Letter: Romney was clear winner in debate

I was an undecided voter. I wasn’t sure if I was going to vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, or Mitt Romney.

After seeing the debate last night, Gov. Romney has my vote. He picked apart the president’s empty, tired promises and knocked him down a peg.

Ryan LaHousse

offshore administrator

New Orleans

Comments

1) Comment by Whatnow - 08/10/2012

Spudaroonski, evidently you didn't listen with both ears, just your left one.

2) Comment by Old Man Kensey - 08/10/2012

And for those that still believe there are undecided voters out there, a little humor: http://www.upworthy.com/the-undecided-voter- could-be-proof-that-evolution-is-just-a-theory?g=2

3) Comment by Old Man Kensey - 08/10/2012

A short report and interview about how the Parties joined together to keep independents out of the debates, control the format, and water down the meaning. Just like Spud said: http://www.democracynow.org/2012/10/3/ahead_of_first_obama_ro mney_debate? fb_action_ids=4439485701745&fb_action_types=og.recommends& fb_ref=.UGzCMmRzivo.like&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregatio n_id=288381481237582

4) Comment by Spudaroonski - 08/10/2012

These debates are so phony. Romney and Obama are given the questions that will be asked in advance and they both practice what they'll say. Real tough debating there. No hard questions are allowed just lob a few softballs to each candidate. No 3rd party candidates were allowed to participate. Wonder why?Both talked about how they will continue to make cuts to things that help the poor and middle class and give more to the rich so as to create jobs. Yeah right, didn't we try that already with the Bush tax cuts that primarily benefited the wealthy? That worked so well. They talked about the economy and didn't mention the wars of choice were engaged in. Earth to Romney and Obama, it's the wars that are the biggest drain on our economy. It really doesn't matter which of these two clowns wins because nothing is going to change. They'll both do wall streets bidding.

5) Comment by DMJ - 08/10/2012

That's a different debate. You said he should have focused on the economy before health care...and he did.

6) Comment by Whatnow - 08/10/2012

Okay, but how well did it work and evidently it wasn't enough now was it?

7) Comment by DMJ - 08/10/2012

He passed the Stimulus before Obamacare. Say what you will about how well it worked, but it was an economic measure and it happened before health care reform. Can't argue with chronology.

8) Comment by Whatnow - 08/10/2012

DMJ, I got your point. I'm not the English or spelling police. LOL! And come on, man.... Obama has flip flopped and repudiated quite a bit himself. And lots of people aren't really sure about those magic jobs numbers right now. I do hope they're true for the sake of the country, though. But, I do think it's too little too late. The economy should have been first on Obama's agenda and not healthcare. More people would have had healthcare with a job, IMO.

9) Comment by DMJ - 08/10/2012

I'm sure people are feeling better about their support for Romney, but I still don't think the debates can have a big enough impact at this point. I smell a bit of wishful thinking. But hey, just because it's wishful, doesn't mean it won't happen. Also, I was happy to see Romney tack to the center for the debate. After the 47% video, I was really worried that he actually believed the mean-spirited things he said, but then I remembered....it's Mitt Romney. He'll do what it takes to win...even if it means walking back his policy viewpoints or even straight-up repudiating stuff he said just weeks ago. After all, I'd rather Romney the flip-flopper than Romney the right wing zealot.

10) Comment by nimby? - 08/10/2012

DMJ , you might be wrong . there has been much apathy amongst voters , who to vote for , or even vote for that matter . the debate was like a second cup of coffee , makes things a bit clearer . more are feeling better about their support for Romney while a bit of uncertainty lingers towards the President ....

