I am firmly convinced - Romney is a Sociopath, with a capital S

[adigal]

Think about it - instead of being out on the campaign trail, meeting real humans, he spent much of his time in the past month prepping for this debate. He had lines memorized, he had his "zingers," he had his body language down pat. He tried to fake empathy and compassion and had that weird smile in his muscle memory. This is a man who can study for the exam of being human, and then pretend for 90 minutes. Even so, his ass-holishness came out with his comment about having 5 "boys," thus calling Obama, the President of the United States, a boy. He couldn't help himself, he had to get that in, thinking how clever he is.

Romney is convinced he is the smartest man in the world, and that words don't matter. Maybe America will prove him correct. But I think there is some fatal flaw in this man, and most people who are not blinded by partisanship see it too. My parents are Republicans, but I am sure my father is not pleased at how rude Romney was last night. Manners matter for the majority of Americans. The Jerry Springer crowd is crowing about how Romney cleaned Obama's clock, but I think most people will think about it and come to the conclusion that Romney didn't play fair. He cheated. As he does on everything. If anything, the debate made him less likable to the mushy middle.

But alas - I have students crowing about how Romney won, how wonderful he is, how Obama cut 716 billion from Medicare. Oh, the lies. How do you fight a sociopath???

[TroyD]

1. We've known he is a sociopath & pathological liar for ages

So why did this come as a surprise to Obama ?

[adigal]

3. I don't know - I think Obama expected SOME honor from Willard

but he got none. Obama is busy, running the country. The people I am pissed at are his team. They have done a great job up until now, but really dropped the ball prepping him for this debate. Romney is a lying sociopath, if you have to spend all of your time calling him a liar, and calling him out on his lies, then do it!!

Having said that, I don't think romney did himself any favors with his rudeness.

[TroyD]

5. Why would he expect any? I sure didn't

I wish Ted Kennedy was here to have advised Obama and show him what he went through in his debates with Mitt.

I posted the Ted Kennedy vs. Mitt Romney clip earlier. Obama needs to do the same thing. Be AGGRESSIVE. Expose the lies.

Remember - Romney Is Multiple Choice, just like Ted said. Until you realize that, you can't beat Romney in a debate.

[jsmirman]

2. By calling him on his sociopathy!!!!

It's so straightforward it's painful.

The only way to disrupt a liar is to pin him down on his lies.

Thanks, Obama, for letting a sociopath get this much closer to the most dangerous chair in the world.

Fucking fuck.

[adigal]

4. Yeah, I know. But I really still feel Romney will never win

If he does, I need to start making plans to get out of this country. It would show a bunch of people who vote against themselves, too stupid to look things up.

[TroyD]

6. Why would you feel Romney will never win?

Remember George W. Bush?

[adigal]

8. Just my gut - I thought Bush would win because of Al Gore's debate performance

Sighing and being condescending. People don't like that, just like they don't like bullies like Romney. Gore's debates made it close enough so that Bush stole it.

Very partisan people are cheering Romney's performance. Of course. But what are Independents saying? That is more important.

[TroyD]

10. Romney was already doing well with Independents BEFORE this Debate

He has been ahead of Obama with Independents in some polls.

[adigal]

14. Link please? I have not seen ONE poll that has Romney winning Independents

Maybe Rasmussen??

[TroyD]

16. No, not Rasmussen

Many different polls have shown Romney winning Independents. We talked about one of them yesterday. It may have been the new NBC poll (47-45) with Romney having the upper hand.

I have noticed this trend for a while. It sometimes varies by state, but Romney has always polled well with Independents, just like Scott Brown does in MA where he's beating Warren among that group.

Now, as we also discussed, it's hard to know exactly who all of these 'Independents' are because some of them are actually Republicans and it can be difficult to figure out how truly 'independent' they are.

But it's not something to take for granted.

[jsmirman]

7. Country?

Won't be far enough.

That without morals asshole is going to blow up the world if he gets the chance.

We are all fucked - no matter where we imagine hiding - if that guy wins the Presidency.

That is why Obama's performance is so inexcusable.

[RKP5637]

11. I feel we're walking the edge of a cliff, and Obama is our last lifeline. And if we go over the

edge with Romney/Ryan, there will be no climbing out of that abyss. The world is F'ed.

[jsmirman]

13. Yes, which is why I feel that feckless a debate performance

is hard not to see as a moral failing.

The man had a responsibility. The man failed at his responsibility.

[RKP5637]

9. I've come to the conclusion that about 50 million people in the US are dumber than

a bag of rocks. It has nothing to do with innate intelligence, just that they are naive, gullible and do not bother to fact check. They are swayed by who can talk the loudest, be the most rude and frankly the biggest bully in the room. ... and IMO view the presidency as a sporting contest. I'm leaving the state I live in because it continues to march toward teabaggery across the entire state government.

Now, "if" a Romney/Ryan win, I will need to look across countries. "If" there is a Romney/Ryan win, 1st, I will feel we are totally F'ed as a country if enough people fall for their rhetoric. And 2nd, it will cement my feeling that America is headed toward a dystopia for most of the citizens, and there will be no recovery for decades.

[TroyD]

12. Bill Maher said that on Larry King years ago

That man is smart and I agree with almost everything he says.

Maher said there is just a certain percentage of the population that is stupid. I thought it was harsh at the time, but I've come to believe it is true.

[RKP5637]

17. Yep, I like Bill Maher too. Up until about 2000, I would never have said this ... but observing

what has happen from 2000 on to many of my fellow citizens, I've just concluded they are stupid, and many are even proud of their stupidity. Bush brought out IMO what fools we have in this country. And it's rather scary.

[adigal]

15. Yes, what you said. What state are you moving to??

We could use you in upstate NY, which is very conservative.

[RKP5637]

18. I grew up in cold climates, so this time I'm looking at places farther south, probably

returning to CA.

[adigal]

19. Lucky you!! If I leave, it will be for Nova Scotia

Warmer than where I am now, even though it is north of me.

[RKP5637]

21. That's a beautiful area, Nova Scotia. I haven't been there for a long time, but as a kid I

remember being struck as to how beautiful Nova Scotia is.

[treestar]

20. I'm sure he cheated his way into whatever success he allegedly earned too

In quite the same way. It may pay off in business. But not in politics.