DID OBAMA REALLY LOSE—OR WAS HIS PERFORMANCE PART OF AN OVERALL DEBATE STRATEGY THAT HE WILL DEPLOY IN THE FUTURE?
It is so easy to conclude that Obama lost in the last debate or for Obama’s antagonists to claim that he can’t debate.  Sen. McCain cautions against such assumptions, saying Obama should not be under-estimated by his opponent.  Let us recall that Obama did quite well in many debates as he sought the Presidency in 2007-2008.  Now, here is my take on Obama’s debate encounter with Romney on September 3, 2012:
As it unfolded, I, like almost everyone else, was puzzled, frustrated, even angry about Obama’s performance.  Upon further reflection long after the event, I have come to the following conclusions:
1.  At that debate, Obama was feeling his opponent out, trying to draw him out knowing there are future debates.  That partly explains Obama’s smiles and smirks as the debate went on.  So, he let Romney exhaust himself on his main arguments, talking points and spins, some would say on his many prevarications, about-faces and falsehoods.  He made these statements before a huge national.  He can’t retract or correct them in future without losing credibility—and, by pundits’ count, Romney made about 28 mendacious statements that night.  He has already tried to correct one—that his own health care law in Mass. has a provision for pre-existing condition.
2. Therefore, since the debate, Obama has gone on the offensives debunking or making fun of Romney’s false and misleading assertions.  Expect him to do so even more aggressively in the second debate!  He would be hammering Romney on his false logic, bad math and deliberate lies, though he may not outrightly call them “lies.”
3. At the debate, Obama revealed little of himself.  So Romney has little to work on.  At the debate, Romney was out to prove himself and reverse a bad trend.  Obama simply watched—at the end he said ominously that he “enjoyed it.”  Obama did not even get into Romney’s disastrous 47% comments.  Thus, he denied Romney the opportunity to pedal back before a national audience.
4. Having set Romney up, Obama would be ready for the kill in the next encounter!  He knows and can anticipate Romney’s well-rehearsed answers.  Obama will do his home work on all of those.  Romney can’t on Obama’s; he doesn’t know.
5. The final debate on foreign policy is uniquely Obama’s territory.  Romney know little that is meaningful here except what former Bush aids would feed him.  But Bush is toxic for this election season.  Here, Romney would receive his final body blow!
6. Finally, the new job report bodes well for Obama.  It takes the wind out of Romney’s sail.  It undercuts severely his main selling point.  Obama wins!

10-6-12

I would like to submit an article on what to look for in leadership in a candidate.  I saw the debate.  Clearly, Mitt Romney, put forth what he would do should he be elected president.

“One can determine true leaders by this means.  If their policies are not towards the welfare of the people,but only serve self and their lust for power, then they fall short of worthy leadership.  When valid laws are disregarded and free will takes precedence over the reality of God’s Will, you do not have worthy leadership.”

:When leaders are so impressed with their own high position that they misuse their authority and lead many astray, they tempt God’s Justice to step in.”

“Learn from the path the Pharisees followed in Jesus’ Day.  They were so pleased with themselves, that God did not matter.  Every generation has seen the rise and the fall of leadership which - greedy for more and more power - fell into corruption and eventual collapse.”

“Many nations and many leaders are following this path.  You must always sand for Truth, no matter who or by what power of authority opposes you.”

“When Jesus returns, there will be NO corruption of leadership.  Your choices will be clear and righteous.  For now, you must carefully discern what you are being told to do, or told not to do, and choose according to the Truth.”

Choose the candidate who supports ALL life from the womb to the tomb.  That is NOT Pres. Obama. 

Sincerely,
Camille Pepe