UPDATE: Over at the Washington Post, Sean Sullivan has published a piece looking at presidential debate numbers -- from a different slant. For example: * 52 (Number of times the word “Medicare” was uttered): Reminders that disagreements over the future of entitlements remain a central focus in this campaign were everywhere Wednesday, as Obama hit Romney over his plan … [Read more...] about Last Night’s Presidential Debate: By the Numbers (Updated)
Go On: NBC’s Matthew Perry Vehicle Consistently Falls Short
With the end of The Office and 30Rock on the horizon, I've been looking for a couple new shows to DVR in their place. With this in mind, I decided to give the inaugural season of Go On a try. This decision probably had less to do with my volition and more to do with NBC promoting the show between every single Michael Phelps Olympic highlight. My Pavlovian brain just couldn't … [Read more...] about Go On: NBC’s Matthew Perry Vehicle Consistently Falls Short
Romney Campaign Allows Small Mom-Pop Shop, Rosa Linda’s, to Flounder After Their Refusing to Host Campaign Stop for MR
Yes, "the great job creator" Romney, has not bent to help a small mom and pop business in Denver that he and his campaign put in harm's way when the small restaurant in Denver did not want him to use their small neighborhood space for a campaign stop. Romney & campaign did not rush to refute nor correct false stories circulating that the small restaurant did not refuse … [Read more...] about Romney Campaign Allows Small Mom-Pop Shop, Rosa Linda’s, to Flounder After Their Refusing to Host Campaign Stop for MR
Mitt Romney’s Debate Win: Tainted by Outright (Ahem) Mistruths?
There now seems to be a new qualifier on Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Rommey's big win over President Barack Obama: pundits are increasingly panning him on substance..and truth. According to Buzzfeed, the Dems are now going to re-calibrate their strategy on Romney: President Barack Obama and his aides rapidly reversed their strategic course Thursday morning, … [Read more...] about Mitt Romney’s Debate Win: Tainted by Outright (Ahem) Mistruths?
Giving Romney an Opening
DENVER -- I would be careful about declaring the presidential contest "a whole new race" following Wednesday's debate. Polls show that most voters have made up their minds, and some, due to early voting, have already cast their ballots. One good night for Mitt Romney does not turn the world upside down. But make no mistake, it was a very good night for Romney -- and … [Read more...] about Giving Romney an Opening
Broken California
Living in California has many benefits: good weather (except the summer), nice surroundings, fun places to visit, a generally laid back lifestyle. But there are some serious negatives, the most notable of which is wondering just how long it will be before the entire system collapses. Rising debt, rising taxes, crumbling infrastructure and utterly inept politicians are just a … [Read more...] about Broken California
David Axelrod Assesses Debate on Conference Call
Time's Mark Halperin has some details of a conference call Obama campaign maven David Axelrod had with reporters this morning. Some key points: On the President’s failure to raise Romney’s 47% remarks: “He made a choice last night to answer the questions that were asked.” On Romney’s performance: ”He may win the Oscar for his performance last night, but he’s not going … [Read more...] about David Axelrod Assesses Debate on Conference Call
Jim Lehrer: Fresh new wonderful way of debate…. wasnt.
Not meant to be disrespectful, and not said in anger. But/and Mr. Lehrer is in his eighth decade and his memory of the past, especially would be valuable in a book [more books], say. He had a great run striving daily to be before much of the public. He has a lot of laurels. Though he is no longer news anchor at PBS, he said he 'reluctantly agreed' to moderate this debate. That … [Read more...] about Jim Lehrer: Fresh new wonderful way of debate…. wasnt.
