# The final presidential debate: 10/22/12 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 22, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497 "2012-10-22T06:57:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/521 "2012-10-23T03:24:16Z")
Noone thought Romney was going to do very well and he didn’t; the question is whether Obama covered the spread. Romney basically spent all his time monday morning quarterbacking a winning team and complaining that he would have won by more by doing pretty much what Obama did but better. Sure, with 20/20 hindsight, the decision to go and kill bin Laden looks good and with 20/20 hindsight, Libya was a good idea to be fair, with 20/20 hindsight, Obama would be a pretty good corporate raider/hedge fund manager. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/522 "2012-10-23T03:24:20Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Did Republicans like this Romney? I mean, he basically agreed with Obama and attacked him from the left. Is that what you want in foreign policy, conservatives? Who cares? Republicans aren’t undecided, and at this point people are either invested in the candidate or they aren’t. I thought Romney did about as well as anyone could possibly have hoped; foreign policy is obviously his greatest weakness, and he at least sounded like he’d studied the issues. I’m not afraid to admit I was slightly turned off by Obama’s interruptions during this debate, but he landed some real zingers. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/523 "2012-10-23T03:25:21Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Wait, did Romney say that Syria is Iran’s route to the sea? He does realize Iran is on both the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, right? But then they could justify calling their restaurants “Mediterranean Restaurants”. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/524 "2012-10-23T03:26:34Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Did Republicans like this Romney? I mean, he basically agreed with Obama and attacked him from the left. Is that what you want in foreign policy, conservatives? Romney wasn’t talking to conservatives. He has them in the bag. What it sounds like he was attempting (I didn’t watch the debate) is to get some of the ‘moderates’ back; specifically, those who simply cannot stand the current GOP but still think the Democrats are dangerous pinko commies. By taking reasonable policy from Obama and parroting it in a conservative shell, he’s trying to make himself seem like a viable choice. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/525 "2012-10-23T03:26:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Who cares? Republicans aren’t undecided, and at this point people are either invested in the candidate or they aren’t. All the polling evidence says that base enthusiasm, not undecided voters, will determine this election. Undecided voters will probably split, maybe 50/50 maybe 60/40. But turnout will determine all. I think most Republicans will hold their nose, believing Romney is just pandering to women. But will they all do so? I’m not so sure. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/526 "2012-10-23T03:26:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > If you don’t vote for Romney, he’ll bayonet his horse. He’s not bluffing. The horse he rode in on, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/527 "2012-10-23T03:27:07Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > …Obama would be a pretty good corporate raider/hedge fund manager. I suspect a disqualifying impairment, he has a conscience. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/528 "2012-10-23T03:27:09Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Romney did about as well as anyone could possibly have hoped; foreign policy is obviously his greatest weakness, and he at least sounded like he’d studied the issues. Maybe he should study a fucking map. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/529 "2012-10-23T03:28:26Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Romney wishes he were Nixon. He’s turning into William H. May’s car salesman from _Fargo_. Since the government now has a stake in GM, Obama is in reality closer to an actual car salesman than Romney. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/530 "2012-10-23T03:29:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe he should study a fucking map. Hey, knows where Mali is! Know what’s wrong with it, too. Obama is what’s wrong with it. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/531 "2012-10-23T03:29:16Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Maybe he should study a fucking map. He misspoke. When he said, Iran, he meant Utah. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/532 "2012-10-23T03:29:37Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Since the government now has a stake in GM, Obama is in reality closer to an actual car salesman than Romney. The difference is: Romney is a **used** car saleman. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/533 "2012-10-23T03:34:16Z")
Romney made a strategic grasp at the Progressive straw but the voters aren’t buying it. The early polls say Romney got trounced. Well deserved. Crane ---
**Author:** ![montag01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@montag01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/montag01)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/534 "2012-10-23T03:34:40Z")
Dominating performance by Obama tonight, even better than his second debate. Romney’s efforts to co-opt most of Obama’s sensible and sane foreign policy reminded me of Bush’s foreign policy debate against Gore in 2000. I was fooled then. Not now. I believe Obama has earned a second term and will be voting for him tomorrow in Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/535 "2012-10-23T03:35:14Z")
Hannity talking to Luntz on Fox now. This should be good. Lots of cranktankerous ‘undecideds’ in their forum. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/536 "2012-10-23T03:38:00Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Some commentators have made good points: Romney looked confident and Presidential. Obama looked like a challenger on the attack. Many of his points were cromulent, but they looked petty and mean spirited in context. > > I stand by: A split decision Romney win. I agree. FWIW, I already voted for Obama (absentee ballot). ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/537 "2012-10-23T03:44:50Z")
> [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](#): > > Hannity talking to Luntz on Fox now. This should be good. Lots of cranktankerous ‘undecideds’ in their forum. Meanwile, Soledad O’Brein talking to undecideds in Orlando, Florida on CNN. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/538 "2012-10-23T03:45:44Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > All the polling evidence says that base enthusiasm, not undecided voters, will determine this election. Undecided voters will probably split, maybe 50/50 maybe 60/40. But turnout will determine all. > > I think most Republicans will hold their nose, believing Romney is just pandering to women. But will they all do so? I’m not so sure. That’s my point. The portion of the base that wasn’t sold on Romney wasn’t going to be sold on him after the debate, but the portion of the base that is doesn’t care what he said tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/539 "2012-10-23T03:45:56Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Meanwile, Soledad O’Brein talking to undecideds in Orlando, Florida on CNN. Are the CNN undecideds hostile? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/540 "2012-10-23T03:47:59Z")
> [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](#): > > Are the CNN undecideds hostile? Decidedly well-tempered, unfortunately. Great moment in journalism earlier when she asked for a show of hands of who changed their vote based on the debate but then didn’t bother to task who they were voting for. Hard-hitting journalism there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497.md?page=28)