# 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:** 31
**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, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/601 "2012-10-23T14:41:41Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Apparently Fleischer also said that [the debate didn’t matter](https://twitter.com/aravosis/status/260570843762012162), which is code for “we lost.” And this the final debate was on foreign policy, it’s also code for “we are going to continue to criticize Obama’s foreign policy”. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/602 "2012-10-23T14:44:18Z")
The New York Times delivers [an absolutely brutal review](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/opinion/the-final-presidential-debate.html) of Romney’s performance: > [@](#): > > Mitt Romney has nothing really coherent or substantive to say about domestic policy, but at least he can sound energetic and confident about it. On foreign policy, the subject of Monday night’s final presidential debate, he had little coherent to say and often sounded completely lost. That’s because he has no original ideas of substance on most world issues, including Syria, Iran and Afghanistan. > > During the debate, on issue after issue, Mr. Romney sounded as if he had read the boldfaced headings in a briefing book — or a freshman global history textbook — and had not gone much further than that… > > At other times, he announced that he had a “strategy” for the Middle East, particularly Iran and Syria, and really for the whole world, but gave no clue what it would be — much like his claim that he has a plan to create 12 million jobs and balance the budget while also cutting taxes, but will not say what it is. At his worst, Mr. Romney sounded like a beauty pageant contestant groping for an answer to the final question… The comparison to a beauty pageant contestant was particularly apropos – the “Syria is Iran’s route to the sea” line reminded me of [this blast from the past](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caitlin_Upton): > [@](#): > > I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, uh… people out there in our nation don’t have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as in South Africa and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and, I believe that they should, our education over HERE in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, or, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future, for our children. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/603 "2012-10-23T15:00:11Z")
My favorite line of the night goes to Bob Schiefer: “I think we all love teachers.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/604 "2012-10-23T15:02:11Z")
Obama won the debate, but he should have won it by a bigger margin given the advantages an incumbent has over a challenging governor. Interestingly, his Intrade odds dropped 3-4 points due to the debate, and Romney tied him on whether or not the debate made people more likely to vote for him. More ominously, Romney now clearly leads Obama in favorability. ---
**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, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/605 "2012-10-23T15:06:21Z")
Is that the same intrade that has Obama favored to win 58 to 41? Or am I looking at the liberal media Intrade? ---
**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, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/606 "2012-10-23T15:08:25Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Obama won the debate, but he should have won it by a bigger margin given the advantages an incumbent has over a challenging governor. Interestingly, his Intrade odds dropped 3-4 points due to the debate, and Romney tied him on whether or not the debate made people more likely to vote for him. > > More ominously, Romney now clearly leads Obama in favorability. You’re exhausting. ---
**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, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/607 "2012-10-23T15:10:44Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Obama won the debate, but he should have won it by a bigger margin given the advantages an incumbent has over a challenging governor. Interestingly, his Intrade odds dropped 3-4 points due to the debate, and Romney tied him on whether or not the debate made people more likely to vote for him. > > More ominously, Romney now clearly leads Obama in favorability. Cite? ---
**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, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/608 "2012-10-23T15:10:45Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Obama won the debate, but he should have won it by a bigger margin given the advantages an incumbent has over a challenging governor. Interestingly, his Intrade odds dropped 3-4 points due to the debate, and Romney tied him on whether or not the debate made people more likely to vote for him. > > More ominously, Romney now clearly leads Obama in favorability. Obama kicked Romney’s ass in, literally, making it assume a concave configuration, but he should have had actually kicked Romney’s buttocks off his body entirely, forcing them into a projectile path off the debate stage and into orbit, so --ROMNEY WEEEENS!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! ---
**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, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/609 "2012-10-23T15:14:03Z")
What would be totally cool is for Romney to lose but get exactly 47% of the vote. Works on so many levels. ---
**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, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/610 "2012-10-23T15:15:39Z")
Is there nothing you guys won’t say? “All Romney had to do was look vaguely Presidential and he succeeded at that. A tie would go to Romney and it was clearly a tie, so Romney won.” “Well, Romney wasn’t very inspiring up there. It was probably a tie.” “Well, Obama won, but not by as much as he should have. Romney will still win.” I mean, I theoretically get wanting to vote for your party, though I’d much rather vote for the person who has a connection to reality no matter how tenuous, but honestly. ---
**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, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/611 "2012-10-23T15:18:24Z")
From Twitter: “I am glad to know that mitt agrees with Obama so much. No, really. Why vote?” Any guesses on who Tweeted this? [Glenn Beck](https://twitter.com/glennbeck/status/260564787027640320) ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/612 "2012-10-23T15:19:40Z")
I didn’t get to watch the debate, but I did happen to flip through FOX, MSNBC, CNN and CBS when I got home from work last night. A far, far, far different tone than what’s being presented in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/613 "2012-10-23T15:25:52Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I didn’t get to watch the debate, but I did happen to flip through FOX, MSNBC, CNN and CBS when I got home from work last night. A far, far, far different tone than what’s being presented in this thread. Well, duh. Nobody on this thread has their rice bowl hanging on the “horse race” narrative. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/614 "2012-10-23T15:27:55Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > “All Romney had to do was look vaguely Presidential and he succeeded at that. A tie would go to Romney and it was clearly a tie, so Romney won.” > > “Well, Romney wasn’t very inspiring up there. It was probably a tie.” > > “Well, Obama won, but not by as much as he should have. Romney will still win.” “Romney showed Presidential poise by simultaneously maintaining bowel and bladder control.” “Romney won a victory by not getting himself zapped and vaporized like the Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.” ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/615 "2012-10-23T15:28:14Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I didn’t get to watch the debate, but I did happen to flip through FOX, MSNBC, CNN and CBS when I got home from work last night. A far, far, far different tone than what’s being presented in this thread. First of all, I watched them too, and the tone wasn’t far, far, far different from the tone in this thread. Secondly, this is an internet message board, if you hadn’t noticed yet, and not a news network. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/616 "2012-10-23T15:31:50Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I didn’t get to watch the debate, but I did happen to flip through FOX, MSNBC, CNN and CBS when I got home from work last night. A far, far, far different tone than what’s being presented in this thread. I usually check Politico’s comments to get the real story. Then I cry over the state of education in this country. I feel like the dope is an island in a sea of ignorance. ---
**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, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/617 "2012-10-23T15:32:10Z")
Mali is, of course, crucial as it occupies the strategic center between Burkina Faso and Guinea. It als has over 80% of the world’s jute production. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/618 "2012-10-23T15:35:26Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Mali is, of course, crucial as it occupies the strategic center between Burkina Faso and Guinea. It als has over 80% of the world’s jute production. Funny, they don’t look jutish. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/619 "2012-10-23T15:35:34Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I didn’t get to watch the debate, but I did happen to flip through FOX, MSNBC, CNN and CBS when I got home from work last night. A far, far, far different tone than what’s being presented in this thread. And yet post debate polls pretty much said the same thing as this thread. Must be that liberal media once again right? ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/620 "2012-10-23T15:36:03Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I think they need to do away with the senior citizen-moderators (Schieffer, Lehrer). Or maybe they need to do away with the male moderators? 😕 > > All I know is Bob Schieffer certainly didn’t seem like he was in control of that debate. He just came off as an old ‘fuddy duddy’. Might be a sexist comment, but I think the female moderators work out better than male moderators because the candidates just won’t talk over and interrupt a woman as much as they will a man. They just can’t help but be a little more polite. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497.md?page=32)