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Romney Shows His Dominant Trait: Rudeness

Mitt Romney is one rude guy. It's not that he's a bully, it's that he is impervious to anything and anyone around him. It's all about him. And when he doesn't get his way, he stomps his foot like a spoiled brat.

He's rude and impatient. Which is a sign he doesn't play well with others. He thinks he knows best. Would he even listen to his own advisers, or would we be in for four years of Mitt knows best?

He was awful tonight. He may be one of the most unlikable politicians to come along in a while.

Mitt Romney needs to go to charm school. I bet he didn't have many friends as a kid.

Update: Romney just f*cked up big time. Candy called him out on being wrong about what Obama said in the Rose Garden about the Libyan attack. That may be the moment of the night. Romney spins a tale and gets caught red-handed.

Obama killed him in this debate. Will the media agree?

< Second Presidential Debate Live Thread | Romney Debate Missteps >
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  • Display: Sort:
    late to the party (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by desmoinesdem on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:02:46 PM EST
    just tuned in about 45-50 minutes into the debate. Judging from my twitter feed, "binders full of women" is going to be the sound bite of the debate. Also, we need to help women leave work in time to go home and cook dinner.


    I think he really meant (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:05:58 PM EST
    Women in Binders!

    Parent
    hahahahaha (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by Dr Molly on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:11:21 PM EST
    It's so rich, on so many levels, I love it. Binders Full of Women.

    Parent
    Somebody needs to check how much (5.00 / 3) (#108)
    by Peter G on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:23:08 PM EST
    each of those members of former Governor Rmoney's cabinet and top staff, male vs. female, was paid! that was, after all, the question that the young woman asked.

    Parent
    NYT fact checking addresses this issue. (none / 0) (#113)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:37:17 PM EST
    Not the same question that I raised (none / 0) (#130)
    by Peter G on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:00:52 PM EST
    the NYT fact-check addresses whether Rmoney did or did not appoint more women to policy-making jobs than other governors.  Their answer is equivocal.  The Times doesn't address whether the women he did appoint -- to his cabinet, say -- were paid the same as the men in equivalent jobs in his administration.

    Parent
    No Republican can answer that question (5.00 / 2) (#134)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:03:34 PM EST
    The base believes that men earn more because they are better suited to work. Men earn more because they are better.

    Some Democrats believe this too. The Larry Summers sect.

    Parent

    Here's the part to which I referred: (none / 0) (#136)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:09:40 PM EST
    A 2004 study by the University of Albany Center for Women in Government and Civil Society supported that contention; according to that study, 50 percent of Massachusetts policy-making posts were held by women in 2003, compared with an average of 32 percent for state governments as a whole. But Factcheck.org, of the Annenberg Center on Public Policy, took a different position: over Mr. Romney's four years as governor, it stated, 31 percent of all appointments were women. And the share of women named to senior-level posts actually declined slightly, to 27.6 percent, it said. The organization said that a Romney administration work force official "cherry-picked statistics to make Romney's record on appointing women to government positions look better than it is."
     [NYT.]

    Parent
    Uh, huh - I found that and linked to it already (none / 0) (#151)
    by Peter G on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:46:18 PM EST
    It does not address the question I raised, about equal pay on the Massachusetts governor's cabinet, which would be interesting to know, at least to me.

    Parent
    I have completely blocked the (none / 0) (#154)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:50:10 PM EST
    phrase for the legal objection.  Oh, got it.  Non-responsive, your honor.  

    Parent
    "Mama, you put me in the (none / 0) (#7)
    by Mr Tuxedo on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:17:35 PM EST
    Joy Book!"

    Parent
    Thank you. (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:11:04 PM EST
    I saide here a few months ago that Mitt Romney is one of the most genuinely repulsive presidential candidates I've ever seen -- and I'm old enough to remember Richard Nixon and George Wallace.

    I am older:) (none / 0) (#98)
    by Amiss on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:59:14 PM EST
    CBS gives it overall to Obama.

