One of the interesting phenomenons about a debate is how quickly a narrative develops after the debate one way or the other that then dominates perceptions going forward. This began with the first Presidential debate between Nixon and Kennedy in 1960. Those that heard the debate on radio scored Nixon the clear winner on what they heard. However, television viewers connected with Kennedy. Nixon looked tired and he had a 5 o'clock shadow and a poor makeup job. His clothing had poor contrast with the backdrop so he appeard to blend into the background. He was quickly deemed the loser and the rest is history.
Other debates I have watched over the years that seemed close when I watched them end up spinning one way or the other soon after the debate and it is not long before a "winner" is declared in the media. That perception then becomes the reality very quickly with the public.
I did not think it was a total blow out last night as I watched it live. I thought Romney was in total command but I also saw numerous times that he could have delivered even larger blows to the President. Of course, it is easy to do that in your family room. It is not so easy when you are in the ring. All in all, Romney deserves an "A" for his work last night. It turned out to be perhaps the most dominant Presidential debate performance ever when one looks at the post debate reaction.
This is a particulary good ad produced and delivered by the Republican National Committee less than 12 hours after the debate concluded. I think this does a great job of summarizing the narrative. It is called "Smirk". Compare the Smirk with Romney's Smarts in this clip. This is a devastatingly, effective ad.
I have enjoyed reading some of the post-debate reaction and comments on the world wide web. I have said it before and I will say it again, the internet puts the world at your touch and the minds of millions are easily at your disposal whether from Miami, Mumbai, Madrid or Montevideo.
Here is a collection of some of the comments that I thought showed great wisdom or wit in assessing the debate last night.
Yes, Obama has all the hall marks of a smart, yet lazy student. He is charming and knowledgeable enough to get in a few good comments in class to impress the teacher, but when it comes down to actually putting effort into writing a paper or studying for the final he doesn't. The thing is you can get very far by being superficially smart. But, there is always a point when some one finally catches you. Obama has just been caught my friends.
In the past Obama always had a higher job to run to to avoid doing and being responsible for his current job. You can't climb the ladder higher than president though. There is no running now. Now we see what he is really made of.
Now he has to answer to Mitt who is the old fashioned kind of smart student. The one that puts in long hours of study and reads every assigned reading and the optional ones too.
By Valiuth-Ricochet.com
Other debates I have watched over the years that seemed close when I watched them end up spinning one way or the other soon after the debate and it is not long before a "winner" is declared in the media. That perception then becomes the reality very quickly with the public.
I did not think it was a total blow out last night as I watched it live. I thought Romney was in total command but I also saw numerous times that he could have delivered even larger blows to the President. Of course, it is easy to do that in your family room. It is not so easy when you are in the ring. All in all, Romney deserves an "A" for his work last night. It turned out to be perhaps the most dominant Presidential debate performance ever when one looks at the post debate reaction.
This is a particulary good ad produced and delivered by the Republican National Committee less than 12 hours after the debate concluded. I think this does a great job of summarizing the narrative. It is called "Smirk". Compare the Smirk with Romney's Smarts in this clip. This is a devastatingly, effective ad.
I have enjoyed reading some of the post-debate reaction and comments on the world wide web. I have said it before and I will say it again, the internet puts the world at your touch and the minds of millions are easily at your disposal whether from Miami, Mumbai, Madrid or Montevideo.
Here is a collection of some of the comments that I thought showed great wisdom or wit in assessing the debate last night.
Yes, Obama has all the hall marks of a smart, yet lazy student. He is charming and knowledgeable enough to get in a few good comments in class to impress the teacher, but when it comes down to actually putting effort into writing a paper or studying for the final he doesn't. The thing is you can get very far by being superficially smart. But, there is always a point when some one finally catches you. Obama has just been caught my friends.
In the past Obama always had a higher job to run to to avoid doing and being responsible for his current job. You can't climb the ladder higher than president though. There is no running now. Now we see what he is really made of.
Now he has to answer to Mitt who is the old fashioned kind of smart student. The one that puts in long hours of study and reads every assigned reading and the optional ones too.
By Valiuth-Ricochet.com
My husband told his friend when he asked about the debate, "Remind me if I ever become a community organizer not to debate a CEO."
By Sara Kennedy- Powerlineblog.com
The major difference between Obama and Romney:
When you take their teleprompters and handlers away and let them speak extemporaneously on their own, Romney gets much better and Obama gets much worse.
When you take their teleprompters and handlers away and let them speak extemporaneously on their own, Romney gets much better and Obama gets much worse.
By Steven Litvintchouk-Powelineblog.com
Best tweet of night: "That was no debate: Mitt just took Obama for a ride in the country strapped to the roof of his car."
By Werbaz Neutron-Powerlineblog.com
The CEO pounding on the junior regional sales manager of the upper midwest region for his latest failed quarter - that's what it looked like to me.
By Dean Fairbrother-Powelineblog.com
This is what happens when u pick John Kerry as your debate coach.
By Michael Moore (yes, that Michael Moore) via Twitter
"If it had been Romney performing like the president last night, it would have been over."
By Tom Brokaw (yes, that Tom Brokaw) on MSNBC
"Obama better hope a kicked *ss is covered under Obamacare."
By Dennis Miller (yes, that Dennis Miller) via Twitter
The bottom line is that last night over 60 million viewers saw first hand why Romney has been successful at every step of his life and why he earned his wealth. He is smart. He has a command of the facts. He is organized. He is practical and passionate. He is willing and able to lead. He is willing to work hard despite his considerable gifts.
Barack Obama also is a gifted man. However, his life has been filled with a lot of free passes along the way. Being accepted to an Ivy League school despite admitting to being a lackluster student. Being named President of Harvard Law Review without ever writing an article. Winning the Nobel Prize without doing anything to deserve it. Having the good fortune to run for President in 2008 as the financial markets fell apart with John McCain as your opponent. Having a national media that never challenges or questions you.
There were no free passes given out last night in Denver. In fact, Romney took Obama apart like a Principal who catches a student in the hall during classtime without a hall pass.
Two questions still loom large. Can Romney take advantage of the momentum he now has? Will a different Obama show up at the next two debates?
There are still over four weeks to go. That is an eternity in politics. There is still plenty of time for smarts, smirks and a few surprises along the way.
This is what happens when u pick John Kerry as your debate coach.
By Michael Moore (yes, that Michael Moore) via Twitter
"If it had been Romney performing like the president last night, it would have been over."
By Tom Brokaw (yes, that Tom Brokaw) on MSNBC
"Obama better hope a kicked *ss is covered under Obamacare."
By Dennis Miller (yes, that Dennis Miller) via Twitter
The bottom line is that last night over 60 million viewers saw first hand why Romney has been successful at every step of his life and why he earned his wealth. He is smart. He has a command of the facts. He is organized. He is practical and passionate. He is willing and able to lead. He is willing to work hard despite his considerable gifts.
Barack Obama also is a gifted man. However, his life has been filled with a lot of free passes along the way. Being accepted to an Ivy League school despite admitting to being a lackluster student. Being named President of Harvard Law Review without ever writing an article. Winning the Nobel Prize without doing anything to deserve it. Having the good fortune to run for President in 2008 as the financial markets fell apart with John McCain as your opponent. Having a national media that never challenges or questions you.
There were no free passes given out last night in Denver. In fact, Romney took Obama apart like a Principal who catches a student in the hall during classtime without a hall pass.
Two questions still loom large. Can Romney take advantage of the momentum he now has? Will a different Obama show up at the next two debates?
There are still over four weeks to go. That is an eternity in politics. There is still plenty of time for smarts, smirks and a few surprises along the way.
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