Romney gets his cheat sheet out in the Debate. Slow mo video is MUCH clearer.

[Ian62]

it is definitely a pad of paper not a handkerchief.
But we cannot see what, if anything, is written on it.

We can surmise from the surreptitious way that Romney put it on his lectern, that there probably were notes written on it - he is trying to hide what he is doing.

I watched the vids in the other 2 posts - they were not nearly as clear as the slow mo.

Another reason :-
Men DO NOT keep their hanky in their front right pocket.



In other news :-
Nothing says you believe in America more than holding a fundraiser in Hong Kong.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/49192763

[Tx4obama]

1. Here are two link below with LOTS of discussion regarding the issue, come on over :)

Here in DU Politics2012: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251119479

and

Here in DU LBN: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014256852

[Ian62]

2. The slow mo above is MUCH clearer

it is definitely a pad of paper not a handkerchief.
But we cannot see what if anything is written on it.

We can surmise from the surreptitious way that Romney put it on his lectern, that there probably were notes written on it - he is trying to hide what he is doing.

I watched the vids in the other 2 posts - they were not nearly as clear as the slow mo.

[Tx4obama]

3. Ahhh. Perhaps you should put in OP subject line that it is a 'slo-mo video' so folks....

will know it's something new and will click on it

[Ian62]

4. I just did.

Great minds think alike

[Tx4obama]

5. I watched your 'slo-mo' version and it sorta looks like ...

a handkerchief.
BUT the cheat sheet could be inside of the hanky.

[Ian62]

7. There is so much starch in that "handkerchief" it looks like paper.

Also check out how Romney checks where the camera is as he walks up to the lectern.

Sort of like doing a recce before doing the bank job.

[lumpy]

24. Look again- looks like he placed 2 items on the lecturn.

We need a closeup.

[JaneyVee]

6. Definitely a piece of paper. You wouldn't pull a handkerchief out of your pocket shaped like

a square. It's a pad of some sort.

[Octafish]

10. At the :13-:14 sec. part, you can see the pages ''flip'' as he throws it down.

What a sneaky cheat!

[msongs]

8. the tin foil hat strategy will not change the outcome of the event in any way nt

[lumpy]

25. Maybe, but if he was cheating, people want to know.

Cheaters never prosper ?

[abbeyco]

9. I think what was written on it:

"Lie my ass off!"

I'm actually re-watching this on my DVR and I think it's work contacting the debate commission - they head up all of the debates.

[Octafish]

11. Professional Grade Crook

Romney moved his hand with the papers when the lectern blocked the audience and Lehrer from view. If it was a hanky, he wouldn't have gone to such pains to hide it.













As it stands, this clearly shows the guy's a cheating bastard in the tradition of the GOP.

[blue neen]

18. Exactly.

If it's a hanky, why be so sneaky about placing it on the podium?

This looks like a very-well rehearsed action. I wonder what his face looks like at the same points in time.

[central scrutinizer]

28. I assume he broke a sweat during his practice sessions and wanted to be ready under the hot lights

But since perspiring might be viewed negatively by some, he would try to wipe his brow when the camera was elsewhere. Doesn't necessarily mean anything that he was surreptitious about bringing the hanky out at the beginning.

[blue neen]

60. Being surreptitious is one thing.

Acting like a skilled shop-lifter is another. Just my humble opinion.

[Incitatus]

71. There were several cameras and at least one would always be on him and filming. He would know that

there would be no time he could wipe sweat without it being caught on film

[sabrina 1]

21. Did he seem to be looking down at the lectern during the debate?

I have only seen some clips so far so can't say.

Also, do the rules forbid them from bringing paper to the debates?

I know he collected what was on the lectern when the debate ended and handed it to his son. But from what I've read, the President did not do this.

I wonder if those photos can be enhanced enough to see if there was writing on the paper?

[lonestarnot]

26. Did you get an answer on the rules yet? Seems like the lecterns would be set up with blank pad and

functional pens. Afterall, it was a debate for Office of the President of the United States. Cheat'n bastid!

