Tonights debate. playing it safe again?

[mgcgulfcoast]

lets hope for the best. its being reported both sides and insisting on very stringent rules where follow-up questions arent allowed. this has the real potential to become quite boring with both candidates simply giving memorized sound bites. with this type of format im not sure either candidate can score points.

[budkin]

1. Obama has to be aggressive... he has no choice now

He can't come off looking weak again or he's fucked.

[mgcgulfcoast]

2. thats my point. he has to be agressive

but how can he with this format? he and romney wont be talking TO each other, they will be talking past each other with no followups allowed. im disappointed the Obama camp is so insistent on no follow-ups.

[theKed]

3. On tonight's debate

"WASHINGTON—Saying he was excited to “finally get out there” and defend his policies in front of the entire nation, President Barack Obama told reporters he was energized and eager to participate in his first debate of the 2012 election cycle Tuesday night.

...

“You don’t get many chances to clearly articulate your policies and rebut those of your opponent in front of the entire nation,” Obama continued. “And I don’t intend to let this opportunity slip by.”

Telling reporters he needs to be at top of his game if he hopes to win over independent voters in the first debate, the president said he has been hard at work honing his rhetorical skills so he can set the tone for the rest of the campaign. He noted that in particular he has focused on not being afraid to go on the offensive and on perfecting his body language, which he said would be “absolutely essential” for gaining the upper hand in the first contest between the candidates.

...

“The bottom line is that I have a much stronger plan for middle-class families, I actually have consistent and detailed policies on the economy and the deficit, and I have proven myself to be strong on national security,” Obama said. “All I need to do in the first debate, really, is make this distinction to the American people, and then this first debate should pretty much seal my reelection.”

“Frankly, it’d be pretty embarrassing if I couldn’t pull that off,” Obama added."

Oh, Onion.
Also, fuck your pay wall, Onion.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/obama-excited-to-participate-in-first-debate,29930/

[bushisanidiot]

4. As long as the President doesn't trip up the stairs on the way to the stage, he wins

the first debate analysis was flat out stupid.
if the president looked down, he was wrong.
if the president smiled, he was wrong.
if the president interrupted, he was wrong.
if the president didn't interrupt, he was wrong.


the president kept his cool, like he always does.
I expect him to keep his cool again tonight.

the difference will be that he will have more of an opportunity to open himself up
and give expansive answers without being interrupted by an arrogant and rude
Mitt Romney.

Romney will have a difficult time negotiating the stage as his physical movements are very awkward.
he is not good with unscripted questions from the audience.
expect romney to ignore questions asked, and instead, answer with a scripted piece of his stump speech and hope no one notices.

[MSMITH33156]

5. He doesn't need to be overly aggressive.

It's not his style. His big ace in the hole, and what has been for the entire election, is that people personally like him. Yes, the extreme right thinks he is Hitler, but the middle of the ground centrist American voter personally like him. His likability has always far exceeded his job performance favorability and his poll numbers. The main issue that liberals had in the first debate is that he wasn't confrontational enough, and didn't fight Romney more.

But moderates were pissed that he didn't look engaged. They didn't recognize the president that they like. Joe Biden is a naturally combative person, so that worked well for him. Obama is not. If he tries to "come out swinging" in a town hall, it won't wear well. He needs to just be himself. When Romney lies, simply correct him politely, and pivot back to the questioner. It's different when a real person is asking questions. Spend very little time on Romney and have a dialogue with the questioner. He will look presidential, and people will want him to still be President. That will be the end of it. I think he's got this.

[mgcgulfcoast]

6. can he correct romney's lies in this format?

it seems like its designed so that neither candidate has to defend anything.

[demwing]

7. But no one is calling for Obama to be overly agressive

all Obama has to do is be appropriately aggressive in defense of the truth. Don't let lies go unanswered, and take every opportunity (or MAKE that opportunity) to present the facts - briefly and with style.

Nothing out of Obama's area of expertise, except maybe the "briefly" bit

[mgcgulfcoast]

8. the format doesnt really allow aggression

it will be a glorified press conference except the "reporters" cant ask a follow-up so romney can say anything he wants.

[VirginiaTarheel]

9. Playing it safe is a losing strategy especially against a say-anything and say-it-well Romney

Obama's horrific debate performance led to the collapse of his campaign. We can give money out the ear to his campaign, but only Obama's remaining debate performances will undo the damage he did to himself and Democrats nationwide. Not even Bill Clinton can undo that catastrophic first debate performance. I certainly hope he realizes this and has prepared as if his very life depended on the next debates.

r