I Guess We Can Declare Victory

The general consensus is that Romney thumped Obama in the debate, proving that... humans beat robots? Or the T-1000 can beat the Terminator?

Let's cut to panic at the White House press office:

On Twitter, some of Mr. Obama’s Democratic allies expressed anger and disappointment that the president did not make better use of the “47 percent” speech by Mr. Romney and other missteps that the Democratic campaign has spent months honing into attack ads and stump speeches.

Andrew Sullivan, a blogger and strong supporter of Mr. Obama, echoed Peggy Noonan, a former Republican speechwriter, on Twitter, saying that “this is a rolling calamity for Obama.” Mr. Sullivan added: “He’s boring, abstract, and less human-seeming than Romney!”

And Bill Maher, the liberal comedian who had donated $1 million to a “superPAC” backing Mr. Obama, joked: “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Obama looks like he DOES need a teleprompter.”

But keep hope alive!

At this point, it remains unclear whether these snap assessments and others made immediately after the debate will be matched by the more sober judgments of voters in the upcoming days. Voters sometimes surprise the pundits by coming to different conclusions about the outcome of a presidential debate.

Possible spin: Of course Obama was downbeat and distracted - he was worried about the millions of Americans who might lose theuir health coverage iof Romney is elected.

 

Comments

[Rick Ballard]

"Or the T-1000 can beat the Terminator?"

Little Red Riding Hood can beat a Terminator equipped with a Soros logic chip.

[henry]

He'll have his teleprompter and adoring idiots at UW today -- probably with signs about Romney's imaginary tax cuts. The Madison faithful will bow to their victorious god, then choom and march with vuvuzelas blaring. It is good to be god king.

[narciso]

'Welcome to the Party, pal,' and realize that the Emperor, well you know the rest.

[NK]

OK Maguire -- No we can't declare victory yet. But, last night was most certainly, Churchill's 'end of the beginning'. The 'Beginning of the End' comes during the Benghazi/FF and Ryan-Biden debates, and the End of course in November. I'm a patient man, I can wait till then. BTW nice reference to the ABO/T-1000 Unit, where have I seen that before?

[Charlie (Colorado)]

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/10/04/letter-from-barack/

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Not even Charlie Rangel has much good to say about Obama's performance today.

[steve]

Obama is what I call an instinctive liberal. He doesn't have the intellectual understanding, he just 'knows' the liberalism is better than conservatism (in part because conservatives are stupid, greedy, racist and sexist). Lacking the foundation, an instinctive liberal has trouble when pushed or when the conversation strays from familiar talking points. This is what happened to Obama last night. The frustration you saw was Obama not being able to adapt his arguments as well as his not being used to a conservative not backing off and apologizing when accused of, well, being a conservative (I can imagine Obama thinking 'why isn't Romney backing off, how dare he not accept my assertions?').

Romney is the other side, an instinctive conservative. But unlike Obama, Romney came better prepared to stick to his points no matter how the debate progressed. And he was an example of what we don't see enough, a conservative who was willing to stand his ground and not back down.

And of course, Romney had the advantage in that Obama has such a terrible record to try to defend.

[narciso]

I think I coined it, but Ballard really has taken it to town.

[Sue]

narciso,

'Welcome to the Party, pal,'

This is why I love you so much. You know John McClane.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Soros logic chips embedded flaw is a NAND gate loop.

In the animal world, this also known as "dog chases own tail".

[jimmyk]

Romney is the other side, an instinctive conservative.

I don't think so, but he knows how to play one on TV, which is what counts for now. As CH said in the other thread, put him together with a Tea Party congress and we'll be fine.

[Danube of Thought]

For the first time in his entirely artificial life, Obama had someone look him in the eye and tell him "you're fulla shit." It was a joy to behold.

