The Lynn Debate

This one's got my name written all over it.

Nope.  I am not above making the obvious joke.

Presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama faced off at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL last night.  I wondered beforehand if anyone would bring up the fact that this was the site of the now infamous 47% video.  If it happened, I missed it.  In fact, by the time I tuned in, I was pretty convinced that Romney might have missed it, too. 

My immediate impression was that Obama won.  Actually, lots of news sources say that.  I can't particularly claim shock here.  Romney has long conceded that foreign policy isn't his strong suit.  In a very strange way, there seemed to be a growing idea from the viewership that there weren't huge differences between the two men on most of the major players and issues.  I got the distinct impression that even the candidates knew that, and took the opportunity to sneak back to domestic affairs whenever possible.  

Let's take a look at the highlight reel, shall we?

Romney Obfuscates

There seemed to be some talk about how out of sorts the Governor seemed to be during this debate.  Of course, there are those who say that this was a tactic, and that all Romney had to do was look presidential.  Some had very little idea what he was trying to say, but he said it a lot.  According to the Washington Post, the word "tumult" was a winner in the debate.

“Tumult”: By our count, Romney used the word five times to describe a situation happening in the world. Somewhere ”uproar”, “turmoil” and “hubbub” are grimacing.

Let's not forget "I love teachers."  

What about the strangest call for a map in the history of debates.  Syria does not offer Iran a route to the sea.  Iran has two coastlines.  And Syria doesn't share a boarder with Iran.  Turkey is in the way.  Is it odd that this had to be Fact Checked?

Honestly, this was not a good showing for Romney.  Unless it was.

My final thoughts?  Read this from CNN's "Gut Check" for Oct. 23rd.

NICHOLAS BURNS, FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL, ANALYZES THE DEBATE ON CNN’S STARTING POINT: “Governor Romney had been on the offensive over the last year, criticizing President Obama on Russia. Governor Romney said Russia was our Number One geopolitical foe. Last night, he backed off that statement. He’d been very critical about how President Obama ended the Iraq War and critical of the president's plans to bring the troops out (of Afghanistan) on a specific time line, 2014. And you saw none of that last night. In fact, Governor Romney appeared to leave a lot of his positions behind, and it does leave you with the question on what is his world view? What does he really believe?”

Obama Zings

Obama got some good ones in.  Or, maybe he came off as condescending.  Or, snarky.  Or, in my opinion, funny as hell.

Take this clip on the ever shrinking Navy.  Oh, I can't explain this one.  Just watch.  Bayonets and horses.  I kind of giggled myself stupid at this point.




But not as much giggling as for the Battleship comment.  And I cheered every time the President said that Romney was all over the map, and trying to airbrush his history. 

How about the "the 1980's called" joke?  In fact, there were two references to out-moded policies.

Despite of all of the zingers, or maybe because of them, I can't shake the feeling that even President Obama is tired of all of this now.  This is his last political debate.  He knows that.  If he wins, these will have been the moments that he gave a lift to his base by showing the "sketchy" side of Romney's policies.  If he loses his bid for a second term, President Obama will have gone down with a fight.  Only time will tell what the prevailing narrative will be.  And time is running out.  

13 days.