For Obama, No More Excuses - by Bob Herbert

[kpete]

.............................

How in heaven's name could Obama let him get away with that?

The harsh truth is that President Obama seemed unprepared for the debate. He came off as a man who didn't really want to be there, who wondered why he should have to be bothered fending off the impertinent attacks and serial untruths being flung at him by his opponent. The millions of Obama supporters who wanted to see flashes of passion and fire from their guy -- from a president fighting effectively on their behalf -- were left with nothing but the bitter taste of disappointment.

Romney, in contrast, seemed not just confident but in command. He was dynamic (as he fashioned one falsehood after another), while Obama seemed flat, uncomfortable and unwilling to vigorously counteract the falsehoods. Most important, Romney was the one far more willing to fight.

There will be more debates. And the election has not been decided by any means. But Obama's supporters need to make it clear that the time for excuses is over. The president had no right to show up for a debate unprepared and offer an expectant nation an embarrassingly half-hearted performance. Progressive leaders, who represent Obama's strongest and most faithful supporters, have an obligation to convey that message in the strongest possible terms.

The president let his people down. And if he's capable of doing that in an election that is clearly so important, it means he's capable of doing it again if he wins a second term.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/10/05

[AgingAmerican]

1. I would not call Obama's performance, "Half hearted."

He just wasn't a hyper active, overly excited, lying jerk like Romney.

[COLGATE4]

2. Absolutely right on the money. I don't

know what the hell got into Obama. He had the golden opportunity to drive a stake through the heart of the Rmoney campaign and instead just phoned it in.

[ProSense]

3. Here:

Democratic Pollster: Romney Scored Some Points But Not Enough
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021467583

Romney gains after debate ... with Republicans (Obama with independents)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021473097

Everyone has an opinion, and frankly, the handwringing Obama's performance based on Mitt's unhinged stage act is sickening.

People were upset the President didn't bring up the 47 percent comment. Now we learn that's what Mitt wanted (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021475018). Today, Mitt is apologizing for it (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021475193)

People are so proud to declare unhinged lying as winning. Lowering standards.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021467011

[JustAnotherGen]

4. I must be the only

Leftist in America that is not let down by Obama . . . Of COURSE he got sucker punched. Romney flip flopped on every single position he's ever taken, lied without remorse, and was acting like a he was hopped up on something.

What no one seems to be saying? Obama looked shocked.

And I'm personally VERY VERY happy he didn't hit him with the 47%. . . because Romney would have just lied, pointed at him and said, "NO I DIDN'T! YOU Said that!"

And not a single pundit would have called him to the floor on that.

[CakeGrrl]

9. I'm not let down either. I'm happy to disagree with the handwringers

and find it interesting that they're trying to bully people into seeing it their way. "Admit it!" "Stop polishing the turd!"

I don't care who disagrees with me, but they seem to take offense that not everyone is as disappointed with/disgusted with the President.

No one will convince me that there's a good way to deal with a lying liar who's on a roll.

[ann---]

5. I agree and

my worst fear is that if the president is re-elected he will govern as a Blue Dog Democrat. I think his performance at the debate was pathetic.

[mazzarro]

6. That is the sad aspect of this performance of his.

Like Bob Herbert, I felt that Obama never fought back in kind. He never found his inner Harry Truman, never took his case forcefully to the people. He kept trying to accommodate the other side long after it was clear that no accommodation was possible. This has been his attitude and probably will continue after the election and liberals will again be disappointed once again. Somehow, the Democratic Party leadership never want to land the knock-out punch to put out the rePIGs light once and for all. This monster called TeaPIGlicans is being allowed to grow and pester our lives - the commoners.

[treestar]

7. He was not "unprepared."

What a tool this guy is.

"his people?" Is the President this idiot's Moses?

[Denzil_DC]

8. How many debates has this Herbert ever won? n/t

[tokenlib]

11. Bob Herbert is a respected, well regarded columnist who has been around for a long time.

I don't think his comments are to be brushed aside so lightly. He's one of the good guys!!

[Poll_Blind]

10. Chilling quote from the article:

"There is always some excuse, some reason for not bringing all of the president's energy and resources to the fight."

Always some excuse.

That's been true for almost three years now and it's chilling. I have no reasonable explanation for a good chunk of his behavior from either a Left-wing viewpoint or from the viewpoint of the campaign promises he made when running for the Presidency in 2008.

I simply, for the most part, do not understand his choices or why he made them. I don't know if it's fair of the author of the article to take that aspect of him and use it to throw long shadows over his performance in the debates. I just don't know.

But it spooks me because I have every reason to expect he will be elected again and when that happens I hope to Christ he does something other than the exact same thing he's been doing since the winter of 2009.

PB

[Octafish]

12. Kick for those unwilling to face the situation.

Where's the fighting spirit, Mr. President?