[sabrina 1]

34. See rhett o rick's post below. He says Al Gore stated before the debate that they

are not allowed to bring notes to the debate. I am nearly certain that paper and pencils are provided so they can make notes during the debate. That would make sense in order to prevent anyone from bringing prepared notes.

[tarheelsunc]

35. Well, they gave them pads, you can see the pad already on the podium before he sets the notes on top

[rhett o rick]

33. Al Gore said just prior to the debate on CurrentTV that bringing notes was not allowed.

But you can take notes during. I remember wondering when I saw Romney look at notes when he had written them down. I hadnt noticed him writing notes. But I did remember at least one time seeing him reading notes.

[sabrina 1]

36. Thanks, makes sense. Al Gore would know I'm sure.

[Octafish]

51. The spaghetti will hit the fan when Al's team gets done going over the frame-by-frame.

Ha ha ha ha!!!!!!! (maniacal donkey laugh)

[Kingofalldems]

12. Kick this one

[CoffeeCat]

13. I am still learning about this...but the post-debate video...

...really is fascinating.

I don't think the video is conclusive. I wish it was. Mitt Romney is a psychopath and I certainly don't think that cheating is out of the realm of possibilities here. We need proof though.

We need the video that kept rolling behind him. All of the video. It needs to be zoomed in so we can see exactly what was on that podium. Surely, that is possible with today's technology.

Also, the video after the debate--when Romney walks over to the podium and grabs his notes. Look at that video closely. Ann sees what it in his hands, then she does a double take. Then, she looks like she's in a panic, trying to rush everyone off the stage. You can clearly hear/see her saying something about "...we need to get you off the stage now."

Also, did anyone else notice that right after Romney grabs the papers and walks over, he's standing behind Jim Lehrer, trying to get the papers in his pocket. But he can't. He's struggling trying to get them in his suit pocket. Then Jim Lehrer moves away from the group and it looks as if Mitt is attempting to get Jim Lehrer back in front of him. He looks panicked and like he was using JL to block any view of what Romney was doing while he was desperately trying to get the papers in his jacket pocket.

Did anyone else notice this??? Or care to comment???

There has got to be a way to enhance the sound during that scene. What did Anne say? What was said to the sons...prior to one of the sons taking the papers and putting them away? I think Ann said some incriminating things, because you really see the look on her face when she sees what Mitt has--then she goes into action.

There's a lot that has to happen here before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.

I don't know whether Mitt Romney used a cheat sheet, but this is worth exploring. For sure.

[bushisanidiot]

45. pics of ann's reaction to mitts notes

no one sees mitt carrying notes

[IMG][/IMG]


after seeing.mitt holding his notes in his left hand, sh cant take her eyes off them. mitts right hand is free to shake lehrers hand.
[IMG][/IMG]


ann tries to take notes out of mitts hand

[IMG][/IMG]


lehrer tries to shake anns hand but she is trying to take notes from mitt, so she stops to address lehrer

[IMG][/IMG]

[Politicalboi]

55. Good luck with the other camera angles

Even the Pentagon failed, only one camera, and it's still acceptable today. Can anyone here read lips on a video? It would be interesting to find out what Queen Ann said. We also don't see Rmoney putting the hankie back into his front pocket. I mean if it was a hankie, why not pick it up, fold it, and put it back into your pocket.

[HooptieWagon]

14. Thoughts:

No proof, but much circumstantial evidence. He pulls the object out of his pocket at the exact moment the lectern blocks the view of the audience and Leher... not 2 seconds earlier or later. The object is held as a stiff folded paper would be, not as a limp hanky would be. He places the object on top of the debate-supplied note paper, not to the side as one would think a hankerchief would be. He appears to be fiddling with the object, like unfolding it. A hankerchief would remain folded. What happens after the debate? I haven't seen a video showing him returning a hankerchief to his trousers pocket. The papers he retrieves, he tries to place in his breast pocket. then hands them to his son. Why not leave notes for an aide to pick up, unless the need to remove them as quickly as possible before they were spotted?

[trof]

15. But it's the pocket next to the audience.

If it WAS notes I'd have put it in the pocket AWAY from the audience.
I watched the video very carefully and it could have been a hanky.

