1. I’m not surprised Mitt Romney performed well (although he did better than I thought – more on that in a moment) with his proverbial back against the wall. This was a do-or-die moment for a guy that’s been running for the presidency for five years, and saw his bid for the White House slipping away. You’re not as successful in life as Romney has been by not seizing the moment. But what did surprise me is how bad President Obama was. His high point was wishing the First Lady a happy anniversary, and from that point on he looked as if he’d rather be having his toe-nails removed with a dull, rusty blade than on that stage. Obama came across like a police officer who pulls you over for doing 58 in a 55-mph zone. He walks up to your window, shrugs his shoulders, and in a bemused voice says “Yes, it’s lame I’m giving you this ticket right now, and my actions are indefensible, but I’ve got a quota to make so I have to be here.” The lack of tact, polish, and leadership projected by this president was breathtaking. I’m not sure how his disinterested, uncertain presentation doesn’t demoralize Democrats for at least a news cycle. Live by the stagecraft, die by the stagecraft.
2. How bad was it for Obama? He actually lost the question most in his wheelhouse: Romney’s hypocrisy on Romneycare vs. Obamacare. Romney’s position is indefensible, but he did give about the best answer he could. Still, this is a question Obama should own, and he couldn’t even project confident leadership on the most singular “achievement” of his administration (thanks again John Roberts). One moment was a microcosm of the night. During a prolonged discussion about the economy which laid bare the inconvenient truths of Obama’s failed record, Obama actually looked at the moderator and said, “You may want to move on.” Translation: “throw me a fricking bone here – you’re with PBS for Pete’s sake!” On this night he wasn’t a president. Obama was every bit the amateur.
3. Romney’s opening answer laying out specifics of his economic plan and why it would work might have been the best answer in defense of traditional conservative ideological orthodoxy a Republican nominee for president has given in decades (1988?). For instance, Romney’s explanation of Spain’s financial meltdown was a very effective means of literally teaching free market economic principles to an American populace becoming increasingly ignorant of them, and a necessary tool to reach voters we can no longer take for granted share our assumptions. Yes, Romney spent too much time joining in the Left’s “soak the rich” meme in the beginning and his solutions to our problems still don’t go far enough. But even this Romney skeptic was appreciative of Romney’s willingness to do something John McCain and George W. Bush never did – defend and advance conservative principles against Democrat clichés and talking points on a national stage. Sure, his record in Massachusetts as governor is still heinous, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. I had friends of mine telling me it sounded like some of Romney’s answers came right from my radio show. Where has this Romney been all these years, and why didn’t he govern like this in Massachusetts? And I especially loved the tactic Romney used in talking about Medicare privatization, saying “me personally if I had a choice” I’d rather make my own decisions. That is an effective, non-threatening method of introducing conservative concepts into the mainstream without making it easy for the Democrat demagogues.
4. Two exchanges Wednesday night were Romney’s strongest case yet for the presidency, and he would be wise to turn them into his campaign message from here on out. First, Romney told Obama “I’ve been in business for 25 years, and I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Translation: “You’re out of your league – you may be a nice guy, but you’re not fit to be president.” That was a devastating blow, as was this line: “You don’t just pick winners and losers, you pick losers.” If those were the “zingers” Romney was reportedly working on, they paid off. Later, Obama kept droning on and on about government, sounding every bit like a guy who has spent his entire life in the subsidized sector. Romney’s response to this resulted in his highest marks from CNN’s focus group of Colorado swing voters when he defended our founding documents and principles versus statism. That shouldn’t be a surprise, because the Tea Party showed in the 2010 midterms that is a winning message. Republicans win when the American people see stark worldview and policy differences between us and Democrats, and Democrats win when they don’t.
