmax
October 4th, 2012
1:34 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
So Bain Capital is not a company? I believe his managerial experience there involved him hiring and firing people. Anybody who has worked in the consulting industry picks up a lot of business knowledge in the work that is done. If you don’t you won’t succeed. To dismiss that experience, like the President did last night, is very foolish I believe his experiences at Bain and the Olympics showed the differences between the two men last night. Romney was well prepared for Obama’s talking points and all Obama could do is shake his head, smile for the camera and ramble on. Romney exposed Obama’s flank last night. Will Obama do better next time? Probably but Romney is not going away by you and your followers wishing. It will require the President to work and stop posing.
JKL2
October 4th, 2012
1:34 pm
Soldier Mom- Why didn’t he do this last night?
No teleprompter.
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:35 pm
“Do debates and analysis alter viewpoint? Research says yes”–Jay Bookman
Bad news for Obama!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 4th, 2012
1:35 pm
getalife
It’s not gonna be about providing documents.
It will be some kind of biometric ID
Ben Shockley
October 4th, 2012
1:36 pm
The only person who finds Joe Mama insightful is Kamchak, and he spends three-quarters of his life in he World of Gor.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 4th, 2012
1:36 pm
Lost, bewildered without teleprompter…
drudgey spam.
JamVet
October 4th, 2012
1:36 pm
But it’s too hard on business to change anything so we should just deal with it.
OF COURSE!
That’s real intelligent.
Nixon and Carter both told these idiots forty years ago to wake up and start making some changes.
But it was ‘too expensive’ then!
There will never be a right time for the pro-pollution Chamber of Commerce Party to act.
NEVER.
These reactionaries are perpetually stuck on stupid…
Ahem
October 4th, 2012
1:37 pm
Ummm, ahh, uhh, I, well, umm, uhh, lets be clear, ummm, ahh, uhhh, I, I, I, uhh, Bush, umm, uhh, the fact is, umm, uhh, I, Bush, umm…
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:37 pm
The Night that changed the landscape of a campaign…
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:37 pm
On election night, a reality check looms for someone…
JKL2
October 4th, 2012
1:38 pm
kamchak- We were discussing the possibility of producing, and distributing a national ID at no cost or inconvenience to the public.
It’s “no cost” because the government is going to pay for it…
Here’s your sign.
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:38 pm
For Liberals, it’s ‘Blame the media!’ time.
AmericaShrugged
October 4th, 2012
1:38 pm
getalife – Can’t you do better than mimic Jay? If so please provide link showing how Iran’s nuclear prgram has stopped or even slowed down because the sanctions are working.
Thanks in advance!
In the Left corner - President Obama
October 4th, 2012
1:39 pm
If you realize last night was an EPIC FAIL, just wait until Paul Ryan get’s onstage with Crazy Uncle Joe.
Madmax
October 4th, 2012
1:39 pm
Obama and Carter – separated at birth but following similat life paths to prove the Peter Principle.
td
October 4th, 2012
1:39 pm
A TAT
October 4th, 2012
1:08 pm
In last night’s debate, Romney declared it’s:
Time to Ax Public Programs That Don’t Yield Results
From what I’ve read, Romney wants to do away with Head Start.
“Is the program worth borrowing money from China to continue”? Mitt Romney
If it is then save the program if it is not then get rid of it.
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:39 pm
If the DNC and Obama were a business, Bain would target it for restructuring…
Ben Shockley
October 4th, 2012
1:39 pm
Maybe Barack should have been hitting the books instead of hitting Whoopi’s couch.
Joe Hussein Mama
October 4th, 2012
1:40 pm
Doom — “Agreed. Didn’t talk long for you to descend into the sewer did it Joe.”
Of course not, once you said “It doesn’t matter what you think.” If you want some respect for your views, you could try showing some respect for the views of others. Come across like a Richard, and I’ll just deal it right back at you.
“Wrong.”
Denied.
“As has been written about ad nausum the profits were derived because businesses quit expanding and hiring which are enormous cash drains. They became cash cows because they weren’t hiring and expanding. At least that’s what your fellow liberals have been opining for quite awhile about.”
