The Denver Presidential Debate: A Game Changer?

Last night, in Denver, Colorado, the incumbent President, Barack Obama and his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney sparred on a host of issues in the first Presidential Debate before the November 6 Presidential Election. Polls before the debate showed that majority of Americans believed the President would trounce his challenger in the debate. Although both candidates prior to the debate played down their chances of winning the debate, it was evident both camps were expecting to outdo the other on style, substance, and delivery of facts. After the debate, it was a consensus in both camps (also based on flash polls immediately after the debate) that the Republican candidate won the debate. He not only won the debate, he improved drastically his likeability. My honest analysis here is that, the President was caught napping, he seemed distracted, and was boring in style. Mitt Romney on the other hand, was aggressive, seemed well prepared for the clash, and took it to the President in “in your face” style.

The President missed several opportunities to deflect Romney’s charges and obviously, he allowed Romney to roam as he (Romney) wanted on key issues that before the debate, were thought to be the President’s comfortable sphere. Mitt Romney got well under the President’s skin mercilessly while the President appeared to be ineffective in the defense of his policies. Mitt Romney, I thought, was both the candidate and the Moderator for the night as he literally took over the moderation of the debate leaving the Moderator, Jim Lehrer a bit disoriented. Romney was advised by his campaign to come to the debate swinging, and that he did. Obama was advised to avoid any drama in order not to seem agitated or ruffled and that he did but much to his own detriment. What about Romney’s “47%” comment? What about his record at Bain Capital? Are these issues not pertinent in a debate that focused on domestic issues and the economy? What about Obama’s “Re-distribution, You didn’t build that” comment? Shouldn’t they have been brought up by Romney to score more points? Even though Mitt Romney let those issues slip by, he still landed more punches if not a TKO.

What is left to be seen is whether Romney’s excellent performance last night will shift the trend of polls leading to the election as he trails the President in most of the key battleground States. If there had been some sort of nebula over Mitt Romney’s personality and political philosophy, he cleared some of it last night. If people until the debate weren’t sure about who Romney was, I think they definitely got a clue last night although it can be argued that he was very short on specifics. On key economic issues, I believe Americans are now more confused as to whose plan will be better for the Middle Class than they were prior to the debate. Does Mitt Romney really care for the Middle Class? Does Barack Obama deserve a second term given the current state of the economy? We’ll see on November 6 how Americans will answer these questions.

Independents like me, no doubt, will decide this election and we are still undecided, waiting for the rest of the debates in order to see who actually is better for America at a critical time as this. Yes, we are waiting on the remaining debates. We know where the candidates stand on key issues and the way they explain and clarify the vague aspects of those issues during the debates, will determine how we make up our minds concerning the candidates. Indeed, Romney aggressively targeted Obama’s record even though he would not clearly state how he would do things differently. Was the debate a game changer? I certainly do not think so. Did we get a foretaste of what we are looking for, definitely yes!

That Chick-Fil-A Contoversy

Recently, the CEO of Chick-Fil-A, Dan Cathy remarked that the Biblical definition of marriage as between a man and a man should be upheld. By that comment, he drew the ire of same sex marriage and gay rights activists/supporters and the whole country has been engulfed in the seeming conflagration that comment has purportedly ignited. Whether Dan Cathy made that comment as a patriotic citizen who has the right to freedom of expression or as the CEO of a thriving organization, it makes no difference. What is important is that every American has the right to express himself/herself freely without being nailed to the cross as long as that expression is not deemed libelous or slanderous by a competent court of law. We have Gay Pride Parades almost everyday in all nooks and crannies of the United States and the homosexual community has been clamoring for their so called rights to be who they want to be, marry who they want to marry openly without being demonized or victimized for it. Of course, nobody is victimizing or demonizing them for professing to be who they think they are and it will amount to intolerable preposterousness for the same community of people who want their right protected to try to stifle that of others who perhaps, do not agree with their social views. Who says what is sauce for the goose cannot be sauce for the gander? Your view is that you should be allowed to be homosexual and be respected for it and my view is that homosexuality is a sin. Why shouldn't each of us express his/her view without being labeled a bigot or a hater? What makes the United States tick is the prevalence of an atmosphere that accords everybody their constitutionally granted rights and freedom but when one group tries to shut down another in defense of their own constitutional rights and freedom, it becomes an act of hate and intolerance. Last time I checked, the Constitution of the United States guarantees every citizen the freedom of religion and speech. I am Christian and my world and social views draw from the principles and doctrines of the Bible, and since the Constitution of the United States guarantees my freedom of religion and expression, I should without fear or favor, exercise those rights and freedom and the same thing applies to my neighbor who holds a different world (social/religious) view. So, why all this bickering and ruffling of feathers over Dan Cathy's expression of his constitutional right? If you don't like what he said, say your own that he doesn't like and that should settle it. Enough of this politicizing of this non-issue by the Mayors of Chicago and Boston. They should rather face and combat the rising crime (especially murder) rates in their cities and devote more time in addressing the economic challenges their cities face rather than waste precious time on being disgruntled, biased umpires of a social game whose winner the Constitution has already unequivocally determined. The Christian/Biblical stance is that marriage should be between a man and a woman and those who hold those views should be allowed to express them within their social reality without being accused of what they are not and those who hold a contrary view should be allowed as well to express them within the same social reality. Lest I forget, what makes homosexuality and same sex marriage acceptable and polygamy unacceptable? God help the U.S.A!

