COMMENTARY
By Yvette Miley, executive editor and VP, MSNBC
The end of the first debate night in the presidential election gives me the perfect opportunity to talk about one of my favorite sports: boxing.
The pre-debate buildup echoed many “fight cards” for the Duel in Denver. Many watching the debate, on the right and left, applauded former Governor Romney for being the aggressor, for taking the fight to the president. Meanwhile, the president seemed to be following the Muhammad Ali strategy from the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” fight. He didn’t come out swinging, and it didn't appear he was interested in taking advantage of opportunities to jab or counter Romney’s verbal fist-a-cuffs.
Watching the debate and following Twitter was a fascinating exercise. Those on the left were demanding the president challenge Romney more and to raise the “47%.” However, the president—criticized often for not fighting—was on the ropes, apparently by design. This was a presidential version of rope-a-dope.
Ali used the rope-a-dope strategy to allow George Foreman to endlessly throw punches in the early rounds. Ali fans were appalled. It was not what they expected from the self-proclaimed man who could “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.”
Unbelievably, the president talked four minutes longer than Romney, although it seemed he didn’t land as many blows as possible.
Romney and his debate club are celebrating a victory today, but the danger for the challenger who is fresh off campaign debates is not “punching out.” The biggest threat to Romney is that President Obama has yet to come out of his rope-a-dope posture. He has yet to start really throwing punches.
Clearly the president wasn’t pursuing his base during what some might call his Dud in Denver. The president and his strategy team are behind on the score card and his loyal base seems ready to throw in the towel.
I anticipate pugilist Vice President Joe Biden will take a more aggressive approach during his debate with Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican nominee for vice president. Can the president afford to leave all the punching up to the Brawler from Scranton, VP Biden?
The president might have attempted to stay above the "fray" and remain "presidential" and maintain his 'likeable' poll numbers, but did he leave the stage looking more like former President Jimmy Carter and less like a man with the courage to fight for his convictions?
In 1974, Ali eventually came off the ropes to throw punches, and when he did, George Foreman went down—hard. Romney is still standing. Ali had the best in the game in his corner, Angelo Dundee. President Obama's corner-team made a calculated strategy decision last night. They might be waiting for upcoming debates to show off their fighter’s combinations, but the danger in politics is that the president might not have a chance to get off the ropes.
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THeres nothing the say, romney proved he was better prepared, had a plan , and stated clearly, i can see why the dems are worried after a performance like that.
What he clearly stated was a plan? Just looking ahead toward getting Congress to implement that plan and then for a larger 'government' to implement that plan is daunting task for the imagination of the most informed. A proposal for vouchering / couponing / grouponing health care, and social security obviously adds complexity to the task at great cost, much confusing and little obvious benefit. It is a solution to a problem the does not exist, if both are 'government' administered as a 'tax', and neither is administered as an 'investment', adding overhead of multiple plans, in multiple departments, at the federal level or all 50 States, cannot reduce costs. Therefore there is no 'business' case, no saving case, and no investment case for these proposals.
If the 'plan' was plan from a 'experienced' 'businessman' then it should show clearly where the investments are to be made, how they will be implemented, how long it will it take, what the flow of investment capital is required, and what the total cost is, and most importantly the return on the investment, what the profit levels might be, and an estimate of the breakeven point in the future.
Romney 'business' experience has obviously short changed everyone because by manipulating, tax laws, leveraged buying and selling and reporting foreign income ownership. The business accounts and lawyers have added the same sort of complexity normal reserved for 'government' overhead. Thus Romney 'business' experience is based on buying low, selling high, and escaping all forms of taxation and taking maximum profit, and leaving no viable enterprise behind.
Vouchers when possible will be fed to the vulture, profiting from life, death, and escaping taxes.
All last night proved is that Romney is a terrific liar. He will say or do anything to gain the power behind the presidency, he already has enough money and we now know what he thinks about the 47% who are less priviledged, so it's not the people he wants to help out. The only thing that motivates this guy to lie his way into the White House is the euphoric high he gets off of is having more power than anyone else in this country. He is addicted to wealth and power and needs an intervention and I hope Obama helps him out in the next debate. Look at the morals he is teaching his own children. I wonder if they have asked their daddy why he is hiding his money in other countries and refuses to show a summary of past income tax rates he paid, of which, he probably paid little, if any.
Romney's big dollar campaign contributions are gonna keep rolling to Romney rather than to state races for Republican Congressional candidates.
ROmney proved what, he can lie withthe best of them? He was good, but the substance were lies and another flip flop or 2 or 3....Romney has no orale compass he just want the power to better himself and his cronies
It's hard for me to understand how so many believe a few minutes on TV can change the Romney character, already well established, in the minds of Americans. This bullying posture was for his base who can only be convinced by lies, emphatically spoken. Things will go right back to where they were for Mitt and the GOP, in the hole, where they belong.