[GMAX]

The change in perception of the muddle begins being measured today, and due to the lag in the polling will start to show up slowly as its averaged in over 3 or 7 days in the tracking polls. I expect a significant change, Romney's hurdle was to look Presidential and allow folks to visualize him as someone who could perform in the role. He destroyed the carefully constructed myths that the Democrats have been trying to tell about him. Its exactly what he needed to do. It helps of course that Obama looked quite clearly in over his head, as in "sometimes you just have to let him go."

[pagar]

"Not even Charlie Rangel has much good to say about Obama's performance today."

When you are a far leftist and you have lost Charlie Rangel, Wow!

[NK]

DoT and GMAX@11:12 are very good summaries of what happened last night and the persuadables reaction to last night. Bam is FOS, he's been exposed as being FOS, and Romney's a solid guy. Vast majority of those persuadables will vote RR, some will just stay home. It's all good.

[Stephanie]

I'm surprised no one is going after Obama's self damning statement:

“We should just go back to Clinton era economics”

That was what he was reduced to after getting beat around his jugears for 45 minutes.

Help me Obi-Wan Clintobi, you're my only hope!

Someone really needs to photoshop a pair of cinnamon buns on his head.

Who knew Forward! was the subtitle from 'Back to the Future.'

/my (maybe) limit of movie analogies for the day.

[matt]

I think the only people defending the Lightbringer's performance last night were the Jim Jones Democrats. Romney ripped him a new one.

What sort of amazed me was that both of them came back to the same thing over and over. Obama tried to use the "math doesn't add up" very ineffectively while Romney was jobs, jobs, jobs. Obama didn't have a believable retort.

The 3 1/2 years and nothing has changed lines helped Romney immensely and echoed Clint's refrain from the convention.

I think Romney just got inside a whole lot of liberals heads, and may have shifted a lot of the middle over.

[Sue]

I wish someone would explain to me how Clinton's taxes created the boom of the late 90s.

[NK]

Henry-- please provide local Wisc flavor to the JEF getting felated by the younguns and ossified academics today in Madison. I'm sure he'll mock RR and the CW about last night's debate. But I'd love to hear your local take-- winning the Badger State is so important IMO.

[Danube of Thought]

Loved watching the Chris Matthews meltdown.

[NK]

Sue-- that's a rhetorical question... they didn't.

[Danube of Thought]

Reuters:

Political commentators in France and Germany registered surprise at Obama's underwhelming performance, saying the election could be much tighter as a result. "Obama showed a lack of desire to be president, which could put him on shaky ground as a presidential candidate," said liberal German news magazine Der Spiegel. "It's now clear that to get back into the White House the U.S. president needs running shoes, not flip-flops."

[Porchlight]

I think the fact that Obama is in WI at all - second time in two weeks IIRC - is quite significant.

[henry]

NK, Althouse and a couple other profs are already peeved at being tossed out of their ivory tower offices for the day, and a sudden need to reschedule today's exams. The evening news should provide a few laughs -- I'll report back when I hear something. Right now there is a positive vibe from last nights thrashing visible all through Brookfield. : )

[NK]

FYI-- NYC liberals refuse to discuss the debate this morning. My take-- they see the Won as vastly infereior to them intellectually and a flawed 'Progressive Leader'. Unspoken, Won only got the nomination over HILLARY! because he is part Kenyan (or part Frank Davis). That is unspoken, but I get that definite vibe from my liberal colleagues. What do you see JimmyK?

[Janet]

I think the only people defending the Lightbringer's performance last night were the Jim Jones Democrats.

hah!

[NK]

Thanks Henry.

[henry]

Porch, Ryan is here Saturday and I think Romney will be here early next week. WI is in play -- no need to believe the polls (e.g. Marquette's latest) showing Obama up 11% since neither campaign believes them either.

[patch]

Obama dropped ten points on Intrade:

Intrade Odds

Obama 66.5

Romney 33.6

[Stephanie]

His ego is gonna demand satisfaction. The meltdown should be epic.

