How Obama Could Easily Win the Debates

[TheBlackRabbit]

I had a feeling it was too much for a debate that would be on mainstream TV. I should have wrote two versions: one for anandtech and one for TV debating. I was kind of hoping some members on P&N here would legitimately take on being Romney and continuing a healthy debate based only on facts that are retracted if challenged successfully, etc.

For one, he really has to be careful with vocabulary. He needs everyone to know the definition of all of the words, but at the same time not sound condescending to a large block of voters. Frankly, I think that is kind of impossible when people are already accusing him of being an elitist. If he uses diverse and difficult vocabulary he is being elitist, and if he is too vanilla then he thinks he is too good and smart for everyone, I suppose.

Maybe I can come up with a simple one. BTW, I was barely 1 when Mondale ran against Reagan, guess I have some more reading to do.

I do think it is safe to make quick references to taxing the top. He just needs to explain why it won't kill jobs, why its justified, and why it is better than Romney's plan. I'd save the Reagan line just in case Romney starts beating the dead Reagan horse. Pull it out if needed, otherwise leave it tucked away.

 

[soccerballtux]

many large businesses are inefficient. We need to stop bailing them out and simplify the tax code so it's not so expensive to be a small-business/startup. That's where growth and innovation is going to happen, so we need to lower the barriers to it.
Once they get up and running (>25 employees) the tax isn't such a big deal...
but it's really bad that we have so much pork for large companies and nothing for small ones. Guarantees only they can exist...

 

[trenchfoot]

So a possible scenario being played out in a debate would go something like: Romney comes out with a convincing half-truth and Obama rertorts with a detail oriented debunking spiel that proves Romney wrong but bores the hell out of anyone turning an ear to it?

Also, I know flashy one-liners that stick in folks heads is not an honorable way to win a debate, yet it seems to be quite effective in delivering a message, no matter how truthful or false it is.

Seems to me the guy that keeps the other on the defensive using a free-ranging unscripted offense is going to win it. Substance will take a second seat to quick wits and charismatic appeal. If such is the case , then Obama wins hands down.

Knowing that Romney will default to his nasty habit of contradicting himself when under pressure is another avenue of attack that will keep him backpedaling and on his heels the whole time he's at the podium.

And Romney is bringing a lot of baggage the he collected during the primaries that will certainly be exploited during any debate he has with Obama. In this regard, if Obama can keep Romney the flip-flopper true to character, then Romney's fate is sealed.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

I think this election will be largely decided by the debates...3 iirc. Dems should not underestimate Romney imo.

 

[nageov3t]

Reagan was terrible, why are Liberals always holding up his policies?

 

[ShawnD1]

Reagan was terrible, why are Liberals always holding up his policies?

Being a retard is a time tested method of winning elections.
Reagan - 2 terms of record breaking deficits
Bush Jr - 2 terms of record breaking deficits
Ross Perot - "fringe candidate" because he understands how to balance a checkbook.

Obama vs Romney will probably boil down to which one is more of a retard. The first one to start using elitist words like "balanced budget" or "insolvent" is the one who loses.

 

[BladeVenom]

Obama increased the debt more in four years than Bush did in eight years.

 

[marincounty]

No no no.
Reagan- 2 terms of record breaking deficits
Bush Jr- 2 terms of record breaking deficits
Ross Perot- completely insane crackpot, made a lot of his money ripping off the govt, and
thought he could win the drug war by eliminating civil liberties and kicking in
doors, etc...

 

[marincounty]

Obama increased the debt more in four years than Bush did in eight years.

QFT. Bush screwed up more in eight years than any three presidents combined.

 

[ShawnD1]

No no no.
Reagan- 2 terms of record breaking deficits
Bush Jr- 2 terms of record breaking deficits
Ross Perot- completely insane crackpot, made a lot of his money ripping off the govt, and
thought he could win the drug war by eliminating civil liberties and kicking in
doors, etc...

You do realize that works, right? Mass executions is one of the ways China dealt with widespread opium problems.

Also, lol Newt Gingrich.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDSNausjpTM
He might be crazy but damn he's entertaining.

