So the first Obama-Romney debates went the way it did because...

[Zalatix]

Obama was distracted by Syria and Turkey exchanging fire across the border... and because Rmoney was using a friggin' CHEAT SHEET?

If most people were actually awake in life, then this news would completely change the national opinion of the debates.

[grasswire]

1. and because of the Romney debate strategy...

...which is now revealed: bombard the opponent with blather, as fast and nonsensical as possible, in order to prevent the opponent from getting out his own message.

It was a strategy.

It worked.

And the cheat sheet was probably a list of blather in case he ran short.

This makes total sense to me.

[Zalatix]

2. I don't see any of this in the "liberal" media except mostly in the blogosphere.

Nothing about the cheat sheet or the Gish Gallop tactic on television, anywhere, as far as I can tell, and I have all the major networks.

[CTyankee]

3. A spokeswoman from Grio was on the teevee earlier this afternoon saying Obama had

not remembered that the date of the debate was set on his 20th wedding anniversary and Michelle was not pleased and he was worried that she was unhappy.

I'm not buying it...

[dawg]

4. If you ask me, it was just Obama being Obama.

Not wanting to appear reckless. Not wanting to ruffle any feathers. Talking like the college professor that he is. Trying to seem bi-partisan.

I love the man. But he has his flaws.

[FSogol]

5. So appearing level-headed and Presidential is a flaw?

Not in my book.

[dawg]

6. Appearing level-headed and Presidential is great.

Appearing weak and unwilling to forcefully defend your position is not. President Obama did not shine during this debate. Let's hope he does better next time.

[MineralMan]

7. Go read the transcript. I think you're not remembering what he said.

http://www.npr.org/2012/10/03/162258551/transcript-first-obama-romney-presidential-debate

I think most people only remember a few sentences, and have forgotten the rest. He did quite well, actually.

[FSogol]

8. Ignore the spin and read the transcript. Truth is that Romney appeared manic and defensive. n/t

[dawg]

9. "Read the transcript" is loser-talk.

Like when football fans say "but we outgained them by 100 yards!".

There's no need to make excuses or to explain it away. He just needs to do better next time. I'm pretty confident that he will, but that won't happen if everyone tells him he did just great and that nothing needed to be done any differently.

[Zalatix]

11. Letting Romney sink himself is loser-talk?

[Nye Bevan]

10. ROMNEY HAD A CHEAT SHEET WITH THE ANSWERS.

SPREAD THE MEME.

[Xolodno]

12. I think it was Obama's intention to let Romney have this one...

...just as Karl Rove coached Bush to fall apart in his first debate against Kerry (Kerry did good in the second debate, but since Bush improved so much...it overshadowed it).

Romney was ready to be attacked by Obama, thats why most of his points were BS. They wanted the headline "Mitt stands up to Obama!" and "Romney apologizes sincerely" etc. and they wanted it in front of a huge audience.

Now, Obama can roar back on the next debate AND attack Mitt for his less than factual remarks.

Plus its a long way from the first debate to election date...lot can happen...such as good job numbers.