Hide and watch.

[Danube of Thought]

New RNC ad, "The Smirk."

[Clarice]

rain stopped and my RR sign is up. Let's see how long it takes for one of my civil libertarian neighbors to take it down.

[NK]

SoccerFans-- if there is any interest, I can try to snag some USSF comp tickets for US WOMEN's National Team v Germany in Hartford Tuesday October 23rd, USA #1/Ger#2 ranked in the world. I will volunteer as a marshall for the game. PS: the same teams play in suburban ChiTown sunday October 20th.

[Danube of Thought]

Scott Johnson at Powerline:

"I can’t think of a better debate performance by a presidential candidate in the modern era, going back to the Kennedy-Nixon debates."

[dublindave]

It's over for us. We've lost. A debate.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Saturday, Oct. 20th., FIFY.

[NK]

DD!! how's it hanging, bro? what's that?, short and flaccid? Good, you and Obama are all copasetic then. Cheers.

[Stephanie]

Oh ma gerd....

Eric Bolling just posted on FB that Beckel called out sick for today's show.

The Five gets Juan Williams instead.

Rats, ship. Some assembly required.

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

I forget, did Obama announce that he was a better debate prepper than all his debate preppers?

I'm sure that is true.

[Melinda Romanoff]

WaPo- Networks, AP cancel exit polls in 19 states (Drudge)

[pagar]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/3/hurt-obama-debater-making-jimmy-carter-look-awesom/

What an accomplishment for a loser.

[dublindave]

But seriously, when you add up all the variables...Obama ahead in 8 swing states (that Romney needs to win)...an electoral path so difficult even Bilboa Baggins wouldn't attempt it...a gaffe-a-thon Romney rone to destroying any good luck he has by opening his mouth with 36 days of interviews, public appearences and two more debates with an actual moderator and a President taking on an attack role this time...the 47% video being seen by more and more people as the days go by........ and the MSM moving from 'Romney kicked ass' to 'did Romney tell the truth?'

We got our ass handed to us last night by sending in a weak and feeble debater...... but it's hardly over!

[NK]

Saturday Oct 20th suburban ChiTown to see US Women soccer. It's worth paying for, they play attractive soccer, and they are Olympic tourney champs and #1 ranked in the world (hopefully JEF doesn't show to pump the LGBT vote)

[dublindave]

sorry...prone to destroying any good luck....

[Melinda Romanoff]

NK-

Limo team trip that night. Ain't going to happen.

[fdcol63]

The Clinton economic "boom" in the late '90's was nothing more than Tulip-mania, an "irrational exuberance" fed by billions of dollars of VC trying to cash in on the new frontier of the internet.

It came crashing down.

The "surplus" was nothing more than projections on paper that never materialzed after the Crash.

[Danube of Thought]

JPod:

Slaughter. It was a slaughter.

Mitt Romney put on the most commanding presidential debate performance of the insta-commentary era. One could literally watch, on Facebook and Twitter, hundreds of people on both sides of the political divide react in real time as the debate went on.

Their reactions were identical, though their moods were not: As Romney dominated exchange after exchange with a surprisingly effective combination of pointed personal touches and remarkable factual preparation, conservatives and Republicans grew more and more jubilant while liberals and Democrats grew more and more alarmed.

[Melinda Romanoff]

AP and networks perhaps conserving scarce cash?

[narciso]

This is almost at the Matthews level, after the Huntress lent Mitt her best rifle;

http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/other-views/joy-ann-reid/

[Porchlight]

They are planning something, Mel. They obviously cooked it up together if they're all announcing canceling the same states on the same day.

[Melinda Romanoff]

The Talking Points Are Out! The Talking Points Are Out!

[fdcol63]

By cancelling the exit polls, it's amost as if the MFM doesn't want Americans to know the full magnitude of Obama's loss and Romney's win in Nov., huh?

