Obama lost the first debate. I don't think that is up for "debate". Obama lost. The next question is why did he lose? Well I think some people would say he was not plussed like Romney was. Obama did not seem as eager to argue as Romney. Fair enough. Maybe Obama lost because his body posture was not as robotically erect and imposing as Romney. OK. Obama did the ole' "look down at your pad of paper when the other guy is talking" trick (Thanks for that gem coach John Kerry, you are super awesome at debating). Also, Romney was a bully. He shoved that dopey senior citizen Jim Lehrer around. Screw you PBS!! Obama was much more respectful and deferential to Mr Lehrer that Mitt. How dare Obama be considerate and respectful? Another point for the Mittbot.
However, I believe the central critique of why Obama's lost contains an implicit win.
More below the orange smoke monster...
Liberals are attacking Obama because he didn't do what? What did Obama not do?Obama didn't call out Romney on his lies. So what is the implication? Romney lied nd is a liar. This was a tactical mistake but the conversation have become breakdown or Romney's lies. The debate is being deconstructed through the prism of Romney's cynicism. Huffington Post is leading with stories about the lies of Mitt Romney. Obama is punching at Romney on the veracity of his debate answers. In a way last night reminds of Paul Ryan's convention speech. At first everyone was raving about how forceful he gave it to Obama but as the dust settled everyone started to wake up to the facts, and the facts were not good for Paul Ryan. He told one long tale. His convention speech become equated to a long lie. I wonder if the same story line will unfold with Romney's debate performance?
Romney did not make the case for conservative principles. Romney did not tear down Obama's accomplishments or his second term agenda. When Romney did land a punch it was only because he surprised Obama and America by lying and all of a sudden pretending to be a liberal. My point is, Romney did nothing to wear down the infrastructure of Obama's lead.
In fact, if I was a conservative and was actually principled I might be worried about the prospect of this Mitt becoming Prez. Now Romney is all for regulations? He wants to compromise with liberal Democrats? Is he really a secret Massachusetts liberal? Of course ALL CONSERVATIVES are far to cynical to fall for Romney's load of shit. They know he was faking it to make it last night. I also think they would not care if Romney governed more liberally than Obama so long as Obama was out. Cons have no principles other that lie, cheat, steal to win...but I digress.
After last night:
Obama still holds the high ground on Medicare and the rest of the social safety net.
Obama still holds the high ground on caring for the middle class.
Obama still holds the high ground on taxes.
and
Obama GAINED on trust.
If the qualities you are looking for in a President include bullying a senior citizen (Jim Lehrer) physically imposing your self on your opponent during a debate and the ability to unabashedly lie to the American people then Romney made that case. I do not think Romney made the case for conservatism and I think Obama's so called loss is actually an implicit win.