What are your thoughts on the Second Presidential Debate

[Triton]

And yet somehow Obama comes out winning the debate 36% to 31% (CBS) and the media declares him the winner... strange!!!

Yes it is isn't it. It seems that the obama was pretty much wrong on almost every point and that when crowely defended him she too was wrong but the media who has been in the tank for the obama since the last election cycle declares him the winner merely because he wasn't as pathetic as he was last time. I believe they say he "won on points." Of course no one knows exactly what those points are. In the meantime the momentum seems at least to be continuing Romney's way. Here's hoping anyway.

[Preacher Man]

Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a good debate, and Obama did much better than in the first debate. But something bothers me about what made the candidates look good in this debate. Both candidates looked strong because they interrupted each other, and basically showed aggressiveness and disrespect to each other. At the same time, both candidates stretched the truth on particular issues. So, when two guys are aggressive and somewhat disrespectful, and stretch the truth, those are good candidates? IMHO there is something very wrong with that picture.

[BlackKnight86]

Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a good debate, and Obama did much better than in the first debate. But something bothers me about what made the candidates look good in this debate. Both candidates looked strong because they interrupted each other, and basically showed aggressiveness and disrespect to each other. At the same time, both candidates stretched the truth on particular issues. So, when two guys are aggressive and somewhat disrespectful, and stretch the truth, those are good candidates? IMHO there is something very wrong with that picture.

These were my thoughts as well.....I found it fascinating that one could get two so radically different viewpoints as I received from people on the two sides of the divide from the same event; and I think it's far more their presentation rather than their substance. Unfortunately, in this country, it seems that later generations have become feral; and the primary "proof" of superiority is in the literal dominance of others....the proverbial "alpha male". And they don't have to even be true "alphas"...it's all in the perception. Obama could bring this country to its knees; but you'd still get folks like NeverTooSharp fondly reminiscing about how Obama "owned" Romney in that second debate, ZOMG....LOLS!!!!(insert some kind of lame smiley gif doing something stupid). It's all about how things appear. Very sad....

[BlackKnight86]

My favorite moments:
-At 1:02:40 when Romney jabs at Obama about his lack of response with regards to his failed promise to pass an immigration law during his 1st year when Democrats had a supermajority in both houses of Congress, which Obama continues to ignore in the immediate rebuttal.

[snip]

-At 1:19:35 and onwards, Romney brings up Operation Fast & Furious, and Obama's rebuttal utterly ignores all mention of it.

Anyone know if Obama is a BladeForums member who posts in the Political Subforum? I thought I recognized his style.....

[never too sharp]

Obama could bring this country to its knees; but you'd still get folks like NeverTooSharp fondly reminiscing about how Obama "owned" Romney in that second debate,

Was I fondly reminiscing? Because it didn't feel that way after I finished watching the debate. If you had bothered to actually read what I posted instead of skimming for a pot shot, you would have seen the same sentiment you and Preacherman expressed.

ZOMG....LOLS!!!!(insert some kind of lame smiley gif doing something stupid). It's all about how things appear. Very sad....

BlackKnight86

Sorry, I couldn't make my gif do anything. It is just flash without substance. zomglolzbbq!!11!


Moving on, what's the big deal about the "binders full of women" remark? I haven't sought out any of the criticism yet, so I don't know why all the panties are bunched. Should he have said applications/applicants instead of women? Should he not have lauded himself for seeking female cabinet members?

[timcsaw]

Sorry, I couldn't make my gif do anything.

I hear there's a little blue pill that can help with that.

[sticktodrum]

My binders have more women.

[BlackKnight86]

Was I fondly reminiscing? Because it didn't feel that way after I finished watching the debate. If you had bothered to actually read what I posted instead of skimming for a pot shot, you would have seen the same sentiment you and Preacherman expressed.

No....I don't think I would have.

I did read it NTS....first of all, if you want to be taken seriously, don't lead with a statement like that. It reeks of cheerleading trash talk; and if you do that without immediately backing it up, it loses most of it's meaningful impact. (And when I say "backing it up", I mean with evidence, not a statement of opinion like the one you gave.)

Secondly, you made statements that you didn't back up. Why did you even waste the bandwidth? HOW did Romney pander to those groups? What was it that he said that would make you conclude that? Also, how is his saying that "government doesn't create jobs" clash with his saying that his plan would "create 12 million jobs? If his course of action, in his opinion, would result in 12 million jobs; that's not the same as government personally creating them. He's recognizing the potential along with the reality of the system.