Mitt Romney, the Polish Holy Site, and a Foul Language

One would think that it sounds politically logical and correct to adhere strictly to the universal principles that uphold the notion that two wrongs will never make a right under any circumstance especially for somebody who is running for the highest office in the land. Republican Presidential candidate, Mitt Romney is a deeply religious person of the Mormon faith and supposedly surrounds himself with aides and surrogates who profess to respect the sanctity of decorum and decency. To the chagrin of the world on Tuesday in Warsaw, Poland, Governor Mitt Romney’s Press Secretary/Aide, Rick Gorka lost his cool in reaction to reporters shouting questions at his boss as the Presidential candidate made his way to his motorcade, apparently not wanting to answer reporters’ questions. Mr. Rick Gorka yelled at reporters to respect the sacredness of the Pilsudski Square, reiterating that it was a holy site that deserved some respect.

What is mind-boggling and highly troubling in the whole exchange between Mitt Romney’s aide and the reporters is that while some of the reporters were trying to make the case that they (reporters) were not being allowed to ask the Presidential candidate questions, Mr. Gorka retorted with a ballistic “Kiss my ass” that in his mind, was consistent with his message of showing respect to the Polish holy site of Pilsudski Square, the resting place of the unknown soldier – the height of hypocrisy! If Mr. Gorka would preach respect for the Polish holy site but turns around to desecrate the same holy site with his “needs-to-be-properly-rinsed” mouth, one wonders and comes to understand the frustration of the American people with the whole political/politicking process. The advertisements are already going personal and nasty and will definitely exacerbate in the coming weeks and months but what leaves me disgusted is using an outrageously foul language to call for respect for a holy site. That is the height of antithesis of decorum and civility. Mr. Gorka needs to apologize to the Polish people and the Unknown Soldier.