[Kurt]

Steve--I like your point about Obama being an "instinctive liberal," though "instinctive Marxist" is probably truer to reality.

Regarding Romney, though, as jimmyk said: "I don't think so, but he knows how to play one on TV, which is what counts for now." Romney is more of a pragmatist than an instinctive conservative. He is a capitalist (which Obama surely is not and never will be), and he understands business, but he's not a strict conservative, otherwise he'd never have backed Romneycare in Massachusetts.

Romney's business background and training counts for a lot, though, and a large part of how it helps him is in his ability to process huge amounts of information and retain it actively. He also has an excellent understanding of strategy. He landed some good hits against Obama, but he could have come out much harder than he did in several places. I suspect, though, that he may have been saving the toughest arguments for later in case he needed them down the road. Part of his strategy is not to come out any harder about Obama than he has to out of fear of alienating Obama voters who may switch this year and vote Republican. Personally, I would disagree about the wisdom of holding back, but time will tell whether or not it is the right strategy.

[NK]

"We got our ass handed to us last night by sending in a weak and feeble debater...... but it's hardly over!"

The 1st clause is correct... the second.... I won't bore you with the obvious...

OK I will-- it is OVAH!-- the remaining persuadable voters saw BAM as he really is last night, the Bam we conservatives have seen for 4 years, an incompetent Muppet who couldn't find his own ass with 2 hands. The persuadables will now either vote RR or stay home. Admit it DD, you're one of those Libs that sees Bam as inferior and flawed, and believe he beat out HILLARY! only because he's part Kenyan (or Frank Davis), you can admit it here, we won't tell anyone.

[narciso]

What Obama seems to have been getting act, was a 'repatriation revenue' for overseas subsidiaries,
to entice them to return, that's why I get from
my McClatchy minitrue cubicle,

I used the Die Hard reference, because I like most of you, have never recognized this Obama, they were referring to four years ago, he was like Rickman's Hans Gruber, a slick conman.

[Danube of Thought]

You'll love John Hinderaker at Powerline.

[NK]

Which 19 states? Eastern Time zone? non-competitive? Battleground? Somehow, I find this sinister and .... troubling.

[narciso]

I mean they were haggling over the size of the chocolate rations here;

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/03/3033613/debate-shows-off-facts-and-figures.html#morer

[jimmyk]

According to this, these debates got a bigger audience than in 2008, nearly 40 million on the four networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX).

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2012/10/tv-ratings-debate-dominates-wednesday-and-supernatural-has-a-decent-premiere.html

[NK]

JimmyK-- big audience last night? NICE.

[Stephanie]

The coddling that the Obama media gave him and the resultant helplessness of Zero reminds of the coddling that Barry and Moo want to give to the American people.

Why do voters expect the results as applied to them to differ?

I'd be running like hell away from this coddling with a 'sux to be you' for the Obamas and their sickophants except that I'm still enjoying the lamentations of their lady parts.

[narciso]

i mean this is what they were reduced to;

http://pajamas mediacom/tatler/2012/10/04/maryland-governor-obama-practiced-dignified-reserhve/#comments

[narciso]

Sorry, that last didn't work

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/10/04/maryland-governor-obama-practiced-dignified-reserve/#comments

[jimmyk]

Somehow, I find this sinister and .... troubling.

I'm not concerned. From the article linked on Drudge, it sounds like they are just trying to economize. I suspect they're mainly leaving out the clear blue hells and red heavens. They also mentioned the fact that early voting makes these polls problematic.

The main thing these polls are used for is research on voting patterns, but otherwise, who cares? What's the sinister motive here? I doubt the decision was made post-debate.

[dublindave]

"OK I will-- it is OVAH!-- the remaining persuadable voters saw BAM as he really is last night, the Bam we conservatives have seen for 4 years, an incompetent Muppet who couldn't find his own ass with 2 hands."