    Parent
    People clapping (5.00 / 5) (#6)
    by lilburro on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:17:23 PM EST
    for Crowley calling out Romney on that stupid lie.  Good lord.

    Amazing, isn't it? (none / 0) (#9)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:18:29 PM EST
    MItt's more than just rude (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:18:02 PM EST
    He's a sociopath. It's just the truth.

    We're all biased and what not... (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:20:25 PM EST
    but seriously...just look at him up there.

    He said it himself, he couldn't beat John McCain.

    Haha, that's right. Good one. (none / 0) (#14)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:21:03 PM EST
    I think the goal of bringing out the real Mitt (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:20:29 PM EST
    has been accomplished.

    Romney's gaffe (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:21:39 PM EST
    is the moment of the debate.

    Huge moment.

    One of many, I think. (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Anne on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:23:36 PM EST
    A truly despicable, detestable, I-can't-even-call-him-a-man, not even sure he's human.

    Makes me want to take a shower - a long one.

    Parent

    Agreed. (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:25:46 PM EST
    Mittens led with his jaw on that one, peddling that particular canard, and opened himself up to a devastating pushback.

    Parent
    Oops. Pres. Forgot the Sikhs in WI (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:25:28 PM EST


    I've been reduced to taking a drink (5.00 / 5) (#33)
    by caseyOR on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:28:20 PM EST
    every time Romney tells a lie or says something that p!sses me off. So, I'm kind of toasted.

    Is this almost over? Please, make it stop.

    i've run out. (none / 0) (#46)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:34:12 PM EST
    Can you e-send me some please?

    Parent
    You okay with a chilled CA Chard? (none / 0) (#52)
    by nycstray on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:35:29 PM EST
    Absolute-ly! ta (none / 0) (#82)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:46:14 PM EST
    Two shots of Jim Beam Black on the way. n/t (none / 0) (#54)
    by caseyOR on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:35:37 PM EST
    Virtually. (none / 0) (#81)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:45:44 PM EST
    E-Sliante! (none / 0) (#84)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:47:36 PM EST
    down the e-hatch

    Parent
    You know what would cut manufacturing costs (5.00 / 8) (#45)
    by caseyOR on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:34:06 PM EST
    in the USA? Government run single-payer health care.

    xactly rite (none / 0) (#53)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:35:33 PM EST
    Candy Crowly is the Barefoot Contessa... (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Dadler on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:35:02 PM EST
    ...making campaign scrapple in whine sauce.

    And Mitt says we can compete with anyone: you bet we can, just pay those pesky American laborers even less!!  Down with wages, down with wages, down with wages!!  Keep the chant going!

    Mitt (5.00 / 2) (#60)
    by lilburro on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:38:04 PM EST
    sounds like an insane person.  Maybe it's just his delivery because I know politicians do this but he rattles off promises like he's going to be dictator and not President.

    Obama worked in the 47% (5.00 / 4) (#61)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:38:14 PM EST
    Good one!

    Oh yeah! He went there. (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by Dr Molly on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:40:42 PM EST
    Rmoney totally asked for it. (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by womanwarrior on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:52:59 PM EST
    He brought up his phony baloney about how he cares about 100 % of the people, after saying people mis-perceive him because of the Obama campaign's attacks. I don't believe I mis-perceive him in the slightest.  

    Parent
    Finally! (5.00 / 2) (#62)
    by Democratic Cat on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:38:30 PM EST
    47% makes an appearance.  

    Closing with the 47% (5.00 / 5) (#63)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:38:41 PM EST
    Well played sir.

    h/t to kdog? (none / 0) (#140)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:14:39 PM EST
    The 47% hammer! (5.00 / 3) (#64)
    by lilburro on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:38:46 PM EST
    Dropped when Romney can't respond!  Ahahahahahahahahahaha.  This debate has been awesome.

    What a gift to Obama!!! (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by magster on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:40:01 PM EST
    Great use of the clock (5.00 / 2) (#76)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:41:14 PM EST
    For the inevitable sports analogy

    Parent
    You're right (5.00 / 1) (#73)
    by Democratic Cat on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:40:50 PM EST
    The timing was great.  Good idea to hold it until the end.

