Overall I'd say this was much like the VP debate when it comes to points. Both men got in their points and their attacks, both came off as well informed and reasonable. In the end I give the edge to Obama as he performs well in these town hall formats but not a knockout blow. I did think the questions tended to be a bit more favorable to Obama than to Romney. Again if you … [Read more...] about Live Blogging the Barack Obama Mitt Romney New York Town Hall Presidential Debate
Obama’s Impossible Task: Thoughts Before the Second 2012 Presidential Debate
(For more commentary from a variety of contributors, see our pre-debate post over at my place. We'll have post-debate thoughts as well, later on tonight.) I still think the supposed awfulness of President Obama's performance in the first debate a couple of weeks ago was, and remains, overblown, but, needless to say, he didn't do well, Romney lied his way to a resounding … [Read more...] about Obama’s Impossible Task: Thoughts Before the Second 2012 Presidential Debate
Life as Art…
With the big day suddenly just three weeks off, we all know how important tonight’s Obama-Romney II showdown is. Somehow this race, which seemed like a no-brainer just a month ago, now has folks eagerly hopeful on one side, and nervous as all get out on the other. And not even Joe Biden’s complete dishmentling of the hopelessly outclassed Paul Ryan has done much to stem the … [Read more...] about Life as Art…
Round Two: Obama Faces Off with Surging Romney
Round Two: Obama faces off with surging Romney (via AFP) Barack Obama will be "strong" and "passionate" in his make-or-break second debate Tuesday with Mitt Romney, a top advisor said, as the president's re-election hopes hang in the balance. Obama and Romney meet on Long Island near New York after the Republican's nimble first debate performance and the… … [Read more...] about Round Two: Obama Faces Off with Surging Romney
Was Ambassador Rice Mostly Right?
This is a follow up to my Benghazi post yesterday. Ambassador Rice has been vilified for saying this: "What happened in Benghazi was in fact initially a spontaneous reaction to what had just transpired hours before in Cairo, almost a copycat of the demonstrations against our facility in Cairo, prompted by the video," Rice said. According to David D Kirkpatrick at the New … [Read more...] about Was Ambassador Rice Mostly Right?
Read Live Blogging of Presidential Debate Tonight on TMV
TMV Assistant Editor Pat Edaburn will live blog tonight's presidential debate in New York between President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Visit TMV -- and refresh your browser often -- to follow Pat's stand-back reactions and analysis of the debate. Also: some other TMVers may offer their views throughout the … [Read more...] about Read Live Blogging of Presidential Debate Tonight on TMV
PPP National Poll Shows Big Movement Towards Romney: Rural Battleground Voters Poll Does, Too
If the "47 percent" remark seemed to trigger an implosion of Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney's candidacy, then it can now be safely said that the last Presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Romney has caused a sudden and big weakening of Obama's: most polls now suggest Obama's poor debate performance undid the "bounce" he got from the Democratic … [Read more...] about PPP National Poll Shows Big Movement Towards Romney: Rural Battleground Voters Poll Does, Too
Obama’s Body-Language Checklist for the Debate
Sullen isn’t presidential. Don’t look like you’re at the dentist’s while waiting to zing him as a toothless tiger. And no goofy Biden grins. Fascinated, slightly amused disbelief would be good. Show friendly but firm confusion about his flip-flops and evasions. Which Romney of the oh-so-many is answering a particular question? And slide in a capsule history of his U-turns on … [Read more...] about Obama’s Body-Language Checklist for the Debate
Sen. John McCain: Hillary Clinton Taking ‘Responsibility’ for US Benghazi Consulate Attack “Laudable Gesture”
Here's a press release from the Republicans on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accepting "responsibility" for the Benghazi attack. It is quite clear, from the tone of the press release that they have no intention whatsoever of pinning this all on Hillary Clinton, if ever. In fact, the senators lay the blame squarely at the feet of President Obama. Washington, D.C. – U.S. … [Read more...] about Sen. John McCain: Hillary Clinton Taking ‘Responsibility’ for US Benghazi Consulate Attack “Laudable Gesture”
Doctors Hopeful for Pakistani Girl Shot by Taliban
Doctors hopeful for Pakistani girl shot by Taliban (via AFP) A 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban could make a "good recovery", doctors treating her in a British hospital said Tuesday. Malala Yousafzai was spending her first full day in Britain after she was flown into Birmingham Airport on Monday on board an air ambulance … [Read more...] about Doctors Hopeful for Pakistani Girl Shot by Taliban