As usual, you misapprehend my meaning and then presume that your incorrect interpretation was what I meant.
If *government policy* is the reason for increased liquidity in the market, then *government policy* is responsible for increased equity valuation and corporate profits. And if you’re enjoying that set of circumstances, it’s self-refuting to say that gubment policies are creating uncertainty (and that’s why you’re not hiring). It’s gubment policies that put you in the catbird seat in the first place.
“Further proof that once you have to resort to insults you’ve already lost.”
Denied; you have no proof at all. I am not obliged to argue the points you think I should be making. You need to pay attention the the arguments I’m actually making. If you’re not going to respond substantively to my points and you’re going to instead go ‘yebbut this is what you libruls all think,’ then you’ve pretty much conceded. In other words, keep your eyes on the road.
“I don’t know why you’re going off on this tangent. It has little if any relevance to our conversation.”
Well, maybe you think that because you don’t actually appear to be paying attention to my argument, Doom.
“And you’re not dispelling any new economic knowledge that most of us don’t already know. But since you know so much about what constitutes *responsible growth* perhaps you can advise them and help them out a bit.”
Maybe so.
“With all due respect Joe please quit going off on tangents that have little if any relevance to what we speak.”
With all due respect, Doom, please stop trying to tell me what my argument is. And if you’re not going to pay attention to my arguments before you post in response to them, then please stop making a fuss.
“You’re but one poster and I don’t have time to answer essays all day from one poster. Please keep it short if you wish to converse.”
I will post how I please, within the bounds set by our host. You are free to respond (or not) as you wish.
“Now to the point about regulation. I don’t know anyone who opposes common sense regulation. It is the reason why I will not eat farm raised seafood from southeast Asia. Our stuff is safe because of regulation. Theirs is not. Your meme that cons believe that all regulation is bad is not only inaccurate but tiresome.”
I raised no meme on that point. Once again, you misunderstood my point and then presumed that your incorrect understanding was exactly what I was trying to get across. It’s not.
You posited that I was arguing that government and the citizenry were working at cross purposes (e.g. “Looks like you and big gubment know better than these *unsophisticated consumers* that you deride.”) I was *actually* trying to point out that government regulation can and does make the lives of the citizenry better and that regulation isn’t by definition a bad thing. For your part, you erroneously presumed that I was mocking “unsophisticated consumers” (I wasn’t — I was pointing out that they need and deserve this sort of help) and you erroneously mocked government by calling it “gubment” when it is, in fact, a key player in this dynamic.
“Yes. But again. The point has little if any relevance to what we’re talking about.”
It’s got plenty of relevance. You just keep missing my point
“And again. You’re not dispelling any new wisdom on anyone but are simply adding more stuff to read.”
Evelyn Wood is ready when you are, Doom.
“If you want to debate then fine. But keep it short to 1 or 2 points for the sake of brevity if you would. That way we can both address other posters and points as well.”
Work harder. Work faster. Try to keep up.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
October 4th, 2012
1:40 pm
Because the night belongs to lovers.
A TAT
October 4th, 2012
1:40 pm
The AARP, which put itself in the middle of the health care debate by endorsing ObamaCare, now is telling President Obama to keep the group out of his political talking points.
The nation’s leading senior advocacy organization objected after the president during Wednesday’s debate twice mentioned the AARP while defending his health care plan and attacking Mitt Romney’s plans for Medicare.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/04/aarp-objects-to-obama-invoking-group-support-during-debate/#ixzz28Lx5rRcs
There’s a reason for ^^^ that. Up until the last coupl’a years, AARP had no competition. They DO now.
Ben Shockley
October 4th, 2012
1:41 pm
Oh boy…without the media to spin and lie on his behalf, Obama has to actually run on his record.
.