    Parent
    Nice close... (5.00 / 2) (#67)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:39:56 PM EST
    Mitt loves his family and his god, hates old ladies and veterans.

     

    And his dog. (5.00 / 2) (#141)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:15:01 PM EST
    Romney is the David Simms (none / 0) (#143)
    by CoralGables on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:19:34 PM EST
    of politics..."he hates old people, children, and dogs"

    Parent
    Who, may I ask, is David Simms? (none / 0) (#144)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:23:17 PM EST
    [I did google.  Came up with an Irish mathematician, a stockbroker, and a judge who dodged a DUI.]

    Parent
    Tin Cup Rival (none / 0) (#149)
    by CoralGables on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:38:44 PM EST
    Ah. Think Kevin Costner. (none / 0) (#150)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:41:00 PM EST
    I should have provided you (none / 0) (#153)
    by CoralGables on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:48:29 PM EST
    Ha. Made me look. (none / 0) (#156)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:51:36 PM EST
    Great closing from Obama. (5.00 / 2) (#68)
    by Anne on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:39:59 PM EST
    I think he did what he needed to do, and more - and Romney just came across as a dick in a 3-piece suit.

    Romney really is a d!ck. (5.00 / 2) (#85)
    by caseyOR on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:47:45 PM EST
    He must not have had very many actual friends as a kid. He gets a failing grade in "works and plays well with others."

    Parent
    or a suit with a three piece dick (none / 0) (#78)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:43:01 PM EST
    Obama goes immediately to shake some hands (5.00 / 3) (#70)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:40:04 PM EST
    Romney walks off in a daze.

    Ha Ha. Brain Williams on NBC (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:41:08 PM EST
    making hay of the "binders full of women" remark.

    ouch (5.00 / 2) (#77)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:42:22 PM EST
    Matthews describes Mitt's snipiness"
    ouch.."the kind of person who won't turn off their cell phone on an airplane

    Rude doesn't do it for me (5.00 / 3) (#86)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:47:56 PM EST
    Mostly because people use the word so often when they are told truths that are inconvenient for them.  I have to go with bully, Mitt Romney is a SELF IMPORTANT BULLY.  He wants to be THE DECIDER II.  He bullied also not when exposing falsehoods, but when his falsehoods were exposed.  So he's no champion of any kind, just a bully.

    Bully With a Binder (5.00 / 4) (#90)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:52:22 PM EST
    And don't forget, it's ... (5.00 / 1) (#164)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 12:40:34 AM EST
    ... a binder full of womem -- all of which sounds vaguely pornographic, if you ask me.

    Parent
    i agree. (5.00 / 3) (#97)
    by Dr Molly on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:57:42 PM EST
    He's both rude and a bully.

    The way he kept invading Obama's personal space was a very bad visual to me, very aggressive.

    Parent

    No Respect (5.00 / 3) (#123)
    by Amiss on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:45:31 PM EST
    for a sitting President. I know as one who is disabled and past the age for retirement making me one of those 47% I wouldn't have a snowball's chance in hell. BTW the new poll from CNN is showing Obama won 73%!

    Parent
    yes..one could say Biden was rude...and that was (none / 0) (#93)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:53:24 PM EST
    okay with me...Mitt was indeed a bully...more than rude.

    Parent
    Stalking and bitter (5.00 / 2) (#95)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:53:56 PM EST
    Great distinction (none / 0) (#105)
    by lilburro on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:07:17 PM EST
    bully not champion.  You're right.

    Over at kos it's reported Obama wins a CBS snap poll of undecided voters 37 30.  The voters were heavily pro-Romney on economy issues beforehand.

    I like it....

    Parent

    "Bully" works for me, too... (none / 0) (#106)
    by Anne on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:09:20 PM EST
    I'd really have liked for Obama to have pushed him a little more, because being pushed is what revealed Romney's bullying nature - it's even harder now to excuse and explain away some of the more egregious examples of his being a bully in his private life  - the kid whose hair he cut, the dog in a crate on the car roof?  That's all bullying behavior.

