Anybody else nervous about the rest of the debates?

[qwlauren35]

I went to the DU Lounge with this, and they said I was in the wrong place... so here I am.

We in Maryland are working like mad bunnies to swing VA and PA. I'm putting in mega-hours, and my neighborhood team leader doesn't want me to get discouraged by watching the debates.

So, I have this dilemma. I'm curious, but scared. I don't want to see my candidates shredded to bits. Last week was personally painful. I was sucked in. I doubted. I felt as though Romney made a good case for himself. I talk to undecided voters, and after last week, I am at a loss for words. I had been telling undecided voters "just watch the debates", and now I feel as though my advice was disastrous. I am not comfortable calling Romney a liar. I think this is just part of the flip-flop dance. If X doesn't win votes, say Y. (Although I knew that the statement about "nearly 50%" of green companies going bankrupt was a lie. I was furious that Obama didn't call him on it with real numbers.&quot

So, please hype me up. Help me believe that our candidates will make up for the first debate and outshine their opponents.

[Alekei_Firebird]

1. Romney didn't make a case at all

He just lied about everything that was unpalatable about his platform and somehow got away with it.

It won't happen again.

[hrmjustin]

2. I believe Obama got the message that he needs to be more aggressive the next debate.

I am still nervous, but I always get nervous at these moments.

[slove2]

3. I'm nervous too!

I'm nervous too. I'm praying Biden will keep the gaffes to a minimum or possibly don't make any at all. I've watched his last debates from 08 on you tube. He seems pretty informed. I just want him to not be hostile but firm and not let Ryan go off on some lying tandem. He should correct him nicely. You know be nice nasty!!! I'm going to sit back and eat some popcorn. I hope he does well so I can sleep peacefully. I had a political nightmare after the Obama's debate.

[hlthe2b]

11. Oh fer gawd's sakes... Biden is NOT a gaffe machine....

I wish Duers would not swallow these RW talking points.

Biden won many of the DEM primary debates hands down. That he did not gain from his performances should only serve to underscore that most people do not make a decision based purely on a debate performance.

Biden's occasional gaffes are absolutely overhyped. Please don't keep propelling this nonsense.

[DisabledAmerican]

14. Looks like DoomSayers are here

My friend I see you are commenting to a DoomSayer. Do not fear these people aren't just using the RW talking points, but instead scream SKY IS FALLING. A Doomsayer loves to tell any talking point that makes people look nervous. Just be your polite self, but understand soon you will look like the bad guy to them. They will tell you that you are harming them. Do not buy what a Doomsayer is selling. Welcome to those who have ran into DoomSayers on DU. Be aware they are here and they will be in strong numbers tonight. Stay calm and be collective. Don't buy what they are selling.

[Warren DeMontague]

15. Maybe he'll ask Ryan how he proposes to pay to incarcerate all the women who use oral contraceptives

As the GOP advocates.

That would be a good start, wouldnt it?

[hlthe2b]

16. I'd certainly love to ask him....

or his alter-ego...

[Chiquitita]

26. love it.

women's issues need to be brought up.

[MSMITH33156]

4. Debates are about expectations

Everyone will expect a repeat performance out of Romney. The bar is set astronomically high for him. Next Tuesday will be a great night for Obama.

1) He will be better prepared to combat the litany of lies. We joked about zingers prior to the first debate, but I think one of the things that caught Obama was he was exhaustively trying to combat Romney's lies, after which Romney would simply repeat the lies. I am assuming Obama will have some predetermined, generic response to Romney fabrications, something like, "what the governor just said completely contradicts his own position", and then move on quickly. It will make a world of difference, because it will allow him to shut down Romney and quickly pivot to his own agenda. One of the net effects of the first debates Romney lies - Obama calls BS - Romney repeats lie pattern is that they spent the entire debate discussing Romney's positions.

2) People know and like Obama. His personal likability has always been high. It's been one of the brick walls that the Republicans have run into trying to paint him as the devil. People like him. Because of this, people will be willing to forgive him. They also know him. So, when he comes out, looks engaged, and puts on a better performance, everyone will collectively think, "well, now that's the President I've known for 4 years. I don't know what happened in the first debate, but this is clearly the real Obama."

3) Romney will either have to double down on his lies from the first debate (some of which his campaign has actually had to disavow), which will be easy for Obama to swat him on, or he will have to contradict himself. It's going to put him in a tough spot. For example, if they discuss pre-existing conditions again. Romney either has to admit he lied in Debate 1, or claim once again that he covers pre-existing conditions, at which point Obama can say, "the Governor said the same thing in the first debate, after which his campaign had to come out and say that he actually doesn't cover pre-existing conditions. And yet he that repeated here. This is clearly a guy who is willing to mislead the American people, and then hide behind a campaign operative later." There is really nowhere for Romney to go.

Obama is going to have all the advantages going in there. Romney's lack of consistency and no expectations on Obama = major Obama advantage. Fret not.

[WI_DEM]

5. No. I think Biden will do great and I think Obama learned from his

mistake that he has to answer a liar immediately. Once Obama and Biden reassure wavering voters they will continue to gain ground.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

6. Turn off your TV after the debate and don't listen to one

word the pundits have to say. Sleep on it and decide for yourself
who "won."

Don't worry you won't miss anything. They"ll be saying the exact same
thing the next day.

[leftynyc]

8. That's the best advice I've heard

this election season. At least we'd get a good night's sleep (or, for me, I'll be able to watch my baseball team in game 4 of their series).

