THIS is what Obama must do in his next debate. (Do you agree? Thoughts?)

[RBInMaine]

The Presidency is about trust and it is our most personal vote. People don't like liars and phonies. Mittens had the better "performance" last time, the better verbal delivery, more energy, etc. BUT HE LIED AND FLIPPED. Obama's come out swinging on the stump and in ads post-debate, but now in the next debate he needs to with the SET THE TONE with the narrative that RobMe is "A DISHONEST UNTRUSTWORTHY FLIPFLOPPER WHO WILL TAKE US BACKWARD". Then his positive narrative is "I AM STEADY AND TRUSTWORTHY, WE ARE IMPROVING, AND WE ARE NOT GOING BACKWARD."

In campaigns, you CONTROL THE DEBATE by setting out a clear NARRATIVE THEME and stick to it. Keep coming back to it. Don't let your opponent get off the hook. Put HIM on defense. Here are some points Obama should make:

* In the last debate Romney totally contradicted himself on his tax plan, on pre-existing conditions, etc. CITE his previous comments and snare him in the flipflops and lies.

* Say that Romney has a lllllllong history of flipping. IS HE THE MODERATE MASSACHUSETTS ROMNEY OR THE 'SEVERELY CONSERVATIVE" ROMNEY? SAY THAT ! Establish that he has a long pattern of this.

* HIT ROMNEY EVERY TIME HE TRIES TO WEASLE AND DANCE AROUND HIS POSITIONS AND PAST STATEMENTS. KEEP RETURNING TO THE NARRATIVE.

* Look right at him and say, "Governor Romney, what are you? The Massachusetts Moderate you touted there, or the "severe conservative" you more recently said you were. Which is it?" Now he is TRAPPED. In one direction he pisses off the middle, in the other pisses off the base.

* The best zinger: "It seems Governor Romney needs to have a debate with himself and figure out just what he stands for because he keeps changing his statements and positions."

* Hit him with his flip on the 47% statement too if that comes up. And I am sure it will. Hit him HARD on his CLEAR statement, his defense of it, and now his flip. CLASSIC ROMNEY FLIPPING.

* On the positive side, STRONGLY TOUT AND DEFEND THE OBAMA RECORD on jobs, saving the auto industry, supporting MEDICARE and say, "AS LONG AS I AM PRESIDENT WE WILL PRESERVE MEDICARE AND WE ARE NOT GOING BACKWARD TO THE FAILED TRICKLE DOWN POLICIES OF THE PAST."

* Hit Romney on BAIN bigtime.

Again, you control a debate by coming in with a POSITIVE NARRATIVE and an ATTACK NARRATIVE, you stay on offense, and YOU STICK TO YOUR NARRATIVES AND KEEP COMING BACK TO THEM. YOU DO NOT LET THE OPPONENT SET THE TONE. YOU STRONGLY REFUTE WHAT THEY SAY AND COUNTERPUNCH HARD ALWAYS RETURNING TO YOUR NARRATIVE. This is what he must do, as well as make sure he is not so tired looking.

[RBInMaine]

1. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OBAMA SHOULD DO. WOULD LIKE ALL OPINIONS.

[SharonAnn]

9. On the increasing National Debt: say "Your Party Built That!"

in 2000 we were scheduled to have the entire National Debt paid off in less than 10 years.

But, the Republican Party insisted on tax cuts and then put two wars on the national credit card.

We're still trying recover from that. But, remember, "Your party built that!"

[demgrrrll]

2. I just read that he should look at Romneys debate with Ted Kennedy where Kennedy just bulldozed

him starting hitting from the gate and never let up. That is what you do with a bully, you fight back. I actually think there will be a good audience for the second debate too.

[bigdarryl]

3. Remember it's a town hall so he won't be confronting Romney as much

The town hall people will be asking questions

[RBInMaine]

4. True, but you can still CONTRAST yourself with the other guy. You can still PUSH YOUR NARRATIVES.

You answer, then pivot with statements contrasting yourself with the opponent.

