Flap Your Lips Friday

Posted by Michelle Moquin on October 5th, 2012

Good morning!

In light of yesterday’s post, although I am one of those who judges debates on quality of information and truthfulness, ie., lies vs truth…substance over style, :), those aren’t the only things that I look at when I make a judgement of whether I think someone did a good job or not. I didn’t tout president Obama yesterday in his performance – I pretty much just rode Romney on his LSOS ways. If I was to judge Obama further, I would say Obama could’ve done a better job in his first debate.

This article speaks it well:

How Obama Was Clobbered

If you believe Barack Obama distinguished himself favorably in the first debate, you won’t like the following rampage one bit. Those who judge debates on quality of information and truthfulness might have kept different score. But in the realm of making an impression, and in winning the lightning-quick emotional judgments that people make of each other, Obama suffered from ineloquence, hesitation, rambling, old material (the grandmother again, really?), and inadvertent signals of weakness.

Obama’s painful defeat was foreshadowed by the president’s first response, when he utterly ignored moderator Jim Lehrer’s question and delivered a prepared opening statement. All political debaters bring prepared material to the podium. But without the slightest reference to the question in framing his answer, or allusion to Lehrer’s topic within the answer, Obama’s opening segment bristled with nonchalant disrespect for the audience. And Romney trounced him by buckling right down to his first volley of highly energized and precisely relevant bullet points.

The bizarre opening play could be forgotten if the president had snapped out of his rote recitation quickly thereafter, but Obama’s entire performance conveyed the impression of a candidate whose staff had failed to inform him that the event was a debate. He appeared flummoxed by questions, baffled and wounded by his opponent’s attacks, peevish, and overwhelmed by Romney’s passion.

The body language was as unpresidential as it gets. Obama looked exhausted, and perhaps he was — the man is running the country and managing responses to world affairs, while also struggling to keep his job. Governor Romney’s only job is to prepare for campaign events. So it was understandable when Obama appeared to be performing a chore — scowling, withdrawing, stuttering, going through motions.

Still, his job for 90 minutes was to perform in a nationally broadcast TV show that serves an important function in the democracy. If this had been an audition for a dramatic role as president, President Obama wouldn’t get a call-back. He was sluggish; his responses amorphous and dissolute. Romney was quick and precise.

Memo to Obama campaign staff: Get a grip on your man and eliminate the following habits:

“Wanna.” First of all, he should stop saying “wanna” entirely. Failing to pronounce words is unpresidential. More important, in a debate, saying you want to do something is weak compared to saying you will do something. Obama is accused of failure. His assertions should be filled with “I did” and “I will do.” Romney did not “want” anything in this debate. He intended. That is a presidential attitude.

“Four years ago.” This is whining. Whining is also unpresidential. Everyone knows Obama was elected at a difficult historical moment. Complaining affirms accusations of failure.

Nodding. It is inadvisable to nod your head when the opposing candidate is blasting you mercilessly! Humility is fine, and so is acknowledgment that you’re listening. But on TV, it looks like you are agreeing.

Tighten the hell up. Does the president believe the eloquence myth? Because although Barack Obama is an outstanding writer, and a great orator when working from a script, he is not often an eloquent man off-script. Viewers had time to check scores on ESPN while he gathered his woolen thoughts in long preludes to halting replies. The president’s sentences were strung together in wide, spacious nets of speech that allowed the viewer’s attention to slip through and crash to the ground. Obama worked the game like a slow pitcher in baseball who walks halfway to the infield and back between pitches, trying to break the batter’s rhythm. In this case, it just gave Romney time to reload.

“I believe.” Less theory, more declamation, please. The president’s most potentially powerful remarks were undermined at the end by the repeated weak-kneed disclaimer: “That’s not what I believe.” Against Romney’s passionate engagement and purposeful language, Obama’s intellectual musing sounded as if a political science professor had taken the president’s place on stage.

Obama’s listless closing statement might be explained as a natural consequence of the thrashing he had just endured. Here, and at other times, the president seemed to credit Americans with the progress made during the first term. That is flattering, and of course everyone wants a president who doesn’t get too carried away with himself. But constant deflection of credit invites people to muse over this question: “Well, then, what do we need you for?”

Here’s hoping the president gets more sleep before the next debate.

*****

However to be fair and balanced, I feel I should add that it is difficult to debate a person that will lie anytime and every time he feels it convenient. For example, from Think Progress:

Lies

Mitt Romney’s Biggest Debate Whoppers

While many observers and flash polls credit Mitt Romney with winning last night’s presidential debate, it’s important to look a little closer and see how he accomplished this feat: lying. After months of building his campaign on various myths and distortions, Romney’s entire debate strategy also appeared to be premised on gross distortions and falsehoods about both his own policy positions and President Obama’s record. As Rolling Stone’s Tim Dickinson put it, Romney “revealed himself to be an accomplished and unapologetic liar.”

