Romney knocked it out of the park . . .

[justabubba]

I have to say I don't buy Romney's excuse about specifics. At this point there are only two possible reasons that he doesn't reveal them, other than it makes it almost impossible to criticize a vague and amorphous plan. The first, and most likely in my opinion, is that he does have specifics in mind and either they don't really accomplish what he claims(many say the growth he forecasts to remain revenue neutral is unrealistic), or they have drawbacks that would hurt him badly with the middle class. The other possibility, is that he hasn't looked at the specifics yet. If this is the case, how can he even be sure what he claims he will do is within the realm of possibility? I don't entirely discount this possibility because I've seen businessmen before who take this "We'll make it work" approach, usually to disastrous consequences. If Romney does have specifics in mind, there is absolutely no excuse for him not to furnish them. He is trying to work both ends on policy since we can't point to any actual national financial record such as Obama's first term and he won't even specify what he believes is the solution. Too bad Obama couldn't have ceded as much of his own time as Mitt needed to explain his plans in detail. I'm betting you still wouldn't have gotten an answer even if he was given an hour.

this was where i thought romney clearly outpointed Obama. he was able to indicate a willingness to cap tax deductions of the wealthy, compare himself to reagan, show why Obama is an ineffective leader ... and importantly, provide a logical explanation why he focuses on the big picture rather than the way it will be implemented. but significantly, he also illustrated he is able to consider an array of divers ways to achieve his fundamental principles, by pointing out the viable options to implement this one (tax deduction limits):

ROMNEY: Which is -- which is my experience as a governor is if I come in and -- and lay down a piece of legislation and say, "It's my way or the highway," I don't get a lot done. What I do is the same way that Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan worked together some years ago. When Ronald Reagan ran for office, he laid out the principles that he was going to foster. He said he was going to lower tax rates. He said he was going to broaden the base. You've said the same thing, you're going to simplify the tax code, broaden the base.
Those are my principles. I want to bring down the tax burden on middle-income families. And I'm going to work together with Congress to say, OK, what -- what are the various ways we could bring down deductions, for instance? One way, for instance, would be to have a single number. Make up a number, $25,000, $50,000. Anybody can have deductions up to that amount. And then that number disappears for high-income people. That's one way one could do it. One could follow Bowles-Simpson as a model and take deduction by deduction and make differences that way. There are alternatives to accomplish the objective I have, which is to bring down rates, broaden the base, simplify the code, and create incentives for growth.

 

[Jredbaron96]

I like the debate Romney.

He's funny.

 

[clownboy]

I like the debate Romney.

He's funny.

That's good that you like him, because if he continues like this, he'll be President Romney.

 

[wolfman24]

I had heard that slinky was a good speaker but I was surprised at how well he did. It was quite clear to me though that he just could not let things go and wanted to have it his way, which may have been part of the strategy. Obama needs to keep his eyes on the audience like Kennedy did or look at Slinky. This navel examination is not working. Keep it focused and direct. Don't get caught in repeating your positon as a "defense mechanism", it takes to much time away from what matters and gives Slinky what he wants more time.

 

[Conservative]

Discrediting the other guys plan isn't the same as offering one of your own. This isn't a high school debate where all the negative team has to do is defeat the proposal of the affirmative team. Romney won't give vital specifics of his economic plans and without them they will certainly make the deficit worse. Romney claimed he wasn't reducing taxes for the rich but has proposed a 20% cut across all brackets. Economists say that even closing every loophole on the rich won't make that plan revenue neutral. That means you have to start hitting the other tax brackets. If this was a formal cross examination debate instead of the free for all the moderator allowed it to become, Obama would have cited those sources and Mitt merely claiming they are incorrect wouldn't have cut it.

What you and all other liberals don't seem to understand is that a pro growth economic policy will increase economic activity. Like Obama you look at arithmetic and not human behavior. You put 23 million Americans back to work full time(12.4 million unemployed, 844,000 discouraged, and the 9 million under employed) you get more tax revenue right there. You grow the economy you get more govt. revenue. Economic growth of 1.3% is a disaster four years into his Presidency, lower this year vs. last year and lower last year than 2010(2010-2.4%, 2011-1.8%, 2012-1.3%)

Keep carrying the water for this empty suit. His record is a disaster and as last night showed there shouldn't be one person in this country that would have a problem with Romney in the WH

 

[joko104]

It is clear that BOTH Romney and Obama are at their best when back-to-the-wall. It was clearly Romney's night, though certainly not a knock out. Rather, Romney put himself now in the game.

Expect Obama to come back in the next debate as the Chicago street fighter politician that won him the Democratic nomination against Hillary. If Romney has sense, he'll also get ready to get down and dirty in the next round. Afterall, this is a fight for the heavyweight championship of the world. Obama will remember that now and Romney better grasp that too. Nice guys finish last. "Its balls to the wall, boys!"

