The Obama v. Romney Debate Thread, Part II

[Surfah]

Ouch. I didn't realize the numbers were so bad for him. Those are terrible.

I love Ari and last night he made the point after these poll results came out that winning the debate isn't the same as winning votes. And those numbers don't equate to voters.

[U-Ute]

As usual, The Onion grasps the true nature of the situation...

Nation Tunes In To See Which Sociopath More Likable This Time

[SeattleUte]

Are you following MMA a lot these days? Your repeated references to cage matches are starting to worry me

It's an inside joke with some of us.

[Omaha 680]

You miss that these debates are essentially a cage match.

You're killing your own meme.

[SeattleUte]

You're killing your own meme.

I had to use it since this is the context is where it was born.

[dabrockster]

I wondered who started the applause during the debate last night and saw that is was a woman in a purple dress but didn't think much of it until now..

Looks like that person was in fact Michelle Obama herself..

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vid...at_debate.html

[Portland Ute]

I wondered who started the applause during the debate last night and saw that is was a woman in a purple dress but didn't think much of it until now..

Looks like that person was in fact Michelle Obama herself..

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/vid...at_debate.html

Rules, shmools.

[Uncle Ted]

As usual, The Onion grasps the true nature of the situation...

Nation Tunes In To See Which Sociopath More Likable This Time

Yep.

[Uncle Ted]

I've said this a couple of times over the years, it doesn't matter who "wins," it matters what they do for their ticket. Hard for me to see how last night makes much change to what Romney did in Denver.

Also note: the evening was spent on Romney's messaging. Obama said precious little about a 2nd term, and the debate was all about Romney's positions and Obama's record. How does that help Obama persuade anyone?

Lastly, even polls showing Obama "winning" the debate have disastrous numbers for him on specific issues:

CNN poll
Who won: 46 O / 39 R
Best on economy: 58 R / 40 O
Best on health care: 49 R / 46 O
Best on taxes: 51 R / 44 O
Best on deficit: 59 R / 36 O
Best on foreign policy: 49 O / 47 R
Partisan split: 33 R / 33 D

CBS poll
Who won: 37 O / 30 R / 33 Tie
Best on economy: 65 R / 34 R
Stronger leader: 46 R / 46 O
Likeability: 47 O / 41 R
Does Romney have a clear plan? 49 Yes / 50 No
Does Obama have a clear plan? 38 Yes / 61 No
Partisan split: 21 R / 23 D / 56 unaffiliated

These are not numbers an incumbent wins with.

I like how in the CBS poll where Obama wins over all and only really won "Likeability" with any margin. I wonder how the "Likeability" question was phrased. Maybe something like:

"Who would you rather sit down and have a beer with? Obama or Rmoney? Keep in mind that Rmoney is mormon and, therefore, wouldn't drink a beer but would instead sit there and watch you drink yours like some creepy missionary in white shirt and tie that wants to give yet another Book of Mormon."

[ERCougar]

The debate is being replayed on CNN and while I was doing stuff around the house (ok...on CUF), I caught the President's closing statement. I noticed that as soon as he started talking about the 47%, the "approval line" flatlined. I'm not sure if that means much, but I didn't think the comment was a big deal then and I still don't think it is, and I think that shows it. The reason: a lot of the 47% don't think they're the 47%. Check out CB as exhibit 1. I'm guessing very few of these people realize that they don't pay taxes and that they're huge beneficiaries of government handouts and credits, yet they'll get perfectly indignant about those who are getting these. They don't think Romney is talking about them.

[wuapinmon]

[MarkGrace]

[pellegrino]

The debate is being replayed on CNN and while I was doing stuff around the house (ok...on CUF), I caught the President's closing statement. I noticed that as soon as he started talking about the 47%, the "approval line" flatlined. I'm not sure if that means much, but I didn't think the comment was a big deal then and I still don't think it is, and I think that shows it. The reason: a lot of the 47% don't think they're the 47%. Check out CB as exhibit 1. I'm guessing very few of these people realize that they don't pay taxes and that they're huge beneficiaries of government handouts and credits, yet they'll get perfectly indignant about those who are getting these. They don't think Romney is talking about them.

Truthfully, he isn't.

[ERCougar]

Truthfully, he isn't.

Well, yes and no.
If we're referring to those he says that are dependent on the government and don't want to lose the handout and will vote Obama no matter what, then no, they obviously aren't part of that crowd. But Democrats are trying to expand that 47% to all sorts of normal people, and in reality, they're right--the 47% who don't pay federal taxes include all sorts of normal, hard-working people. The problem with that strategy is that these 47% don't know who they are, and most people are suspicious of the other guy getting a free ride while quite oblivious to their own. They'll jump right on board with getting angry at "those guys". Thus, the Democratic strategy just doesn't work.

[LA Ute]

This is sad, embarrassing and funny all at once:

[YOUTUBE]9UrOmhH2PeI#![/YOUTUBE]