primitives find a new reason Barack Milhous lost the debate

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021484385

Oh my.

Nye Bevan (7,961 posts)  Sat Oct 6, 2012, 01:51 PM

Did Obama throw the debate out of boredom?

Interesting theory.

- - - - -

The interesting question is why our normally very competitive president charged into the debate with all the enthusiasm of a boxer who'd taken a big bag of cash to take a dive. A lot of people have theories to explain this. Al Gore actually blamed it on altitude in the Mile High City. Many conservative commentators fingered Obama's arrogance. He figured Romney was a lightweight and thus didn't prepare for a real fight. I have another theory, one that requires a brief biographical diversion but I think the payoff will be worth it. So bear with me. In my freshman year of high school, I stupidly signed up for an Earth science class. It was absurdly easy but by the time I worked this out, the deadline to switch classes had passed. That left me stuck with a dumb class with a ton of homework and regular tests that I would ace.

The syllabus showed us how the work was weighted and I could do math. If you could ace the tests, you could get away with not turning in a lot of the homework. It's not that I didn't do most of the homework. I did, but the turn-in box was right next to the recycle bin. When it came time to turn the assignments in, I would get close and float the paper and see where it landed. Apparently, I was a lousy shot because 40 assignments didn't make it in. Final grade in the class: A.

I was throwing assignments in the recycle bin for the same reason I suspect Obama threw the first debate: to create a hole that I had to climb out of and thereby keep it interesting. Obama, most of his biographers agree, has a great capacity for boredom in government but really enjoys campaigning. Given the Republicans' free-fall in the polls lately, if Obama had put Romney away in the first debate, that would have effectively ended the campaign.

Instead, Obama has turned this into a real fight. Romney will get more money and a bump in the polls and Paul Ryan will rip the hair plugs right out of Joe Biden next week in their match-up. And then Obama and Romney will face off again in front of a townhall audience. Literally every watcher will wonder if Obama will bring his A-game. This approach may be reckless or arrogant or any number of other things that give political consultants heart palpitations. It's also one hell of a way to stave off boredom.

http://www.splicetoday.com/politics-and-media/did-obama-throw-the-debate

Well, that's certainly a novel theory.

quinnox (12,846 posts)   Sat Oct 6, 2012, 01:54 PM

1. oh, come on

Now I do have an open mind, and if I gave even asmall bit of credence to the idea of Obama throwing the debate, it would not be due to his having a strong case of boredom, but because of shadowy high level figures who are above the government and are the real controllers.

alcibiades_mystery (25,464 posts)     Sat Oct 6, 2012, 04:27 PM

14. Indeed, the theory is actually a vicious attack on Obama encapsulated in this statement:

"has a great capacity for boredom in government but really enjoys campaigning"

That's a typical right wing attack on Obama. And it's a load of hooey. Obama seems to thrive, rather, on the boring intricacies of policy. The post then manages to load this one in:

"This approach may be reckless or arrogant "

Reckless and arrogant. Two additional right wing attacks on the President.

Obama is dedicated, enlivened by policy and governance, and careful with the stewardship of the nation. This right wing hit piece theory argues precisely the opposite, in nearly Hannity mode. A disgraceful hit of a "theory."

JaneyVee (745 posts)   Sat Oct 6, 2012, 02:08 PM

9. No. Romney broke the rules of debating and Lehrer was too soft to enforce them.

The bar was set so low for Romney that even having him string together a coherent sentence would have gave him a win. Obama didn't lose the debate, Romney ran from his own policies regarding taxes, healthcare, education, & spending. Hard to debate someone that is not relying on facts.

Aerows (11,074 posts)   Sat Oct 6, 2012, 04:37 PM

16. I always did worse in easy classes. Hard classes that made me work for it were better for me.

That said, I don't think this was what happened. I think the President was drained from having to deal with shots fired on the ground between Syria and Turkey, and any number of other things that a President has to deal with. That's what made Romney's disrespect of President Obama so childish.

^^well, I guess that's another interesting new theory; Barack Milhous lost because he was preoccupied with his golf ga--, er, with foreign affairs.

[Skul]

Yes, Milhous was "board".
Mitt paddled his butt really good.
Nice try, DUmmie.
Next?

[EagleKeeper]

Heh, roughly 70 million viewers for that debate.

So the light worker stunk up the place in front of 70 million viewers and that is considered a good tactic?

Ok, well I for one approve.

[miskie]

Yes, Milhous was "board".
Mitt paddled his butt really good.
Nice try, DUmmie.
Next?

I have a better theory..

Milhous likes to get spanked. A lot. Look at Michelle's biceps and tell me I'm wrong. And occasionally, Milhous likes an occasional spanking from a dude. In public....

Why not DUmmies ? This theory makes as much sense as the OP's does, so ?

[jukin]

Of course!!

I should have seen that one of the world's biggest narcissists would want to look like a fool in front of 70 million people.

You know what is long and hard on a black man?

The first presidential debate of 2012.

[thundley4]

Of course!!

I should have seen that one of the world's biggest narcissists would want to look like a fool in front of 70 million people.

You know what is long and hard on a black man?

The first presidential debate of 2012.

[docstew]

Ok, so, I'll play along with the OP. O threw the first debate so Romney could keep it close.

Some people say that happens in sports too, especially football. You know what we usually call the teams that try to coast to keep it interesting?

Losers. (or the New England Patriots, but I repeat myself)

[BEG]

This is fun, it's even going to get better as each debate passes.

[BlueStateSaint]

Of course!!

I should have seen that one of the world's biggest narcissists would want to look like a fool in front of 70 million people.

You know what is long and hard on a black man?

The first presidential debate of 2012.

Genius.  H5!

[GOBUCKS]

On Intrade, the good news is that the muslim's probability of winning reelection dropped by about fourteen points.

The bad news is that he's still at about 65%.