5. This was the biggest presidential debate rout since Reagan-Carter in 1980. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being stellar, Romney scored about a 15. There is no doubt Romney will get a boost, the only question is how much. In the end, the target audience is the suburbs of Ohio, because that’s where this election will be won or lost. I also suspect the president will make a strong comeback in the next debate, and the expectations will be high for Romney to match this one. Also, keep in mind that in the first Mondale-Reagan debate Mondale clearly won, and Reagan looked old and tired. Then Reagan won the next debate and won the biggest landslide in history. Still, Romney needed something to stop the president’s momentum and this debate did it. He bought himself more time to make his case, after wasting too much time for months now. However, the biggest winners tonight may be down ballot Republicans, who were close to getting caught up in Romney’s reverse coat-tails. If this debate tightens up the race like I expect it will, and Romney doesn’t walk back anything he said in this debate and stays on message, that can only help the overall cause.
You can friend “Steve Deace” on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @SteveDeaceShow. For more information on his nationally-syndicated radio program, visit www.stevedeace.com.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore (Creative Commons)
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It was like Andre the Giant vs. Urkle in wrestling match.
Obama is a "hershey squirt" in Urkle's shorts…
Most Americans did not watch the debate.
What is your proof?
No, most Americans probably did watch the debate. It would be more like the vunables and the illegals that missed it.
Fox News topped the list with 63 MILLION tuned in for the debate. If that's not "most" Americans, I have no idea who you're speaking of.
Sorry man but millions watched our dictator in chief meltdown against Romney, Maybe you did not watch (or could not) Romney 2012!!
You mean most young American's…..To include the Wall Street Occupiers…..They will flip channels to MSNBC to listen to Ed Shulz's ranting and raving after the Debate…..They enjoy having their adrenelin pumped up by Ed!
Perhaps, but there were sixty million that did!!!
i think your saying this cause o'bumhole got his balls kicked the other night. read the papers much? this was the most watched debate in like forever. but the msm can't buy you with another lie vernon. but you tried! wake up vernonC cause it seems that you are as clueless as o'bumhole was pal.
Romney had ammunition he didn't use, Obama's lack of serious border enforcement including the so-called Fast and Furious, one Middle East debacle after another, including Obama's timid and near rudderless military efforts in Afghanistan plus injecting himself into the never ending civil wars in Islamic nations, ignoring Israel's plight, stops and starts on information on the deaths of 4 Americans at our embassy in Libya, stopping exploration for oil off our shores, stopping an oil pipeline from Canada, downsizing our military while building up the Department of Homeland Security. It was a kindness that Romney didn't tell Obama that the presidency isn't about the individual holding the office for the celebrity, it's the most serious of political positions in the world.
In fairness, this debate was about Domestic Policy but I look forward to watching Romney eat O's lunch in the one on foreign policy.
Mitt will enjoy those $100 a pound steaks that Barry likes to snack on
It was suppose to be on Domestic Policy, but Obama kept dragging in unrelated points.
And don't forget his forged birth certificate and fraudulent draft card and Social Security card. All of these are just surface problems. He lies like a drunk in his own puke. By the way, did I mention that Oblahblah lies?
The next debate covers foreign affairs be sure to tune in and tell your friends.
I was impressed with Romney last night. He did a great job on the Obamacare subject telling all it's going to cost more and the medical service will be horrid, The Canadians will stop coming here for medical problems that they need to wait until they are long gone before they get medical service in Canada. This is what Obama wants and his fake American act is disgusting. We know what he has done and we don't need anyone taking our civil rights away and ignoring the Constitution. Four more years of Obama would sink the USA,.. We LOVE America and so do many other FREE nations. Obama wants to stick to his Muslim beginnings and kill us all.
GOOOOOOOO GET HIM MITT, We are counting on you to save our great nation. We will pray for you winning the White House back from the usurpers God Bless you and the USA,
President Obamas biggest problem is that he wasn't allowed by the media to lie to the American public and get away with it. Every time he said something Mr. Romney all but called him a liar. He stood there stunned thinking "oops he caught me again". President Obama was as incompetent in the debate as he has been the last 3 1/2 years running the nation. The man is bad for America.
OBAMA is not even close to matching Mitt. For the media to hide the facts here is horrible.. We are misled by history, science, and bad news reporting. Why do we allow this?
I believe Obama has some type of neurological damage as evidence by the fact that he must have a TelePrompter to speak, to give a speech and for debates. There is something quite wrong here.
