Is it interesting that both Romney and Obama agreed rules are needed, then ignored the debate rules?
I felt there was intent in Obama taking more than two minutes to make up for losing "five seconds" and that a comparison of the actual time each candidate was allowed to talk would not show the time was evenly distributed. It was also interesting to me to notice that Romney spent the time, when Obama was talking, either looking at Obama or referring to his notes and making notes; while Obama looked less often at Romney and, when he wasn't looking at his own notes or making notes, he looked at the moderator. Perhaps a body language expert among us could comment on any significance to that.
Kind of the opposite of when President Obama ran against Senator McCain. I feel as though our president was a bit off his game tonight.
Painful to watch. Painful to listen to.
Very interesting to see the green and yellow lines for men and women undecided voters reacting to each candidate's comments.
I want to smack Obama. He missed so many opportunities to rebut.
Romney was beyond prepared. He was out for blood.
The difference in time was Obama +5 minutes of actual debate time. That is nearly 10% more, if Lehrer's portion of the 90 minutes counts.
As is often the case, many men of power believe that rules are absolutely necessary but not always applicable to them. After all, what is the point of having power, if you have to be governed by rules and how can you be expected to remain powerful, if the masses are not restricted by rules. Power could be defined as the ability to make rules that OTHERS must live by.
That sounds about right.
My father always said "rules are made for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools." And that's what he taught me. Isn't it also called "thinking outside the box"?
How can anyone be expected to follow laws when those who created them are exempt? It's not 'thinking outside the box' and it's not right. Laws that congress enacts frequently have language in them that exempts congress from those same laws. BAD.
Living overseas, I'm lucky I don't have access to watching that junk.
I get enough clips and snippets of American news on YouTube and don't miss the slide toward oblivion.
Just look at these 2 videos on the Republicrat and Demopublican conventions and how they've stopped using the rule of voting and Roberts Rules of Order. All a sham!
RNC Scripted:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKaXqoC4DjE
DNC Scripted:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmaE2Aez_XY
As far as the Corporate Party, which runs both Reps and Dems, it doesn't make any difference who wins the election, just so long as it's one of their two guys.
A 3rd party win would really throw a monkey wrench into their plans to dismantle America -- a plan which is, so far, running along very smoothly. Hitler would be envious.
Just look at HR 347 -- making it a felony to protest. America is effectively dead. It would take a miracle to revive our beloved land. Too many of its citizens are brain dead and brainwashed by the Corporate Party media propaganda.
Ouch! Why so negative? "That junk" may have its frustrations, but it is every American's opportunity to make him- or herself informed about who they're putting into office. As bad as it gets, I can't afford to be jaded about it. Too much at stake.
It was business as usual, which means that a stronger moderator is needed for these performances. Jim Leherer is capable, but he didn't maintain control to ensure the debate followed the agreed format. The "debates" are nothing more than theater, each side telling a different story. After all, the electorate doesn't vote for policy issues only personalities. Again, business as usual.
Not really interesting as it is entirely expected. For the same reasons that they tell us they'll do all these wonderful things when they get in office then not do it... all they wanted is to get votes. They'll have no end of excuses for WHY they didn't obey the rules.... most of them having to do with their opponent somehow validating it.
Why people continue to vote for these two parties is a mystery that is beyond confounding.
I thought one of the rules was to keep Big Bird out of the debate. ;-) I wasn't able to watch all of the debate, but the parts I saw seemed pretty even to me. I think Obama must have taken a laid back approach on purpose to not seem overly agressive, and perhaps this approach backfired, but he did get his points across and so did Romney. The debate served its purpose of letting the American people see the candidates in a different light without the media/campaign lenses.
Having just one moderator took some of the spontaneity out of the debate. It's better when you have three moderators for different backgrounds throwing curve balls at the canidates.
