Who Hijacked Our Country

Monday, October 22, 2012

Mitt Romney: “We Need More Horses and Bayonets”

Tonight’s debate was less volatile than last week’s debate.  The best zinger of the evening was when Mitt Romney said the U.S. Navy has fewer ships than at any time since 1916, and therefore our military is under-funded and ill-prepared for the 21st century.  President Obama responded that we also have fewer horses and bayonets than we did in 1916.

And then he explained to Mittens that we have these new thingies called airplanes, and great big ships called aircraft carriers that can transport these airplanes to any place they’re needed.

Obama also took several opportunities to remind viewers of Romney’s constant flipflopping and shape shifting on every issue.

Romney kept repeating the Right’s favorite talking points — “We’re four years closer to a nuclear Iran,” “Obama’s apology tour” — even though Obama corrected him each time.  Repeating the same lie over and over gives it more power, but in this case it made Romney look like a slow third grader who had to keep getting corrected by the teacher.

Romney also kept putting on that “I’m a confident executive” demeanor by saying “when I’m President” instead of “if.”  This method of “acting as if” you already have what you want, “as if” you’ve already achieved your highest goals and aspirations, goes back at least to the 1940s; probably earlier.  It’s a good approach when you’re talking to a group of junior executives or aspiring entrepreneurs.  But is it a good idea when you’re talking to millions of TV viewers who are deciding whether or not to vote for you?

Did Romney come across as confident and in control, or just an arrogant gasbag?

10 Comments:

Blogger Jerry Critter said...

Romney came across as one of Obama's biggest foreign policy supporters. Hell, if the election was based on foreign policy only, I bet Romney would vote for Obama instead of for himself.

October 22, 2012 at 10:00 PM  
Anonymous Jolly Roger said...

I really expected better. Willard has nothing but Gish Gallops to try to get by on. And he's failed dramatically this time.

October 22, 2012 at 10:36 PM  
Blogger jadedj said...

Rumpney puts me in mind of this Alice in Wonderland quote, "...if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't.” - Tweedledee

October 23, 2012 at 4:47 AM  
Blogger Snave said...

Romney looks and acts like a high school kid running for president of his senior class.

October 23, 2012 at 8:04 AM  
Anonymous Jess said...

I watched a better "game", in the pouring rain even. Saw my Giants get to the World Series. I'm catching up now, but I did see a snippet of the horses and bayonets thing and it's already a meme but you knew that.

October 23, 2012 at 8:55 AM  
Blogger Jim Marquis said...

Romney was a sweaty mess who looked scared to death he might make a mistake.

October 23, 2012 at 9:29 AM  
Blogger Karlo said...

Gasbag.

October 23, 2012 at 12:17 PM  
Blogger Tom Harper said...

Jerry: For that matter, I'd almost vote for the warm and fuzzy and compassionate Mitt Romney we've been seeing in the debates.

JR: I just hope he fails miserably on November 6th.

jadedj: LOL, that sums him up.

Snave: Yup, that's about right. Or he's asking out a girl who he's afraid will turn him down.

Jess: I'm sure you had more fun watching the Giants than I did watching the talking heads.

Jim: LOL, my sentiments exactly.

Karlo: Agreed.

October 23, 2012 at 1:28 PM  
Blogger S.W. Anderson said...

Romney came across as someone so loaded with talking points that if you were to poke his belly, talking points would pour out of his mouth. However, he was not loaded with knowledge in depth and well-considered opinions. If Obama had been able to question him in a back and forth, as in a real debate, the audience would've quickly learned how shallow and recently acquired Romney's foreign-policy and national security insights are.

I liken Romney's performance to a Potemkin village with several of the false-front "buildings" tipped over, giving away the whole thing.

October 24, 2012 at 1:13 AM  
Blogger Tom Harper said...

SW: Potemkin village, a perfect analogy to the Romney du jour.

October 24, 2012 at 2:13 PM  

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