[Waiting For Everyman]

16. He knew there was a camera to his left side behind him - he looked into it as he turned.

Then he positioned his body to the very left of the podium, blocking it.

[lumpy]

29. How many people in that audience would know the rules of the debate re. notes, etc?

n

[HooptieWagon]

66. Could be.

But I'm looking at the position of his hand, a hankerchief would have been held palm down and placed to the side of the lectern that way. The position of his hand suggests he was holding a folded paper, and he placed it in the middle of the lectern on top of the note paper... not where you would place a hankerchief. And if he carried a hankerchief in his trouser pocket, you would think he would return it to the same pocket.

[Chorophyll]

17. I watched it in full-screen mode on Youtube, several times.

It's hard to say, but the object does this weird little bounce that leads me to believe it's something more solid than a handkerchief. Could be a handkerchief AND a pad. He did use a handkerchief toward the end of the debate. Covering his ass?

I feel like I should mention the grassy knoll next. Argh.

[CoffeeCat]

56. We need the video that was shot...

...behind Romney during the entire debate.

That video was rolling the whole debate. CSPAN had cameras in several positions, and that camera behind Romney rolled the entire time.

We need to see that footage.

If we can see Romney taking a handkerchief out, or unfolding the paper, or looking at this paper, we've got something.

Or, if we can zoom in on the paper to reveal typed words or handwritten words, that would also be a slam dunk.

Without that video we have squat, because Romney's people will deny.

I really hope that someone is on this.

If Romney did cheat, that's noteworthy--historical really.

[Chorophyll]

57. I thought that object taped to the back of Dubya in '04 was going to be historical,

but no such luck.

[lunasun]

62. the hump in 04 never was called out on M$M much, neither will the hanky pad = sad cheats

and they would have gotten totally away with it too if it wasn't for us meddling observers!!!!!

[kelliekat44]

19. Just a question? Were the debators not allowed to bring notes?

I didn't hear the rules of the debate.

[rhett o rick]

32. You can not bring notes. You can take notes during the debate. nm

[Chorophyll]

58. Paper was provided on the lecterns for note-taking.

They always TAKE notes during the debates, but they're not supposed to bring anything.

[sabrina 1]

20. That's definitely not a handkerchief. Maybe someone can blow it up

to see if it has writing on it.

[StarryNite]

22. I zoomed in on it.

I couldn't see any writing because it gets very pixelated. But it seems like it is very stiff, not like fabric.

[lumpy]

23. It definately looks like he put 2 different items on the lecturn. I noticed this

in other videos. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he was cheating as well as lying.

[mattvermont]

27. Never seen a hanky bounce like that

not that I really care...what would you expect.

[MFM008]

30. my dad used those

cloth hankies (gross) his whole life. He kept it in his pants pocket folded but it was never that thick. Romneys object looks to thick and and if its a hankey it folds out into a table cloth. In a town hall format he cant hide anything.

[MFM008]

37. ok

[bI took these picts into paintshop blew them up to 3226x1814 I cant see writing BUT I went and got some hankies I had saved after my dad passed and folded them in various size and they do NOT hold their shape like that. Neither cloth NOR silky. Hankies fold over hard when held out like that. That cannot not be a a cloth hankie, period.
PICTURES
HANKIE
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/edit/a.10151271841048487.518790.520033486/

[gkhouston]

43. They don't hold their shape like that, even if they're starched with laundry starch.

I learned to iron on my dad's hankies.

[MFM008]

52. me to

iron hankies, shine his shoes for work, USAF. Iron shirts. brush up his USAF hat.
dear old dad.

[liberal N proud]

31. One of those photographer's must have caught it.

A second source could really put some teeth in it.

[tarheelsunc]

38. It's too solid to be a handkerchief

Notice how it bounces when the first edge hits the notepad on the podium. A handkerchief, which would be considerably softer, would not bounce back at all. It's simple physics.

[Lex]

39. Smooth move. He should've been a pickpocket. Oh wait, he kinda is. nt

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

40. Hankys don't bounce!

Where's your tax returns Mitt the Counterfeit!?

[-..__...]

