You know how Obama hung back in the debate and let Romney rant, lie and hang himself?

[bemildred]

77. 2c:

1.) I doubt Obama planned it, he reacted instinctively when Romney went to balls-out lying, you could see it. Better to let the fool run than try to improvise at what is, after all, his game: making stuff up, thereby sinking to his level.

We see that sort of trolling here all the time. It's not pretty.

1.a) For the first debate, not knowing the opposing strategy, he had to prepare for a real debate, hence would not be well prepared for what happened, and wisely chose to live to fight another day.

1.b) To claim he won the first debate would again reduce him to Romneyism, again dragging him down to that level, again putting tactics ahead of strategy.

2.) But he didn't look nervous either, he was paying close attention and taking notes, interpreted by the media as being "passive", because they live in a world where noise is all.

3.) And lastly, since he set up the ass-kickings administered in the next three debates (including the VP), he was right, strategically, even if he lost the tactical engagement.