# The second presidential debate: 10/16/2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 16, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847 "2012-10-16T04:35:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 30
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/581 "2012-10-17T03:37:09Z")
Like I said, Obama’s definitely fired up his base something fierce tonight. That can do nothing but good things for his reelection chances. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/582 "2012-10-17T03:38:42Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > (btw, he did lie as the original story was that it was a spontaneous attack spurred by the anti-Islamic video), after which the crowd starting clapping her. What, specifically, was the lie he told? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/583 "2012-10-17T03:40:40Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > This is a 20 second soundbite that will be on every news show for a few days. With what results? ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/584 "2012-10-17T03:40:49Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > To begin the debate, she clearly stated that the crowd should not clap or boo. After Obama gave his line about calling Libya a terrorist attack directly after the incident and Romney was going to call him out on it, she interjected, running to Obama’s defense (btw, he did lie as the original story was that it was a spontaneous attack spurred by the anti-Islamic video), after which the crowd starting clapping her. > > That actually pissed me off, quite honestly. There was a second moment during the debate that the audience also clapped. (Can’t recall it off-hand.) The audience was not clapping _her_. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/585 "2012-10-17T03:41:57Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > It was great video. It’ll be viral within the hour. The President presented Romney with a pile of dog shit on the floor and invited him to step in it, which Romney promptly did. > > You had to watch the whole Denver debate to understand why Obama lost it. This is a 20 second soundbite that will be on every news show for a few days. Also, “I’m here.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/586 "2012-10-17T03:42:57Z")
CNN interviewing Ohio undecideds. ---
**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 17, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/587 "2012-10-17T03:43:01Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > To begin the debate, she clearly stated that the crowd should not clap or boo. After Obama gave his line about calling Libya a terrorist attack directly after the incident and Romney was going to call him out on it, she interjected, running to Obama’s defense (btw, he did lie as the original story was that it was a spontaneous attack spurred by the anti-Islamic video), after which the crowd starting clapping her. > > That actually pissed me off, quite honestly. I bet it did. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/588 "2012-10-17T03:43:02Z")
Well that didn’t take long: [Binders Full of Women](http://bindersfullofwomen.tumblr.com/) ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/589 "2012-10-17T03:44:21Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > To begin the debate, she clearly stated that the crowd should not clap or boo. After Obama gave his line about calling Libya a terrorist attack directly after the incident and Romney was going to call him out on it, she interjected, running to Obama’s defense (btw, he did lie as the original story was that it was a spontaneous attack spurred by the anti-Islamic video), after which the crowd starting clapping her. > > That actually pissed me off, quite honestly. That was the most outrageous part of her “moderation.” A debate is between the candidates. If Romney says that Obama said that he would round up and execute all white people, it is up to Obama to refute that, not the moderator. The moderator is simply there to enforce the debate rules, which she did not do by allowing Obama to speak for 4 more minutes than Romney. ---
**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 17, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/590 "2012-10-17T03:45:32Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > There was a second moment during the debate that the audience also clapped. (Can’t recall it off-hand.) That was the only time during the debate I can recall that happening. When was the other time? > [@](#): > > The audience was not clapping _her_. Who were they clapping for? The Easter Bunny? ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/591 "2012-10-17T03:45:32Z")
Was it a debate rule that both candidates were to speak for _exactly_ the same time? ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/592 "2012-10-17T03:47:51Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > That was the only time during the debate I can recall that happening. When was the other time? It was mentioned when CNN interviewed the Moderator. Again, I cannot recall it. Hopefully, someone can fact check it. > [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > Who were they clapping for? The Easter Bunny? Big Bird. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/593 "2012-10-17T03:49:08Z")
The Republicans should totally run with the “It’s not Candy Crowley’s job to point out Mitt Romney’s lies” story. It’s probably the break the Romney campaign has been waiting for. ---
**Author:** ![ecoaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/85e7bf/32.png) [@ecoaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ecoaster)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/594 "2012-10-17T03:49:56Z")
A second thing, does anyone else think this whole Benghazi security failure is a complete waste of time? Four American died, clearly someone screwed up with the intel. But this hardly qualifies as a failure of the President. Nothing to see here, keep it moving. 1473 Americans have died in Afghanistan since Obama took office. Tens of thousands of Afghan civilians. And yet all quiet from the pundits and press… ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/595 "2012-10-17T03:50:14Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > That was the only time during the debate I can recall that happening. When was the other time? There was another time that about two people started to clap (like they’d forgotten the rules) and then quickly stopped. Obama had just finished a kind of long slam on Romney, but I can’t remember which one it was. I’m 80% certain that it was after the half way point. ---
**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 17, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/596 "2012-10-17T03:52:15Z")
I am stuck at work now. I went on break and in the back was Fox News. Needless to say, I got a panel of suppose id impartial and undecided voters, none of them have anything good to say about Obama and commented how much they loved Mister Romney. So I don’t know who actually won the debate, but I know very well that I’m glad I usually don’t watch Fox News. ---
**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 17, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/597 "2012-10-17T03:52:18Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > The best part was Obama’s saying “Please proceed governor” and Romney missing what should have been an obvious warning that he was being encouraged to walk right into a trap. :smack: 😛 I thought that was one of the coolest fucking things ever. Romney’s staring at Obama with that weasel shit sucking look on his face badgering about “You did? You did? I just wanted to get that on on the record.” And Obama just looks at him coolly and commands him to proceed. Awesome! I really believe that this is where the right wing disconnection from reality does them a disservice. They believe this shit. They all sit around telling each other things that are not true and convincing each other that the lack of corroboration from outside sources is a product of colluding forces. Then they have their candidate step on his dick on national tv as a result. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/598 "2012-10-17T03:52:39Z")
Unfortunately I missed the debate - but seeing the commentary here is very reassuring and makes me happy. Obama seems to have totally owned this one - I do hope it leads to a poll bounce, especially on the back of Ryan being exposed last week by Biden. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/599 "2012-10-17T03:53:25Z")
Dems now complaining about poll over-sampling? ---
**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 17, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847/600 "2012-10-17T03:53:32Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > Who were they clapping for? The Easter Bunny? They were clapping for the truth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-second-presidential-debate-10-16-2012/637847.md?page=31)