[hamsterjill]

17. That really IS good advice.

n/t

[treestar]

7. Really you think he made a good case for himself?

How did he do that?

[qwlauren35]

19. It was a combination of things.

He promised to take care of pre-existing conditions. He promised to support teachers AND give vouchers. He promised a Medicare that was half voucher, half the same. He said he wouldn't cut taxes on the wealthy, which is something that people don't want. And he hammered Obama with the negative statistics: the high unemployment rate, the "economy tax", he talked about the idea that small business owners use individual tax returns and would get hammered if Obama raised taxes on "the 1%". He said that companies were thinking of dropping health insurance plans because of Obamacare.

You could say that he bullied Lehrer, but he did it in a confident way. He was simply confident. And he sounded VERY convincing and very moderate.

If it wasn't for his social positions, the man on the stage last Wednesday is someone I would vote for. For someone who is focused solely on the Economy, Romney promised all the right things, and exposed all of the realities of our sluggish economy. Nobody cares that Obama inherited a depression/recession. They just want prosperity again, and anyone who can promise it is going to get elected...

So, that's what I meant. It's okay if you disagree, or even if you recognized every lie for what it was. I thought he was very convincing as a moderate.

[progressivebydesign]

25. Is there a Moderates Underground you can visit?

because if you really believed those things about Romney, and that you actually believed the bad statistics that were LIES, then you might actually be a republican.

[livetohike]

9. No and if you really "thought Romney made a good case for himself" then perhaps

you should find another way to spend your time.

[qwlauren35]

21. You may be right.

As I said, I talk to a fair number of undecided voters. And if they are undecided, then obviously the things that matter to me, i.e. healthcare, Medicare for Gen X and the tail end of the baby boomers, social issues and foreign relations, don't matter to them. The only thing I think I can say is that Romney can't deliver on his promises about the economy. Because he's definitely promising a miracle.

But I'm open to hearing what you say when you talk to undecideds.

[progressivebydesign]

24. he's not promising a miracle, he is LYING, and reverses positions. Anyone who believes him..

.. should really reconsider whether they are intelligent enough to actually vote. It's NOT as if Romney does NOT have a weekly trail of exactly opposite positions. I fear for America because of the stupid people.

[theKed]

10. No

The debates will be what they will be. You and I cannot alter the course of those events.

What we can do is everything beyond that. Canvassing, phone banking, signs, talking to friends, family and coworkers. Get everyone you know on board and knowledgeable that their vote could swing this election. Just let the President do his job.

[FrenchieCat]

12. I'm most nervous that Democrats all over don't seem to get what politics is about.......

and would much rather be "right" about how they feel about things,
then how the result of an election will affect their own personal lives.

It's actually quite amazing!

[budkin]

13. Not about Biden's, but definitely about Obama's

I'm sure he'll come back strong though, but I'm still nervous after last time.

[AlinPA]

18. That "debate" was all about stage behaviour. Mannerisms, body language, assertiveness, and not

at all about issues. The majority of the audience and media do not care a bit about what is said, it is about how it's said. No I'm not worried, because the President will not repeat the body language things he was bashed about.

[PlanetBev]

20. I'm nervous too

Can't help it. The last week was like a roller coaster. Partially my own fault as I went poll crazy.

I'm not worried about Biden. He seems to relish debates and I sense he'll go in with the realization that he has to take this guy out tonight.

[progressivebydesign]

22. No. And Romney didn't make a good case. He looked like a meth head, and lied the entire time.

Don't buy into the BS the media is selling right now. Romney is not closing in on the president. They are using different types of polls now, to make it seem closer (they sell more ads that way.) Yahoo News ACTUALLY had the headline today saying that basically ' Biden needs to kick ass in the debate beacuse "THE Obama Campaign is RUNNING OUT OF TIME." See the narrative? The President is ahead in the polls, as he always has been.. the polls that are being pushed here and in the MSM are DIFFERENT polls than before. They did this last time. Romney still sucks, no one likes him, he's untrustworthy.. and he's not surging. Don't buy the hype.

And Joe Biden? he will wipe the floor with hound dog Ryan.

[qwlauren35]

28. That helped.

The bump bothered me.

It's 8:30 and I still haven't decided whether to watch. But I probably will. It's better than not knowing. Ryan stands for EVERYTHING that I abhor. It galls me that the Tea Party loves him. It galls me that ANYONE can support him. He's one of the many reasons why I'm stumping for Obama this year.

The country would nosedive into Conservative Hell if Ryan became president.

[Blue Idaho]

23. Let me give you a high five!

THANK YOU for working to re-elect the President of the United States! Your efforts count more than anything any talking head will ever say as we near the end of this campaign. You are doing what the President asked all of us to do - to carry this campaign through the finish line on election day. Our democracy needs you and more people like you - people willing to put their blood, sweat, and tears where their ideals are. I am so proud of you and all the others like you who are working like mad little bunnies for a better tomorrow!

Want my advice? Skip the debate. If the Vice-President does a great job - you will have plenty of chances to watch the tape. If he doesn't - well that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Either way, tomorrow is another day and we need you, and all the other people like you knocking on doors, making phone calls, delivering yard signs and lending us your heart, your spirit, and your enthusiasm.

Thank You So Very Much!

Now lets go win this damn thing!

[ancianita]

27. Nope. Not nervous at all.

When truth's on your side, it's too compelling to the majority of Americans.