One debate eraces a year's worth of Romney ineptitude? REALLY?

[wowimthere]

We seem to be looking backwards. I can't believe people - media included - are putting a load of stock into the first debate, given the Romney gaffes ad-nausea this year alone. His debate zingers determine his fate? Really? As a country such measures for truly judging whether someone should be president of these United States or get 4 more years to finish what was started is... laughable. The drumbeat of Romney rising to the occasion - now more than ever - smacks of a media construct that almost assures the polls will tighten and that's unfortunate... because this would say all anyone ever needs to do is zing an opponent to death and all of a sudden previous gaffes be damned... we now got a "contenda". This feels like... like... politics "Pre-computer age"... where newspaper, radio and television were the only platforms of the day. Maybe we should ask Romney what year this is because from the looks of things he's going to enjoy the fruits of forgiveness by our media and bouts of forgetfulness by the electorate... if he should land a few punches. 1950's here we come!

[liberal N proud]

1. This is where they plan on using the etch-a-sketch

and starting over.

[frazzled]

2. Well get a gander at this: coincidence or not?

I just got this email a half hour ago from our condo building's management company, regarding the bulk service from DirecTV (read: Rupert Murdoch) our building gets. Is this just happenstance?

Dear Residents,

DirecTV will be providing system upgrades on Wednesday, October 3rd.

Service interruptions in cable service will occur between 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM to rebuild the system.

Thursday, October 4th, DirecTV technicians will be in the lobby between 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM for anyone whose service does not come back up automatically.

Maybe they think Romney has a better chance if no one actually SEES the debate?

(PS: We're in Central Time Zone, so debate starts at 8 pm.)

[wowimthere]

5. wow. Really? I think you're right.

[CoffeeCat]

6. Are you f'n kidding me????????

This is...unbelievable.

You really need to post this as an OP. You should post this so more people can see it.

OMG. So, if Romney sucks (as it looks like they anticipate him doing!), they'll just cut power, "Fade to black Charlie! Dear God in heaven, Mitt is crying now!!"

[NightOwwl]

9. My, what a strange koinky-dink.

Almost like it was planned...

[CoffeeCat]

3. The media just spent an entire month...

...reporting on Romney's never-ending carouself of gaffes and screw ups. I'm sure they've received a lot of flack from Karl Rove, the Romney campaign and other Republican mucky mucks who have accused them of being in the tank for Obama--just because they reported on Mitt Romney's daily idiocy. Never mind that Romney woke up and shot himself in both feet everyday!

Now, the media is trying to be "fair" and they're trying to hype up the debates. This is a boon for them. If they can drum up their, "OMG Romney might change history with his zingers!!" memes--more people will tune in and they'll have a week's worth of higher ratings for stoking these fires.

The media is full of it.

Unless there's some big moments--or one candidate does VERY well or swirls down the toilet--the game will remain the same.

Both candidates have known what they questions were and they've been rehearsing. This really isn't a debate. It's a delivery vehicle for the talking points.

I can't wait to see what happens though.

[Avalux]

4. Here's what I think about that.

At this point, people have made up their minds, as they've already seen Romney's true nature and have increasingly lost faith in the media. I am seeing it firsthand - the tactics seem to have reached a point of critical mass where they are no longer having the intended effect.

Now don't get me wrong, there is a large percentage of people in this country who buy into it, but they've already made up their minds too, and they've already decided to vote for Ronmey or not at all (the latter being because they won't vote for a black man).

So, sure, let's say Romney pulls off a stellar debate performance. It's way too late to save him.

[wowimthere]

8. I hope you're right.

[Rambis]

7. Reaches for the wretch-a-sketch (nm)

[apnu]

10. No, they are just that desperate

The only thing that would save Romney right now is a debate of epic proportions like the Kennedy-Nixon debates. In which Obama plays the role of Nixon and shows up with a cold and acting like a creepy letch in a off-putting suit. Which, of course, won't happen, Obama's too cool for that and he's got the sense to take Day-Quil.

They have nothing else after these debates.

Romney was underwhelming at his convention. An old man yelling at a chair was the most exciting thing.

Romney is horrible on the campaign trail.

Romney can't stay on message or even state what his message actually is.

Romney can't say what his plans are.

Romney's running mate can't even say what their plans are.

Romney can't release his tax returns.

[The_Counsel]

11. This Could Actually Work AGAINST Romney...

With this whole "the debates could change everything" narrative, Romney could "win" and still lose because he didn't "win BIG." And let's face it ... do we REALLY expect Romney to win big in the debates? Just sayin'...

Think of your average championship boxing match: in order to beat the champ you almost have no choice but to knock him out--'cause you sure as hell aren't gonna beat him on points.

Kerry beat Bush three straight in the '04 debates--still didn't get enough electoral votes.

The media tried it's best to spin the '08 debates as McCain victories, but the viewers/voters knew better. Result: 365 EV for Obama; one-sixty-something-or-other for McCain. In other words: a whole lot to not nearly enough. I'm thinking the same fate awaits Mr. Romney if the voters do what they say they're going to...

[smorkingapple]

12. That's how it works though

He's up there on the same stage as the President and it's his best chance to make his case. If he does it effectively, it could erase all the bad stuff, especially since the media will be all over it.

Sucks but that's how it works.

Good news for us is he's going against a beast, not Newt Gingrich or Santorum...

[Cha]

14. Did you just call our President,

a "beast"?

[jmowreader]

13. If Romney is absolutely perfect in this debate and Obama flops, it's possible

He has been through over a month of rigorous preparation. He has survived countless practice debates. On Wednesday he will wear a perfectly tailored suit and a Hollywood makeup artist will be flown in to primp him for the camera.

There's one HUGE problem with all that: he will be seen as a high school debater arguing the merits of a topic he never even heard of before the year's forensics season kicked off. Dan Quayle came off the same way in his debate; the difference is that you knew Quayle would never be put in charge of anything, and Romney is running for president.

This debate has a very high probability of sticking a white belt in the ring against Wesley Snipes--Romney is going to get his ass kicked so thoroughly he'll need a new one.

[andym]

15. He's been practicing "empathy" to go along with the zingers

But what if he gets mixed up when to zing and when to empathize. It could lead to great comedy.

[NCLefty]

16. He really has been practicing empathy.

The chameleon changes his color again, right before out eyes *poof*