# The first presidential debate: 10/3/2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 3, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602 "2012-10-03T17:16:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/61 "2012-10-04T01:16:06Z")
I’m waiting for the day they decide to make one of these more exciting by filming it in shaky-cam. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/62 "2012-10-04T01:16:45Z")
Interesting that we just had a couple of rounds of “Jobs” without mentioning “Federal Reserve”. Not surprising though. “Energy independence” is also a widely debunked concept, though this one is being pushed solely by Romney. On taxes, Obama needs to hammer on Romney’s [middle class tax increases](http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/09/quote-day-math-hard) . Hard to do without charts. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/63 "2012-10-04T01:18:24Z")
I hate to say it but Romney is doing a much better job. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/64 "2012-10-04T01:18:45Z")
“You got a study? Well, I got a study too.” Hah. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/65 "2012-10-04T01:19:36Z")
Mitt has a chameleon for a tax plan. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/66 "2012-10-04T01:20:07Z")
Obama just supported the fiscal cliff! :eek: (Well, I do too, but that can be used against him…) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/67 "2012-10-04T01:20:59Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I hate to say it but Romney is doing a much better job. I’m actually going to agree, on the first question, at least. Both these guys are putting me to sleep, frankly. Kind of highlights just how well Bill Clinton handled a similar subject at the DNC. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/68 "2012-10-04T01:21:33Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I hate to say it but Romney is doing a much better job. Yeah, he had a smirk earlier, but I thought he was decent. Obama is a better orator, but Romney is a better debater. Challengers typically get a rise out of the first debate, simply by being on the same platform as the President. ## " Both these guys are putting me to sleep, frankly." It’s really hard to cover numeric stuff without charts. Bill Clinton is about the only person able to pull it off. ETA 9:23PM ET …Obama doing a little better tying things up. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/69 "2012-10-04T01:21:40Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Good first joke for Mitt Yeah, I actually laughed without burying my face in my palm and then groaning afterward. Now let’s get back to this horse-size duck. What weapon(s) am I given to fight it with? ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/70 "2012-10-04T01:21:56Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Good first joke for Mitt What? His running mate?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/71 "2012-10-04T01:22:27Z")
Lehrer needs to hang it up. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/72 "2012-10-04T01:22:44Z")
I don’t like how Romney completely steps over the moderator. It bugs me. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/73 "2012-10-04T01:23:57Z")
OK, Lehrer is sucking as a Mod. Why do they even pretend he’s a moderator if he’s a mere timekeeper who can’t even hit the buzzer. > [@hajario](#): > > I hate to say it but Romney is doing a much better job. He’s got his points very well put together. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/74 "2012-10-04T01:25:23Z")
Romney kind of doesn’t care about the agreed-upon debate rules, does he? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/75 "2012-10-04T01:25:27Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I don’t like how Romney completely steps over the moderator. It bugs me. God, look at him! He might as well say “Fuck you, Lehrer. I make the rules now.” ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/76 "2012-10-04T01:26:00Z")
Romney: “I want the last word!” ---
**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 4, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/77 "2012-10-04T01:26:07Z")
Romney doing much better. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/78 "2012-10-04T01:26:20Z")
Jesus, Lehrer is totally toothless. ---
**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 4, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/79 "2012-10-04T01:26:26Z")
Mitt Romney ain’t gonna let no _moderator_ tell him when he can speak. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602/80 "2012-10-04T01:28:47Z")
Romney continues to kick ass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-first-presidential-debate-10-3-2012/636602.md?page=5)