# 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:** 30
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/581 "2012-10-23T12:52:02Z")
“Did you say 1917? Well, it’s true that we had a few more vessels floating in the water in 1917, if you want to measure your navy by that standard, but if you took the entire 1917 navy and gave me my choice of five modern US warships, I have you surrendering to me like a little girl inside of ten minutes. Give me six warships, and I’d have you crying real tears. Governor, a navy’s strength is measured relatively to other nations’ navies, and by that standard we’re much, much, much stronger militarily than we’ve ever been, and that’s the only standard that matters. Of course, you don’t know much about this, never having commanded anything larger than the Massachusetts National Guard, but take it from me, I’m speaking the truth. Our navy is second to none, not to every other navy on the planet combined, and it’s going to stay that way as long as I’m President of the United States and commander-in-chief of our armed forces.” ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/582 "2012-10-23T12:56:27Z")
No knockouts delivered. I agree with the comment on [CNN.](http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/22/politics/debate-mainbar/?hpt=hp_t1) > [@](#): > > “This isn’t going to change the trajectory of the result,” Fleischer said, noting the poll showed 24% of respondents now were more likely to vote for Obama and 25% for Romney, with 50% saying they emerged favoring neither candidate. It’s all the way down to the wire now! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/583 "2012-10-23T13:00:03Z")
And if you can’t trust Ari Fleischer, who can you trust? ---
**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, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/584 "2012-10-23T13:00:26Z")
That would be Ari Fleischer, yes? A reputation unblemished by candor. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/585 "2012-10-23T13:17:32Z")
Well. There you go. Ari has spoken, and all is laid bare. Nothing else to say, move along people. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/586 "2012-10-23T13:51:19Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > With the exception of his crazy “Israel is about to bomb Iran, quick, what do you do?!” hypothetical, I thought Schiefer did a fine job. He kept track of the candidates’ allotted speaking times, interrupted and re-directed the candidates where he could, and kept things more or less balanced. But it was a more restrained debate than the first one, of course, so he didn’t really need to flex much. Those crazy Israelis, how dare they even consider bombing people without our consent. Oh wait, [they have done it before.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Opera) :smack: ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/587 "2012-10-23T14:03:12Z")
it is refreshing that after months of ‘everything the president has done is wrong’ to ‘i agree with your foreign policy’. his debate prep was ‘let’s step back’ and ‘i agree’. three debates and three different Mitts show up; ‘Mitt’ Mitt, ‘moderate’ Mitt and now ‘Obama’ Mitt. ---
**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, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/588 "2012-10-23T14:03:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by Kolak of Twilo View Post > ::raises hand:: > > Excuse me, but is there any chance I can get a hit of what this guy is smoking? jtagain, Ari Fleischer, and Charles Krauthammer all have the same dealer. 😃 [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/10/22/krauthammer\_romney\_won\_unequivocally\_obamas\_responses\_were\_petty.html](http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/10/22/krauthammer_romney_won_unequivocally_obamas_responses_were_petty.html) ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/589 "2012-10-23T14:10:59Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > With the exception of his crazy “Israel is about to bomb Iran, quick, what do you do?!” hypothetical, I thought Schiefer did a fine job. He kept track of the candidates’ allotted speaking times, interrupted and re-directed the candidates where he could, and kept things more or less balanced. But it was a more restrained debate than the first one, of course, so he didn’t really need to flex much. The presidential debates commission has so embarrassed themselves in the first two debates that he had to try and play this one fair. As to the debate itself. BORING! It was painful to watch… Much less entertaining than the first two. Romney was playing it safe, Obama was trying to argue and get his zingers in but couldn’t find much to latch on to. It was a straight up tie, but who cares? I can’t imagine anyone but a true political junkie making it through this one. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/590 "2012-10-23T14:12:07Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > And if you can’t trust Ari Fleischer, who can you trust? > [@elucidator](#): > > That would be Ari Fleischer, yes? A reputation unblemished by candor. > [@leftfield6](#): > > Well. There you go. Ari has spoken, and all is laid bare. Nothing else to say, move along people. > > :smack: Apparently Fleischer also said that [the debate didn’t matter](https://twitter.com/aravosis/status/260570843762012162), which is code for “we lost.” ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/591 "2012-10-23T14:13:46Z")
I thought Bob Scheiffer did a pretty decent job. He had some pretty good follow-ups, like asking Romney if declaring China a currency manipulator on day one would trigger a trade war. Some of the questions could have been better, like those that center (too much so) on Israel. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/592 "2012-10-23T14:17:22Z")
