RomneyRyan 2012!

[Catgrrl]

I was appalled at how rude both of them were to the moderator. I've not paid much attention to debates before, so I'm not sure if that is the norm, but either way it was unprofessional. And repeating the same things over and over, going off topic....I was unimpressed by both. I'm no Mitt Romney fan, but he appeared more confident than the president did. The president just didn't seem very aggressive or even that into it. Again, I didn't see him debate 4 years ago so I don't know if that's his style. However, it was very frustrating for me to hear Romney talking about how he would repeal Obamacare but put something into place that, to me, sounded like the same damn thing. I couldn't wrap my head around that part. As a small aside, I didn't care for his talk of us being all children under the same God (because we aren't) but that's a relatively minor thing I can let slide since it had little to do with the debate itself. Another superficial thing that bothers me is Romney's smirk. It's very smug and condescending in appearance. Again, just another shallow observation on my part and not really what mattered in the debate.

All in all, I thought both were unprofessional and not persuasive. I do concede that Mitt sounded better on the stage last night. I wasn't too interested in last night's boring back-and-forth. I'm hoping next week's VP debate will deliver the lulz I was hoping for, since both of those candidates are on the nutty side.

[Ominous Gamer]

I think the "all children under the same God" comment right after (or was it before) talking about religious tolerance and freedom is good example of how most of his speaking went. So much of his time was spent arguing with his past remarks. How many times did he try to refute the 5 trillion claim? His claim about pre-existing conditions having to be "tweaked" by his advisor today.

Obama should have manned up and called him out on his style. He allowed the debate to become an event where the winner was whoever could fling the more bullshit. And Romney has been winning that race for a long while now. In the debate he had something like 27 myths in 38 minutes.

[GGT]

.....As a small aside, I didn't care for his talk of us being all children under the same God (because we aren't) but that's a relatively minor thing I can let slide since it had little to do with the debate itself.

Yeah, I found that a bit snarky, since it came in his closing statement (not really up for debate, but a compulsion meant to appease the religious part of the GOP "base"). I could practically hear his handlers having trained him to end the evening with a God comment.

Another superficial thing that bothers me is Romney's smirk. It's very smug and condescending in appearance. Again, just another shallow observation on my part and not really what mattered in the debate.

There's a lot to be said about a candidate's non-verbal language. Romney's smirk is one of them. Add that "tilt" of his head, looking in the other direction, right after posing the Smirk....it's become one his trademark behaviors. It smacks of coached and well-practiced habits, learned by being a candidate (in one form or another) for most of his life. It reminds me he's been running for POTUS for over twenty years. And it really grates on my nerves.

After I stopped watching and used sound only....Romney's hoarse voice, dry mouth, and rapid manner of speaking left a mental impression of either nerves or desperation.

All in all, I thought both were unprofessional and not persuasive. I do concede that Mitt sounded better on the stage last night. I wasn't too interested in last night's boring back-and-forth. I'm hoping next week's VP debate will deliver the lulz I was hoping for, since both of those candidates are on the nutty side.

My bet's on Biden. I think Ryan (who already speaks too fast for public discourse) will have to spend most of his time tamping down on that. He also has a throat-clearing tic that microphones amplify. Plus, Ryan can't really speak for himself...when he's supposed to be a surrogate speaker for Romney, and the two don't mesh very well.

[RandBlade]

All US politicians talk GodBS

[GGT]

All US politicians talk GodBS

Obama didn't talk God BS during the debate, or use closing statements to make a God comment. Oooh, maybe that's because he's secretly a Muslim!

[Loki]

He did during the DNC convention.

[Catgrrl]

It' annoying. I don't mind one having pride in one's religion, but stop acting like everyone in the country has the same beliefs (or ought to) as you!


Ryan's mannerisms irritate me. The throat clearing and general twitchiness he has makes me nervous, like he's going to explode at any second. And we know Biden's good for a couple of awkward phrases and gaffes at least. So, it will be mostly entertainment in my eyes. I really don't prefer either in the VP role, though.

[GGT]

We already critiqued the conventions, right now we're critiquing last night's debate.

This will surely be brought up again during the debate focusing on Foreign Policy, International Relations....and military spending. I predict Romney will try to restore the Bush/Cheney hawkish approach. Tying US "exceptionalism" to world dominance, power through military, and trying to link all terrorism and extremism to Muslims or Arabs.

[Loki]

Unlike Obama's approach toward Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Uganda, and Libya.

[GGT]

It' annoying. I don't mind one having pride in one's religion, but stop acting like everyone in the country has the same beliefs (or ought to) as you!


