On the other stuff, we'll just have to agree to disagree. as for the picture, it is photoshopped, look at all the repeated patterns. There are portions under the tree were you all the sudden see peoples whole bodies, and not just the weird 3 layered pattern. The lines around the trees are way too smooth and not on the same level. Are you just being flippant, or so you actually think that's a real picture?
Supposedly, Obama actually spoke for 4 minutes longer than Romney in the debate. Seem that way to you?
It didn't to me. But I think if you took out stammers and ums, Obama really talked for about 8 minutes.
It's a pretty good question. I was pretty strongly in favor of Obama going into this debate, but I have to admit Romney sounded pretty good. I'm much more comfortable with the idea of him winning than I was beforehand. But I can't get out of my mind all the pretty dumb things he's said in the past, nor all the ways he's been on all sides of issues. I think Obama should have really focused on the shifty nature of Romney. Drive home the lack of specificity of his proposals, the way he's shifted stances on abortion/gays/health care, the intellectual dishonesty of condemning the $716b in Medicare reductions (while using those same deductions in your own program), the way he's one kind of guy in public and another when talking to millionaires. I think Obama has prematurely gone into the football equivalent of "prevent defense," trying to run out the clock while just defending yourself. Anyway, Romney's proposal earlier this week to limit total deductions to $17k seems like a real winner to me--it basically tells congress, "Go ahead and fuck up our personal tax code all you want. But the benefit to individuals caps out at $17k, so you are wasting your time." That's a nice one that could have bipartisan support.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/baron...sidential-debate/article/2509823#.UG2iifl24Rh (he nails it, IMO)
So: Mitt Romney gives what everyone says was a very good convention speech. And all anyone remembers is Clint and the chair. Now Romney "wins" the "debate" handily... and all anyone will remember is Big Bird. Calling it now.
But you're still voting for Obama, right? Romney's got to hope that the ONLY thing people see is this debate. And that they don't follow up and fact check. And that they don't think that he came across as a jerk (which, I bet you, many people think - the fact that he was "aggressive" is being used as evidence in his favor, but that turns a lot of people off - see Gore, Al).
If Obama took the personal attack route, he'd have lost even worse. That is a sign he's afraid and losing. Republicans had the same gripe about McCain in the debates against Clinton - "he needs to go on the attack!" and McCain finally did in the final debate, and he really was losing by then. Unless Obama figures out a way to perk up for the remaining debates, this will be the "emperor wears no clothes" moment. All this time, you've been worshiping an illusion. An emperor wearing the finest garments. The press tells you they're the finest garments. The spinmeisters tell you they're the finest garments. The media tells you they're the finest garments. When the emperor went out in public, he was seen for what he truly is (and wore). Obama without the teleprompter wears no clothes. Get it? At least that's how it looks at this moment. He's been protected by an adoring media. He's had very few press conferences where he might be challenged in a public forum.
My take is... People say, "who is this Romney fellow? He's not at all the guy Obama's ads say he is!" The electorate is something like 40-40-20. Really close between hardcore democrats-republicans (40-40) who will vote the letter (R or D next to the name). The 20 is independents and they generally swing the election one direction. Typically those break for the challenger (in 80% of elections). What's been telling me this election is very close, at least the national popular vote, is Obama (or Romney) has not broken 50% in any poll and held it or extended it. This means Obama + 3 (but < 50%) means EVEN if independents break for the challenger. Romney was aggressive, but in no way like Gore was. Gore walked over to where W was sitting and invaded his personal space.