11) Comment by DMJ - 08/10/2012

Jeez. I might be stoned. Not a good effort from me, sentence formation-wise. Still..you get my point...I hope. lol

12) Comment by DMJ - 08/10/2012

No, I don't think the debate won any Republicans over to Obama. And I don't think the next two debates will either, no matter who "wins." That's my whole point. People know who they're voting for already, anecdotal examples not withstanding. I thought I was pretty clear on this point. Oh well... And the percentage of undecided voters is smaller in battleground states is lower, due to the candidates spending most of their time and money in such states, as opposed to ...say....Louisiana, where neither candidate has campaigned at all. Who knows? I might be proven wrong. I've been wrong before (I thought John Edwards was going to win in 2008). Still...I don't think there are enough people left, so late in the game, who are truly open to changing their minds about who to vote for, and even if they were....I don't think it's mathematically possible for Romney to pick up to win, especially considering the latest job numbers, which are trending upward.

13) Comment by Whatnow - 08/10/2012

Hey, DMJ, I've got something to tell you. You think debates don't matter? My daughter and her husband were both voting for Obama again until that debate. They were very Democrat. The debate pulled them over. They didn't know Romney at all until that debate. I had told them some, but they weren't listening. Obama's performance and lack of answers was the last straw with them. Obama's negative campaigning was another sore spot with them. After the debate, they studied Romney and Ryan's platform for the first time. And that was just in my family. I wonder how many other fence riders across the country were pulled over to the sensible side? Do you think that debate won over any Republicans to Obama? Being_Stupid, get ready for some real laughs tomorrow night.

14) Comment by Being_Stupid - 08/10/2012

Don't worry, DMJ. Joe Biden will come to the rescue tomorrow night during the Vice Presidential debate.

15) Comment by Being_Stupid - 08/10/2012

I can't wait for the Vice Presidential debate tomorrow... :) Romney & Ryan in 2012

16) Comment by quirkmaguirk - 08/10/2012

@speakthetruth: The point of my comment is that the debate was pathetic and didn't have enough substance to actually persuade someone who thought they were voting for Gary Johnson, a third party candidate that deserves more attention than he is getting, into voting for either candidates of the two party system. Also, I am employed full time with benefits, I do not support Obama (or Romney), and you have taken any doubt about your sanity off the table. A friendly warning; the tinfoil actually makes it easier for them to read your brain waves and control your thoughts.

17) Comment by DMJ - 08/10/2012

What's ironic (and kind of sad, actually) is that a huge chunk of the 47% don't know they're in the 47%. 53% of Americans pay federal income tax, but 80% think they do. Even the people Romney insulted so directly will STILL vote for him. Amazing. "If Obama gets re-elected the end of this country, as we know it, is in sight." Relax, bub. Breathe into a paper bag or something.

18) Comment by speakthetruth - 08/10/2012

quirkmaguirk, the United States has become divided into the "takers" and the "taken from". You are obviously one of the takers. Your first sentence says it all, "I refuse to believe". The "takers" refuse to believe that things they take for granted - welfare, social security, medical care, free phones, food stamps, etc etc etc.. have to be paid for by someone. That is where the "taken from" comes from - workers and non-workers. The workers are becoming a smaller and smaller group which results in them being taxed more in order to pay for the government "entitlements" for the takes, that politicians like Obama use to buy votes. If Obama gets re-elected the end of this country, as we know it, is in sight. Prices will continue to climb due to the dept we are in, jobs will continue to decline, income will decline, which will result in less income for the government, hence Obama's plan to tax the "rich". But just taxing the "rich" is not going to fix our problems because the 47% will have grown to much larger numbers and there will never be enough government money to pay for all the requirements of the 47+%. Thus the collapse of the United States as a world power. But, quirkmagirk, as you stated, you "refuse to believe". Continue to sit on your porch and wait for the check. Enjoy it while you can because sooner or later the well will run dry.

19) Comment by 8point6 - 08/10/2012

The October 15, 2012 cover of the New Yorker says it all.

20) Comment by quirkmaguirk - 08/10/2012

I refuse to believe that any thinking person, especially someone already decided on a third party candidate, could have had their mind changed after the "debate" the other night.