 

[Ryan]

I think Romney's vagueness is what will do him in on the debates. Romney has refused to talk about anything specific since he began his quest for the White House - he talks in generalities, spits out generic conservative ideals. He never gives anyone meat to chew on - no real solutions, no specifics.

He never gives an honest answer to reporters - hell, more than half the time he plays dumb to his own press pool. He just deflects, smiles, and moves onto the next person. His handlers won't let anyone close to him - I think they know Romney makes his biggest mistakes when he tries to get into specifics.

That will be his downfall. Obama used to be guilty of this to, but the best thing is that he will be able to speak about the specific steps his administration has accomplished over the past 4 years. Whether you agree with his politics or not, at least he can give you a real and tangible answer to what he has done - Romney won't.

I'm personally looking forward to the debates.

 

[nine9s]

many large businesses are inefficient. We need to stop bailing them out and simplify the tax code so it's not so expensive to be a small-business/startup. That's where growth and innovation is going to happen, so we need to lower the barriers to it.
Once they get up and running (>25 employees) the tax isn't such a big deal...
but it's really bad that we have so much pork for large companies and nothing for small ones. Guarantees only they can exist...

Actually ACA helps small business a lot.

For example, ACA allows 100% tax credit for small businesses, with 25 or less employees, that provide health insurance. In other words, they can apply their health insurance cost toward their taxes meaning health insurance cost them nothing. After 25 employees, a business goes on a gradual sliding scale until the credit is reduced to 0.

Read about it and other things the ACA provides small business in this tax firm PDF:

http://api.ning.com/files/i*wxtQyUP...ealthReformAct_ObamaCareWebinarPowerpoint.pdf

 

[nehalem256]

No no no.
Reagan- 2 terms of record breaking deficits
Bush Jr- 2 terms of record breaking deficits
Ross Perot- completely insane crackpot, made a lot of his money ripping off the govt, and
thought he could win the drug war by eliminating civil liberties and kicking in
doors, etc...

So he thought he could win the war on drugs by waging an actual war on drugs.

 

[randomrogue]

Most people are idiots.

Can anyone even name a debate where someone beat the other candidate based on intelligence and intelligent reasoning? It's always a win because either the other candidate gets stuck or from a zingy one liner.

I haven't watched every debate out there but someone post one where they won based on a good argument and reasoning. I just don't see the average person being able to even understand it. It takes about 10 seconds listening to Rush Limbaugh (not picking on the right) to understand how the average political debate will go.

 

[nehalem256]

Wow I agree,

Lack of demand is the problem across the board. Simply put our economy relies too heavily on consumption vs production. America was great when we made stuff the world wanted, it provided more distributed wealth.

We outsourced production and shifted towards consumption, housing bubble and credit bubbles were the false fuel used to propel.

Explaining why supply side economics is stupid in the current situation is so easy it is almost scary that Obama will probably will not do so.

It would even make for some great commercials where you could compare supply side economic to giving water to a drowning man....

Voice Over: Mitt Romney's supply side economic policies are the same as pouring water on a drowning man. *queue ominous graphic* This November cast your ballot for Barack Obama and tell Mitt Romney you will not let him drown America. I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.

 

[DrewSG3]

Obama better be able to pull something out his hat during the debates.

Pull what out? All he needs to do is point out Mitt Romney doesn't stand for anything and is preaching the same cut regulation/taxes non sense that pretty much put us in this fucked up situation. A situation that people STILL blame the previous administration for.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Obama: we have increased emissions standards to bring more fuel efficient cars too market,

The Toyota Prius entered the market long before Obama became president and its success in the marketplace is what spurred other automakers to develop their own hybrid cars.

increased regulation of oil companies,

This can be countered by pointing out that regulations have driven up the price of gas in return when prices should of fallen quicker due to lack of demand.

and reduced our consumption of fossil fuels.

Cars have long since been gaining higher MPG as engine tech has marched forward for the last 30+ years and again the hybrid market was long in development and established itself before Obama was even in office.

This will decrease our impact on global warning.