Last night was an anomalous event, not part of a changing trend. Romney did good last night but there's still a lot of road to cover before he can swing 100 electoral college votes in his direction.

I don't think he can do it.

[narciso]

The nutroots, is deep into T-4 territory today, (that's the zombie creating virus from Resident Evil)

[Melinda Romanoff]

Tough to read the roadmap with the wool over your eyes.

[RichatUF]

Thanks all for the debate round up. Looks like the new T-1000 programming is working like a charm.

This from the previous thread:

Look for Zero to start a war, that is about all he has left to try.

Finally a shovel ready project. Then we could put those Obama road signs all over Syria and Iran.

[RichatUF]

Last night was an anomalous event, not part of a changing trend.

Yep the ole' wily Obama layin' a trap for Mitt.

[narciso]

I had this on last night's thread,

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/report-congress-warned-libyan-security-threats-one-month-sept-11-attack

[Sue]

Axelrod, on conference call, says they "may have to tweak debate strategy". No kidding, Sherlock.

[xbradtc]

I don't know that last night was an anomalous event.

But it was only one event. I have high hopes Mitt will continue to perform strongly in the future debates. The question then becomes, will Obama crater as badly as he did last night. Let's face it, any improvement at all will be touted by the MFM as a stunning comeback of historical proportions that shows O! is the bestest Prom Queen President evah!

[Sue]

Stephanopoulos called it a tie. Guess that means he is admitting Romney won.

[bgates]

Last night was an anomalous event

Unexpected!

[narciso]

Of course, Client No. 9, doesn't give an example;

http://www.slate.com/blogs/spitzer/2012/10/03/spitzer_debates_glenn_beck_will_the_tea_party_listen_to_facts_.html

[Danube of Thought]

Meanwhile, Sue, you can't avoid the Josh Hamilton issue. Sorry.

[Rob Crawford]

Al Gore: Obama did so poorly because he was high.

Well, he said it was the altitude in Denver, but we know what he was really talking about.

[dublindave]

"I don't know that last night was an anomalous event. But it was only one event. I have high hopes Mitt will continue to perform strongly in the future debates. The question then becomes, will Obama crater as badly as he did last night."

Could be. Or they made a conscious decision on how the President should conduct himself. It backfired, it's going to cause a serious amount of damage but it's not irreparable.

Mondale destroyed Reagan in the first debate. Reagan had a slight comeback in the general election.

[Rob Crawford]

Axelrod, on conference call, says they "may have to tweak debate strategy".

They're going to invoke the little-known "pinch debater" rule.

[RichatUF]

So to sum up the readings on why Obama did so poorly (unexpectedly?):

1. The media cocoon hasn't challenged him or his advisors on policy so they never had to really defend policy.

2. Obama himself is surrounded by a bubble of 3rd rate thinkers and yes men that never challenge him.

3. Obama's record is indefensible.

Or in DoT's telling, it was the first time someone looked him in the eyes and told him he was full of shit (and did it in front of an audience of 40 million people). Obama's response, flop sweat.

Think I might have to park the all caps doom for a while.

[Rob Crawford]

Stephanopoulos called it a tie.

He's worried about his dad disappearing if PBS is taken off the public teat.

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

Stephanopoulos called it a tie

If that's true he should be mocked until he cries,

[Jack is Back]

My apologies if this has already been posted but according to Boortz this morning, the New York Times is calling Obama President Xanax:)

[RichatUF]

Great, he's doped up and losing. He just might bomb something to blow off some steam.

[Sue]

DoT,

Meanwhile, Sue, you can't avoid the Josh Hamilton issue. Sorry.

Sure I can. Haven't I done a good job of it so far?

[RichatUF]

Wasn't the economy growing at something like 7%-8% heading into the 1984 elections?

I seem to recall Mondale going on stage and saying "I promise to raise you taxes."

I don't think 1984 was ever in doubt.

