Romney stated he was going to make cuts of 5 trillion. Tonight he denied saying that.

Two weeks ago at AARP, Ryan stated Medicare would end. Tonight Romney denied it.

Romney tonight said no school budgets would be cut but he was on TV telling teachers 4 months ago there would be numerous cuts and they was telling him that would put 60 kids in every classroom.

Romney was strong tonight but he said many things that simply was not what he has said for the last year.

He was well rehearsed for this debate and won it. Obama didn’t seem to want to call him out on all his lies and not sure he could have in the 2 minutes that was allotted.

Hooray for Governor Romney, All Facts & Very Strong Debate, Liberals Live With It, Your Smear Campaign Is Not Important, American's Clear Choice is Governor Romney As The 45th President Of Our Great Nation!

Turning school choice into voucher programs is a terrible idea. Govt. $ should not go to religious organizations as our government states separation of church and state. How would you feel if your tax money went to a Lutheran school, Catholic school, military school, Muslim school? Defund PBS NO NO NO! Vouchers for Medicare NO! Repeal Obamacare NO!

Romney is very charming, but charm does not a president make. I can't tell what he stands for, first he was pro-choice and pro-gay and pro universal health care, now he's not. I have no idea who he is and am even more uncertain with his latest tap dance. I don't think the question "Who Won" matters. I think the question I want answered is "Who Lied" and from the fact checking I've been doing, that would be Romney. Obama wasn't impressive tonight at at all, but Romney was disgusting.

ROMNEY HAD OBAMA ON THE HIS ANSWERS WERE WELL STATED.HE APPEARED MUCH MORE CONFIDENT

Sigh.........definitely know who lost.......the "American people"

Who cares what these clowns "say," how about they way they attempt to govern? They are both tyrannical dictators in their nature.......if you want to focus on what they say................how many times did we hear the word I uttered by the two?

I, me and mine............oh thank you for the Saviors.

I'd love to see a real debate...........especially with other candidates like Gary Johnson...........somebody to call out Barry Soetoro and Mitt-Flop.

Governor Romney, the Comedy Club just left you a voice message: "Mitt baby, we need an opening act on Saturday night, can you help us out?"

Romney is a big joke and it wasn't necessary for President Obama to fall down to his level. I was embarrassed for the President that he even had to stand on the same stage as that classless Clown Romney. And as for the msnbc political pundits lashing out at President Obama after the debate was over, they acted like little cry babies because he doesn't watch "cable tv" and their shows in order to "know what's going on." You don't support someone wholeheartedly one minute and turn on them the next just because he didn't use the smart-mouth replies that they would have used. The President has class and that's something that Romney will never have or understand because all his life he's stepped on the "moochers" in order to attain his wealthy status. He will never change, but he'd sure like you to think that he has. I have news for Romney: in this day and age of electronic reporting, your lies will be repeated over and over and over again, and there's nothing you can say or do to make you look like the good guy. The middle class, the lower class and whatever can possibly be beneath that class--they're not stupid, just "poor." They still are smarter than Romney thinks they are, and they do have a voice. OBAMA 2012.

Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the kings horses and all the kings men could not put Obama hump back together again..... Debate over. It is ashamed to see how Romney is being demonized probably by the same folks who think super rich like the Kennedys, Roosevelts and Kerrys are heroes. Oh yes and let's not forget the nuveau riche like the Clintons.

Minor oops - The VP Debate is Thursday October 10th ...

All in all, the episode of NCIS we recorded Tuesday night was a much better choice for TV last night...

President Obama's statements were in line with the policies that he has been consistently promoting throughout recent times, and he was a great deal better at actually explaining details how to accomplish those goals.

Romney's presentations last night have evolved from even recent statements that he has made. His story constantly changes to fit the situation at hand. There was a lot of spin and he was quite short on details on how to achieve what he is promoting. Rather then broad concepts that sound swell, I would rather hear the nuts and bolts of a well-thought-out plan.

Throw the bankers in jail for committing crimes, Give the entire government a pink slip and lets start from scratch and bake a new cake.