Well I think it was fun to watch all the lies pile up from ROMNOBOT. I think the next month will be about showing how no one can trust the challenger when he opens his mouth. H.P. has already caught the beginning with headlines about 13 hour late rebuff. I think this is just the beginning of a blitz of coming off the ropes punches.
Even the Romney talking heads are already reversing what he said about pre existing conditions in the debate and it is not even a full day yet.
We still have the out sourcing, regulations and so much more!!
This is a very very bad time for the USA. I got nauseous to watch a debate between a double-face opportunistic republican liar and a President who looked intimitaded, disengaged, with an AWFUL body language, and clearly unable to fight for his ideas. It is a shame that there are only 2 parties in the USA and no third REAL alternative like in most democratic countries in the world. The future looks quite uncertain one way or another.
It was painful to watch this debate but I understand the strategy. Also, nobody brings up a very interesting side point. Barack and Michelle value their precious relationship. Imagine that all they remembered was fighting half of America. The Obama family love our country and all who choose to make it home. I am betting on rounds 2 and 3. Happy anniversary, Mr. President and 1st Lady!
Was It A Debate Challenge for President Obama? Maybe Not. Food for Thought.
We need to recognize that we have a clever President. He is constantly thinking about what is the best move, that will give the ultimate results, for his mission.
Now, I know many say, "Why didn't President Obama, say this or that…" — "Romney won…" and so on, during the Oct. 3rd debate.
One thing you must admit, President Obama has always been a consistent broker. He knows his policies through and through. President Obama is not into "knee jerk reaction." He knows his opponent, is a dodger, a flip-flopper and basically a habitual liar. Putting a hand up to faces of the naysayers, the President has accomplished some important political and policy wins, despite the stalemating of a Republican controlled Congress.
So what we should be asking ourselves is how is it possible for him (Our President) to come off so timid, at such an important event, with over 60 million of the citizenry watching, with eyes wide. Not to mention the thousands or even millions that were watching via the internet, worldwide.
Has anyone considered that the president may have been playing Romney. Allowing Romney to come out full force — as one of his many faces.
We Americans tend to get, too emotional about things. I know, because I'm one of them.
But, President Obama, has read the book, "The Art of War", and it is evident in Wednesday performance that he was using it:
Quotes from the Art of War:
The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.
Sun Tzu
Pretend inferiority and encourage his (the opponent's) arrogance.
Sun Tzu
Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.
Sun Tzu
He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious.
Sun Tzu
If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.
Sun Tzu
Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting.
Sun Tzu
You must admit that the President's performance, allowed Romney to sing like a bird, albeit they were mostly lies. But, Romney's lies has put a millstone about his neck, with the large yellow sticker of "VOUCHER CARE" stuck to his forehead, to be carried for the next 32 days, for all to see.
We have to watch the remaining debates, and the next 32 days like spectators at a Chess Match. A dead pawn here, a dead Bishop there, and a dead Rook, means absolutely nothing to a seasoned chess master.
Was It A Debate Challenge for President Obama? Maybe Not. Food for Thought. (Cont'd)
The other thing that came to my mind is that President Obama has to be a very formidable chess player. Why? Because he knows how to draw others into his bait of "Check Mate".
I came across this article online about the US Presidents that played/play chess and how the game afforded them to discover their opponents weak points and exploit the advantage of well targeted preparation.
(Note: Before your readers start freaking out about, the president is an elitist because Chess is considered the game of Kings— I am an African American. Actually many in our community play this game. In Michigan, where I was born, you can find African American men (especially) young and old, playing the game at our waterfront park (Hart Plaza) during many of Detroit's Ethnic festivals. I remember some of the suburban visitors watching in amazement, that many of these humble looking (low income) men were avid and pretty damn good chess players.)
Which US presidents played the royal game?
Of the 43 presidents of the United States, over the last 222 years, 24, i.e. more than half, have played and enjoyed chess. It started with the first president, George Washington, and ends with Barack Obama, who has occasional games with Michelle Obama.
George Washington (1789-1797)
Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)
James Madison (1809-1817)
James Monroe (1817-1825)
John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)
Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)
Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)
Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)
Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)
Rutherford Hayes (1877-1881)
James A. Garfield (1881)
Grover Cleveland (1885-1889)
Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)
William Howard Taft (1909-1913)
Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)
Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)
Franklin Roosevelt (1933-1945)
Harry S Truman (1945-1953)
Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961)
John F. Kennedy (1961-1963)
Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)
Bill Clinton (1993-2001)
Barack Obama (2009-present)