Over the last few days, there's been a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth over the apparent inability of Obama to at least mount a good defense during the debate, let alone turn things around and make a strong offense. Many threads have offered apologies in one form or another, from an Obama distracted by more grave matters brewing which are still secret to the larger world, to undue physical strain caused by altitude, or to an overriding strategy of taking the high road and letting Romney hang himself with his own rope.
So let's lighten up and have a little fun. Let's re-imagine Obama as the Ultimate Comeback Artist, someone who can instantly turn every zinger into a stinger. Let's imagine, for example, that the debate could be done over again, with Obama channeling Winston Churchill, perhaps the wittiest politician ever. For those unfamiliar with his amazing record, here are the three most famous:
Member of Parliament: Mr. Churchill, must you fall asleep while I'm speaking?!"
Churchill, "No, it's purely voluntary."
Churchill was famous for being a drinker, and his penchant for the hard stuff was the cause of two of the best comebacks known to man:
Lady Astor, complaining of Churchill's drunkenness: "Winston, if you were my husband, I'd put poison in your coffee."
Churchill: "Nancy, if you were my wife, I'd drink it."
And finally, the best known of them all:
Bessie Braddock, who did indeed have a face like a bulldog: "Sir! You're drunk!"
Churchill: "Yes, Madame, and you are ugly. But in the morning, I will be sober."
So, the game goes like this; just take any comment of Romney's made during the debate, and turn into a clever comeback. To get things rolling, here's my contribution:
Romney: "Mr. President, you may be entitled to your own airplane, your own house, but not to your own facts."
Obama: "You're right, Mitt. To level the playing field, I'll cede that one to you."
Have at it!