Tonight's Western Republican Presidential Debate

Tonight's CNN hosted Western Republican Presidential Debate in Nevada was supposed to be a game changer for certain candidates like Rick Perry of Texas and Michele Bachmann of Minnesota but unfortunately, in my opinion, it was not. Rick Perry was feisty as expected especially towards Mitt Romney but his feistiness seemed to have come short of puncturing Mitt Romney's momentum. Michele Backman's hackneyed slogan that "President Obama is a one-term president" will do little or nothing to put her back in contention for the top slot. The comedian (no pun intended) of the Pack, Herman Cain proved once again that he is actually in the race to win it no wonder his momentous surge in all national polls. He (Herman Cain) approached every question with tact, articulateness, and a convincing sincerity even admitting errors where he made one in the past. That was so un-politician-like. However, the size of his campaign organization, as well as his naivety in foreign policy may ultimately be his undoing in the long run. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul look(ed) like the jokers among the pack but hey, Ron Paul has managed to keep a large following and is not far behind in the polls. Newt Gingrich seemed tonight as he always does as the intellectual in the room but his past sins have continuously put a clog in his wheel. However, he managed to be a bridge-builder candidate by cautioning his counterparts against promoting bickering in keeping with Ronald Reagan's commandment that "No Republican should speak ill of another republican." The back-and-forth between Rick Perry and Mitt Romney almost overshadowed the whole debate with an eye-popping revelation that Mitt Romney many years ago hired illegal immigrants to work on his private property. It was very obvious that there exists a bitter animosity between Rick Perry and Mitt Romney and the way they attacked and handled attack from each other contrasted heavily with the more mature way Herman Cain for instance approached attacks targeted at him. Overall, I strongly think Michele Backmann's White House dream remains an elusive mirage; Ron Paul's, an unrealistic one; Rick Santorum's, a joke; Newt Gingrich's, a wild goose chase; Rick Perry's, a hope almost dashed; Herman Cain's, full of realistic prospects; and Mitt Romney's, an almost done deal. This Republican presidential race will remain an enigmatic spectacle that will continue to unravel as long as it lasts even as we learn new damaging facts about individual candidates and the devils in their individual plans and proposals. Establishment Republicans believe Mitt Romney is the guy that can give President Obama a run for his money but hard-core conservatives simply do not like his "flip-flop" positions on divers issues, his (past) record, and his Mormon religion. Could Herman Cain be the eventual winner of this fiery battle? His demeanor and attitude in the face of criticisms and aggression as well as his steady rise in the polls suggest so. Could anyone of them actually cause Obama sleepless nights? Only time will tell.

The Dilemma of the Republican Party

It is rather interesting that in virtually all the polls, a generic Republican presidential candidate beats President Obama but when they put a real name on the candidate, President Obama wins. What this means is that the Republican Party is yet to field a candidate that can win in the November 2012 Presidential Election. President Obama's efforts to give a boost to the ailing economy have been met with stiff resistance from the GOP dominated House of Representatives. They claim to have a better jobs plan but a critical look at their plan reveals that it only consists of bills targeted at cutting financial regulations, repealing the Healthcare Law (Obama-Care), and tax cuts for millionaires and corporations. Given these ridiculous, pro-rich positions that the GOP members have taken with regard to creating jobs and boosting the economy, the American people still have doubts about their sincerity when it comes to helping the Middle Class and the poor. The American people still believe that making Obama a one-term president is more paramount to the GOP than lifting the economy out of the quagmire of recession. Their jobs plan when juxtaposed with President Obama's is a caricature. The dilemma of the Republican Party at the moment is that none of its presidential candidates currently in the race is capable of defeating President Obama in a general election but the unnamed, generic candidate who is likely to defeat the incumbent president is imaginary and faceless and at this juncture in the race, that generic candidate is unlikely to emerge.

Unnecessary Partisanship

The problem in Washington D.C is not that it is difficult for the parties (Democratic and Republican) to come together for the good of the American people, the problem is that their re-elections and party ideologies are more important to them than the welfare of the American people. The Democrats live in a world where they think we can spend our way to prosperity. They believe in government creating jobs rather than the private sector. They believe in a nanny, welfare state and believe the government is the solution to all economic problems. On the other hand, the Republicans are too hypocritical. What they say in public is different from what they do in the legislative chamber. They will rather have the economy crash so they can campaign and win elections on those premises than compromise to get the job done or create jobs. Their single goal in the coming year is to make sure President Obama is a single-term president and they are willing to shoot down any proposal from the Obama White House no matter how noble it is in other to accomplish that selfish, partisan goal. It is surprising the Republicans no longer believe in tax cuts just because the proposal is from Obama. Several elements in the Jobs Bill are proposals they traditionally uphold but because they want to see Obama fail, they were willing to vote along party lines in order to defeat the bill. The question remains: Who has the interest of the Middle Class and the country at heart? Who has the interest of the American economy at heart? The answer is NONE. Neither the President nor the Congress has the interest of suffering Americans at heart. The President is busy chasing shadows - gay rights, his re-election, etc. while the Republicans are busy protecting Wall Street which caused the collapse of the economy. It is obvious now that while Democrats are looking out for people who depend on welfare, the Republicans are looking out for the super-rich but sadly enough, no one is looking out for the Middle Class. It is high time our elected officials jettisoned partisan politics in the interest of America and Americans!