[Rick Ballard]

Rich,

4. Governor Romney used the Goldilocks Optimum strategy so effectively that he was able to beat President Obama senseless in front of 40 million viewers without eliciting any useful "he's so mean" comments to be used to nudge the emo dullards. The emos are having to work through "I always felt the President was very smart." this morning. Some of them may even fire a synapse - I hope it doesn't scare them badly.

[Rick Ballard]

Rich,

4. Governor Romney used the Goldilocks Optimum strategy so effectively that he was able to beat President Obama senseless in front of 40 million viewers without eliciting any useful "he's so mean" comments to be used to nudge the emo dullards. The emos are having to work through "I always felt the President was very smart." this morning. Some of them may even fire a synapse - I hope it doesn't scare them badly.

[Jack is Back]

That RNC ad "The Smirk" that DoT linked to at 11:35 is a must see.
It appeared that Obama was embarrassed to learn from Romney about the mess he has created. Almost like a Dad scolding his lazy son for messing up his room and not caring about how it looks.

[henry]

Caught some CNN at lunch... they were pushing the "Romney will fire Big Bird" line. It's all they have. well, unless Obama sends Big Bird to war in Syria.

[Have Blue]

All Romney needed to do last night was to look like a marginally acceptable alternative to Obama.
Instead he clobbered him and made him look like the incompetent SCOAMF he is.

To paraphrase an unwise person "Romney will have a slight comeback in the election."

[bgates]

Stephanopoulos called it a tie

He said the same thing about Rocky IV.

Apologies to Ann Althouse for comparing Obama to Ivan Drago. That was ugly.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Bobby Valentine steps aside.

[laff trac]

"Or they made a conscious decision on how the President should conduct himself."

deadbeatdave = Comedy Gold!!!

[Rob Crawford]

Caught some CNN at lunch... they were pushing the "Romney will fire Big Bird" line.

I'm amazed at the people who think Children's Television Workshop couldn't stand on its own two feet. Fer crissake, just their take on merchandise is massive!

[PD]

Last night was an anomalous event, not part of a changing trend. Romney did good last night but there's still a lot of road to cover before he can swing 100 electoral college votes in his direction.

You're right, it *was* anomalous. What was anomalous about it was that for the first time, millions of people got to hear Romney explain his positions for himself, rather than hearing the lies about Romney in the attack ads and the lies about Romney that the corrupt media would have us believe.

People might think to themselves two things: 1) This is a different Romney than the one I've been lead to believe exists; 2) If the media message about Romney is so far off reality, maybe I should be questioning *them*.

[Some Guy]

OK some reality...

Mitt wasn't as good as some pundits are claiming. He was fine to very good in key parts.

What was the most important, and unrecoverable, moments were how *bad* the One performed. Body language alone was enough to make him look like a loser. This was not an unforced error.

Where Romney was very good was his forcing his way into command of the stage, and treating the One with a smile and polite disrespect. It was calculated and exactly what a cloistered narcissist would find confusing and angering enough to occupy 70% of his synapses while he fumbles for a cogent thought.

When he was also quite good, was directly calling the One a liar, but doing so in polite and amusing ways.

What Romney did, and can't be undone, no matter how brilliantly the One fakes it in future debates, is he broke the spell. Pierced the armor, and builds on what the empty chair started.

As stated it's not the end, but the beginning of the end.

[Melinda Romanoff]

FBI finally sent to Benghazi, thus removing a chance of being called out for it in two weeks.

[Danube of Thought]

My favorite of the night was Mitt's response to the mythical "tax break" for sending a plant overseas: "I've been in business for 25 years and I have no idea what you're talking about."

[Jane - Get off the couch your country needs you!]

I have a techie question:

Last night I got a call on my cell from someone who identified herself as "Helen" who said she got a text from my phone number that said: "Happy Birthday Helen, love Jane".

I made no text. My phone was always in my possession and I know no one named Helen.

Any ideas?