In the end, as for all elections, only one man will remain standing and will rule the empire. The other becomes nothing.

 

[AdamT]

It is clear that BOTH Romney and Obama are at their best when back-to-the-wall. It was clearly Romney's night, though certainly not a knock out. Rather, Romney put himself now in the game.

Expect Obama to come back in the next debate as the Chicago street fighter politician that won him Democratic nomination against Hillary. If Romney has sense, he'll also get ready to get down and dirty in the next round. Afterall, this is a fight for the heavyweight championship of the world. Obama will remember that now and Romney better grasp that too. Nice guys finish last.

In the end, as for all elections, only one man will remain standing and rules the empire. The other becomes nothing.

The next debate will also focus on foreign policy -- a strength for Obama and an area where Romney has zero experience (and a penchant for saying really stupid things).

 

[clownboy]

The next debate will also focus on foreign policy -- a strength for Obama and an area where Romney has zero experience (and a penchant for saying really stupid things).

Once again, Obama has to defend his record as a sitting president, and that's not in his wheelhouse. Add to that his record on foreign policy is horrid. Romney only has to highlight that and watch Obama implode. The foreign policy debate will be the hardest Obama has to face.

 

[Conservative]

It is clear that BOTH Romney and Obama are at their best when back-to-the-wall. It was clearly Romney's night, though certainly not a knock out. Rather, Romney put himself now in the game.

Expect Obama to come back in the next debate as the Chicago street fighter politician that won him the Democratic nomination against Hillary. If Romney has sense, he'll also get ready to get down and dirty in the next round. Afterall, this is a fight for the heavyweight championship of the world. Obama will remember that now and Romney better grasp that too. Nice guys finish last. "Its balls to the wall, boys!"

In the end, as for all elections, only one man will remain standing and will rule the empire. The other becomes nothing.

Sorry, but the problem Obama has is his record which no one can defend. As you saw last night he tried to ignore the record but couldn't. The same will be said after the next debate. The Obama record is a failure just like his resume showed one of not having the resume to handle the job. If you are looking for a comeback then you are going to have to find someone with better results than OBama

 

[Conservative]

Once again, Obama has to defend his record as a sitting president, and that's not in his wheelhouse. Add to that his record on foreign policy is horrid. Romney only has to highlight that and watch Obama implode. The foreign policy debate will be the hardest Obama has to face.

Liberals will point to the killing of Bin Laden but not the killing of our Ambassador, the killing of Bin Laden but not the attacks on our embassies, the killing of Bin Laden and the Muslim Brotherhood takeover of Egypt, the killing of Bin Laden and the growing threat of Iran, the killing of Bin Laden and Obama's appearance on The View when world leaders were at the UN.

Yes, Obama's strong suit being foreign policy will be as effective in defending as Obama's performance last night.

 

[Travis007]

Romney destroyed Obama

Obama looked like a cornered demagogue out of excuses because that's exactly what he is. This debate will change the election in Romney's favor. No doubt about it.

it reminded me of when the rebels found Khadafi in a sewer pipe LOL... luckily for Obama he lives in the USA..

 

[Travis007]

The next debate will also focus on foreign policy -- a strength for Obama and an area where Romney has zero experience (and a penchant for saying really stupid things).

cough... yea you keep telling yourself that.. Obama will be destroyed again.. I thought the econmy was his strong point.. oh wait.. OErkle has no stregnths... oh boo ho... Obamas only hope is media lies to save him.. like the last 3.5 years.. a DISASTER that we are sold is WINNING..

 

[iguanaman]

I really hope he wins. I thought he did an excellent job. Has a terrific stage presence...what he said made sense...he held his own against the President of the United States. (This was not the debate(s) with McCain four years ago.)

I loved what he said about not having specifics. Paraphrased, he says he doesn't start with specifics. He starts with goals. He knows what he wants to accomplish and will work in a bipartisan way to get it done to the best of his ability. Romney should have said, "I don't work the way you did when you dumped a 2,000-page document on Congress and said my way or the highway." He has pretty good evidence of his ability to work across the aisle seeing as Romneycare was passed with a Congress made up of 87% Democrats.

I liked his phrase of "Trickle Down Government." Catchy and really does a good job of describing Obama's philosophy.

I thought Obama did very well. I expected him to. He's got the inside track. He's an excellent speaker with an engaging personality. I did notice we didn't see that confident little boy grin. I think he was genuinely challenged.

I really thought Romney held his own. He had to nail this debate in order to have any expectation of a win. I think he did.

You?

You are kidding yourself if you think Romney can work with Democrats on repealing Obamacare, his election would cause even more gridlock. Remember Romney worked with Democrats in Mass when he was a VERY different Republican.
I am also surpirsed the Romney lies/flip flops did not bother you. Does he want a 20% tax cut or not? Last night he said he didn't. Several times.