The SF Giants are going to the World Series. WOO-HOO!!! What… there was something else on TV last night? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/593 "2012-10-23T14:18:58Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > From what I can tell from other people mentioning it on the internet, Dick Morris thinks it was an Obama win and Bill Kristol thinks it was a Romney win. Apparently, one of them will have to be right about something. That will never do. Let’s all agree they both lost. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/594 "2012-10-23T14:21:01Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > As to the debate itself. BORING! It was painful to watch… Much less entertaining than the first two. I keep saying, but nobody listens: The candidates should be required to do at least one debate where they’re both thoroughly drunk, stoned, and tripping on acid. Fuck the law, fuck Romney’s religious convictions, we the people need a look at their inner selves. Plus entertainment. ---
**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, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/595 "2012-10-23T14:24:11Z")
Obama looked like he might have been stoned at the first one and it didn’t make him more entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/596 "2012-10-23T14:29:09Z")
I think I can tell who won last night’s debate: Checked out [foxnews.com](http://foxnews.com), and there is no mention that I could find about post-debate polls. No comments on who “won”. Nothing about a “tie”. Plenty of stuff complaining about other stuff though. - Matthews is racist because he calls out others as racist. - Obama had "zingers’, but Romney “took the high road”. (Is that what they’re calling the deer in the headlights look now?) If Fox News is not trumpeting a Romney win to the high heavens, and is not reporting any polls, you can be assured that Obama won the debate handily. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/597 "2012-10-23T14:29:19Z")
How many times did Romney agree that Obama was doing a good job with foreign policy last night? I can’t stand that smirk on Romney’s face. It wouldn’t be bad if he had something in his arsenal of new ideas, but he didn’t show anything last night. Ryan’s campaign pictures remind me of Alfred E. Newman with good dental work. How could I vote for that? ---
**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, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/598 "2012-10-23T14:33:04Z")
> [@](#): > > If Fox News is not trumpeting a Romney win to the high heavens, and is not reporting any polls, you can be assured that Obama won the debate handily. So much of the right consists of Ministry of Truth apparatchiks, it’s frightening. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/599 "2012-10-23T14:37:25Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I think I can tell who won last night’s debate: > > Checked out [foxnews.com](http://foxnews.com), and there is no mention that I could find about post-debate polls. No comments on who “won”. Nothing about a “tie”. Plenty of stuff complaining about other stuff though. > > - Matthews is racist because he calls out others as racist. > - Obama had "zingers’, but Romney “took the high road”. (Is that what they’re calling the deer in the headlights look now?) > > If Fox News is not trumpeting a Romney win to the high heavens, and is not reporting any polls, you can be assured that Obama won the debate handily. Strange, [Foxnews.com](http://Foxnews.com) had a poll up earlier today. In fact I distinctly remember it showing Obama winning 68% to Romney’s 32%. I wonder why it’s gone now? But [let’s call it a draw](https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/409319_120276301459551_1756473639_n.jpg) anyway. ---
**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, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/600 "2012-10-23T14:39:27Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Trade war, shmade war, they would just start selling our paper at a discount. That would kill them and our fed can probably absorb that much paper. > [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Does Obama think bankruptcy means going out of business? If there is no debtor financing available, it usually does. There was no debtor financing available in the private credit market. > [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > So he will vote for the party that broke the economy in the first place. Makes perfect sense. Yep, pretty much. I don’t think he’s alone in that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497.md?page=31)