    Rudeness is just part of the package.  Dismissive is part of it too, along with demeaning, condescending and belittling.

    He's a small, small man with a mind to match.

    Parent

    Concern troll David Brooks (5.00 / 3) (#94)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:53:48 PM EST
    says neither Obama or Romney is likeable and that iciness turns people off.

    What an insufferable dolt.

    That coming from someone (5.00 / 2) (#107)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:13:21 PM EST
    who seems unlikeable, and whose iciness keeps people from subscribing to the Times. In addition to the price, that is.

    Parent
    Listening to David Brooks is (none / 0) (#121)
    by observed on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:43:10 PM EST
    "spiritual suicide" and "A burden to heavy" to bear.

    Parent
    Do the math (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by Lora on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:26:00 PM EST
    Did anyone pick up Romney's funny math when he claimed that the richest taxpayers who pay 60% of the nation's income tax will still pay the same amount of taxes -- 60% -- after his tax cuts?  

    And Candy went right along with it.  Turned to Obama and said, can we all agree that the richest taxpayers will still pay the same amount of taxes?

    Obama did say the math didn't add up, but no one seemed to realize Romney's slight-of-arithmetic.  Tax cuts across the board would reduce total tax revenue.  60% of less is, well, less.  The rich would pay less taxes, not the same amount.

    I think this night is the trifecta (5.00 / 3) (#115)
    by CoralGables on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:38:21 PM EST
    the Yankees lost, Obama won, and Bristol got sent packing on DWTS.

    Life is good.

    Go easy on Armando (none / 0) (#127)
    by MKS on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:55:51 PM EST
    I always like Yankees fans more than the Yankees.

    Parent
    I'm resigned (5.00 / 2) (#129)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:58:06 PM EST
    I was resigned before.

    I was nervous about the debate.

    Obama produced his best debate performance ever.

    Parent

    Yup (none / 0) (#131)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:00:53 PM EST
    He needed it, too.

    I hope it will have been enough.

    Parent

    Just tuned in here...was in meetings so I missed (5.00 / 1) (#118)
    by Angel on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:41:11 PM EST
    the first 30 minutes, tuned in the car radio for the next 30 on the drive home and watched the last 30 at home.  Obama kicked Mitt's a$$.

    New pickup line failure (5.00 / 4) (#120)
    by CoralGables on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:43:04 PM EST
    in bars this weekend....
    Yo baby I want you in my binder

    Romney so bored me with his (none / 0) (#126)
    by MKS on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:52:06 PM EST
    comments about hiring women, I missed the binder reference.

    Parent
    Paul Begala tweeted this (none / 0) (#128)
    by CoralGables on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:56:30 PM EST
    about the real binder story. The site is crashing some due to traffic but in a nutshell..

    Romney fibbed about the origins of the binder. He didn't hunt for women. The women's group hunted him.

    Parent

    binders full of women (5.00 / 3) (#145)
    by CST on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:23:22 PM EST
    already has a tumblr, for anyone needing a laugh:

    http://bindersfullofwomen.tumblr.com/

    I think what I hate most is the fact that he takes credit for MA, while simultaneously throwing us under the bus whenever it suits him.  Those crazy M@ssholes with their gay marriage and crazy left wingers.  But yea, I love taking credit for the education record.  Well gee, maybe we're good at education because of all those Democrats we hired over the years.  It would be one thing if we were doing poorly before he got there or since he left, but we weren't and we haven't been, it's not like he brought us from zero to hero.  One side of his mouth he uses to take credit for all our achievements, and the other side he uses to denigrate us as loony leftists.  You can't have it both ways!!!

    Grr.  Argh.

    Absolutely hilarious! (none / 0) (#155)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:50:58 PM EST
    Thank you! I've already sent it around.......

    Parent
    LOL! (none / 0) (#165)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 12:44:58 AM EST
    "Some binders full of women like to party."

    Instant classic.

    Parent

    "Nobody puts Baby in a binder." (4.67 / 3) (#166)
    by caseyOR on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 12:54:44 AM EST
    That's my fave.

