Romney Winner of Denver Presidential Debate

President Obama had better hope that a butt kicking is covered under ObamaCare.  The 2012 Denver Presidential Debate was a huge defeat for the president. Moderator Jim Lehrer stepped into the debate to give the President the equivalent of boxing's standing eight count. The moderator helped the President start his sentences on at least one occasion:

21:33:26: LEHRER: About the idea that in order to reduce the deficit, there has to be revenue in addition to cuts.

21:33:30: OBAMA: There has to be revenue in addition to cuts. Now, Governor Romney has ruled out revenue. He's ruled out revenue.
...
21:44:43: LEHRER: Mr. President?

21:44:44: OBAMA: First of all, I think it's important for Governor Romney to present this plan that he says will only affect folks in the future.

And the essence of the plan is that you would turn Medicare into a voucher program. It's called premium support, but it's understood to be a voucher program. His running mate...

21:45:05: LEHRER: And you don't support that?

21:45:07: OBAMA: I don't. And let me explain why.

The president started the debate with the first question on jobs. Since it is difficult to defend such a horrendous record, the initiative was taken by Gov. Mitt Romney. Years of tea party concerns about economic policy, constitutional rights and ObamaCare paved the way for an impressive rebuttal to the Obama presidency. Governor Romney revealed what many of us have known about President Obama, as million-dollar-Obama-Campaign-donor Bill Maher tweeted:

i can't believe i'm saying this, but Obama looks like he DOES need a teleprompter
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) October 4, 2012

A video reports to show President Obama stating "You won" to Gov. Romney at the end of the debate.

Gov. Romney removed all obfuscation of ObamaCare and jobs. He took the President to school. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are obviously the perfect team to defeat the Obama campaign. Without teleprompters and audience applause prompters, Barack Obama is an empty suit. The President rambled on and on trying to justify the unjustifiable and explain the unexplainable. CSPAN reported that President Obama spoke longer on CNN's debate clock. We found confirmation here:

By the end of the debate, Obama had spoken for nearly 43 minutes and Romney had spoken for 38 and a half minutes, according to CNN’s clock.

The debate defeat of Barack Obama was historic. Two-thirds of debate watchers believe Mitt Romney won the debate. Just 25% of debate watchers believe President Obama won the debate and 67% pointed to Mitt Romney as the winner.

"No presidential candidate has topped 60% in that question since it was first asked in 1984," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.

The highlight of the debate per Frank Luntz's focus group was from Mitt Romney, who scored nearly 100% with undecided voters. Per the CNN transcript:

22:24:50: ROMNEY: We -- as president, I will sit on day one -- actually, the day after I get elected -- I'll sit down with leaders -- the Democratic leaders, as well as Republican leaders, and continue -- as we did in my state -- we met every Monday for a couple hours, talked about the issues and the challenges in the -- in the -- in our state in that case. We have to work on a collaborative basis, not because we're going to compromise our principle, but because there's common ground. And the challenges America faces right now -- look, the reason I'm in this race is there are people that are really hurting today in this country. And we face -- this deficit could crush the future generations. What's happening in the Middle East, there are developments around the world that are of real concern.

22:25:53: LEHRER: All right.

22:25:53: ROMNEY: And Republicans and Democrats both love America. But we need to have leadership -- leadership in Washington that will actually bring people together and get the job done and could not care less if -- if it's a Republican or a Democrat. I've done it before. I'll do it again.

Intrade chances of Mitt Romney becoming president increase by 3.5 points to 33.4%.

To my tea party compatriots, you should feel proud. The conversation in America has been directly molded and framed by you. We have been waiting for someone to debate Barack Obama on economic policies since 2009. As many Americans are in shock at the intellectual smack down that was dished upon President Obama, we know many Americans who could have stood in Mitt Romney's place.

Congratulations and thank you!

Tea Party View of the Republican Debate

GOP candidates Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman Jr. and Rick Santorum debated on Fox News last night. There were a few "tea party" take aways and a few gaffes of note. The majority of the debate was correctly focused upon defining differences between the candidates.

Fellow SLOB WC Varones noticed Democrats jumping on Mitt Romney's "corporations are people, too" statement last night. Many small business owners are S-Corporation, so despite mock outrage by leftist fundraisers, it seems minor.

Tim Pawlenty did not come across well in his argument with Michelle Bachmann. Particularly when she miscommunicated her choice to vote for a Pawlenty pro-life bill that included a tax increase. Rep. Bachmann  made the mistake, and it was clearly a bad choice of wording, but Gov. Pawlenty piled on acting as if she had voted pro-choice despite a tax increase.  This may have seemed good politic but it was just small.

Michelle Bachmann made another mistake that had actual substance to Tea Partiers. In a question about ORomneyCare she failed to point out the difference between federal constitutional powers and state constitutional powers.  Reporters may think that is wonkish, but Tea Party members are extremely savvy about the constitution.

Amendment 10, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."  Rep. Bachmann is correct in her answer that neither the federal or state governments have unlimited powers. The mistake was in not communicating that individual states are closer to the people and more empowered to make policy decisions of such consequence. Citizens can leave a state.  Her answer leads one to believe that she would repeal ObamaCare, but then proceed to repeal RomneyCare and other similar state laws.  The Tea Party would support that political position nationally but may not at the state level.

One good moment in the debate was had by Newt Gingrich as he explained the problem with the "super congress." Speaker Gingich railed against the Washington idiocy of leaving the entire congress idol while political appointees decide how to make congress choose between "shoot you in the head or cut off your right leg." The former speaker made it clear that he is in the race for patriotic reasons but may have no intention of being the final candidate.

The debate "Tea Party take aways" include both politics and economics. 

On the economic front, the Obama Depression is not going to end due to anticipation of a conservative president. Consumer sentiment is shockingly low and the "90 days after I am elected" fix is not enough. By the time we retire our vacuous Present-ent Obama, the economy will be in the unimaginably bad shape.

On the political front, the majority of the available candidates are major upgrades from our current president. The other candidates are just significant upgrades.  Mitt Romney is still the front runner. Newt is the Ed McMahon to everyone else's Johnny and will bring up excellent points before bowing out. Bachmann is the "had enough" candidate. Cain is the most likable. Ron Paul is the purest in constitutional original intent.  Santorum and Pawlety are reasonable but interchangeable and establishment. Huntsman has credibility but is hard to relate to. Palin and Perry will need to triangulate with withdrawing candidates in order to succeed. 

Pay close attention to any "progressive" policies in the candidates. Issues that candidates do not passionately embrace are going to be "negotiables."  Lets each be sure to choose the correct "negotiables" in the primaries.