# 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:** 32
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/621 "2012-10-23T15:39:36Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > The inner historian in me dies whenever I watch debates. Nobody wants you people voting anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/622 "2012-10-23T15:41:12Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Did Romney just throw teachers under the bus? TEACHERS? I’m flabbergasted that we’ve gotten so anti-education in this country that we’re willing to throw teachers under the bus in favor of parents in the educational system. What the flibberty gibbet. What happened to the respect we used to hold for teachers? They got too edjumacated. Plus they believe in self esteem instead of ass beatings. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/623 "2012-10-23T15:42:43Z")
Horses and bayonets: [http://media.heavy.com/media/2012/10/horses-and-bayonets-meme-romney.jpeg](http://media.heavy.com/media/2012/10/horses-and-bayonets-meme-romney.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/624 "2012-10-23T15:45:19Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > “Romney won a victory by not getting himself zapped and vaporized like the Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.” He did that by closing his eyes and holding on for dear life. ---
**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, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/625 "2012-10-23T15:53:29Z")
> [@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 am somewhat shocked that you are shocked that an SDMB thread narrative doesn’t match the one on Fox News. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/626 "2012-10-23T15:55:50Z")
Obama is lousy at the first debate: Obama supporters: Wow, Obama was clearly off his game and definitely lost that debate! I hope this isn’t a trend or that it hurts him in the polls that much… Romney supporters: Romney won the debate! This is exactly what will catapult Romney into the White House! In the following debates, Biden beats Ryan, Obama wins the next two against Romney: Romney supporters: Biden smiled too much… Moderators were in the tank… Obama interrupts… Romney only needed a tie to win so he won… And debates don’t matter anyway. Just man up, people. When Obama lost, supporters didn’t make excuses. They may have pointed out the fact that Romney won the first debate with a horse & pony show that trivialized facts and Romney’s own previously held positions, but still conceded that Obama lost. Face it: Your guy lost these debates. And whatever value you gave to Obama losing the first has to mean something since your side went oh-for-three since then. ---
**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, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/627 "2012-10-23T15:57:39Z")
In fairness, Romney didn’t lose as badly the last two times as Obama did the first time. The Republican spin machine is pretty sad, though. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/628 "2012-10-23T16:01:08Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In fairness, Romney didn’t lose as badly the last two times as Obama did the first time. The Republican spin machine is pretty sad, though. I thought this last one was pretty close to as one-sided as the first one. I thought Romney lost every exchange. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/629 "2012-10-23T16:06:47Z")
My favorite of the [“Horses and Bayonets”](http://abcnews.go.com/meta/search/imageDetail?format=plain&source=http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/ht_horses_bayonets_43_wy_121022) thus far…😃 ---
**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, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/630 "2012-10-23T16:12:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I thought this last one was pretty close to as one-sided as the first one. I thought Romney lost every exchange. This final debate was a lot like the first debate, only with the roles reversed. Romney’s campaign advised him not to attack Obama, to appear calm and measured, and to comport himself with dignity. They told him that he had to crank up the statesmanship and rise above the petty squabbling that had marked the first two debates, to essentially make a case for himself as a leader. And what happened? He got lead around by his nose, embarrassed, and ridiculed, all exactly as he had done to Obama in the first debate. Why his campaign didn’t caution him that this could happen, I don’t know. Maybe they did, and nonetheless Romney erred on the wrong side of caution. There’s a case to be made for acting with poise at this point in the election, but Romney way over-did it. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/631 "2012-10-23T16:12:52Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Nobody wants **you people** voting anyway. Bolding mine. Republicans are trying to suppress the historian vote, too?! Damn! ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/632 "2012-10-23T16:19:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In fairness, Romney didn’t lose as badly the last two times as Obama did the first time. In fairness, the CBS post-debate polling would suggest that you are incorrect. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/633 "2012-10-23T16:21:05Z")
Romney claiming Syria is Iran’s path to the sea is a something he actually believes considering he has said it at least [five other times](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/romney-and-irans-route-to-the-sea/2012/04/18/gIQAgTbXRT_blog.html). ---
**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, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/634 "2012-10-23T16:21:50Z")
Yeah, but Nate Silver’s average-of-the-polls put the first debate as nearly twice as big a blow-out as the third. (Responding to Hentor two posts up). ---
**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, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/635 "2012-10-23T16:26:21Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I thought this last one was pretty close to as one-sided as the first one. I thought Romney lost every exchange. Yeah, but he at least looked awake. Obama was bad on style and substance in the first one; Romney was just bad on substance in this one. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/636 "2012-10-23T16:26:26Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > Yeah, but Nate Silver’s average-of-the-polls put the first debate as nearly twice as big a blow-out as the third. > > (Responding to Hentor two posts up). Folks remember folks that happened more recently, so while the first debate may have been a bigger win, it has also faded somewhat, coming almost three weeks ago and more than month before the election. These last two debates are fresher, so my guess is that overall the debates will only slightly favored Romney when all is said and done, but no where near what he needed. ---
**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, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/637 "2012-10-23T16:27:18Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Romney claiming Syria is Iran’s path to the sea is a something he actually believes considering he has said it at least [five other times](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/romney-and-irans-route-to-the-sea/2012/04/18/gIQAgTbXRT_blog.html). wtf?! I want to say, “What a stupid mother lover!” but this man’s not dumb. Not by a long shot. But what the hell is wrong with him? Is it some kind of mental block? Tourette’s Syndrome? What? ---
**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, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/638 "2012-10-23T16:27:30Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Romney claiming Syria is Iran’s path to the sea is a something he actually believes considering he has said it at least [five other times](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/romney-and-irans-route-to-the-sea/2012/04/18/gIQAgTbXRT_blog.html). Wow, it’s impressive that he can run a Presidential campaign while also writing the new map app for iOS. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/639 "2012-10-23T16:29:27Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > Just man up, people. When Obama lost, supporters didn’t make excuses. They may have pointed out the fact that Romney won the first debate with a horse & pony show that trivialized facts and Romney’s own previously held positions, but still conceded that Obama lost. > > Face it: Your guy lost these debates. And whatever value you gave to Obama losing the first has to mean something since your side went oh-for-three since then. QFT Even I admitted Obama was looking absent from the action in the first debate and Romney won thanks to a whirlwind of changing positions and a used Mercedes car salesman charm. This last debate showed what happens to that charm when the salesman is confronted by the [del]carfax[/del] car facts. 🙂 ---
**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, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497/640 "2012-10-23T16:33:03Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > Bolding mine. > > Republicans are trying to suppress the historian vote, too?! Damn! Wouldn’t you, in their shoes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497.md?page=31) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-final-presidential-debate-10-22-12/638497.md?page=33)