Romney is showing grasp of nations and issues around world. Can be commander in chief and steward of foreign policy. His capacity to take over is the big issue of this debate. He is showing he can. Makes him a winner.
Romney is scoring debate points with the people watching by not interrupting the president when he is speaking. Obama, on the other hand, can't sit still. As far as the optics go, points to Romney.
The crowd at my place is getting bored. Cant say I blame them. This debate should be about the economy and the fiscal cliff.
Apology tour...this is a great talking point.
It occurs to me that it took the Obama administration, according to published reports, almost two weeks to set up the daily national security briefing for Governor Romney once he was officially the GOP presidential nominee. That is simply
astounding.
Worth noting that former Israeli intel chief today had a great comment about the value of talking with your enemies -- "not talking with them doesn't de-legitimize them."
Under Obama, Iran had 1000 kg low enriched uranium (LEU) in January 2009, but today it has 6876 kg, enough for 5 nuclear bombs if enriched further. Iran had no 20 percent high enriched uranium (HEU) in January 2009; today it has 190 kg--what's worse, 20 percent HEU is roughly 80 percent of the effort needed to get to weapons-grade uranium.
I disagree, Clark. This is the same guy who couldn't manage a trip to London for the Olympics without insulting our closest ally. Whose initial response after Benghazi was to make it political. Who went to Jerusalem and inflamed the Middle East. Anybody can study a briefing book. The question is, what do you do when you get past the practiced answers? Romney's track record on that isn't as good. I'm so tired of Democrats having to clean up after gigantic Republican foreign policy messes -- which has happened at least five times in the past 50 years -- and the next Republican candidate thinks they can attack how quickly the Democrats has put out the fire and cleaned up the mess. We wouldn't be in this situation if the former Republican president, with the same advisers as this candidate, didn't commit us to two wars on a credit card.
Obama fails to score on the apology tour comment because Romney made clear it was his name for what Obama was doing, not presented as an unimpeachable fact. Meanwhile, Obama's defensiveness on Iran and the green revolution is justified. His conduct of U.S. policy toward Iran has been a potentially deadly failure.
Governor, you were still invested in Chinese companies investing in Iran. Think Ohio will notice that one -- not to mention Pennsylvania.
It never ceases to amaze me that apology tour is completely wrong and has been repeatedly debunked by fact-checkers.
By the way, what did the previous Republican president do on Iran? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Despite that it is the same neocons advising Romney today.
Line of the night perhaps: America has not dictated to other nations. America has freed other nation's from dictators.
If Obama didn't go to fundraisers in Israel it may be the only place he's been where he hasn't had a fundraiser.
This is all good and fine for Obama to say, but the state of Israel does not believe that Obama is its friend.
President-Romney exchange on state of the world: Romney was effective and his list of particulars are more telling and reflective of popular knowledge, hence credible.
Giants up 7-0 in the 5th. Bears up 10-0 in the second quarter.
Romney looks so pained whenever Obama mentions Romney's completely wrong positions of the past year. My nephew has sat silently next to me for 30 minutes. This is the first answer where he says "wow."
Obama still going after Romney instead of talking about his achievements. Both sides playing to their own strengths and bases.
Obama's 9/11 answer the best answer of the night. Romney's smirk doing him no favors.
Effective use of the bin Laden card there by Obama.
Robert Z., so why is it so problematic to work with the United Nations?
Obama most effective moment: talking about bin Laden action and decision.
Is anybody troubled by the fact that Romney was against the 2014 deadline before he was for it? That's why he transitioned instantly to Pakistan. This is a very eloquent answer on Pakistan. But what would you do differently, Governor? Nothing -- no details offered at all.
Romney in talking about Pakistan again demonstrates broad grasp of country. Again, message is he can handle foreign policy and national security well.
Robert, that doesn't mean the Bush administration did anything on Iran. And you know it.
Obama doing a better job this time on talking about specific people, something Romney did very well in first two debates.
Everything the president has said boils down do a continuation of his calls for a second stimulus. He has no new ideas.
Note: President's pink rubber bracelet is for breast cancer.
Robert Z, it's also the case that the resolutions and sanctions the Obama administration has gotten have really hurt Tehran in ways the previous resolutions didn't.
Romney is right to note importance of “benchmarks” and leveraging aid with regards to Pakistan. After Pakistan cancelled visas of U.S. special operations trainers in June 2011, the Obama administration withheld $800 million in security aid, forcing Islamabad to alter its strategic thinking. The fact is that properly used aid is critical to encouraging slow—but positive—changes in Pakistan.
Interesting how the conversation has shifted so quickly from Afghanistan to Pakistan. I wonder how that will resonate with public that's tuned out to Afghanistan.
Governor Romney has missed an important opportunity in the discussion of Pakistan to mention it was leaks out of the Obama White House that led to the arrest of the doctor who helped the United States "get" Osama bin Laden--and that the president has remained largely silent on the subject while this friend of America languishes in jail for 30 years.
Peter, are you watching the same debate I am?
Schieffer, *we* may know Obama's position on drones but low information voters watching might want someone to elucidate it.
From the Romney campaign:
Mitt Romney says Obama conducted an apology tour. PolitiFact says ... Romney's pants are on fire.
Under Obama, Iran had 1000 kg low enriched uranium (LEU) in January 2009, but today it has 6876 kg, enough for 5 nuclear bombs if enriched further. Iran had no 20 percent high enriched uranium (HEU) in January 2009; today it has 190 kg--what's worse, 20 percent HEU is roughly 80 percent of the effort needed to get to weapons-grade uranium.
I disagree, Clark. This is the same guy who couldn't manage a trip to London for the Olympics without insulting our closest ally. Whose initial response after Benghazi was to make it political. Who went to Jerusalem and inflamed the Middle East. Anybody can study a briefing book. The question is, what do you do when you get past the practiced answers? Romney's track record on that isn't as good. I'm so tired of Democrats having to clean up after gigantic Republican foreign policy messes -- which has happened at least five times in the past 50 years -- and the next Republican candidate thinks they can attack how quickly the Democrats has put out the fire and cleaned up the mess. We wouldn't be in this situation if the former Republican president, with the same advisers as this candidate, didn't commit us to two wars on a credit card.
Romney is right to note importance of “benchmarks” and leveraging aid with regards to Pakistan. After Pakistan cancelled visas of U.S. special operations trainers in June 2011, the Obama administration withheld $800 million in security aid, forcing Islamabad to alter its strategic thinking. The fact is that properly used aid is critical to encouraging slow—but positive—changes in Pakistan.