KitchenAid USA in Damage Control Mode Over Tweet Mocking Obama’s Dead Grandmother
KitchenAid USA is in damage control mode after a tweet from their official Twitter account mocked President Obama's dead grandmother, Madelyn Lee Payne Dunham, during the presidential debate, saying she's lucky to have died before he ascended the presidency. Um, people are already saying they won't support KitchenAid in the future over this. KitchenAid USA issues … [Read more...] about KitchenAid USA in Damage Control Mode Over Tweet Mocking Obama’s Dead Grandmother
Damage Control for Obama After Lackluster Debate
Damage control for Obama after lackluster debate (via AFP) Mitt Romney tore into Wednesday's first presidential debate with the driving passion of a man who thinks he is losing an election. President Barack Obama appeared every inch the battered incumbent, drained by four painful years, apparently playing it safe because -- until Wednesday at least -- he … [Read more...] about Damage Control for Obama After Lackluster Debate
Etch-a-sketch Debate
Daniel Larison: If a viewer didn’t trust Romney coming into the debate, he said nothing to change that, but he didn’t make any major errors that can be used against him later. He is an unlikable candidate, and more people will still view him that way, but he didn’t make things any worse for himself. I think that's about right so Romney didn't lose the debate but it was … [Read more...] about Etch-a-sketch Debate
Romney-Obama Debate- Controlling Health Care Costs
The first debate between President Obama and Governor Romney had both of them agreeing on an aspect of health care that has not really received enough attention. Both of them used as examples the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic models of delivering health care for providing high quality at reasonable cost. However, neither of them emphasized that the reason costs are … [Read more...] about Romney-Obama Debate- Controlling Health Care Costs
Debate Surprise: The President Unites the Country
The President’s failure is certified by instant polls and the stunned response of admirers from Chris Matthews to Andrew Sullivan, beyond any hope of salvation by campaign spinners. His collapse recalls the disaster of 1960, when sitting Vice-President Richard Nixon ended up looking weak and ineffectual in the first televised debate ever, being lectured and dominated by an … [Read more...] about Debate Surprise: The President Unites the Country
Ol’ Mitt Goes All “CEO Fire” For The Win
That's right Mitt! Ol' chap. Ol' boy. Smile away! You deserve it. And chalk a victory to the CEOs in constant struggle in debate circles when CEOs and Professors debate each other. Well that is stretching it (and how loopy is a CEO vs. Professor constant debate struggle, eh?). Nevertheless Mitt Romney channeled some CEO Fire to extinguish Professor Barack Obama's … [Read more...] about Ol’ Mitt Goes All “CEO Fire” For The Win
Romney’s Personality Shift
WASHINGTON -- The strangest aspect of Wednesday night's debate was Mitt Romney's decision to change his tax policies on the fly. Having campaigned hard on a tax proposal that called for $5 trillion in tax cuts, he said flatly that he was not offering a $5 trillion tax cut. "I don't have a tax cut of the scale that you're talking about," Romney said, even though that is … [Read more...] about Romney’s Personality Shift
Hands Down Mitt Romney Won The Presidential Debate Last Night
Last night was a very very good night for Mitt Romney. When you have Chris Matthews asking, "Where was Obama last night?" You know it was bad for Obama. Mitt was commanding and smart. Here is Chris Matthews having a bit of a meltdown. Last night on twitter was fun for us conservatives, but imagine our surprise when Liberal comedian Bill Maher, who has donated $1 million … [Read more...] about Hands Down Mitt Romney Won The Presidential Debate Last Night
U.S. Presidential Debate: Pro-Obama Media Suffers Major Defeat (Le Figaro, France)
What is the takeaway from last night's debate between President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney? Le Figaro columnist Pierre-Yves Dugua writes that the big winners were Mitt Romney and the debate format, which he calls 'clear and informative.' And the big loser? The establishment media that has strongly favored President Obama and which so dislikes Romney. For Le … [Read more...] about U.S. Presidential Debate: Pro-Obama Media Suffers Major Defeat (Le Figaro, France)
Opposing Some Government Is Not Opposing All Government (or vice versa)
This is a reworking of an earlier post but I thought it would be fun weekend conversation. Often when we get a debate between the big government/small government positions I see someone who supports the big government side come up with “well you oppose big government so you must refuse taking benefit X”. I must confess that I’ve never seen the logic to that … [Read more...] about Opposing Some Government Is Not Opposing All Government (or vice versa)
‘Reforms’: Will India-US Relations Suffer?
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government has created a serious political crisis by introducing a slew of controversial "economic reforms" to "save the crisis-ridden economy". The entire Opposition has risen as one to protest against the reforms that would allow the entry of "predatory major foreign investors in sensitive sectors." (See here...) The Congress-led UPA … [Read more...] about ‘Reforms’: Will India-US Relations Suffer?
Initial Polls, Media Debate Consensus: Romney Won Big, Obama Lost Big (News Media and Blog Roundup)
The first Presidential debate of campaign 2012 is over and it's time for a raging prevailing conventional wisdom to be swept under the rug (and quietly not mentioned) again. The emerging consensus among new and "old" media, non-spin analysts, and snap polls of views is that Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney won the first Presidential debate ..big , President Barack … [Read more...] about Initial Polls, Media Debate Consensus: Romney Won Big, Obama Lost Big (News Media and Blog Roundup)