Romney Closing in On Obama in Pennsylvania as Democrats Worry About Ohio
Going into tonight's high-stakes Presidential debate, a new poll finds Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney substantially closing in on President Barack Obama in Pennyslvania -- as a top analyst reports that Democrats now seem increasingly worried about Obama's previous lead in Ohio. Meanwhile, a new Gallup poll finds that a)voters are equally favorable towards Obama … [Read more...] about Romney Closing in On Obama in Pennsylvania as Democrats Worry About Ohio
A Question Obama (Probably) Won’t Be Asked
In the United States we live by an important principle of due process. The 5th and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution contain the following phrase, … “[N]or shall any person . . . be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” One reason for the strength of the US judicial system is the presumption that a person is innocent of any crime until … [Read more...] about A Question Obama (Probably) Won’t Be Asked
Perceptions of the U.S. Presidential Race from Poland, China and Germany
The eyes of the world are upon us as the day of the second presidential debate begins. Up until now, the translations we have done from Poland have been decidedly pro-Romney. But in an article headlined With Romney in the White House, 'War is More Likely to Happen', Gazeta Wyborcza columnist Mariusz Zawadzki warns that just about the only thing that can be discerned about a … [Read more...] about Perceptions of the U.S. Presidential Race from Poland, China and Germany
Liberal And Conservatives On The Presidency
A while back I had a rather interesting discussion with a liberal friend of mine. While we sometimes disagree on political issues (and sometimes agree) we remain good friends who enjoy debating with each other. One thing we particularly enjoy is discussing the more idiotic behaviors of the extremists on both sides of the political spectrum. By extremists we mean not the … [Read more...] about Liberal And Conservatives On The Presidency
Holier-Than Thou Critics have Nothing on Lance Armstrong (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
Why is the world hyperventilating over the fact that an athlete used performance enhancing drugs at a time when everyone in his sport was doing the same? For de Volkskrant of the Netherlands, columnist Bert Wagendorp writes that every so often, the sports world needs someone to embody the evil that almost everyone in it is tainted by - and right now, that's Lance … [Read more...] about Holier-Than Thou Critics have Nothing on Lance Armstrong (de Volkskrant, The Netherlands)
George McGovern Enters Hospice
He is not expected to live long. A case where politics no longer apply May he and his family find peace at this difficult time. … [Read more...] about George McGovern Enters Hospice
Obama’s Task Tonight
WASHINGTON -- First, he has to show up. Then, in his second debate with Mitt Romney, President Obama needs to offer not just history lessons and dire warnings, but also a hopeful vision for the next four years. It would be hard for Obama to turn in a worse performance Tuesday night at Hofstra University than he did at the first debate in Denver. All he has to do is … [Read more...] about Obama’s Task Tonight
Obama Debate Prep (Cartoon)
LEGAL NOTICE ON CARTOON: This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on TMV. Reproduction elsewhere without licensing is strictly prohibited. See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Obama Debate Prep (Cartoon)
Our Air Force Special Operations Forces: From ‘Operation Rice Bowl’ to ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’
Do you remember Operation Enduring Freedom? How about Operation Desert Storm? Of course we all know the first military “operation” above. It is the still ongoing and longest military conflict the United States has ever been involved in: The Afghanistan War. The second one is clearly the “code name” given to the offensive phase of the so-called First Gulf War (17 January … [Read more...] about Our Air Force Special Operations Forces: From ‘Operation Rice Bowl’ to ‘Operation Enduring Freedom’
Clinton Takes Responsibility for Handling of Libya Attack
Clinton takes responsibility for handling of Libya attack (via AFP) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she takes the blame for any shortcomings in the handling of an attack last month on the US mission in the Libyan city of Benghazi. "I take responsibility," she said, according to the news networks CNN and Fox, which interviewed her during a visit to the … [Read more...] about Clinton Takes Responsibility for Handling of Libya Attack