The President has a natural disadvantage in the upcoming debates.

[Hukdonfonix]

And that is... the sphere of his control or his sphere of responsibility.

That means, right now Romney can be blamed for things he says, things he does and what others say about him.

President Obama bears the burden of the successes and failures of tens of millions of people for the last four years.

The Presidents greatest successes are seen as failures by 50% of the country. So while Romney will talk about how he will eliminate the need for mid-east oil in 8 years, President Obama will be forced to defend tax payer funding of failed green energy companies such as Solyndra. Mitt Romney will clearly focus on President Obama's promises made in 2007-2008 that didn't quite work out (cutting the debt in half, closing Gitmo and supporting repeal of DOMA).

So the debates will probably focus in on President Obama's failures (every President has them) and broken promises (doesn't every politician do it?) Romney will drop the one liners to the snickers of the Repiglicans. President Obama will be measured and "Presidential" but is going to lose the debates on substance.

The good news? Romney is a reptilian reflection of an empty suit. There is no reason TO vote for Romney so IMHO... Americans will stick with the plan we have rather than try something new.

[hrmjustin]

1. true but in the end the romney is not a great debater, and his comebacks are not good so we shall...

see what happens

[Hukdonfonix]

2. agreed

But debates are an act. President Obama is no actor, he's a thoughtful man who has a natural inclination to defend an action by explaining it and educating the audience. This doesn't work well in a canned scripted debate format.

[notadmblnd]

3. Ummm, Rmoneys career isn't exactly flawless

So I wouldn't jump too high upon that horse yet. I mean buying perfectly profitable companies, borrowing heavily against them, putting that money in your personal offshorred accounts and welching on the debt. Isn't exactly something one should be proud of.

[thelordofhell]

4. talking points are all Romney has

eliminate mid-east oil--------at the cost of multiple oil spill disasters on home grounds

cutting the debt in half--------no republican has voted for it

closing gitmo & repeal of DOMA-----really....republicans are happy for that

President Obama has righted the ship given up for dead by the bush administration........all President Obama has to do is remind the public of the sailing that's still ahead.....and the anchor that has been the republicans all through the last 4 years.......and the cannonball that is Romney

[Raven]

5. I think you are dead wrong. The President will win on

substance. The economy...recovering no thanks to the Republicans. Foreign policy...what experience does Romney have in that area? None. Jobs? Well, the President has created them, Romney/Bain cut and/or outsourced them. Broken promises? Where are your taxes, Governor? The only think Barack Obama has to worry about is the temptation to treat Romney like the lightweight he is. Get real here! This is the candidate who is practicing zingers!

[Hukdonfonix]

6. well

It's difficult for President Obama to talk about a recovery... we're actually closer to the technical definition of falling into a double dip recession. Have you seen the CBO predictions for 2013-2014? You talk about Romney's lack of foreign policy experience but has Romney been accused of covering up a Intelligence/Security failure that lead to the death of 4 Americans? And remember... it's NOT the degree of fault to land at the feet of President Obama, it's the accusation that makes the headlines.

President Obama is defending an entire field while Romney has a postage stamp to defend. And that's because Obama's sphere of responsibility is so much larger.

[Raven]

7. You, like Paul Ryan and most Republicans, underestimate

the intelligence and common sense of the American people.

[Hukdonfonix]

10. Really?

How can you UNDERESTIMATE the fact that in 2008 that 60,000,000 Americans voted for McCain?? Or the fact that in 2010, the Americans kicked 63 Democratic House reps out of office??

So you REALLY tell me that I UNDERESTIMATE the common sense of the American people??? Really lol?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

12. I'll play

2008: Barack Obama was relatively unknown though it ultimately didn't stop him from winning 300+ EV 53% of the PV (to McCain's 47%). Oh, and of course, McCain/Palin LOST!

2010: Midterm election, low Democratic voter turnout, high Tea Party turnout. BTW how do the poll numbers of the current Congress look now? Speaking of broken promises, how many actual job bills did Boehner's House pass?

[janx]

21. Yes.

Really.