Astute observation :-)
I listened to almost all of the debate with my eyes closed so I could focus on what was said. It wasn't until listening to the CNN commentary afterward did I become aware of the body language you mention. I thought the following:
1. In content, it was a draw
2. In truthfulness, it went to Obama
3. In style, it went to Romney - hands down
4. In sticking, on message, I think it went slightly more to Obama because it seemed he got Romney to weaken or change is stand on tax cuts and Medicare
5. In curtousy to the moderator, Obama; Romney seemed like a rude bully to me (other than Obama's "5-second" diatribe)
6. In preparedness, Romney
It seems like the national impression, according to CNN, is that Romney won this thing going away, accept in the 39 person focus group where it was a draw; 8 people deciding to vote for Romney and 8 people deciding to vote for Obama; the rest remained undecided.
I was happy to see neither went for the jugular, which the CNN commentators seem to constitute debating, and did mainly stick to this issues, so, in my opinion, if anything won, the debate itself won.
Thanks for that interesting debate analysis. Interesting that you listened to the debate instead of watching it. The first Nixon/Kennedy debate had dramatically different opinions regarding who won based on if it was viewed or listened to.
Excellent analysis and I think you're right. I too felt Obama was more truthful.
I seem to recall other debates having a bell which went off when given times had expired. It could have helped in the first 2012 debate.
That would be a good idea; a loud, persistant bell, lol.
I chuckled when I logged onto Hubpages and noticed your question. I was thinking the same thing last night.
I recall in years passed the camera would pan over to the light behind the moderator that indicates to the two candidates they their time is up. I would have liked to seen that this year.
I'm not sure if the overall time for equal between the two men, but I find the discussions that take place after such debates often more interesting than the debates themselves.
It is highly entertaining and brought a few laughs from me. However, why did Obama need to take so many notes? He could always film the debate and watch it later making notes at home, which means he does not consider Romney a threat and chose to ignore him. They both just took up time and barely reached major issues.
I will guarantee he considered him a threat the day after the first debate!
Yes, that is interesting, especially since neither had anything of any new substance to say. If there had been some real rebuttal on either side, I can see their going overtime, or at least attempting to go overtime. I am disappointed in both of them, especially Obama because he missed so many chances for a real defense of his policies. BORING!!! Too bad he can't hire Bill Clinton to stand in for him on the debates. This political correctness is getting out of control!
What a great idea, having Bill Clinton Stand in.
Oh my...... I laughed so hard when I read this! It is so accurate.
by Susan Reid 12 years ago
This is from FORBES. I am posting the whole article for your consideration:In tonight’s debate we saw a transformed Barack Obama, and it made a very big difference. In the first debate Governor Mitt Romney was relaxed and confident and in command; Obama was practically absent. Tonight, Obama was on...
by JaxsonRaine 12 years ago
Habee got the jump on the debate last time. This time, it's my turn.I predict that Obama is going to end up with 4 minutes more speaking time. Liberals will complain that Romney was rude, interrupted Obama, and bullied the moderator. Conservatives will complain that the moderator is biased, and...
by Holle Abee 12 years ago
Finally - something both camps agree on. Apparently, no one bothered to tell Candy Crowley about the agreement made between Obama, Romney, and the debate commission.http://thepage.time.com/2012/10/14/mode … he-debate/
by bizzymom 12 years ago
Of the four 2012 debates who do you think was the best moderator? Why?Do you think the moderators should be more neutral rather than pro a certain political party or candidate in future debates? It is my belief that the moderators tried to stay somewhat neutral, but at least one was blatantly...
by JaxsonRaine 12 years ago
Lots of people gave me flack for saying the debate was very poorly moderated. I say Candy was very biased, but let's just focus on one example. I want someone who loves Obama to explain why this wasn't an example of bias.You can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ujxXuNgGsAn audience...
by Tim Mitchell 12 days ago
Sit back with that afternoon cup of camomile tea, ice tea, soda, or even a beer. Forget about the this and that of the 'Trump Effect' and take a break while pondering the evolution of obtaining news and, well, news itself today.This is a copy/paste from the newsletter from the Free Press. I...
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