8:40 Welcome all to another installment of Live Blogging The Presidential Debate! I hope you can join in- we set a record for participation and visits on this blog during the last debate, and I hope we can break it tonight. And this gives me an opportunity to remind viewers that if they want to get on the distribution list for the regular posts here, just shoot me an email at dickinso@middlebury.edu And tonight, I promise (Anna are you listening?) that we will be employing the new live blogging software so – in theory – you don’t need to refresh your screen to catch the latest comments.
This blogging software is almost legendary now.
BY GOLLY I THINK HE’S GOT IT! Yes, I’m listening, as always!
It is indeed working! How exciting.
There you go – worrying your star students again…
The new software is working great!
Weijia- Wonders never cease!
Otter Creek Pumpkin Ale!
Tarsi,
That’s in season, for sure.
We’re in the Orchard at Hillcrest tonight. Pretty crowded, and the word is they put the debate on in the Grille anyway, so it’s likely we’ve lost some numbers to that scene.
Italy checking in!!!! Whole family is up this time–
Cotes de Rhone – a fine red to start.
Professor Dickinson – we’re in Hillcrest 103! There’s a good crowd here tonight. Freshmen, seniors. Democrats, Republicans.
Ah yes, HIllcrest. Sorry abuo that…
Prof – Romney’s flag is bigger. He’s already winning.
I like the reminder of the Cuban Missile Crisis – as a frame. Romney hits the notes of democratization…before pivoting…and an acknowledgment to those who died…and he’s doing a real rundown – how is he planning on stopping Iran exactly? Ah, boom, addressing Bin Laden up front. How do we help the rest of the world address this threat? Well, we could always mention education…
Protecting Americans, as commander in chief, strength in start…and Obama is going after Romney…for failing to keep Americans safe? Hmmm.
Help Muslims reject extremism…scholars….came up with economic development and foreign aid…gasp….and gender equality…oh the irony….
LOVE the 1980s joke!!
Does Obama benefit from acting like a challenger? He loses the obvious Commander-in-Chief benefits (wrapping himself in the flag etc.) from acting like the Pres, no?
And Romney is on the defense now. Russia is a geopolitical foe, well they are obstructionist at the UN…sort of like Congressional Republicans. Did Romney just cede his time to Obama?
The CLEAR line is going to be a HUGE line for Obama all night – you cannot flip/flop as Commander in Chief
Also – Middkids watching on ABC tonight since we’re livestreaming on the computer, but no focus group data here. But we do get fun quotes (i.e. Romney on Russia) from past candidate statements!
Seb – I don’t think Obama wants to spend too much time attacking Mitt for the reasons you cite.
I’m impressed– Obama managing to mention problems here at home despite the foreign policy questions.
I’m not hearing a difference between these two on Syria.
Mitt doesn’t seem to be going all in either…he really is playing up the partnership angle.
“Syria is an opportunity for us”–sending a little neocon message here…
An opportunity for Obama to highlight what we have in fact done, in contrast to avoiding going all in…foreign policy is about ‘tough’ choices…
Mitt Romney’s Syria answer sounded very similar to Obama’s.
I find it interesting that since they really don’t disagree that much on many of these issues, they are trying to find ways to disagree, just to disagree–Obama seems to be doing this more, too–
“at this stage” leaves open the opportunity to pivot back in the future and declare our troops should be in Syria. It was a quick phrase at the end, but it was crucial by Romney.
Right? No no, enforce partners to send in the arms…?
Ah the good old days, when professors at Middlebury reminded me time and time again, that foreign policy is where we see the least change in administration to administration….on display tonight.
Professor D. – tonight, like the past 2 presidential debates, the negative attacks for Obama aren’t playing well with the undecideds. I think Mitt’s attacks aren’t viewed as poorly however.
Prof, your point of the lack of true policy differences (when it comes to foreign policy) is a point that has been echoing all over the bloggisphere/twittersphere in the lead up to tonight, especially in Foreign Policy Magazine…
What’s a neocon?
Wow, big question – what is our role in the world….freedom/peaceful world/human rights, dignity, he’s really….taking a non military tone tonight.
Mitt’s trying to string together a bunch of things he prepared here…not sure it’s working…
Sure seems like arguments turning these questions back to the domestic front are going to be the main point of contention tonight, given the confluence of the two candidate’s foreign policy views.
Watching this debate is a pretty good way to be refreshed on themes on my comparative politics midterm on Wednesday!
More domestic policy, back to where there are actual disagreements….
Can’t say I’m keen on Obama’s phrase “America is the one indispensable nation” although I’m curious how it played with the focus groups?..
Economy, deficit, jobs….trade, small businesses, what was this debate about again? Oh right…let’s go with it…in the context of trade..and yes! into education (great op-ed in Time today about this).
Foreign Policy debate time of death 21:15 EDT
(Danny, yep, good prep indeed!)
Aaaaaand pivot to US
“Small business is not a job engine” http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-04/time-to-debunk-the-myth-of-small-business-as-job-engine.html
Twitter’s blowing up with anti-Bob Schieffer comments for failing to hold the reins on FP rather than domestic.
Also, interesting live twitter analysis here: http://www.sibylvision.com/live/
Is it just me, or is the President turning red when trying to interject on Mitt’s “accomplishments” in education in Massachusetts?
Big businesses can be job creators too! and here we go pushing on the details….on the tax plan. I really want Obama to argue they should go to: http://www.romneytaxplan.com/