And if you took issue with N2S's comment, then why don't you point out how his comment describes Romney, rather than "SKIMMING FOR A POT SHOT"?

And you know full well what the "big deal"is about the "binder" comment. Someone makes an innocuous statement and it gets jumped on for political gain. In other words, it's BS political jockeying.

Of course, it's only okay when one side does it.

[BlackKnight86]

I hear there's a little blue pill that can help with that.

LOL....I love you, man!

[never too sharp]

HOW did Romney pander to those groups? What was it that he said that would make you conclude that?

If you have to ask, etc., etc..

And you know full well what the "big deal"is about the "binder" comment. Someone makes an innocuous statement and it gets jumped on for political gain. In other words, it's BS political jockeying. Of course, it's only okay when one side does it.

Are you referring to the "You didn't build that" comment?

LOL....I love you, man!

There's a little prayer for that.

And by the way, if this were true,

It's all about how things appear. Very sad....

then someone would have pointed out the fact that the president was wearing a tie with an American stripe pattern, while governor Romney was wearing a tie with the English stripe pattern. Egads! How could someone running for president of the United States of America not know this?

[BlackKnight86]

If you have to ask, etc., etc..

...then the other person is not capable of properly communicating a thought?

Are you referring to the "You didn't build that" comment?

Not really. That's not a good comparison. Even given the context, the "you didn't build that" comment had a factual inaccuracy. The "binder" comment did not.

There's a little prayer for that.

Dear Lord, please give Never Too Sharp a real sense of humor, along with an awareness of pop culture. Amen.

And by the way, if this were true,

then someone would have pointed out the fact that the president was wearing a tie with an American stripe pattern, while governor Romney was wearing a tie with the English stripe pattern. Egads! How could someone running for president of the United States of America not know this?

Probably because he doesn't waste time or energy on obscure traditions that are loaded with exceptions.

In all sincerity, though, I don't check out other dudes' wardrobes (not that there's anything wrong with that, Never Too Sharp....proceed as you like). However, if you're going to check them out, you might want to be right about it. Obama appeared to be wearing a tie with dots, not stripes. That probably why no one pointed out your "fact"....

....except, of course, you.

[Preacher Man]

These were my thoughts as well.....I found it fascinating that one could get two so radically different viewpoints as I received from people on the two sides of the divide from the same event; and I think it's far more their presentation rather than their substance. Unfortunately, in this country, it seems that later generations have become feral; and the primary "proof" of superiority is in the literal dominance of others....the proverbial "alpha male". And they don't have to even be true "alphas"...it's all in the perception. Obama could bring this country to its knees; but you'd still get folks like NeverTooSharp fondly reminiscing about how Obama "owned" Romney in that second debate, ZOMG....LOLS!!!!(insert some kind of lame smiley gif doing something stupid). It's all about how things appear. Very sad....

I may be wrong, but I think you are right son the "alpha male" angle, but maybe not because of newer generations, but as a way to appeal to the hard right and left respectively. Although the substance appeals more to the core of each party and somewhat to the moderates, the style was all a show for their respective hardliners.

[Noctis3880]

Anyone know if Obama is a BladeForums member who posts in the Political Subforum? I thought I recognized his style.....

Political Forum Rules
The Second Rule is to discuss the topic, not the other members. This is inherent in the First Rule: discussing others leads to dissing others, and no one should want that in the Political Arena. That's why we have Whine & Cheese.

Got lost in the wrong subforum?


As for Romney, I don't believe he has an actual plan to get the deficit down at this point, unless he plans to attack entitlement spending after he is elected. Which to me seems like the only course of action at this point. Discretionary spending could never be cut down enough to close the deficit even if you cut the ENTIRE government out of it. Romney sure as hell doesn't look like he'll raise taxes at all.


But looking at my Facebook page at all the Obamabots in my state cheering him on, I feel tempted to vote for Obama just to help everyone reap what they sowed. Again, the coming zombie apocalypse has considerable appeal to me as nothing much would be different, except that zombies talk less.

[timcsaw]

Again, the coming zombie apocalypse has considerable appeal to me as nothing much would be different, except that zombies talk less.

In a world populated primarily with Democrat politicians, the zombies would all starve. (Just kidding folks... I make with the joke)

[Tixx]

You take the best option available to you, even if neither is a great option. When my wife died, I had the option of checking two boxes:
1) Letting them turn the machines off as she was not going to recover from her injuries
2) Keeping the machines on until she died naturally a few days later, though they couldn't promise me she wasn't in pain

Now, I suppose I could have drawn my own box that said
3) Keep the machines on and fix all the damage!