 

[Travis007]

You are kidding yourself if you think Romney can work with Democrats on repealing Obamacare, his election would cause even more gridlock. Remember Romney worked with Democrats in Mass when he was a VERY different Republican.
I am also surpirsed the Romney lies/flip flops did not bother you. Does he want a 20% tax cut or not? Last night he said he didn't. Several times.

did you watch the debate?

 

[iguanaman]

did you watch the debate?

Of course.

 

[Conservative]

You are kidding yourself if you think Romney can work with Democrats on repealing Obamacare, his election would cause even more gridlock. Remember Romney worked with Democrats in Mass when he was a VERY different Republican.
I am also surpirsed the Romney lies/flip flops did not bother you. Does he want a 20% tax cut or not? Last night he said he didn't. Several times.

I am surprised that you don't seem to understand what a waiver is. Not surprising that you are one of the 27% that believes Obama won the debate or that Obama was qualified to be President. What you saw last night is the beginning of the end for the Obama fraud perpetuated on the American people

 

[AdamT]

cough... yea you keep telling yourself that.. Obama will be destroyed again.. I thought the econmy was his strong point.. oh wait.. OErkle has no stregnths... oh boo ho... Obamas only hope is media lies to save him.. like the last 3.5 years.. a DISASTER that we are sold is WINNING..

Thank you for your considered and unbiased opinion.

 

[Travis007]

Thank you for your considered and unbiased opinion.

facts and reality hate Obama.. but you keep up the Pom Poms..

make sure to fold up your empty chair as the SS Obama has hit the iceberg...

 

[The Barbarian]

The next debate will also focus on foreign policy -- a strength for Obama and an area where Romney has zero experience (and a penchant for saying really stupid things).

I was just wondering, what countries do you think we have an "improved" foreign policy with and why you think we do? I look around the world and see very little improvement in our foreign policy then during the Bush years.

 

[Conservative]

facts and reality hate Obama.. but you keep up the Pom Poms..

make sure to fold up your empty chair as the SS Obama has hit the iceberg...

Hey, don't forget Obama got the endorsement of Hugo Chavez too, what more ringing endorsement can one get

 

[The Barbarian]

In a way I find this debate about the debate kinda funny, we have Obama voters , who already have made up their mind , the hard left I believe they are called, believing that Obama won this debate, that is just how delusional they are, Then we have the hard right in here who would say and argue the very same thing should Obama win the next debate.

If the truth be told neither candidate is trying to reach those people. The Republican base votes Republican, the Democratic base votes Democratic the campaign and these debates are to reach the people in the middle that have yet to make up their minds

Any one that believes that Obama won this first debate, clearly shows they are hard left, with them Obama could go out and gun down 100 teachers striking, and those same people would say, aw he just did that so he looks more appealing to the right … he really didn't mean it .

Altho this was a clear win for Romney, conservatives shouldn’t become over confident, Romney won one of three debates , not the election. If Romney continues to impress as he did in this debate, it’s going to be a tough race for Obama, Romney has to keep his focus keep the topic on Obama’s record, the economy, the debt/deficit, and unemployment, and also keep showing his leadership abilities.

 

[Grant]

Sure, his doing a five minute segment on the View clearly overshadows the fact that he's running the most powerful country on earth ... while Romney is practicing his zingers on the copy boy.

It seems he did more prep work for The View than for those debates. I'm not sure he will want to climb back into the ring again with Romney unless he has his teleprompter and his fawning acolytes around to protect him.

 

[Conservative]

It seems he did more prep work for The View than for those debates. I'm not sure he will want to climb back into the ring again with Romney unless he has his teleprompter and his fawning acolytes around to protect him.

Obama, "Jim, you might want to move on to another topic" The only win for Obama, LOL

Michelle, "the one fantasy that I have is to walk out that front door and keep walking"

Michelle, you will get your wish on January 21, 2013

 

[Travis007]

Hey, don't forget Obama got the endorsement of Hugo Chavez too, what more ringing endorsement can one get

Thats priceless my bro.. priceless...Ajad will endorse him next..LOL

 

[MaggieD]

You are kidding yourself if you think Romney can work with Democrats on repealing Obamacare, his election would cause even more gridlock. Remember Romney worked with Democrats in Mass when he was a VERY different Republican.
I am also surpirsed the Romney lies/flip flops did not bother you. Does he want a 20% tax cut or not? Last night he said he didn't. Several times.

Obamacare will not be repealed. I personally don't want it to be repealed. It'll be tweaked, as well it should be. Romney says he hopes to be able to lower tax brackets. I believe him. He also expects this to be revenue neutral because he plans to reform a tax code that is so screwed up as to be managed by Mickey Mouse.

I really don't expect Romney to win. I will be very pleasantly surprised if he does. But he did a great job last night. For those on the fence, he scored a Knock Out Punch. For those who support Obama regardless, they think like you do. There is nothing he could say that would change your mind. And really? He's not even talking to you.

Let's see what happens the next two times.