Ryan's mannerisms irritate me. The throat clearing and general twitchiness he has makes me nervous, like he's going to explode at any second. And we know Biden's good for a couple of awkward phrases and gaffes at least. So, it will be mostly entertainment in my eyes. I really don't prefer either in the VP role, though.

Until you try to envision them replacing the President-elect. I think that was the biggest hurdle the McCain-Palin ticket couldn't pass.

[GGT]

Unlike Obama's approach toward Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Uganda, and Libya.

You're sounding like McCain et al who are practically drooling to send military troops everywhere around the world.

[Loki]

I know reading comprehension isn't your specialty, but the point I was making was that Obama stepped up military operations in each of those countries to a level far beyond what Bush was doing.

[GGT]

I know reading comprehension isn't your specialty, but the point I was making was that Obama stepped up military operations in each of those countries to a level far beyond what Bush was doing.

"Operations" without troops on the ground. I know contextual comprehension isn't your strongest point, but I was making a point about Romney and his neo-con military hawk advisors.

[Loki]

Right. Killing brown people is ok as long as it's done from the air.

[GGT]

Right. Killing brown people is ok as long as it's done from the air.

Uh huh, and shaping our national defense includes protecting Israel, or letting their leaders tell the US what to do.....?

[Loki]

Once again, your problem doesn't seem to be an aggressive foreign policy or fighting wars; it's having white American boys do the killing in close quarters.

[GGT]

Once again, your problem doesn't seem to be an aggressive foreign policy or fighting wars; it's having white American boys do the killing in close quarters.

Once again...WTF? I made a comment about the debates, and Romney's closing statement citing religious beliefs (in God). It's the forerunner to subsequent debates, when RELIGION will be cited for military interventions. Military troops fighting in the name of Religion, not on behalf of Democracy. Diplomacy against Terrorism or Religious radicals...on behalf of Judeo-Christianity values. Painting any Muslim, Palestinian, or "Arab" as the extremist or radical to be eradicated.

[RandBlade]

Once again, your problem doesn't seem to be an aggressive foreign policy or fighting wars; it's having white American boys do the killing in close quarters.

To be fair what I get from the messages I think is it's just that any American boys (white, brown etc) shouldn't be fighting in close quarters. But bombing dirty foreigners is A-OK.

[Loki]

You're right; it's more extreme xenophobia than racism.

[GGT]

You're right; it's more extreme xenophobia than racism.

Yeah, let's turn IR and all military policy into phobias. Religious, cultural, and ethnic fear mongering really works.

[Veldan Rath]

I just want to cut through the verbal fencing...GGT are you okay with the military step up Obama has done in the above countries?

[GGT]

Nope. Just sparring with Loki and his smugNess.

[Loki]

Why not just start your own forum with AR81 and Being? Think about how much trouble you'll avoid by not being repeatedly told to read posts before replying to them. You can each have your own stream of consciousness sub-forums, and the other two can pretend to read them. Then you can have a joint forum for made up "facts".

[Hazir]

It' annoying. I don't mind one having pride in one's religion, but stop acting like everyone in the country has the same beliefs (or ought to) as you!


Ryan's mannerisms irritate me. The throat clearing and general twitchiness he has makes me nervous, like he's going to explode at any second. And we know Biden's good for a couple of awkward phrases and gaffes at least. So, it will be mostly entertainment in my eyes. I really don't prefer either in the VP role, though.

The funny thing is that I have this distinct feeling Romney isn't proud of his religion at all. He's way too busy trying to come off as main stream Christian. Which Mormons are not by a long shot. I for my part think to claim it even is Christianity is a bit preposterous, but I guess Christians should be the ones deciding on them belonging in their big tent or not.

[Lewkowski]

Right. Killing brown people is ok as long as it's done from the air.

That was Bill Clinton's policy.

[Dreadnaught]

Romney's American flag pin was substantially bigger than Obama's; Romney won the debate as soon as it started.

[Ominous Gamer]

Not sure how that is a flip flop.

He wants to help them, but knows he may not get their vote?

Would admitting that the statement "was completely wrong" be a big enough reversal?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49297082

[Steely Glint]

While it's good that Romney has admitted he was full of shit, it seems like an odd move politically. He does well in the first debate and presumably gets some kind of boost, then reminds everyone of the dumb thing he said weeks ago?

[Steely Glint]

o< OBAMA IS BEATING ROMNEY IN THE POLLS BUT REPLICANT RON PAUL (R-MARS) IS BEATING BOTH IF ONLY THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA WOULD REPORT IT o-

makes you think

[Loki]

That it's not true.