    Parent
    Mine too, hands down. (none / 0) (#170)
    by shoephone on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 01:20:31 AM EST
    Although...have to admit that the Hugh Hefner one cracked me up.

    Parent
    I liked Charing Cross, Hilary (none / 0) (#171)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 01:39:56 AM EST
    Clinton, and the TV news guy rolling his eyes.

    Parent
    How did you locate the link? (none / 0) (#172)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 01:43:29 AM EST
    The link is in comment #145 from (none / 0) (#173)
    by caseyOR on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 02:05:55 AM EST
    CST.

    Parent
    That part I got. Guess I (none / 0) (#175)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 02:22:39 AM EST
    Will google.

    Parent
    hahaha! (none / 0) (#174)
    by ZtoA on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 02:10:44 AM EST
    great link! They are all funny! I like Hillary "where's my binder?"   ...and all of them. I'll send this to all the young college/20something voting age women I know and hopefully GOTV!

    Parent
    i could live with the rudeness, (5.00 / 2) (#168)
    by cpinva on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 01:06:30 AM EST
    if it was offset by him being at least smart. he isn't, making his rudeness even more annoying.

    Oooo (none / 0) (#5)
    by kmblue on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:16:50 PM EST
    Candy mad now.  ooo applause...Candy get in there.

    punch it up (none / 0) (#10)
    by kmblue on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:18:32 PM EST
    Obama

    You know who else is terrible? (none / 0) (#11)
    by Anne on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:19:05 PM EST
    Candy Crowley.

    She has made this so much more about her and what she thinks they should be talking about.  What have there been, like 6 people who've gotten to ask questions?

    Obama's done well, really asserted himself and shown Romney as a rude - and belligerent - imperious, smarmy, weasel.  Meaning no disrespect to weasels.

    I dunno...the audience couldn't keep A$$-whole (none / 0) (#17)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:22:11 PM EST
    in check re who's turn and time limits and subject matter...cause Mitt was so intent on doing it his way, she had to be a bigger part of it...just saying

    Parent
    That's not why she did it. She had said (none / 0) (#28)
    by Anne on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:25:55 PM EST
    even before the debate that she didn't feel obligated to adhere to the format as the two campaigns had agreed on.

    She's got a much higher opinion of her importance than she deserves.

    Parent

    True, but she called Romney out (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by Democratic Cat on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:27:31 PM EST
    On the act of terror lie.  So I forgive her everything else.  :-)

    Parent
    And she did shut him up (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by nycstray on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:30:40 PM EST
    a couple times when he tried to railroad over her.

    Parent
    I think (none / 0) (#16)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:21:39 PM EST
    this is the wrong path to go down. It's the same path that the GOP went down with regards to Biden. There's a lot to go after Romney with but if you're talking about him being rude, you're saying to me that he won the debate.

    Romney to me seemed stiff. He was weakest with foreign policy.

    Obama's strengths were when he was pointing out the stances and things ROmney has done over the years.

    Romney's strongest points were when he kept pointing out that Obama had four years and even had a super majority for two years and still couldn't get stuff done with all that.

    A comeback by Obama (none / 0) (#41)
    by cal1942 on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:31:24 PM EST
    could have been ... your party held up as much legislation as possible, set records for filibusters, especially in the past two years.

    Parent
    I noticed (none / 0) (#44)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:33:08 PM EST
    that too. I was thinking he could have really talked about how the tea party nuts were messing up congress.

    Parent
    He didn't want to offend Blue Dog (none / 0) (#137)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:10:36 PM EST
    supporters.  

    Parent
    Romney is falling apart on this (none / 0) (#18)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:22:16 PM EST
    gun question.

    No Mitt, .americans really do not care about (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:22:54 PM EST
    Fast and furious.

    Parent
    The way to solve gun violence (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by lilburro on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:24:28 PM EST
    is to get married.  That was a wild segue on Romney's part.