Here are Mitt’s three most mendacious myths from last night:

1. TAXES: “I don’t have a $5 trillion tax cut. I don’t have a tax cut of a scale that you’re talking about,” said Romney. A Tax Policy Center analysis of Romney’s proposal for a 20 percent across-the-board tax cut in all federal income tax rates, eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax, eliminating the estate tax and other tax reductions, would reduce federal revenue $480 billion in 2015. This amount to $5 trillion over the decade.

Romney also said, “My view is that we ought to provide tax relief to people in the middle class. But I’m not going to reduce the share of taxes paid by high-income people.” This is of course completely untrue, but also directly at odds with what Romney was claiming during the GOP primary. During a February debate with his Republican primary rivals, Romney proclaimed:

“We’re going to cut taxes on everyone across the country by 20 percent, including the top 1 Percent.”

The Obama campaign has already cut a new ad addressing this particular issue that is set to air in swing states.

2. MEDICARE: Romney made numerous false claims about Medicare, but two stand out:

The oft-repeated false allegation that Obama harmed seniors by cutting $716 BILLION from Medicare. As we’ve often discussed in this space, the savings Obamacare achieves through cracking down on fraud and abuse and ending overpayments to insurance companies and providers has no impact on beneficiaries. Indeed, Obamacare provides Medicare beneficiaries with new no-cost preventive care, is already saving seniors billions on prescription drugs, and will eventually completely close the notorious prescription drug donut hole. Finally, the savings achieved by Obamacare actually extend the solvency of Medicare by 8 years, while Romney’s plan to put the waste back in will actually bring the date of the Medicare trust fund’s insolvency ahead to 2016 — just four years from now.

Romney also claimed that his plan to end the Medicare guarantee and turn it into a voucher plan would not hurt current seniors. A senior who is age 64 today would face increased costs of at least $11,100 and, eventually, traditional Medicare would collapse entirely and force all seniors into the hands of private insurance companies.

3. PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: In one of the more outrageous distortions of his own policy positions, Romney claimed that “preexisting conditions are covered under my plan.” This too is completely untrue. Romney’s actual position, as his own top strategist admitted immediately after the debate, is that only people with continuous insurance coverage would be guaranteed insurance if they have a pre-existing condition. It’s worth nothing that this isn’t even an improvement from the status quo, it’s been the law since 1996. So in reality Romney’s plan would continue to allow insurance companies to deny coverage to millions of Americans with preexisting conditions.

Romney’s misinformation throughout the debate was so prolific that even his own campaign admitted to reporters that he said things that were completely untrue.

For a more thorough accounting of Mitt’s mendacity about Wall Street reform and numerous other topics, check out the compilation put together this morning by ThinkProgress.

*G*O*B*A*M*A*

Readers: Thoughts? Blog me.

Happy Friday Everyone!

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This entry was posted on Friday, October 5th, 2012 at 10:28 am and is filed under Political Powwow. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

21 Responses to “Flap Your Lips Friday”

Zen Lill Says:
October 5th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
Hi Mischa, just checking in…how’s it going? ZL
Zen Lill Says:
October 5th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Ok, it’s open…so I just want to say this…if you’re a DEM, get out and make sure you vote. I was so pissed during the mid-term elections when friends told me they didn’t, no time, was working, blah blah blah…no excuses, just do it!! Luv, ZL
Kitty Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 7:44 am
The Mormon used Old Fashioned Witchcraft during the debates. Denial! Denial! Denial! Turn the tables and send a strong dillusion.

OK USA, if Mitt runs this election, we will be in WW3 and he will go completely insane while he is trying to run this country.
Mort Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 7:45 am
Obama ignored 67 millions of Americans watching him. Guess what? Millions of Americans are going to ignore him on election day.
Sally Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 7:46 am
Theory: Obama doesn’t watch enough MSNBC.

Proponent: Chris Matthews

Theory: It was Jim Lehrer’s fault.

Proponent: Assorted Liberals

Theory: It was the altitude.

Proponent: Al Gore

Theory: Obama needed a teleprompter.

Proponents: Bill Maher, Charles Krauthammer

Theory: Obama doesn’t watch enough MSNBC.

Proponent: Chris Matthews
John Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 7:46 am
In an interview Thursday night with Fox News, Romney was asked what he would have said had the “47 percent” comments come up during his debate in Denver on Wednesday night with President Barack Obama. “Well, clearly in a campaign, with hundreds if not thousands of speeches and question-and-answer sessions, now and then you’re going to say something that doesn’t come out right,” Romney said. “In this case, I said something that’s just completely wrong.”

