2012 Debates

[not_so_new]

Okay, well I guess it is time to start talking about the debates right? If I have the schedule right I think they are coming up next week.

Maybe we can make this the debate thread, what are your predictions compared to what actually took place.

For his part, Romney is playing the "I am not a very good debater and Obama is AMAZING" card in a effort to boost his performance.

If I were to make a prediction here I think Romney isn't going to be nearly as bad as he looks over the last few weeks. He is better on a scripted process than he is freestyle'n (but I have not seen him debate before so who knows).

I think he is going to look wooden and like the rich white man he actually is next to Obama. This is one of Romney's biggest problems right now, he is a rich white guy who appears to be out of touch with the average working stiff. I think that is going to be in stark relief next to Obama's easy going style.

For the general voting public, I don't think the point by point debate topics are going to matter as much as the overall vibe, Romney's personality doesn't do him any good. That goes double when he is actually standing next to someone with charisma.

 

[ravdin]

I'm not interested in watching the debates. But I have a prediction: if you favor Obama, then he'll win. If Romney's your guy, then he'll be the clear winner.

 

[not_so_new]

I'm not interested in watching the debates. But I have a prediction: if you favor Obama, then he'll win. If Romney's your guy, then he'll be the clear winner.

Fair enough.... although I am not so much into winners or losses myself, I am more interested in hearing what they each have to say. I would actually like to see Romney pinned down to a real plan (for just about anything) frankly.

 

[Travis]

Are the PBS Newshour people moderating again?

 

[fishbob]

I want to see the fact-checking go into overdrive right after the debate.

(before the debate would be better, but that pesky space-time continuum thingy keeps screwing with my preferred schedule).

 

[not_so_new]

Are the PBS Newshour people moderating again?

I believe so.... well at least for the first one, looks like Jim Lehrer for that.

http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-debate-schedule/2012-presidential-debate-schedule/

 

[Tricky]

I want to see the fact-checking go into overdrive right after the debate.

(before the debate would be better, but that pesky space-time continuum thingy keeps screwing with my preferred schedule).

I predict that the fact checkers will not have to write much new material after the debates. I fully expect that both candidates will rehash old material, shoehorned into whatever question is asked.

What is interesting to me is how both camps are scurrying frantically to portray themselves as the underdog. Obama says "Romney has had so many debates already this year." Romney folks say, "Obama has previous presidential one-on-one debates." Each of them are vying for that special bonus coupon that is "the soft prejudice of low expectations." Don't knock it. Sarah Palin got a lot of credit four years ago for not coming off as a complete idiot.

 

[DavidJames]

I predict that the fact checkers will not have to write much new material after the debates. I fully expect that both candidates will rehash old material, shoehorned into whatever question is asked.

Exactly. The debates, and you can thank the (damn liberal) media for this, have become nothing more then a prime time opportunity in front of a large audience to repeat their stump speeches in broken up bits which may or may not address the question they're asked. The (damn liberal) media will lap it and allow it to happen.

 

[Tricky]

Exactly. The debates, and you can thank the (damn liberal) media for this, have become nothing more then a prime time opportunity in front of a large audience to repeat their stump speeches in broken up bits which may or may not address the question they're asked. The (damn liberal) media will lap it and allow it to happen.

Yeah, but what would happen if either candidate refused to debate?

Well, it might work in Texas, but in his defense, Rick Perry was at least smart enough to know that he'd be demolished in any sort of "thinking on your feet" competition.

 

[AdMan]

I believe so.... well at least for the first one, looks like Jim Lehrer for that.

http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-debate-schedule/2012-presidential-debate-schedule/

Good link--thanks. I was looking to see which topic would be discussed in each debate.

 

[rdaneel]

I want to see the fact-checking go into overdrive right after the debate.

(before the debate would be better, but that pesky space-time continuum thingy keeps screwing with my preferred schedule).

Heck, I wish I could see the candidates get fact checked right on the spot and made to respond to anything that doesn't match up to reality.

 

[Baylor]

I wonder how Mitt Romney will peform as he squares off with his number one opponent, Mitt Romney.

As Mitt Romney criticizes the social policies of Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney will attack Mitt Romney for his view on Health Care.

 

[Unabogie]

My prediction is that neither Romney nor Obama will do anything unexpected, and that Romney will emerge with about 47% of the public thinking he won, with the rest for Obama. In other words, it will match the general feeling of the campaign and the debates will not help Mitt. He's just not a likable person and he can't change that fact not matter how aggressive he is in the debate.

I've seen his debate with Teddy Kennedy and it's amazing how little he's changed. He will always come off as a smarmy, spoiled, out of touch rich guy. And this isn't the year where that guy wins.

 

[not_so_new]

I wonder how Mitt Romney will peform as he squares off with his number one opponent, Mitt Romney.

As Mitt Romney criticizes the social policies of Mitt Romney, Mitt Romney will attack Mitt Romney for his view on Health Care.

LOL

This ^^^^

 

[Baylor]

Romney's ceiling absolutely maxes out at 49% (with liberties). I assume his campaign and supporters know this and the next strategy is to stop/block voters from voting

 

[RandFan]

...Rick Perry was at least smart enough to know that he'd be demolished in any sort of "thinking on your feet" competition.

No. And there are three reasons why. I just can't remember what they are at the moment.

 

[Sabrina]

Heck, I wish I could see the candidates get fact checked right on the spot and made to respond to anything that doesn't match up to reality.

Honestly that's possible; I could picture the debates happening and next to each candidate on your screen is a list of claims made and how true they are; once they've each said their piece, you then go back, find the absolute lies and ask them to explain themselves before ending the debates.

I'd predict Romney getting a lot more lies under his belt than Obama, but Obama would have a share in it.

 

[not_so_new]

My prediction is that neither Romney nor Obama will do anything unexpected, and that Romney will emerge with about 47% of the public thinking he won, with the rest for Obama. In other words, it will match the general feeling of the campaign and the debates will not help Mitt. He's just not a likable person and he can't change that fact not matter how aggressive he is in the debate.

I've seen his debate with Teddy Kennedy and it's amazing how little he's changed. He will always come off as a smarmy, spoiled, out of touch rich guy. And this isn't the year where that guy wins.

I completely agree. As I mentioned above, I think it will be extremely interesting to see Romney along side Obama.

 

[rdaneel]

Honestly that's possible; I could picture the debates happening and next to each candidate on your screen is a list of claims made and how true they are; once they've each said their piece, you then go back, find the absolute lies and ask them to explain themselves before ending the debates.

I'd predict Romney getting a lot more lies under his belt than Obama, but Obama would have a share in it.

Possible? maybe. Likely? Not a chance.
Neither candidate would agree to something like that. Which is unfortunate since I think watching them get truly and thoroughly grilled on their answers would be entertaining, even if the length of the debates had to be extended to cover everything. I want to see them sweat.

 

[Tricky]

Possible? maybe. Likely? Not a chance.
Neither candidate would agree to something like that. Which is unfortunate since I think watching them get truly and thoroughly grilled on their answers would be entertaining, even if the length of the debates had to be extended to cover everything. I want to see them sweat.

I wanna see the format changed so that instead of standing on opposite sides of the stage, they stand up, without podiums, facing each other about three feet apart, and yell and rant and scream and blow spit on each other. Maybe even get into a scuffle. Heck, I'd buy pay-per-view for that.