    Parent
    Yeah - ask all the spouses shot by their spouses (none / 0) (#36)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:29:23 PM EST
    Exactly. I'm just aghast at that. (none / 0) (#42)
    by lilburro on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:31:27 PM EST
    Hope I'm not the only one.  Unbelievable.

    Parent
    Not only is marriage between a man (5.00 / 1) (#138)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:11:25 PM EST
    and a woman, it is now mandatory.  

    Parent
    Mitt doesn't know anything about Fast&Furious (none / 0) (#20)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:23:14 PM EST
    but he'll tar Obama with it anyway. The assembled crowd doesn't care about that. What's that got to do with AK-47's in our country? Crowley brings Mitt up short.

    Seriously? Fast and furious has (none / 0) (#21)
    by caseyOR on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:23:24 PM EST
    nothing to do with guns on our streets.

    And two parent families? WTF? The guy in Colorado shot up the theatre because what? he had a single mom?

    CLosing statements next, I think. (none / 0) (#24)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:24:36 PM EST
    OBama ended on a strong note with the gun control stuff.

    Now Obama going off topic. (none / 0) (#26)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:25:30 PM EST
    Let's get outta here... dinner's ready.

    It's only 4:30 p.m. out here. (none / 0) (#35)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:29:14 PM EST
    It's what we call "Pau Hana Time," i.e., time for cocktails.

    Parent
    Mitt doesn't like trickle-down govt. (none / 0) (#29)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:27:22 PM EST
    Hmm.

    But he loved off-shoring jobs...hope (none / 0) (#32)
    by Anne on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:28:10 PM EST
    Obama can hit that one out of the park.

    Parent
    Bain HAD to move jobs to China! (none / 0) (#30)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:27:30 PM EST
    It was more attractive!

    WTF (none / 0) (#34)
    by lilburro on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:28:49 PM EST
    is "trickle down government"?  Doesn't that imply (especially when not directly contrasted with "trickle down economics") there's something wrong with "trickle down economics"?  

    Are people really this impassioned about tough talk on China?  

    One thing I like about this format (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:34:40 PM EST
    Is that the moving around and camera angles eliminate the fixed split screen.

    Parent
    oh Romney is such a liar! (none / 0) (#37)
    by kmblue on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:30:08 PM EST
    It's unbearable.

    She let Romney go on and on (none / 0) (#38)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:30:22 PM EST
    re China. Obama has to hit this one out of the park.

    I think he just did. (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Dr Molly on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:32:09 PM EST
    Agreed (none / 0) (#51)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:35:28 PM EST
    Don't ever say (none / 0) (#39)
    by kmblue on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:30:34 PM EST
    you agree with Romney Obama.

    Liked O's answer on investments and (none / 0) (#47)
    by Democratic Cat on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:34:31 PM EST
    jobs.  Some jobs aren't coming back.  True.

    Yep. Loved that answer. Mitt was just pandering (none / 0) (#124)
    by Angel on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:48:08 PM EST
    and saying what he thought people wanted to hear. Obama, on the other hand, talked about how it's the KIND of jobs we want, not low wage menial task jobs...we need good jobs that take education to accomplish, jobs that require math and science...jobs where people think and great inventions are created.  Prefect answer.  He got a really good spike on that on the CNN running line.  

    Parent
    Interesting last question from the crowd (none / 0) (#49)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:34:57 PM EST
    Mitt is going to lie his way through it.

    He IS lying about MA schools being ranked (none / 0) (#55)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:36:19 PM EST
    #1 in the nation. That's been debinked many times.

    Debinked... (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by fishcamp on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:59:49 PM EST
    I like that word shoephone...

    Parent
    Better than "deboinked," too. (5.00 / 2) (#100)
    by Anne on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:02:14 PM EST
    That doesn't sound like any fun.

    Parent
    Sheesh. I guess I deserved that. (none / 0) (#103)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:05:17 PM EST
    He also lied (none / 0) (#133)
    by Amiss on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:02:45 PM EST
    about his balancing budgets and creating jobs while he was Governor. At least according. To the fact checkers, at least.

