angus
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« on: October 04, 2012, 08:19:57 AM » |
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"Jobless?" What was I thinking?
I should have gone with "middle" as my drinking word. In his second segment, which lasted two minutes and nineteen seconds, Romney used the phrase "middle income" six times, if I counted correctly. In his response, which lasted about the same amount of time, Obama used the phrase "middle class" six times.
I did hear something unusual. "I like Big Bird. I like you too, Jim." That was totally unexpected, and I'd never heard Big Bird mentioned in a debate before, so I took a big swig for that.
A perusal of the on-line dailies this morning suggests that Romney is viewed to have "won" the debate. Dana Milbank of WaPo says that Romney "seized" the debate and writes that "His attacks on the president were respectful but deft." Fox News calls Romney "feisty." CNN's flash poll puts it at Romney 67% to Obama 25%. I haven't picked up hardcopy of the Lancaster Intelligencer-Journal yet today, but the Phila Inquirer on-line says that "The GOP challenger came on strong in a debate heavy on statistics. The President seemed less on his game."
NYTimes was the odd paper out, saying that it was disappointed with both candidates and that the debate was "unhelpful."
I didn't really get any of that while I watched. First, I thought it was helpful in that the candidates were clearly different and that I had a choice between different legislative agendas. Secondly, I didn't not feel that Romney "won" the debate. I guess it's an expectations game. I figured Romney, who was tested and practiced from a grueling primary season, would be masterful, and that Obama, who has been president and hasn't had to debate anyone like this for four years, would be a little rusty and aloof, but in command of facts and figures. I was not disappointed. Romney was feisty, and Obama was professorial. My expectations were met, the only surprise was a reference to Big Bird, and, at least to me, there wasn't a clear winner.
Just my two cents.
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