News Presidential Debate #1 Observations

[BobG]

Lehrer got steam-rollered, IMO, and was not a moderator, but a hapless participant. Nobody acquitted themselves well, as far as I could see.

Lots of blather, and very little debating. I had to force myself to watch the full debate this morning. I couldn't get past 30 minutes of that crap last night.

In some ways, this format should be better, with the candidates controlling the debate and confronting each other on their own terms. Usually, the rules put in place keep the candidates from actually debating each other. The debates usually turn into a quiz show with each candidate answering the moderator and people evaluating who gave the best answer.

In practice, it made for a messier debate than I'd expected and possibly made it harder for the average viewer to really follow the substance of the debate. I don't know how likely it is to see this format again given the difficulty for a moderator to control that type of debate.

To be honest, it's up to the candidates to control this type of debate, but it's a format they're not that familiar with either. I'd expect it to work better next time (if there ever is a next time), just because the candidates would have an actual example of the possible pitfalls and opportunities.

As far as how it actually worked, I think it diminished the substance and made overall impressions more important - and Romney definitely looked better than Obama.

Did it really give people something to hang on to for the rest of the campaign? Probably not, since that opportunity was also diminished by the messy flow.

But it still goes as a plus for Romney. Just hard to say how much.

 

[BobG]

You have to give Romney credit for one thing, though. It's takes a bit of moxie to fire the moderator in the middle of the debate.

Romney told us he enjoys firing people and, from the expression on his face, I think he really does!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uWp8BZpEZYs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWp8BZpEZYs

 

[CAC1001]

The jobs report out today has a slight reduction in the unemployment rate, which will allow Obama to claim that we are moving in the right direction.

I am fascinated by all the obsession and demanding of details and specifics from Mitt Romney. I remember during the 2008 race, how Republicans wanted such from Obama, but from whom the media did not demand any specifics whatsoever. Not saying specifics aren't important, but it seems a double-standard is going on.

Romney told us he enjoys firing people and, from the expression on his face, I think he really does!

I don't think he said he enjoys firing people, but that he likes being able to fire people, in reference to the private-sector versus the government, where you can't necessarilly fire incompetent people.

 

[rootX]

Few weeks ago I was saying ...

Yes certainly true Romney has nothing to defend but his personal life. Aren't we comparing apples against oranges? Romney only need to be offensive while Obama will be quite defensive about his policies in last few years.

It turned out to be quite true. I doubt Obama can do much because he has to defend policies he actually implemented but one good news for Obama:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19845234

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

We're going to close shop on this debate thread.

Next debate is for the vice presidents on Thursday Oct 11th. We'll open a thread for that on Wed.

thanks all!