Romney's soulless politicization and exploitation of the deaths of four honorable Americans was as brazen as anything I've ever witnessed in even the dirtiest of American politics. Romney's was real stabbed-in-the-back demagoguery and if there's any justice whatsoever he'll be crucified for it in the media's chatter and instant analysis. Obama left blood everywhere with his "offensive" assault; Romney was stunned and what's more it was staggeringly evident that Romney was stunned.
If there was a game-changer tonight, that was it. It was mesmerizing--watching Mitt Romney melt like the Wizard of Oz crone.
Muddled independents may disapprove of political fights, but they got one tonight whether they wanted one or not. And Obama was, vividly, the winner. It wasn't even close.
***
Romney's babbling now. He's hurt and he knows it. He's hurt bad.
***
Obama's Benghazi-security argument is also devastating--a direct blow at Romney's scandalous demagoguery.
Romney takes the bait and is vigorously digging deeper. And within a blink he's back to Obama's "Apology Tour."
Obama said it. He said it! I was hoping, praying Obama would say "offensive" and he said it. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. And Obama said it with genuine passion--he was steamin'.
That exchange just altered the race. Romney was humiliated. He looked precisely like the demagogic ass he is, but only because Obama forcefully portrayed him as the demagogic ass he is.
***
Crowley is now reduced to instructing Romney to please sit down. This is lovely.
***
Dear Candy: Please give Mitt several more minutes to say "illegal" immigrants several more times.
There went Mitt's 20 pts. among Latinos.
***
Oh man Obama's killing Romney on the latter's differences with George W. Bush--on not honoring Planned Parenthood's funding and reacting against immigration reform and Medicare's voucherization. For once Romney didn't bully his way back into the debate. The little worm was finally speechless.
In Romney's formal follow-up time he remembered his distortions. It's a pity that so many independents have no idea of the different conditions between the Reagan "recovery" period and what Obama's had to cope with--in part thanks to the whopping structural deficits that Reagan began.
***
Ouch. Romney's personal "outsourcing" of jobs to China. Ouch.
***
Romney's sympathy for the plight of working American women is quite touching. And a pile of crap. His staff didn't even know if he (they) supported the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
Obama connects with blows on student loans and Ledbetter and women's healthcare. And to those of you who actually believe that Romney's now tied with Obama in the women's vote? You're smoking whatever Romney's smoking.
***
"Of course they add up." "They" being Romney's tax cuts. Now that's keeper. A looper all day tomorrow and the day after and thereafter. "Of course" Romney's math adds up. Oh Christ I'm happy he said that.
***
Obama bloodied Romney with the trillion here and trillion there tax arguments. For the first time, Romney actually looks stunned.
***
Sound, solid counterargument from Obama on taxes. How anyone couldn't know all this already is astounding. But those are the lowly informed whom Obama has to address.
Counter-counterargument: Romney, again, is just outright lying. What, him? Help the wealthy even more? Surely we jest ...
This clown is shameless. Utterly shameless.
***
Romney's still that cocky CEO who's accustomed to having his way and the last word. I suspect this isn't going to go down well with can't-we-all-just-get-along independents.
***
Bam! Obama hits Romney with UNTRUTH charge. Fireworks. Ecstasy. Sheer Heaven.
Romney has his rote Big Lies and he's sticking to them. His entire criminal strategy. This guy is a royal prick and fortunately that's coming across.
Obama's energy argument is devastating.
***
I don't have a DVR. Trying to think, write and listen simultaneously--and just keeping pace with Romney's smarm is full-time work.
***
Romney kicks off with two outstanding lies: "keep the Pell grants" going (or growing?) and "the" student loan program. He'll retard the first and kill the second. He's on the receord with this.
Obama's aggressive. He looks hungry.
This format sucks. Romney's able to get two "follow-up" minutes of more unanswered lies.My mistake. Crowley gave Obama more airtime. Romney going to bully this thing. Try, anyway. Jesus what an ass. Now he wants a follow-up to Obama's follow up.
***
I'm just sitting here neurotically awaiting the debate so I might as well write something from the pre-debate coverage, beginning with ... Did Ed Schultz once really have to explain to his wife the symbolic political significance of a photo of Ali standing over a bloodied, dazed, K-Oed Liston?
May I take my dunce cap off now? Chuck Todd just explained that both candidates are likely to target certain messages to targeted voting blocs, and that a tied debate could mean a slugfest from now till Election Day. Professional analysis. OK, cap is off. (If you ever read a post from me that is that insultingly obvious in its content, please alert me via a really nasty email. Thank you.)
We never know how good we've got it till we flip the channel. Went to Fox, and there sat a "Fox News Military Analyst" telling Bill O'Reilly that the Obama administration has been "criminal and outrageous" in its "lying" about the Benghazi attack. The administration knew the facts as it was occurring. Ooookay. Back to MSNBC.
I do believe Ezra Klein just said that Romney's jobs "plan"--that which creates 12 million of them--is "hilarious." And he's right, if he did say that. I read Kessler's analysis of the plan earlier today and it seems the thing is largely invented. Simply invented, by "top-flight" econ profs turned party hacks who are advising the campaign. (Former McCain-hack Steve Schmidt instantly dismissed the importance of truth in a presidential campaign.) What's odd about Romney's plan is that mainstream economists are alreadypredicting 12 million new jobs through 2016--but, Romney's silence on this is not so odd, really, because by acknowledging that Romney would then have to pre-credit Obama; plus, it would take all the fun out of his pathological mendacity.
Here we go ... Showtime.
Are you ready to Hummmble! Game on!
Posted by: Peter G | October 16, 2012 at 08:01 PM
all i can think after listening to MITT is: sociopath!
so easy to lie when you have no convictions, and whose only drive that moves one is GREED!
Posted by: hector | October 16, 2012 at 08:44 PM
I enjoyed this immensely. Obama was in excellent form. Those who's main concern was body language should watch this again and again. Obama just delivered a masterful performance. That steely gaze while saying, That is offensive. No wimp there.
Posted by: Peter G | October 16, 2012 at 09:51 PM