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JHB

(38,146 posts)

53. This has 'epic disaster' written all over it. I knew Romney wanted to use Reagan's...

Sat Sep 29, 2012, 08:31 PM

Sep 2012

... 1980 "There you go again" line, but to depend on them as a strategy? And telegraph it so nakedly?

Reagan was an excellent public speaker. His fan club may overblow his "Great Communicator" rep, but that reputation didn't come from nowhere. On top of that, Reagan had a copy of Carter's playbook, the debate briefing book used in now-infamous practice debates with George Will. He knew the points Carter would bring up, Carter's lines of argument and potential responses, all things that were enormous multipliers to his talents as a speaker. He could prepare his "zingers" ahead of time and had a pretty good idea of when to deploy them.

In contrast, one of his worst moments in the 1984 election was in trying to re-use the "there you go again" line against Mondale. It really didn't get him anything and it let Mondale slap him right back by reminding everyone that Reagan had been wrong when he used it against Carter.

Obama is a much more agile speaker than Mitt is. He can shift gears without grinding the clutch. If Mitt's depending on some pre-memorized 'zingers' and everyone knows he's doing that[/i, odds favor Obama giving him fencing lessons: in particular schooling him on the meaning of 'parry and riposte'.

Or maybe 'fish slapping:

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In Debate, Romney Plans To Drop ‘Zingers’ On Obama [View all] RandySF Sep 2012 OP

But I thought he was going to "fact check" Obama? emulatorloo Sep 2012 #1

And all Obama has to do to defuse it is to bring it up in the opening remarks. Happyhippychick Sep 2012 #2

I'm sure Obama will give him some zingers right back. southernyankeebelle Sep 2012 #17

Is that your position today, or is that your position from yesterday? kiri Sep 2012 #25

Romney has so many positions that Kama Sutra offered him a job aletier_v Sep 2012 #29

LOL, as if! CaliforniaPeggy Sep 2012 #47

And then he'll need as many wives as Gramps had in Mexico. WinkyDink Sep 2012 #59

I have a feeling Obama will have no problem explaining the LibDemAlways Sep 2012 #3

This campaign sets new records for pathetic every day BeyondGeography Sep 2012 #4

Zinger number 15: "bet I can float longer than you...watch me, watch me." sad sally Sep 2012 #5

Chairman Mao once did that trick. Reportedly. JackRiddler Sep 2012 #50

What would be some zingers Dumney might use? Lint Head Sep 2012 #6

#MittZingers is trending on Twitter pinboy3niner Sep 2012 #20

These are hilarious! tallahasseedem Sep 2012 #37

Ho ho ananda Sep 2012 #7

I'll bet he'll make clever use of various pulleys, gears and levers too!! HughBeaumont Sep 2012 #8

Fight back with Twinkies! randome Sep 2012 #9

Ooh, this is gonna be fun. Brewinblue Sep 2012 #10

i can't wait to catch slappy's schtick.. frylock Sep 2012 #11

WHY DON'T THEY ANNOUNCE IT AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS?! lunatica Sep 2012 #12

I dont understand why they would announce this. bunnies Sep 2012 #13

One wag suggested they were out of ideas pinboy3niner Sep 2012 #16

LMFAO. There's probably a dark truth there (about being bereft of ideas), which is why it is coalition_unwilling Sep 2012 #24

it takes RR's team an average of 3 hours, 45 minutes to issue a retraction of latest remarks kiri Sep 2012 #26

What's the stats on a retraction of a retraction? What about a retroactive retraction? aletier_v Sep 2012 #30

Exactly my thought. morningfog Sep 2012 #39

If they didn't announce it... regnaD kciN Sep 2012 #41

He will have his dozen or so "zingers" memorized, The Velveteen Ocelot Sep 2012 #14

You gotta go with what you got, but an actual plan might work better. quaker bill Sep 2012 #15

Lead balloons get the red out Sep 2012 #18

If true, this doesn't sound like a good idea. David__77 Sep 2012 #19

Sorry, Mitt. The I knew Jack Kennedy line has already been taken. Whovian Sep 2012 #21

Bring it on Mittens! Glimmer of Hope Sep 2012 #22

A "zinger" delivered badly will backfire. Can't wait. Mitt does not do "zingers" well. yellowcanine Sep 2012 #23

He doesn't do that very well either. hobbit709 Sep 2012 #27

"Oh, yeah well, that's what SHE said". aletier_v Sep 2012 #28

Obama should just give him the raspberry. randome Sep 2012 #31

Plans to drop Zingers on President Obama? sadbear Sep 2012 #32

Hey, there's yellow and red zingers too! aletier_v Sep 2012 #33

Well, they used to make 'vanilla' Zingers, too. Don't know if they still do. randome Sep 2012 #35

Will he have a drummer on hand to do a rimshot? nolabear Sep 2012 #34

"There you go again." or "O, if it were only so..." nt Honeycombe8 Sep 2012 #36

He'll never be able to pull it off, he'll "zing" then give his Beavis/Butthead hee hee hee and look Raine Sep 2012 #38

Obama should say: "I hope you didn't spend too much time practicing that one." morningfog Sep 2012 #40

Giving zingers to a man with no comedic timing... gkhouston Sep 2012 #42

"Where's the beef?" no_hypocrisy Sep 2012 #43

A zinger aletier_v Sep 2012 #44

Zingers? Isn't that a snack cake from Dolly Madison? bulloney Sep 2012 #45

Hostess: pinboy3niner Sep 2012 #46

He's going to wave them at Obama! Maybe even poke them in Obama's general direction! Fire Walk With Me Sep 2012 #49

So, let me get this straight.... bulloney Sep 2012 #51

That sounds like so much fail just waiting to happen, I might even watch it Fire Walk With Me Sep 2012 #48

Methinks he's going to be dropping some turds...nt PCIntern Sep 2012 #52

This has 'epic disaster' written all over it. I knew Romney wanted to use Reagan's... JHB Sep 2012 #53

Can you imagine being around Romney the last 2 months while he practices his "zingers" ad nauseum? NBachers Sep 2012 #54

Yeah- he can use ones like "you would let women who havent even been LEGITIMIATELY raped, Warren DeMontague Sep 2012 #55

"How can you know about the experiences of the little people, when you dont even have Warren DeMontague Sep 2012 #56

"I know your Health Care law is bad, because I helped write it!" Warren DeMontague Sep 2012 #57

Shaking in his boots, Obama is. NOT. "Is this election a joke to you, Mitt?" WinkyDink Sep 2012 #58