Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
The point of a Presidential debate is to increase one's vote count. By that metric debates are almost never that decisive. I've noticed that pundits and forum-dwellers alike seem fixated on the notion that a particularly articulate (we've gotten to the point where suggesting that Obama is "articulate" isn't offensive, right?) candidate will somehow conclusively demonstrate the rhetorical superiority of his or her position and win over some large swath of the country. In practice, with very few exceptions neither candidate does much better or worse than expected.
As I've said in other threads, I predict that in the Obama-Romney debates both candidates will come off as intelligent and in command of the facts. However, Romney will come off as rich (which is bad for some reason) and Obama will come off as likable and presidential (the latter by virtue of actually being president). I predict a small plus for Obama coming out of the debates. Of course, that all relies on expectations not being kept artificially low (or high) for Romney.
I would say that Romney seems to have distinguished himself in the primary debates more than Obama did. However, the competition was probably somewhat lower.
Once Romney starts in on Obama's record Obama is going to have to lie or stand mute. These debates may be awful one sided..
The point of a Presidential debate is to increase one's vote count. By that metric debates are almost never that decisive. I've noticed that pundits and forum-dwellers alike seem fixated on the notion that a particularly articulate (we've gotten to the point where suggesting that Obama is "articulate" isn't offensive, right?) candidate will somehow conclusively demonstrate the rhetorical superiority of his or her position and win over some large swath of the country. In practice, with very few exceptions neither candidate does much better or worse than expected.
As I've said in other threads, I predict that in the Obama-Romney debates both candidates will come off as intelligent and in command of the facts. However, Romney will come off as rich (which is bad for some reason) and Obama will come off as likable and presidential (the latter by virtue of actually being president). I predict a small plus for Obama coming out of the debates. Of course, that all relies on expectations not being kept artificially low (or high) for Romney.
I would say that Romney seems to have distinguished himself in the primary debates more than Obama did. However, the competition was probably somewhat lower.
I dunno, Newt is pretty tough in a debate. Romney held his own but he never scathed him. I imagine that Romney will have plenty of debate ammo considering Obama's lackluster performance as president.
One thing that I have noticed about Obama is he doesn't seem presidential (we disagree on that) and Romney as always struck me as presidential looking. ~shrug~ Different folks, different opinions. I do agree with you about the weight being the incumbent brings with.
I have been saying for years now that Romney just looks presidential.
The debates won't matter. Republicans still think Sarah Palin is "smart".
The debates won't matter. Republicans still think Sarah Palin is "smart".
The point of a Presidential debate is to increase one's vote count. By that metric debates are almost never that decisive. I've noticed that pundits and forum-dwellers alike seem fixated on the notion that a particularly articulate (we've gotten to the point where suggesting that Obama is "articulate" isn't offensive, right?) candidate will somehow conclusively demonstrate the rhetorical superiority of his or her position and win over some large swath of the country. In practice, with very few exceptions neither candidate does much better or worse than expected.
As I've said in other threads, I predict that in the Obama-Romney debates both candidates will come off as intelligent and in command of the facts. However, Romney will come off as rich (which is bad for some reason) and Obama will come off as likable and presidential (the latter by virtue of actually being president). I predict a small plus for Obama coming out of the debates. Of course, that all relies on expectations not being kept artificially low (or high) for Romney.
I would say that Romney seems to have distinguished himself in the primary debates more than Obama did. However, the competition was probably somewhat lower.
I dunno, Newt is pretty tough in a debate. Romney held his own but he never scathed him. I imagine that Romney will have plenty of debate ammo considering Obama's lackluster performance as president.
One thing that I have noticed about Obama is he doesn't seem presidential (we disagree on that) and Romney as always struck me as presidential looking. ~shrug~ Different folks, different opinions. I do agree with you about the weight being the incumbent brings with.
I have been saying for years now that Romney just looks presidential.
Once Romney starts in on Obama's record Obama is going to have to lie or stand mute. These debates may be awful one sided..