[RBInMaine]

6. When answering you say, "UNLIKE GOVERNOR ROMNEY WHO ONCE SAID...I will..." You PUSH the narrative.

[smorkingapple]

5. I dont know if they've focus grouped this but they dont want the bulldoze tactic

#1 it doesn't fit Obama's persona. He's not Ted Kennedy and this isn't a local Senate race

#2 they must be really concerned with his likeable ratings. They must have some evidence that Obama personally attacking Romney can turn people off and they'll leave it to the ads for that. I'm guessing they think by allowing Romney to attack Obama the way he did will backfire long term on Romney.

Honestly, the only tactic Obama needs to change is, he needs to come off as if he's prepared for the debate and have a very strong opening and closing. His closing statement Wednesday was the weakest shit I've ever seen. He actually admitted to not being a perfect President and said Romney would agree with that, WHAT THE FUCK??? No more of that shit.

Obama lost not so much on policy points which 90% of Americans dont even care about, but in appearance. He looked weak, he looked tired and timid and he looked like he didn't want to fight. THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE DRASTICALLY. The looking down, writing notes, not making eye contact with Romney, not pointing at him directly, all that shit needs to go out the window.

That alone will make it a win.

[RBInMaine]

7. Right, but he does also need to GET ON OFFENSE AND CONTROL THE NARRATIVE.

[geek tragedy]

8. He should pretend his last name is Clinton. nt

[TroyD]

10. This is what Obama needs to do in the next debate

I said this last week.

Let Ted Kennedy guide him from beyond - Ted knew how to put Romney down:

Essential debate training for anyone dealing with Mitt and what I would be recommending if I was on Obama's debate team.

[RBInMaine]

11. Yup. As I have said too, snare him in his lies and FLIPFLOPS. PUSH THAT NARRATIVE.

[courseofhistory]

12. Send it to

the campaign. You can contact them on Obama's Campaign website.

[RBInMaine]

14. I think they know. Already doing it on the stump and in ads.

[courseofhistory]

13. Romney rudely said to Obama

in the debate that he was entitled to his plane and home at the WH but not to his own facts.

So Obama should say to Romney "You are entitled to your 5 houses and multitude of overseas investments--particularly in China, but not to your own facts!

Seriously, without bein rude and too aggressive he should punctuate what he says with words and phrases like "with all due respect" your positions have changed on this or these issues several times or to the audience that Romney's positions have changed many times unlinke my own. I've said from the beginning or done from the beginning such and such and will stand by it because it is working and it a pledge to all the American people, etc., etc.

I think he can be a little more assertive and mention Romney's changing positions and how they will not work or help and then present his. In contrast, my plan....

[RBInMaine]

16. Be POINTED in showcasing the MANY flipflops. He does need to be a bit more AGGRESSIVE.

[Frumious B]

15. Mitt Romney might be an aggressive and effective salesman...

...but the product he is selling should have been recalled and taken off the market decades ago due to health and safety concerns.

[Onlooker]

17. I don't agree

The reality is that Rmoney will make bold faced lies, and accuse Obama of lying if need be. That's Rmoney's basic strategy. I think, as I said in another thread, that when Rmoney lies, Obama should tell the American people to go to a website that will provide video proof of his lies shortly after the debate. In that context, Obama may be able to throw in a few zingers.

But, what's post important for Obama to do is to make it clear what his vision of the American dream is, what inspired him to serve the nation, how his ideas are already having a great impact, and the small personal stories in his life experience that makes him believe in health care, education, and opportunity. He needs to talk in broad strokes, and present a compassionate vision. He needs to largely ignore Rmoney and simply to talk from his heart to the American people.

Let's remember, Rmoney did not win the debate on substance: He won it by appearing more compassionate and concerned. In fact, that's what disgusted me so much about Obama's performance.