Actually both won, depending on what you establish as a goal to win.

Romney had to come out strong and had to show folks he could hold his own as he was supposed to be the underdog in a debate with President Obama. He more than accomplished this and even made a few points.

President Obama had to simply survive this debate, which he also did. If one considers the State of the Economy today, the general decline of the Economy under him and his extremely weak record on the Economy then President Obama survived the debate and a discussion on the Economy.

The debate at Hofstra, (a town hall style debate), favors President Obama, as does the last debate since neither one focuses primarily on the Economy. You can expect that President Obama will be a little more lively in those debates.

Understand that as the Incumbent, President Obama does not have to win the debates but rather not lose them. President Obama has the luxury of campaigning for re-election while getting a paycheck and getting all the perks and benefits of a sitting President, as does his children and entourage while travelling. Not that any sitting President would manipulate policy simply for the sake of re-election, but this close to the election there is the possibility of postponing actions and decisions that might impact the election while escalating others. Likewise certain Foreign Policy decisions need to be handled very carefully as we approach the election.

The second coming of the Carter Administration was exposed for the fraud it is. Mr. Obama there IS one thing Mitt left out - YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO A SECOND TERM. NO-OBAMA 2016.

Romney had facts and figures to prove what he was saying. Obama shared anecdotes about his grandmother and about Cleveland Clinic. If you ever studied debate, you know that Romney's was the winning strategy. He devestated Obama with facts, examples and numbers. Obama was obviously poorly prepared. Did he think he could just show up and win without putting in preparation time?

As expected, Gov. Romney gave a good debate performance. I expect a slight bounce in the national polls showing increased support for him. It has never been President Obama's style to taunt bullies. Unlike Gov. Romney, he has lived in places where that could have been a life-threatening strategy. This debate, as unsatisfactory as it was for those who wanted the President to punch back and draw blood, reminds those of us who support his thoughtful, data-supported policies that we have work to do in this election, too if we want him to win. Although my heart wanted a sword-wielding hero in the debate, my head is satisfied with the person I can trust to keep his word that he will work hard every day to improve the lives of Americans -- all Americans.

Romney flipped on all his previous positions. The man will say anything to get elected. One thing is for sure...he wants to change medicare and make it a voucher system. That's all I need to know.

Someone asked "why didn't Obama say this or that about Romney?" and the straight & simple answer is, if he had done so Romney would have called him an out-and-out liar on most of the nonsense Obama's campaign spews on national television. "Ads" can twist and turn data inside out and upside down (i.e. LIE) all they want, but when the person is present, live on air, to address those blatant misrepresentations, the risk is too great to the liar to say it on national television and be held accountable for his falsehoods in front of millions. No one's mind was changed who has already made their decision; the "undecided" are the key to this election.

Substance 1, Chair 0.

Romney had been practicing his lies for this debate for weeks and it showed. During the primary debates with other Republicans, Romney told everybody how extremely conservative he was. Later to millionaire donors, Romney stated that he was dismissing 47% of the population and called them victims with a sense of entitlement. Last night Romney was the great champion of the middle class. This debate showed that Romney consistently flip flops and will say just about anything to get elected. If Romney wins, the middle class, working people, and all women will be the real losers.

This is ridiculous!!!! Unless you say Obama won you get slammed!!!!! Whatever happened to freedom of speech?! With that right came freedom of opinion!!!! We are not a dictatorship yet! I am do sick of all the Obama supporters spewing their ” facts”! Do you actually think the man is honest?!!! Hes in politics for Gods sake!!!! Just as bad as.them all!!!! You think Obama.is the great American hope welll that's YOUR opinion back off with the bullying of those who like Romney!!!!