    Parent
    He claimed he was the original (none / 0) (#139)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:13:45 PM EST
    PPUS-er.  

    Parent
    now now (none / 0) (#148)
    by CST on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:31:51 PM EST
    let's not go ragging on MA schools just because we once hired a real @sshole as our governor :)

    The more nuanced answer is it depends on your criteria for judging.  We are the best at taking tests.  Whether you think that means we are the best or not is certainly up for debate and using different criteria Maryland has been rated #1.

    Parent

    I don't care about your faith Mitt (none / 0) (#56)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:36:21 PM EST
    or your missionary work or your bishopric

    In France. I do hope everyone (5.00 / 1) (#83)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:46:58 PM EST
    watching remembers that subtle distinction.  

    Parent
    Garry Trudeau's been having a field (none / 0) (#87)
    by Anne on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:48:52 PM EST
    day with that in Doonesbury this week.

    Parent
    Plus, the Morman church doesn't (none / 0) (#146)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:24:24 PM EST
    have ministers.  It has deacons.  

    Parent
    but they do have bishop- (5.00 / 0) (#152)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:46:45 PM EST
    pricks and Romney is one of them

    Parent
    I got your allusion (none / 0) (#160)
    by MKS on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:56:20 PM EST
    I would be interested to see how many others did too.

    Parent
    Father Ted Crilly? Did this series (none / 0) (#163)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 12:12:24 AM EST
    show in the U.S.?

    Parent
    Ah, you set it up in your (none / 0) (#161)
    by MKS on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 12:10:07 AM EST
    original comment.

    Parent
    or that you were (none / 0) (#102)
    by fishcamp on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:03:34 PM EST
    the governor of Mass.  For cryin' out loud how many times did he say that?  He's just a weird guy that shouldn't be there on stage and definitely not in the White House.

    Parent
    But, he was in private business-- (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:05:38 PM EST
    always.  Not government!

    Parent
    Yeah! Why can't those bishops just ... (none / 0) (#167)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 01:05:18 AM EST
    ... keep their prics to themselves?

    (Bah-DUMM-Bumm-Bumm!)

    Parent

    Oh, here comes the Romney (none / 0) (#57)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:36:54 PM EST
    emotional voice. Icky.

    "We're all children... (none / 0) (#58)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:37:13 PM EST
    of the same god"

    Desperation is a stinky cologne John.

    That's funny. I'm gonna borrow that (none / 0) (#65)
    by shoephone on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:38:59 PM EST
    "Super Troopers"... (none / 0) (#79)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:43:37 PM EST
    linkage...can't take credit.

    Parent
    Romney keeps saying "my state." (none / 0) (#59)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:37:39 PM EST
    Which one is he talking about?  Yes, I know the answer.

    state of confusion (none / 0) (#66)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:39:10 PM EST
    post debate (none / 0) (#72)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:40:45 PM EST
    Prez works the room, Mitt works his family.

    Pres. and First Lady work the group (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:50:46 PM EST
    Ann Romney looks lost.  

    Parent
    not her people (none / 0) (#110)
    by DFLer on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:28:57 PM EST
    One of the first things I noticed ...the Obamas (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by Angel on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:44:38 PM EST
    working the crowds and the Mitts huddled together.  Yep, not their people.  It's almost as if they are afraid to mingle with the masses.  I really wish all the people at home noticed this and understand it for what it means.  

    Parent
    Obama (none / 0) (#74)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:40:58 PM EST
    sounded defensive with his closing argument.

    Well, as "defensive" goes, ... (5.00 / 3) (#169)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 01:07:17 AM EST
    ... Obama just sacked the quarterback.

    Parent
    I love it (5.00 / 1) (#176)
    by Socraticsilence on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 10:18:09 AM EST
    never miss a moment to criticize the man.

    Parent
    You are nuts (none / 0) (#177)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 10:46:36 AM EST
    Did you read the rest of my posts? Some of them are complimentary. I just tell it like it is and apparently you can't handle that.