Thulsa Doom
October 4th, 2012
1:41 pm
“I figure it is one of the following: set of Kinsu Knives, 2 tickets to White Water or a signed Copy of a picture of Jay himself.”
they both suck,
Well I have to admit I got a great chuckle out of that. I’ll take the 2 tickets to white water since even though I’m in my 40s now I still just love shyte like amusement parks, roller coasters, etc. I wouldn’t want an autographed pic of jay. But if he could take a screen print of himself and put it on one of them urinal matts that goes at the bottom of a men’s urinal then i would take that. I could put it at the bottom of the urinal in my favorite bar and then pee on Jay every time i gotta go. Just kidding with Jay of course.
You can relax though. Romney may have stomped on him in the first debate but it won’t be enough to make up a 10 pt poll difference in Ohio. And if Romney doesn’t win Ohio then I don’t see how he can possibly win the election.
Joe Hussein Mama
October 4th, 2012
1:41 pm
K’Chak — “It would require a new dept., data base and an appointed administrator which would immediately be labeled ID Czar”
What if we made it part of DHS?
Ahem
October 4th, 2012
1:41 pm
It was:
1. Xanax? nope
2. Altitude? nope
3. Moderator? nope
4. Mitt being mean? nope
5. Too busy to prep? nope
Well there must be some plausible explanation. Hmmm…
Mick
October 4th, 2012
1:42 pm
Wow…someone around here can’t stop spiking the ball…as if romneys lies were words of wisdom, now comes the hard part – he has to back them up! Remember, there are two more debates and it ain’t over till it’s over…
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:42 pm
Barrak Obama and the DNC’s bad case of buyer’s remorse…
td
October 4th, 2012
1:42 pm
JamVet
October 4th, 2012
1:17 pm
YEAH!
More welfare for the wealthy!
According to a new report, over the past three years Microsoft has used a series of complex financial maneuvers to avoid paying billions of dollars in U.S. taxes. The report is part of a United States Senate investigation.
A Senate committee memo indicates that Microsoft made transactions with subsidiary firms in other countries — including Puerto Rico, Singapore, Bermuda, and even Ireland — to save more than $6 billion it would otherwise have owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
And Microsoft is one of the top 5 contributors to the Obama campaign. The Dems had total control of the house and Senate for two years. If this was so horrible to them then why did they not close this loophole?
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:43 pm
Ol’ Barrak Obama is a dirty socialist? Who knew?
Ben Shockley
October 4th, 2012
1:43 pm
Joe Mama has delusions of grandeur about his intellect, yet somewhow finds simple concepts like saving and investing his own money for retirement, or finding and landing a job that includes good helath benefits…well, that kind of stuff is just a little too hard……….
In the Left corner - President Obama
October 4th, 2012
1:44 pm
Mr. Obama looked like Napoleon Dynamite in a boxing ring versus Rocky Balboa.
Knockout !!
Mick
October 4th, 2012
1:44 pm
Gomer the lesser is having some paris island flashbacks and thinks the mittsiah was his DI…knock, knock – wakeup and give me fifty!!!
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
October 4th, 2012
1:44 pm
USMC:
Next time “pugle sticks” !
USMC
October 4th, 2012
1:45 pm
DNC strategists cannot like what they’re seeing…
getalife
October 4th, 2012
1:45 pm
Kam,
I think India does that but have to research it more to see if it works..
JamVet
October 4th, 2012
1:45 pm
Liberals have never demonstrated any significant capacity for learning.
And you have????
Huge LOL at you, Einsteen!
But maybe you have a point. After all, ALL of the most prestigious, renowned institutions of advanced learning in the USA are in red states and highly conservative cities!
(What an imbecile you are Benji…)
Ben Shockley
October 4th, 2012
1:45 pm
“And Microsoft is one of the top 5 contributors to the Obama campaign. The Dems had total control of the house and Senate for two years. If this was so horrible to them then why did they not close this loophole?”
td – 1
Libs – 0
They BOTH suck
October 4th, 2012
1:45 pm
Thulsa
I haven’t been excited. I said last night that Romney won the debate and said today will know how much, if any, did he close the gap in a few days………..
The election is still Obama’s to lose, but he could certainly do that over a 4 week period of time. If all the debates go like last night, it could get interesting.
0311/8541/5811/1811/1801
October 4th, 2012
1:45 pm
ABC News:
“Obama Supporters Concede Debate Defeat”