Joy M.
Yes Romney came out strong and Obama seemed disconnected, but this is the age of video and fact checking. Romney lies to get approval, and he blantantly lied and breathtakingly changed what he and Ryan have been saying on the campaign trail. So who is he? What does he really believe in? Last night Romney was trying to be a champion for the middle class and for education and for taxes, but he refused to give any details. Just as he gave us one year of his taxes...unheard of.. and hides behind trust me on this.. he refuses to give us any details of what he will do if elected. He wants us to trust him. In our family we want facts and substance and backbone. Romney has none of those qualities and all his flip flopping and lies are on record for anyone to see. Because Romney was strong last night it did not make him right, it just made him a forceful liar, who is willing to change his stance depending on his audience. However he did say he would turn Medicare into a voucher program, and repeal Dodd Franks, and repeal Obama Care, and while he did not say it last night he will overturn Roe v Wade,and he will give tax breaks to the rich while the middle class will pay for the breaks. Women, the middle class, students, minorities and the poor will all be pawns to this man who cares nothing about these groups. He is on record just check out what he has said before.

Neither of them won. The real economic issues that we face were not addressed at depth. Discussion of these issues would have resulted in some progress on these fronts. How can any economic discussion not focus on gas prices that are crippling us, along with health care costs and the devastating costs of war, (human sufferring trumps any economic costs, of course). There is no way that we can sustain any economic growth with this trifecta of trouble occurring. Both men danced around these issues and I sense that Romney's plan will focus on lowering labor costs and will result in more outsourcing overseas of good American jobs (a Bain Capital trademark) and Pres Obama will continue holding onto the belief that government is meant to solve this problem, and only government. Jim Lehrer was right in posing the question about each man's fundamental philosophies and we are all the losers since both men seem unwilling to find common ground and help us forge the future. Romney wants to take us back to the 1940's and Obama wants to get us back to the 1960's. HELP!!! Where are the moderates?

Here is a local debate question: Will South Tampa-Hyde Park's Congressperson Kathy Castor debate her challenger, EJ Otero? So far she has not shown up at the Tiger Bay Club or the Pinellas Forum. Will she show up at the next event/debate?
If not, why not??? Stay tuned...

Well, thanks to Democracy Now, I was able to see Jill Stein & Rocky Anderson respond to the questions in real time along with the 2 major party candidates. Of the two major parties debating, I think it was a close call but I honestly think Romney debated a bit better. That does not mean I will vote for him. Of the 4 candidates I watched, I think Jill Stein's Green New Deal is the best plan I've seen in a very long time. We need to break this two party system and infuse our government with fresh ideas and bold new blood or else we are going to be stuck on this merry-go-round of ilfunctioning solutions to the same problems and issues.
The only vote wasted is one that's not made. http://www.jillstein.org/green_new_deal

Romney won the debate in the same way a bully runs over the "smart" kid. The real question here is who will win AFTER the election. If you make $250,000 or more or are clever enough to pay NO or LITTLE Income Tax you will win with Romney. All the rest of us lose to the bully. (Independents can see how he ran over the companies he soldout with little conscience) It's not "are you better off than 4 years ago but will you be better off after the election. Remember that you can fool most of the people most of the time. Why most people vote against their own best interests to buy into a myth that they're sold every 4 years, can only be attributed to a suspension of all rational thought to believe in what their parents, church, political party has told them to believe. Both of these men got to where they are by making deals and conning their associates. People want to fantasize and believe this isn't so and make one or the other into some kind of "savior" because Americans have been "Disneyised" into believing Bears are cuddly and politicians are honest. We are always voting for the lesser of two evils because that's what we all are.

I agree Romney was on his game last night. But I can not forgot the year he has not answered questions, won't give details to any of his plans, won't turn in his tax returns, the 47%, the poor convention, etc. A 90 minute debate can not undo all that has been done for the last year.

But, Romney DID SAY he was going to reduce the debt 5 Trillion while still keeping the Bush tax cuts. He DID SAY he would reduce school funding and Paul Ryan DID SAY he would dismantle Medicare.

Romney controlled the debate and controlled Jim Lehrer. Obama was not prepared for all the lies being told and he should have known what was coming.

To say that Romney-Ryan will, "End Medicare" is like saying Henry Ford ended the horse. Progress, improvement, and change will arrive in November. End the Obama Era (error?) with one term.

Romney said he worked with Democrats to get his healthcare plan through. Romney worked with Democrats, he did not work with the Tea Party. Romney proved in his statement that Democrats can be worked with.