    Parent
    Not the impression I got. (none / 0) (#158)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:52:16 PM EST
    Are Ann and Michelle wearing the same suit? (none / 0) (#80)
    by ruffian on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:44:47 PM EST


    Wasn't there a recent news story re (none / 0) (#89)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:51:36 PM EST
    new mfg. jobs in U.S.?  Why didn't Pres. mention this?

    Now Jeralyn (none / 0) (#91)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:52:29 PM EST
    You know he had friends in school.  Money doesn't buy happiness, but it is always better to cry in a BMW than on a bike and it always buys friends :)

    Plus, (5.00 / 3) (#96)
    by Democratic Cat on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 09:56:32 PM EST
    he used to give his friends free haircuts.  That's always appreciated.

    Parent
    Romney Shows His Dominant Trait: Rudeness (none / 0) (#101)
    by EmPearl on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:02:28 PM EST
    I concur! If Romney is so rude in the debate filled with only a handful of Americans, imagine his true colors when running our country?!?!?

    Aww, but the good ole boys (none / 0) (#111)
    by Lora on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:29:16 PM EST
    The good ole boys jest love a rude prez!  He'll show up them elite college snobs and ayrabs and illegals and lefty media folks an' all.

    Parent
    Rauuuul! (none / 0) (#112)
    by Peter G on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:33:15 PM EST
    maybe?

    Nope. (none / 0) (#119)
    by Peter G on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:42:38 PM EST
    Goodbye Yankees.

    Parent
    While y'all were sleeping... (none / 0) (#114)
    by Mr Natural on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:37:36 PM EST
    But Crowley did interject (none / 0) (#125)
    by MKS on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:49:10 PM EST
    At least (5.00 / 1) (#147)
    by Amiss on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:27:47 PM EST
    she had more control of them both than Jim Lehrer. He was the worst moderator I have ever seen.

    Parent
    Hmmmm. I thought this one (none / 0) (#159)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:53:41 PM EST
    was an unmoderated slug fest for the most part.  Guess I will have to break down and watch the first debate.  

    Parent
    Big time. And she followed up-- (none / 0) (#142)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:17:33 PM EST
    sometimes.  

    Parent
    George Will: (none / 0) (#116)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:39:49 PM EST
    Either way, there was this observation from Mr. Will on ABC, a compliment to both candidates and to the moderator, Candy Crowley of CNN: "I have seen every presidential debate in American history, since the four of Nixon and Kennedy in 1960. This was immeasurably the best."  [NYT.]


    Obama wins in CNN's biased poll (none / 0) (#117)
    by MKS on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 10:40:34 PM EST
    CNN says Obama 46-39.  And that poll contains 8% more Republicans than the general CNN polls....

    Obama wins in CBS poll of undecided 37-30.

    Obama wins.  

    The specially selected "undecideds" (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:04:11 PM EST
    at the debate seemed to flock to the Obamas post debate.  

    Parent
    Terrific photo from NYT: (none / 0) (#132)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:02:41 PM EST
    Pat Buchanan--Undecided Voter (none / 0) (#157)
    by indy in sc on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 11:51:43 PM EST
    O.k.--not exactly, but he did call the debate for Obama.  Why can't the supposedly non-biased media do  the same rather than equivocating and trying hard to call it a draw?

    Mittens used the same (none / 0) (#162)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 17, 2012 at 12:12:02 AM EST
    "reverse mortgage" sales pitch that overbearing marketers use on vulnerable seniors as he did in the first debate.  The perspiration behind his ears called for some of Paul Ryan' water, just to keep him hydrated.   However,  I think those who were impressed or misconstrued his style as competence the first time on parade  will find it got old in a hurry.  He is an inch deep and it is an "Angry Inch."  

    President Obama was a winner with his intermingling of effectively deployed style and persuasively delivered content.  My guess is that this debate will staunch the bleeding and  with media-ready commercials of key points, will reverse the Mitt Mo since the first debate.  Romney's contradiction to his support for the Blunt Amendment previously and his debate statement that he is opposed to employers deciding on conception availability for its employees could be underscored and sent special delivery to Cardinal Dolan--for starters.