See the large unexplained scar on the right side of his head
If the teleprompter were used in school's it would be called, "CHEATING". Fortunately for us he is not a very good cheater either. He cheats but he doesn't get away with it.
hey george, could it be that o'bumhole is just a stupid person? i think so cause they are hiding his college records. maybe that affirmitive action got this little punk where's he 's at! and for the teleprompter quote i'd bet he dosen't even write parts of his own speeches. i know they have speech writers but i'd bet that little punk can't put a sentance together. peace out george love the comment
Romney finally decided to fight and did just fine. From here on Romney will take the fight to Obama and the light weight will cave because he really does not have a clue about governing or economic policy for a Free People. Obama works best when he is standing up front and is the only one allowed to speak, I mean, read from the teleprompter, and this is because Obama is in reality a Bully. But he is the kind who only bullies when he can control the entire conversation.
This next debate shoud be another rout because Obama does not have the ability to speak coherent thoughts on any subject except Envy and Greed, you know Victimization.
Without a teleprompter Obutthole is crap,he needs written speeches or softball questions.Obullhole isn't the brightest bulb in a package but he sure thinks he is.This man thinks he Gods gift to white woman and they will vote for him.Now as Vernon C says we will see how Mitt handles the illegal aliens that are sucking this country dry in the next debate.
i missed the debate, i was busy playing angry birds, from what i heard today on the radio, i'll watch it next week on youtube while i'm on a 12 day vacation. i missed obummer by a day, i was in vegas till saturday morning, and i'm going back for a week next sunday
To me, the best part of that butt whoopin' Oblameo took was when Romney basically called Oblameo a liar to his face.
Even though Romney made it VERY clear that the fantasy of adding $5 billion to the debt was just that untrue.
Even though Oblameo was told over and over he lies when he tries to make this comment, he again doubled down on this lie today.
I truly enjoyed the oblameo whooping.
Can not wait for next weeks vice presidential debate.. Ryan will tear Biden apart, an old fool vs a true American…..God bless us all!
All kidding aside, I couldn't have been more proud of Mitt Romney last night. I can now look at him and say "The Father of Our Country" without a smirk on my face. I can't even use the same phrase and Obama in the same sentence. I'm hoping we get this done.
Romney played it so cooool. He looked and acted like a father chastizing his son with love and sterness. I thought he did great. There is no way they can pull the race card with the respect and "set em straight" type of delivery. Just Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a great analogy!
Did anyone here O'vomit the next day ? Saying "that wasn't Romney last night", I've known people like that after you catch them in a lie that gotta try to redeem themselves to their posse, he sounded pitiful.
At one point last night I almost felt sorry for the "little fella" for some reason his suit looked really big on him especially the way he slopped his shoulders, his hair was long and gray, he is looking for sympathy.
Hmmm, you know they will still vote for this dope!
But, when I went to bed last night I had hope, the first I've had in a long time.
Obama does not live in the real world. He lies and then believes his own lies. The man has a smaller intellect than ayone had previously believed. He was run over by apowerhouse full of facts and great answers. Strong man and he wil be a strong President.
What you have just said is not true. It is the story the media concocted to dissuade Republicans from voting. Try to stop them now. It ain't over til it's over, but the Fat Lady is warming up.
I agree, that is all media tricks, that was my point about sympathy. What happens next will either be a landslide ( which Christie predicted) or before the next debate O'vomit will have won the first one. Too many things coming together, like the day of the debate they tie in the polls, and how they play up how bad O'vomit is on debating, also now the early voting is starting with absentee ballots going out . If he makes even a little showing now they say he's a chimp sorry I meant champ.
I live in the suburbs of Cincinnati…if you compare just the yard signs as a sign of support for Romney over Obama then it's 10 – 1. I know very few people that will be voting for Obama this time. I think he's toast in Ohio.
If you really think that, then go onto any gambling site and let it ride. Obama is a 9-2 favorite over Romney.
I, MYSELF WOULD NOT TRUST OBAMA, AND HIS GOONS AND MUSLIM FREINDS AS FAR AS I COULD THROW THE LOT OF THEM. THEY HAVE SOMETHING UP THEIR SLEVES.
AMERICA BE READY TO FIGHT OFF THE TYRANTS.