I changed the title from " Thoughts and Tweets on the First 2012 Presidential Debate" to the current title. I do mean it. Whenever someone says Obama couldn't do it all, or he made a mistake, it's almost always wrong. Obama makes choices and takes actions based on strategy and intention. His performance in this debate was planned.
Had it been an NBA game he might be investigated. But this is presidential politics and for whatever reasons - maybe good ones - Barack Obama didn't even try to win last night's debate. Headlines such as " Liberals Livid at Obama Performance " won't hurt him among swing voters. And it won't hurt Democrats to lure GOP donors into thinking Romney has a chance at a moment when they were threatening to shift funds to House and Senate races.And Crawford wraps up the article, saying,
" Perhaps Obama simply didn't bring his best game because he hasn't got one. I doubt it. No, I think he threw this debate on purpose. It's worth remembering that those who've played basketball against him say he usually fools around in the beginning, but closes strong in the finish."
Cnn poll on who seemed stronger leader 58% Romney 37% Obama
11:33 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Van Jones: Romney was like Thurston Howell before debate, but was presidential tonight
11:25 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
CNN poll is skewed! Actually, it shows liberals are clearly not happy with president's performance. Try defending Social Security next time!
Retweeted by rob kall
11:15 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
" data-mentions="nytimes 9h Andrew Rasiej @ Rasiej
Cool analysis and graphic by @ nytimes showing hand gestures by # POTUS and # Romney during # debate: http:// nyti.ms/SEgS8N
Retweeted by rob kall
11:13 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
9h Jonathan Alter @ jonathanalter
Why did Obama not mention Bain or the auto rescue? He left his best issues unspoken.
Retweeted by rob kall
11:15 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
9h David Swanson @ davidcnswanson
Tell me honestly the empty chair didn't beat Eastwood better than Obama beat Romney. # ExpandTheDebate
Retweeted by rob kall
11:19 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Sarah Palin: Mitt romney had so many points blah blah blah
11:07 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Poll shows 56% of uncommitted voters say their opinion of Romney has changed for the better. 13% say that about the President.
Retweeted by rob kall
11:08 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Poll shows Romney narrowed gap on empathy. 63% now say Romney cares about their needs and problems (up from 30% before debate.)
Retweeted by rob kall
11:09 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
More on empathy: Poll shows 69% say Pres Obama cares about their needs and problems - up from 53% before debate.
Retweeted by rob kall
11:09 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Obama was not prepped on how to respond when Romney lied # debate
11:05 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
The big question is Do people believe Romney's lies? Can Obama use the footage to show flipflopping # Debate
10:55 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
9h Ben Simmoneau @ bensimmoneau
CBS News Poll: 46% said # Romney won the debate. Only 22% said # Obama did. # cbsphilly
Retweeted by rob kall
10:16 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
This is what it looks like when Obama is playing to protect a lead. It works, but it's careful and bland.
Retweeted by rob kall
10:48 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
He couldn't say ANY of these words: "47%" "BainCapital" "FlipFlop" "Bush" "Detroit" "Women(&women's issues)" Fire all debate consultants now
Retweeted by rob kall
10:48 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
9h Jesse Taylor @ jesseltaylor
I feel like Obama just tried to see what would happen if he used none of the arrows in his quiver.
Retweeted by rob kall
10:48 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
9h Jill Filipovic @ JillFilipovic
"My spell check keeps renaming Romney as 'zero monkey'." - my mom, whose smartphone is very very smart.
Retweeted by rob kall
10:49 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
There was a time when post-debate spin determined the winner. With personalized search engines and social media, that time is over.
Retweeted by rob kall
10:49 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
9h Amanda Marcotte @ AmandaMarcotte
In a just world, every newspaper would have a headline pointing out that Romney just lied shamelessly. But sadly, not our era.
Retweeted by rob kall
10:50 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
All you need to know is Romney wants a 20% across the board tax cut. That's $5 trillion with a capital "T." # RomneyLies # Debate# Debate2012
Retweeted by rob kall
10:40 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Obama never remembered that debate is THEATER!! Wonkery does not win a debate. And even if fact checkers show Romney lied, it's too late.
10:34 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Maddow's first comment: "We saw this debate format die tonight."
Retweeted by rob kall
10:35 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
I'd like to see debaters with ear phone, so they can get help-- like they would in real life-- let's see how, with all resources, they do
10:26 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Romney won this-- by staying awake, staying on his feet, not screwing up. Obama needed Romney to screw up or fail. Obama's wonking didn't do
10:24 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Obama to Lehrer: "You've done a great job" biggest lie of the evening.
10:14 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
10h LindaMilazzo @ LindaMilazzo
When U dont give specifics b4hand, U have the option to make things up at anytime - like during debates. # RomneyStrategy# Debate2012
Retweeted by rob kall
10:18 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Mitt: "trickle down government"-- interesting twist on trickle down economics.
10:12 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Mitt just bullied Lehrer again. Is he going to cut his hair next? # 2012debate
Retweeted by rob kall
10:13 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Lehrer's done a record number of prez debates. This will be his last. He retired before it was over. # debate
10:10 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
" data-mentions="nicolesandler JoshuaHol 10h NatashaChart @ NatashaChart
RT @ nicolesandler: RT @ JoshuaHol: Romney just used Politifact's 2009 *and* 2010 Lies of the Year. For what it's worth. # Debates
Retweeted by rob kall
10:10 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Obama: wonk, wonk, wonk Romney: govt bad, freedom, capitalism, my plan that I don't explain.
10:09 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
don't know if it's true, but Romney's riff on health care LOOKS impressive
10:03 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Romney had cooperative Democrats who wanted to help people, not teabagger obstructionists like Obama has in the House. # bullshitpartisanship
9:56 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
All the smiles from the two of them are so fake and overdone-- I'm going to throw up. # debate
9:55 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
time to mention Romney's throwing Detroit auto companies under the bus
9:42 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Romney wants to give governors billions in medicaid bucks to decide how to spend-- and they want it. What a surprise. # debate
9:34 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Mitt has his own plan-- but it's a secret, just like his undisclosed personal taxes.
9:31 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
The way Romney argues what the debate rules are-- he'd surely grab executive powers even worse than Bush and Obama-- and they're bad # debate
9:29 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Romney's hand gestures look forced, not real, too expansive-- perhaps a metaphor for his efforts to be more real. # debate
9:24 PM - 3 Oct 12 - Details
Romney looking like self-righteous church elder, as he watches Obama eat him for breakfast. What an insipid pinched smile # debate # p2