Nonsense. Obamas record is damned good.
If it comes down to Obamas record and its honest, Obama wins.
Romney needs to make it about what he will do differently, not how Obama has failed, because he hasnt.
The debates won't matter. Republicans still think Sarah Palin is "smart".
The debates won't matter. Republicans still think Sarah Palin is "smart".
Uhm, how will that negate the effects of a debate?
Once Romney starts in on Obama's record Obama is going to have to lie or stand mute. These debates may be awful one sided..
Nonsense. Obamas record is damned good.
If it comes down to Obamas record and its honest, Obama wins.
Romney needs to make it about what he will do differently, not how Obama has failed, because he hasnt.
By Sabrina Siddiqui
Sidney Barthwell, perhaps the only former classmate of both Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama, thinks the former Massachusetts governor doesn't stand a chance when facing the incumbent president in debates prior to their November electoral contest.
When they debate, Barack will smoke Romney, Barthwell, a district court magistrate in Michigan, said in an interview published by The Daily on Tuesday.
"Mitt Romney is smart, he continued. Having said all that, I still think hes going to get smoked. The best he can do is hopefully come out not looking like a fool. Mitt will find out the hard way as soon as they have their first debate: You dont debate Obama.
Barthwell, 64, was the only black member of Romney's 1965 class at Cranbrook Schools and later attended Harvard Law School with Obama. He identifies himself as being politically independent, has donated money to both campaigns and has "tremendous respect" for both men, he said.
But whereas Obama struck Barthwell as "brilliant" at Harvard -- where the two became friendly while working together for the Black Law Student Association -- he recalled Romney's years at Cranbrook as nothing to write home about. "Mitt was not particularly popular. He was very, very ordinary."
More: Sidney Barthwell, Former Classmate, Predicts Trouble For Romney When Debating Obama
The debates won't matter. Republicans still think Sarah Palin is "smart".
It's all comparative. When you put her up against people like Biden, Obama, or yourself, she looks like a genius. I think that says more about you guys than her.
I dunno, Newt is pretty tough in a debate. Romney held his own but he never scathed him. I imagine that Romney will have plenty of debate ammo considering Obama's lackluster performance as president.
One thing that I have noticed about Obama is he doesn't seem presidential (we disagree on that) and Romney as always struck me as presidential looking. ~shrug~ Different folks, different opinions. I do agree with you about the weight being the incumbent brings with.
I have been saying for years now that Romney just looks presidential.
I dunno, Newt is pretty tough in a debate. Romney held his own but he never scathed him. I imagine that Romney will have plenty of debate ammo considering Obama's lackluster performance as president.
One thing that I have noticed about Obama is he doesn't seem presidential (we disagree on that) and Romney as always struck me as presidential looking. ~shrug~ Different folks, different opinions. I do agree with you about the weight being the incumbent brings with.
I have been saying for years now that Romney just looks presidential.
Newt did do well in the debates, but as you say Romney did not exactly consistently beat him in the debates. The candidates he seemed (to me) to defeat in the debates (Perry: "Oops") were weak debaters.
If you polled people in 2008 on who looked more presidential they probably would have picked Romney (and Edwards, McCain...) over Obama (and Clinton). But in 2012, Obama is president, and all else equal someone who is president seems more presidential than someone who isn't. Look at the last debates between a sitting president and a challenger: Transcript: Bush, Kerry debate domestic policies - CNN. I think Kerry would have been a better president than Bush, but there's no denying that Bush seems like the president and Kerry seems like a guy who would like to be president.
Once Romney starts in on Obama's record Obama is going to have to lie or stand mute. These debates may be awful one sided..
Nonsense. Obamas record is damned good.
If it comes down to Obamas record and its honest, Obama wins.
Romney needs to make it about what he will do differently, not how Obama has failed, because he hasnt.
Aside from being President when our Seals killed Osama Bin Laden, what exactly in Obama's record is "damned good"?