Official Debate #1. Snark here.

[PalJoey]

[YouWantitWhen????]

JG2, here is a clip of it.

It was in the context of taxes.
Nevermind.

[YouWantitWhen????]

This kind of stuff may impact post-debate framing.

If Romney had no record for the past 18 months, I think some of what he said would hold long-term. But, I do wonder if Obama giving him every opportunity to prove him to be the Etch-A-Sketch Romney they have portrayed.

Again, the post debates ad may define this long term. It really depends on how each side uses the sound bites and frames some of the (mis)information provided.
I Like Big Bird.

[ucjrdude902]

I thought Romney did well and seems every media outlet out there agrees.

[givesmevoice]

While I think he should've been much much more aggressive, I think the nominees treatment of Jim Lehrer speaks volumes about their characters. Like one of my friends pointed out, Obama was humble and had a sense of humor about running over time, Romney was such a jerk and almost came across as a petulant child.

[Reginald Tresilian]

As I said, I thought Romeny presented himself well, aside from the plastered-on smirk.

But within minutes, the substance of his claims started to melt away in post-debate analysis.

[PalJoey]

We don't have to worry about Romney doing well on substance. It's much more dangerous if Romney does well on presentation.

[romantico]

SO, onto the important stuff.

This is what the candidates would look like if they each had the other's hair. After long consideration, I may just end up voting for Mitt. The short hair looks like someone pinned him to the ground and cut his hair off and I think it looks pretty hawt!

[Reginald Tresilian]

That's wonderful. Mitt should really consider something like it.

Obama on the other hand looks like post-diet Al Sharpton.

[Mister Matt]

I could only get about halfway through last night before turning it off in frustration. Lehrer was useless. He couldn't keep the debate on time or on topic and allowed Romney to steamroll him whenever he threw one of his childish fits. And after the 17th circular argument of the $5 Trillion in tax cuts by Romney (that will NOT increase the deficit, because Romney will reduce unspecific loopholes and deductions and wave his magic wand and say, "Shazam!"), I knew I would glean little information from this particular debate.

Is it just me, or did this seem like a replay of a Bush/Kerry debate?

[JoeKv99]

Debates are tough business-- especially for the candidate perceived to be the smarter, better talker. Remember that George W. Bush "Beat" Al Gore three out of three when they "debated."

Obama had a serious handicap- he had to stick with what he's said and what's he's done. Romney said several thing ("I'm not cutting taxes for the rich") that were 180% changes from what's he's been saying for 6 years on the campaign trail. Obama just raised his eyebrows- he should have gone for it and invoked the "etch-a-sketch."

It is comforting to read the "fact checking" today and see Romney get called out for his big whoppers ("I've been in business 25 years and never heard of a tax deduction for shipping jobs overseas!") but Obama made a strategic decision a long time ago to paint Romney as the candidate of the rich and powerful and not as a "Flip flopper" (he's both so it could have gone either way). In debate two he needs to do a little more "Well that's what you say NOW...."

[Reginald Tresilian]

Why no 47 percent?

[Jay Lerner-Z]

I only paid scant attention to the election in '08 (hey, I was a kid..), so this is the first debate I've really experienced.

I was so looking forward to it, with my popcorn at the ready - I was expecting a barnstorming 90-minute display of fireworks, but all I got was dull, dull, dull.

I thought it was going to be an event. But no. Hopefully the next one is livelier - I think Candy Crowley is wonderful, but I'm wondering if the town hall format of Oct 16 will contstrain her.

Obama had the nicer tie, at least.

[givesmevoice]

I can't wait for the Catholic throw down between Biden and Ryan on the 11th.

[Marianne2]

I missed it because I was running on a ridiculously long day. So, basically what I get from the information I have read, Romney insulted Big Bird and Obama wasn't dominant enough. Is there anything else noteworthy I missed?

[Jordan Catalano]

The only other thing is that (to steal the phrase from someone on facebook) both men treated Jim Lehrer like he was a substitute school teacher.

[Mister Matt]

"Five Trillion!"

"No!"

"Five Trillion!"

"No!"

Repeat ad nauseum.

[beautywickedlover]

This is how the media is responding to the Big Bird Comment.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/...loser-big-bird/

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/...llo-pbs-ceo.cnn

http://news.yahoo.com/debate-thrusts-big-b...-182115239.html

[PalJoey]

Better late than never?






Obama Blasts Mitt Romney's Debate Candor: 'You Owe The American People The Truth'

[beautywickedlover]

PBS has released an official statement about the comment.

"“We are very disappointed that PBS became a political target in the Presidential debate last night. Governor Romney does not understand the value the American people place on public broadcasting and the outstanding return on investment the system delivers to our nation,” said PBS in a statement on its website. “For more than 40 years, Big Bird has embodied the public broadcasting mission – harnessing the power of media for the good of every citizen, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. Our system serves as a universally accessible resource for education, history, science, arts and civil discourse.”


Don't mess with that bird! PBS defends Big Bird against Mitt Romney's debate comments

[Kad]

If he had made those comebacks last night, Romney would've sputtered and been flustered. Hopefully in the next two, that's what will happen.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Relax, it's going to be okay

[FindingNamo]

If Willard had gone after Dora, bitch'd cut a Mormon.

[bethnor]

if anything, relaxing is not okay.

all this means is that no one can be complacent, and that november will be a battle. remember, though it was an electoral landslide, the popular vote was still ~ 53% vs 47%. when the republicans should have been thoroughly repudiated for putting someone like palin within a heartbeat of the presidency. if romney/ryan win, it will be a validation of the 2010 congressional red tide, the tea party, bachmann, perry, cain, and the rest.

[FindingNamo]

Nobody should be complacent. But Nate Silver points out nobody needs to freak out a la Ed Schultz and Chris Matthews last night.

[Jordan Catalano]

I thought Ed was going to slap Rachel across the face at one point.