[anneboleyn]

22. This poster is a troll. Obvious,pathetic freeper "arguments."

[RC]

29. Really?

What I am seeing him post is more obvious reality than some here can handle. Leave him alone.
If he is actually a troll, he will out himself soon enough. All I am seeing here from him is he in not an Obama cheerleader. So what? Not everyone is. In fact most people aren't. I'm not either and I am no troll.

[anneboleyn]

38. So far, I'm not impressed. But hey maybe the entirely pro-Romney take is perfectly reasonable...

However, what I witnessed watching Romney during the primary debates does not mesh at all with this poster's analysis, which seems extraordinarily positive given Romney's past performances. Romney loses his cool often --witness the time he lost his composure and placed his hand on Rick Perry -- Rick Perry -- as he loudly whined. Perry was not pleased, and it was an incredibly awkward moment. Or the infamous 10k bet. Or his petulance.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

11. Yeah well

what's Romney's plan, solutions? He hasn't given us anything of substance about what he plans to do different, better, etc., just vague and empty platitudes. Everything we DO know about what he supports suggests that it will be the same as (or worse than) what George W. Bush delivered. Why wasn't he at the RNC this year and most Republicans want to pretend that he didn't exist? People also will need a reason to vote FOR him and so far the only thing that he and the Republican Party have given us is: "He's not Barack Obama", which is a message that few people are apparently buying because people like him and can relate to him.

[RichGirl]

16. Consider the source...

The accusations have been made on FOX news and they've made much worse accusations over the last four years. They'll throw anything at the wall hoping it will stick and so far none of their crap has.

The best thing about this debate is that right-wingers will watch it to see Mitt.....and they'll have to listen to Obama too. Most of them see Obama through the eyes of Hannity and Limbaugh and their lies and have a very distorted view of him. I want them to see the intelligent, caring man that he is and hear all his accomplishments.

[janx]

14. Ever since I read about the zingers, I've been trying to picture Romney delivering one...

I just... ...don't see it! He's not good at public speaking in any format. He always looks nervous.

This might turn out to be as bizarre as the Clint Eastwood/Chair presentation.

[AlinPA]

8. Romney has a big natural disadvantage: He is a complete asshole and comes across as a jerk.

[GallopingGhost]

13. LOL

Those are tough to overcome.

[onecent]

19. The New phone books are here, the new phone books

are here...."The Jerk" with Steve Martin....your post made me laugh and think of that movie...lol

[anneboleyn]

20. Yes. And he gets very pissy and petulant, very quickly.

[janx]

35. I wonder if he'll do that in the debates,

in between "zingers."

[anneboleyn]

39. Best answer and the correct one -- plus he looks insane 48% of the time. But Obama's "failures" are

so extensive according to this poster that Romney will shine in comparison. Yeah, right.

[obxhead]

9. Welcome to DU.

We'll accept your apology for this loopy opinion Thursday evening.

[1620rock]

15. 'O' has a natural disadvantage alright, he tells the truth...repuks make shit up.

[Hukdonfonix]

23. thats right...

President Obama is vulnerable to exaggerations with a sliver of truth. The entire first debate will be President Obama fact checking/defending against Romney and the moderators.

Remember... you can make any fact look good for you or bad for the bad guy.

Example:

"Obama himself has recently claimed more job growth in the past 27 months than President George W. Bush created "during the entire seven years before this crisis."

"Despite incredible odds and united Republican opposition, our president took action, and now we've seen 4.5 million new jobs," San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro said in his keynote address at the DNC on Tuesday night."

However, CNN fact-checked that claim and found it to be "not the whole picture." Instead, CNN found that there has been a net increase of just 300,000 nonfarm payroll jobs since Obama took office. And if you count government jobs, there are actually 400,000 fewer people working today than in January 2009.

When Democrats use the 4.5 million jobs number, they're referring to jobs created after the economy bottomed out in January 2010, one year after Obama took office. That time frame excludes the worst job losses, which took place in 2009, and which many Democrats argue were the result of Bush policies.