53. Yes... they DO bounce!

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/257086/howdy-ho-kyle

[Rex]

41. It was a napkin that had a phone number on it

and a few words

"Call me, xxx-xxx-xxxx

Sarah P."

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

42. Why would he use a hanky?

You absolutely do not want to wipe make-up from your face, leaving streaks and shininess. Modern make-up for TV contains silicone that blocks the pores and keeps you from sweating under the hot lights. The only reason I can think of for a handkerchief is maybe to wipe his mouth as I think he has a problem with saliva causing lip smacks.

[Plaid Adder]

44. Here's all I'm prepared to say: Slo-mo Romney is even creepier than real-time Romney!

Especially the smirk!

The Plaid Adder

[Lex]

46. Kick & Rec

[Berlum]

47. No doubt about it

Romney cheated.

[Lex]

48. 2 questions: 1. why be so sneaky about a hanky, and 2. why lay a hanky out like that?

[obamanut2012]

49. I don't know what that was, but it ain't no hanky

It did flop like a pad of paper.

[riverwalker]

50. For those who are concerned

COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES

Executive Director
Janet H. Brown

Contact: Janet H. Brown Tel. [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

[earthside]

54. It's a handkerchief.

The only reason I carry one is to cover a sneeze or to wipe perspiration.

Sometimes I do carry it in my front pocket, especially if I think I might be needing it.

Mine are made of some kind of cotton blend that is rather stiff ... it probably would bounce in slow motion if I dropped it like that on a hard surface.

Under those TV lights, with the Nixon experience, you bet I would have a handkerchief readily available if I were in that kind of a debate.

Sorry, I absolutely believe that Bush was wired and cheated -- but frankly I think that this theory is a bit farfetched.

Besides, a cheat sheet would help a person with content, but not make much difference to delivery -- Rmoney had better delivery that evening than did Pres. Obama.

You don't need a cheat sheet if you are going to lie and make things up.

[treestar]

59. that's a good point

what did Rmoney need a cheat sheet for?

The Mittbot is already programmed. No papers needed.

[Wednesdays]

61. Let's put it this way: busted or not

You can betcha rMoney will be in a fishbowl under a microscope next debate, and he would have to possess a huge pair of cajones to attempt anything from now on.

[WeekendWarrior]

63. Looks like a folded handkerchief to me.

Do you really think Romney needed a cheat sheet? He told so many lies it didn't matter.

[budkin]

64. Meh, who cares. It's over. Everyone knows Romney is a liar and a cheat

We'll see who wins the next debate.

[Cirque du So-What]

65. Personally, I hope he smuggles his crib notes into all three debates

There's nothing but lies and bullshit written on them, after all, so let him cheat! The more codswollop he manages to worm into his speeches, the worse it makes him appear to the American public.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

67. Using an IPad

to enlarge the item coming out of his pocket shows 2 items. He throws
the hanky down and immediately grabs a piece of paper on top of the
hanky.

[ohheckyeah]

68. What we need is video of where

the hanky came from when he wiped his upper lip.

[ESDU]

69. Possibly a planner, couple other things...

The object was very likely a small planner with a handkerchief wrapped around it. So that explains how the handkerchief appeared. Couple things to note. 1. Close to the beginning of the debate (after throwing the object on the podium) he does appear to do something with his left arm - possibly reach into his coat pocket. I'll try to go through the video and find the time at which he did this. Don't know what that would signify though. 2. When Romney goes back to retrieve the papers from the podium, the banner across the video obstructs my view. Does someone have a video without that banner or can that banner be removed so we can see more clearly what he picks up? 3. This subject must have struck a nerve if so many people are trying to discredit it. Keep at it!

[fadedrose]

70. There are a few posts about the "notes" that Romney may have used...

We know he blatantly lied so what's another broken rule?

You joined at a perfect time. This is a wonderful place to put in questions that the media have put in your mind and there are Dems here who could answer them - very knowledgeable people (not me). When things go well, we laugh together, and not so well, we commiserate together, and this place provides more comfort than members of your own family can give you.

Welcome...

Come to "Fiction" when you need a little peace and quiet...