...and checked that one. What good would that have done, precisely? Fantasies are all well and good, but eventually you have to grow up and make the best choice, even if you neither appeals to you very much.



And, having remembered something sobering in my own life for a few minutes, and cooled down a bit, I probably should have picked it out as being more an ironic comment than an actual plan. I've heard enough people who I know really are planning on writing "Oscar the Grouch" on their ballot that I may have become a bit overly-aggressive on the issue, and I'm sorry if I jumped the gun.

Not sure that growing up is synonymous with choosing between what one may believe to be 2 bad choices for their country. I think these people are actually moving beyond the fall into line mentality and wanting something more and better for themselves, their families and their country. Though these people may not know how to begin organizing, campaigning or expanding upon our choices for leadership, they are coming to the realization that neither party is representing their values. So they are growing essentially out of the fall in line mentality, but do not know what to do or how to channel themselves other than voting for essentially none of the above. Which honestly should be a choice on the ballot, but politicians will never let happen because they will be losing across the country to an idea that they are no longer wanted.

So their desire to vote for Oscar the Grouch should not be looked at like a child voting for a Sesame Street character (which on the surface we could all see), rather this is an adult coming to the realization that people in government are out for themselves and owned by the corporate money interests. Nothing wrong with recognizing the true nature of the beast and taking your blinders off. So is Oscar the Grouch a bad choice? Not sure, but everyone seems quite happy on Sesame Street.

[t1mpani]

They may seem happy, but all of them actually have a hand up their asses forcing them to do things, and if they complain they get thrown back in the dark place...

So, for the obese out there whose current options are to either exercise and eat better or continue being obese, choosing instead to believe an infomercial that tells them an exciting new breakthrough in sunglasses will help them get skinny with no effort would qualify as "taking their blinders off" I suppose. I'm inspired now, and believe I'll finally take the blinders off and start walking through walls instead of doors. I feel so free!

[timcsaw]

Not sure that growing up is synonymous with choosing between what one may believe to be 2 bad choices for their country. I think these people are actually moving beyond the fall into line mentality and wanting something more and better for themselves, their families and their country. Though these people may not know how to begin organizing, campaigning or expanding upon our choices for leadership, they are coming to the realization that neither party is representing their values. So they are growing essentially out of the fall in line mentality, but do not know what to do or how to channel themselves other than voting for essentially none of the above. Which honestly should be a choice on the ballot, but politicians will never let happen because they will be losing across the country to an idea that they are no longer wanted.

So their desire to vote for Oscar the Grouch should not be looked at like a child voting for a Sesame Street character (which on the surface we could all see), rather this is an adult coming to the realization that people in government are out for themselves and owned by the corporate money interests. Nothing wrong with recognizing the true nature of the beast and taking your blinders off. So is Oscar the Grouch a bad choice? Not sure, but everyone seems quite happy on Sesame Street.

I heard yesterday that "None of the above." WILL be a choice on a ballot in some state (Calif.???).

And you failed to mention that politicians are also owned by UNIONS... and also that Big Bird's $600 million OWNS the Sesame Street "plantation."

[Tixx]

They may seem happy, but all of them actually have a hand up their asses forcing them to do things, and if they complain they get thrown back in the dark place...

So, for the obese out there whose current options are to either exercise and eat better or continue being obese, choosing instead to believe an infomercial that tells them an exciting new breakthrough in sunglasses will help them get skinny with no effort would qualify as "taking their blinders off" I suppose. I'm inspired now, and believe I'll finally take the blinders off and start walking through walls instead of doors.

Sounds like the politicians would work out there just fine with a bunch of corporate hands jammed way up there. Don't listen to our lobbyists, you don't have a career!

Actually, taking your lead, the blinders would indeed be those choosing to believe the people on TV, as you stated, and those are the politicians feeding you the promises just as the infomercials do (quite similar actually). Then getting off your behind and exercising would be the stark reality as would getting out in your community to make a difference. So you see the armchair people contrasted with those that realize getting off their behinds and doing something have actually reached a more mature level of action and awareness. I think we wandered away from the get off your behind American way. I think we should all get back to it!

[Tixx]

I heard yesterday that "None of the above." WILL be a choice on a ballot in some state (Calif.???).

And you failed to mention that politicians are also owned by UNIONS... and also that Big Bird's $600 million OWNS the Sesame Street "plantation."

Did not know that.

Yes, you are correct, unions are part of the lobbyist groups. That is a major nestegg!

[t1mpani]

I just threw a brick into the air, now refusing to believe it would come down just because THE MAN always told me it would. It's still rising!