CNN concludes: "The figure of 4.5 million jobs is accurate if you look at the most favorable period and category for the administration. But overall, there are still fewer people working now than when Obama took office at the height of the recession."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/fact-check-4-5-million-jobs-created-under-175621036--election.html

So both of the following statements are 100% correct:

1) Since taking the Presidential oath, President Obama and the nation have lost 400,000 jobs. Fewer Americans are working today compared to election day 2008.

2) President Obama and his policies have lead to 4.5 Million New jobs.

[janx]

37. You say that "he entire first debate will be President Obama

fact checking/defending against Romney."

You know this...how?

[anneboleyn]

40. Yes, everything this poster posts are Fox talking points. I've heard them all, repeatedly.

[quaker bill]

17. Incorrect sir!

The first problem is that you think it will be a debate. Have you seen these things? It is timed and rehearsed exposition. The program will focus on where the moderators send it. To create "balance" questions will challenge the statements of each side. Barack will have answers, Rmoney will have blather, because he does not do "specific".

[anneboleyn]

18. I smell a class A "concern troll." Obama lose the debates to Romney? Hell, Perry confused Romney

Romney lost his cool with Perry. And you think he'll defeat Obama? Hardly. Obama will make him look like a shallow, empty-headed fool.

[TroyD]

24. Granholm: Mark my words, POTUS will lose first debate

First debates are risky - even Jennifer Granholm is predicting that Romney will do better than Obama, so everyone seems to have their own way of looking at it:

http://current.com/shows/the-war-room/videos/granholm-mark-my-words-potus-will-lose-first-debate

[Hukdonfonix]

25. then I guess a few people here should accuse HER of being a troll pfffttt... nt

[anneboleyn]

41. With only 50 posts, so far filled with Fox talking points (Obama's "failures"), it walks like a duck

But hey maybe I am totally wrong!

[Frustratedlady]

27. I understand he has been briefed at least two times by the administration.

It will be interesting to see if he slips up and says something he shouldn't...like he does most every day.

If Obama throws him off center, he won't be as cool as Obama if the tables were reversed. Mitt has enough other problems to worry about with all that's coming out about voting machines, registrations, etc. He doesn't need debates, he needs to get his act together.

[kestrel91316]

28. Thank you for your concern.

[anneboleyn]

42. Amen Kestrel. You called it.

[NCLefty]

30. The pres will spin each negative toward something positive he's done.

and I think he has enough ways to do that to make it through a debate.

[emulatorloo]

31. Romney has to keep track of all his lies

Which could overwhelm him.

[davidpdx]

32. Romney will lie through his teeth

and probably get away with most of them without the moderators calling him on it.

[qwlauren35]

33. I have a similar take.

Obama has repeatedly "failed" to point the finger at the Republicans for stalling on meaningful legislation. And the debate is no time to play the blame game, so he ends up shouldering the reality that we have a sluggish economy.

You are right that if Romney keeps the President in defense mode then Romney wins. Romney likes to cite statistics that make the President look like a failure. There is no denying the flat 8-9% unemployment rate or that Obama didn't work a miracle and lower the national debt. I think that is Romney's plan of attack.

However, as soon as the domestic questions move away from the economy, Romney loses. I'm especially looking forward to the Town Hall Meeting debate.

[Cha]

34. If you listen to President Obama on

the campaign trail you will know that he mentions the gop congressional obstruction every chance he gets.

[janx]

36. Yes.

Indeed he does.

[Amonester]

43. What about the 'my opponent's father released 12 years of tax returns, sayin'

'that releasing one or two years only could be a fluke' line of attack?

I'm not saying it will be used, though, but I sure hope it will!

You know... the Caymans and Swissy thingies...

Shipping jobs to China... then call them 'cheaters' lol

Ending Medicare as we know it, only to replace it with Couponcare...

Admiting Romneycare was good for MA, while promising to repeal Obamacare and replacing it with 'unknown' yet...

Thanks for your concerns lol

[Avalux]

44. Obama is going to lose the debate on substance?

Interesting premise but dead wrong. Obama has facts on his side and a hell of a record in spite of the obstruction he's faced. Romney has NOTHING.