Such a pity that Obama did not even ask!
Peter Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 7:48 am
“He shores up support among Republican voters.” But the rest of us saw the rude egocentric lying bully he’s always been. And you’re right – there are more of us than there are of them. So we need to get out the vote, and vote Dem all the way down the ticket!
Annette Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 7:50 am
Rick Santorum, and Newwt was right.Romney made a fool out of the conservatives Republicons and Teabrats.

His goal was to get on the Republican ticket by saying anything for them to believe him. His debate clearly shows he is not a conservative. and will do and say anything to become president.

Where does that leave Paul Ryan? Romney is leaning more towards Pres.Obama but his strategy will not be able to fool the majority of American people.. Nor was he able to fool Ron Paul or his supporters.

They should send a clear message on election day. No matter what Romney says, he will Never, Ever Repeal ObamaCare. He`s to clever to do that especially since he is the grandfather of the model.
Franklin Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 7:56 am
I’m as astounded as the president seemed to be in the debate. The media/pundits all clamor to speak on the “reality show-like PERFORMANCE” of the debate and to announce the “changing of the narrative”, all the while overlooking WHAT was being said by Romney.

They know full well Romney’s oration was full of misrepresentations and lies. NOT have THAT be the headlines from journalist the next day is mindboggling!

Unfortunately, it seems it is b/c, as one poster says, “…a tight Presidential race attracts viewers and readers.” Therefore to report on romney’s “facts” would be to resume a one-sided race which doesn’t creat buzz.

C’mon journalists, do what u’re SUPPOSED to do.
Shawn Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 7:59 am
So more people will vote to slit their own wrists? How does the gop tax plan work for the middle class if tax rates are lowered but there is no change in total revenue collected?
Cruz Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:00 am
I’m no Obama fan either but, the right wings answer to him is more scary than a modern day horror movie. Romney and his supporters have taken political spin to a whole new level.
Nick Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:01 am
it appears the Libs are slowly emerging from their coma after the shock of the debates. First, they said Romney lied; now some of them said he didn’t win. Then they blame Jim Lehrer.

When Romney whips Obama at the next debate, I wonder if they will run out of excuses. BTW, check out the new Colorado U prediction model; it still points to a Romney win:

http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2012/10/04/updated-election-forecasting-model-still-points-romney-win-university
Kelly Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:02 am
I do – so – tire of the obviously liberal slant on the majority of media “news.” This is evidenced, once again, in yet another conveniently edited video posted on HuffPost titled, “Highlights from 2008 First Presidential Debate.”

It’s no wonder Obama didn’t recognize Romney!! He and the public are only accustomed to the media’s inaccurately edited version of the Challenger.
Roy Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:06 am
I accept that Romney won But there was no one there who was he debating? lol
Steward Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:10 am
I guess there is a God after all………….. But it’s the Mormon one, Mr. Evangelical.
Michael Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:12 am
Poll Reveals Post-Debate Shift… hmmm… well, in life there are few givens, 2+2=4 and H2O is water… and in politics there are a few givens, 2+2=4, H2O is water, and… and… 2+2=4 and H2O is water.
Nick Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:13 am
I truly cannot stop laughing! Obama was trounced!!!
Kirra Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:14 am
Kelly, No, I think Romney has created that version all by himself, by lying and reinventing himself to obey whomever is pulling his strings or who he must placate at any given moment.

He has no solid position it’s too shifty and a dangerous man to have any where near the office of the POTUS. (Don’t even get me started on Ann Romney)
Pedro Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:16 am
Kelly, do you recognize the fact that trickle down economics has been a total failure over the last 32 years and that your hero not only wants to continue this vicious cycle of stealing from the poor and middle class to enrich the rich, but also put the theory on steroids?
Knox Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:48 am
I hear the Republicans are squawking about the job numbers. As a business analyst I had to make decisions about my client’s companies to advise them on how to make them more profitable.

It was a given that their accounting was not really trustworthy, but one thing was relatively certain, they used the same methodology all the time.

I knew I could not trust to analyze the statements vertically, but I could make useful deductions horizontally, meaning looking at the trends over time.

Let’s just postulate that one does not trust the vertical analysis of the job numbers calculation, given the fact that the SAME methodologies are used all the time, the trend analysis is correct, which is the horizontal analysis equivalent in my client example above.

But furthermore, if an administration had the ability to manipulate these calculation, why would they not do that earlier on to avoid all the hassles of having to deal with high employment numbers etc. This just is nonsense.

But the more I read of the utterances coming from the Republican quarters the more I realize how intellect avers they are.
Schalaine Says:
October 6th, 2012 at 8:50 am
Republicans are so transparent….They are rooting for economic failure for political gain. Damn that seems treasonous and very un-patriotic. Asswads…every single one of them!

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