Rough and tumble or tough and rumble debate
Last night's presidential debate was almost like a prize fight. Candy Crowley, not well known here, was a competent referee.
Of course much has been written about the debate that does not need to be commented on here. One thing that struck me in a major way was how combative the debate became, even when it relates to physical space. There was that one sequence when Romney was pressing Obama on the use of Federal land for oil and gas drilling. Romney advanced toward Obama demanding an immediate answer to his question, advanced in what seemed like a hostile manner. Obama kept trying to begin answer but Romney kept interrupting and would not back off. Obama is a cool customer, but I wonder if in another setting, another life, if Romney had actually touched Obama with his pointed finger if Obama wouldn't have just clocked him.
Obama certainly must have had to stick up for himself in his childhood. Single parent, limited resources, and moving to Indonesia sight unseen in the middle of his childhood, it's reasonable to think that it was not all easy. Romney, on the other hand, grew up in a wealthy family and was surrounded by a comfortable religion. He claims to have not taken anything from his family and to be a self-made man, but that is a joke. All of his education was paid for certain, he and his wife always had a major backstop if any choices did not work out, and with a well known father doors inevitably opened and stayed wide open.
Corporations and businesses love to hire young people who are well connected. There is almost no downside and it is no secret who the well connected young people are. Once hired, if the well connected ones perform they tend to go to the front of the queue when choices are made. Romney was advantaged in a major way by his background. Obama certainly was not, and made his own way.
That significant difference made the few what felt like near physical confrontations fascinating. Obama at 50 still enjoys full contact basketball. He takes charges and fights for rebounds. It is unclear whether Romney has any physical abilities beyond being a disciplined exerciser and someone in good shape. A real prize fight would have been no contest, yet the entitled Romney had no clue, no thought about what his belligerence might have entailed on Main Street, rather than Wall Street or the niceties of a political campaign. He simply has the firm belief that he is never wrong about anything.
So that's the one thought here that might not have been reported or commented on elsewhere. Both candidates were well prepared. Both candidates did not answer some of the questions. Rather than take 15 seconds to try to give a direct or even non-direct answer to a question, they went into their pre-planned remarks immediately almost half of the time. Obama's performance was far superior to his last outing while Romney's performance was occasionally shaken by Obama's confidence and direct attacks. At one point I thought he might start stamping his feet up and down when he didn't get to immediately follow up on an Obama broadside.
On to the next one.
Of course much has been written about the debate that does not need to be commented on here. One thing that struck me in a major way was how combative the debate became, even when it relates to physical space. There was that one sequence when Romney was pressing Obama on the use of Federal land for oil and gas drilling. Romney advanced toward Obama demanding an immediate answer to his question, advanced in what seemed like a hostile manner. Obama kept trying to begin answer but Romney kept interrupting and would not back off. Obama is a cool customer, but I wonder if in another setting, another life, if Romney had actually touched Obama with his pointed finger if Obama wouldn't have just clocked him.
Obama certainly must have had to stick up for himself in his childhood. Single parent, limited resources, and moving to Indonesia sight unseen in the middle of his childhood, it's reasonable to think that it was not all easy. Romney, on the other hand, grew up in a wealthy family and was surrounded by a comfortable religion. He claims to have not taken anything from his family and to be a self-made man, but that is a joke. All of his education was paid for certain, he and his wife always had a major backstop if any choices did not work out, and with a well known father doors inevitably opened and stayed wide open.
Corporations and businesses love to hire young people who are well connected. There is almost no downside and it is no secret who the well connected young people are. Once hired, if the well connected ones perform they tend to go to the front of the queue when choices are made. Romney was advantaged in a major way by his background. Obama certainly was not, and made his own way.
That significant difference made the few what felt like near physical confrontations fascinating. Obama at 50 still enjoys full contact basketball. He takes charges and fights for rebounds. It is unclear whether Romney has any physical abilities beyond being a disciplined exerciser and someone in good shape. A real prize fight would have been no contest, yet the entitled Romney had no clue, no thought about what his belligerence might have entailed on Main Street, rather than Wall Street or the niceties of a political campaign. He simply has the firm belief that he is never wrong about anything.
So that's the one thought here that might not have been reported or commented on elsewhere. Both candidates were well prepared. Both candidates did not answer some of the questions. Rather than take 15 seconds to try to give a direct or even non-direct answer to a question, they went into their pre-planned remarks immediately almost half of the time. Obama's performance was far superior to his last outing while Romney's performance was occasionally shaken by Obama's confidence and direct attacks. At one point I thought he might start stamping his feet up and down when he didn't get to immediately follow up on an Obama broadside.
On to the next one.
posted by John Borden at 11:48 AM
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