Which means very little in the face of China, India, and other developing nations seeking to become car cultures.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Family Guy - Undecided Voters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YOh-rpvjYg

Sorry but I'm not buying what Seth Macfarlene is shoveling even though I know where I stand with this election.

When you have a political system that inherently narrows your choices to a limit of 2 parties who are two sides of the same coin in many respects then you tend to have a lot of undecided voters. This being due to undecided voters not wanting to be tied to the black and white (speaking in a figurative manner) politically polarized solutions which these 2 parties supposedly claim to offer as the one "TRUE" choice.

 

[TheBlackRabbit]

Explaining why supply side economics is stupid in the current situation is so easy it is almost scary that Obama will probably will not do so.

Very true. That was clever way to portray it to appeal to Joe FuxNews. The material writes itself based on the ridiculous policy proposals.

Just listening to how they plan to take out ACA is ridiculous. First, states, pretend you are part of your own Confederate States X and continue the Taliban Insurgency strategy. Might as well do it since, amazingly, the MSM and Joe Public doesn't even take offense when we scream our only real goal is to make Obama a 1 term president.

Then, after the Dems passed everything of substance with a 60 vote majority that involved significant compromise, we are going to give them the middle finger and try to ram reconciliation down their throats, ha! That'll teach Obama, silly trusting Dems.

Obama increased the debt more in four years than Bush did in eight years.

And this is the nonsense we have to keep dealing with. Hmm, context of, how about, for the trillionth time, default deficit was over 1 trillion a year, so 4 trillion might as well be his 0. As usual I will ask a stupid question in response to a stupid statement:

What would you have done? Said F the stimulus, tax cut the rich and cut regulations and start massive austerity? Sounds awesome.

The craftsmanship of the trap left for Obama is really breathtaking. Peak job losses don't take effect until right when he is being sworn in. Have the debt high, primed and ready for a socialist attack on the ONLY real way of trying to get out of the deficit. Then just add a little Taliban magic to castrate his policies. Bravo! If the trap was food it would have to be surf and turf from a restaurant I will likely never eat at.

 

[dmcowen674]

How Obama Could Easily Win the Debates

Debates don't win elections, paying off the Electoral College and Court Judges do.

 

[Slew Foot]

He's going to run against Romney, he could be drooling into a cup and shitting the floor during the debate and he'd still win.

 

[Farang]

He's going to run against Romney, he could be drooling into a cup and shitting the floor during the debate and he'd still win.

I agree, Romney is not a good debater. He can hit his marks but given the nature of the campaigns, I don't see how he beats Obama. Obama is going to have the center all to himself.

One moment in particular (among the many, i.e. "$10,000 bet") stands out. Rick Perry accused him of something, and Romney turned with a smile no doubt trying to put on a Reaganesque performance he had surely trained to do beforehand. Then the real Mitt Romney took over, and he got angry. He started shouting over Perry, asking to be allowed to speak. He put his hand on Rick's shoulder. Eventually he shouted "Andersen? Andersen?" like a child telling Mom his brother took his toy. In that moment you saw what Romney trying to be one person (Reagan) and coming across as another (Romney).

See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaXDrTGmCgU

If that guy shows up, and he's next to Obama.. I just don't see how that works out well for Romney.

 

[Matt1970]

Pull what out? All he needs to do is point out Mitt Romney doesn't stand for anything and is preaching the same cut regulation/taxes non sense that pretty much put us in this fucked up situation. A situation that people STILL blame the previous administration for.

All Romney needs to do pull out the long list of broken promises from Obama, mention the deficit, then mention the unemployment rate.

 

[nextJin]

Who here actually think Romney is going to win? Seriously all they have to do is run commercials of Romney from not even 4 years ago on pretty much EVERY political issue and you'll have multiple different responses.

Mittens has several huge huge flaws and but that is what I would hammer come September-November.

 

[Matt1970]

Who here actually think Romney is going to win? Seriously all they have to do is run commercials of Romney from not even 4 years ago on pretty much EVERY political issue and you'll have multiple different responses.

Mittens has several huge huge flaws and but that is what I would hammer come September-November.

Find us a politician you can't do that with?