What happened.....After all, Obama was President of the Harvard Law Review!

The Secret Service called. They were finally successful in removing Mitt Romney's shoe from the Poseur-In-Chief's (_!_)............wake up you zombies, you saw it for yourself. He's clueless without a teleprompter and when confronted with his own record, or lack thereof. Spin it left or right - it was all right there in front of you - HE BLEW IT!

Last night was the modern day version of the Wizard of Oz...we FINALLY got to see who has actually been lurking lurking behind the curtain the last 4 years, a liar! Anyone that didn't see that is blind.

I have been watching Mitt Romney running for President for 6 years now and I still don't have a clue as to where he stands on several key issues. The man literally changes his platform every day. First he was going to repeal Obamacare and then he was going to save everything that was popular about it. He calls 47 percent of the country moochers and freeloaders then says he's going to save the middle class. He says he can create jobs but when he was Governor, Massachussetts was 47th in job creation. Last night he made it clear he intends to turn Medicare into a voucher system but leave it untouched for anyone over 60...a week ago it was 55. Will the real Mitt Romney please stand up? A win in a debate should not be judged by who can sling the most zingers, tell the most lies and run over the moderator the most times. It should be the one who has the most class, can act the most presidential, tell the truth, give specifics and do it all within the framework of the Debate rules. In that regard Obama won...hands down.

Barrack, Meet the Chairman of the Board!

The emperor has no clues... or so it seemed last night. Taxation without representation should also be a familiar phrase. We've been (both parties) spending more than we take in for decades. Somebody has to stop it. And we ALL know that federal spending has been out of control (meaning no efficiencies) for too long. We also know that when more people work, more taxes are generated. So now Obama has a plan? Why wait until now?

I would like to know how much sugar was in Romney's cool-aid last night, he is crashing today! Obama/Biden 2012!

Romney won hands down!!! Without a tele prompeter Obama is lost!!!

Obama looked dull and slow witted vs Romney. It was beautiful.

Maybe Obama wins the ultimate coup'. He knows Mitt will be aggressive, ambivalent, insulting, a bully who will say anything to get elected even giving up his banker friends or "Big Bird". He ropa-dopes him into denying his own tax plans, medicare plans, and budget. He counts on not pandering to the ignorance of the American public but believes they are intelligent enough to see through Mitt's guise. Stay tuned to see how the biggest gamble yet will play out on election day. Romney wins the debate but not the heart of the American people. You can buy people to pretend they like you, but you can't make them like you. Sorry, Bishop Mitt. No matter how they don't like Obama. They like you even less.

It seems some people have started to believe the lies Obama's campaign is spreading about Romney. Look at his record, look at his state. Just because Obama is a ballsy liar who in front of our faces keeps calling "good" horrendous programs that are leading us to extreme poverty, does not mean we have to perpetuate it by echoing his campaign of lies and hate.
It was very telling when the mediator had to stop the president and explain to him the concept of deficit and surplus in order to move on. He is not a heavy weight like Mitt Romney, he was hanging on to his big fat lies like a sinking rat hangs on to a raft piece. It was shameful.
My vote completely changed. I did so much research now and am so appalled! Though I am a Democrat I am voting Republican for I love America more than I like my party.

Talk about sore losers... Romney was magnificent. He dribbled Obama like a basketball. Clearly Obama was out of his league. The supporters got a look at the real man called president on his own with no safety net. It wasn't pretty.

Romney did not win the debate by answering the questions truthfully. Romney was simply an agressive liar while Pres Obama answered with truthful, consistent, and honest answers. Romney is a very opportunistic politician. Every time that Romney speaks to a different group, he says something different. When he was the Governor of the liberal state of Massachusetts, he introduced Romneycare, supported abortion rights, and supported an assault weapons ban. Then in the Republican Primaries when Romney needed to appeal to conservatives, Romney was against Obamacare, against abotion rights, and against any form of gun control. Now when Romney needs to appeal to the independent swing voters, he talks like a moderate on education, health care, and on economic and social issues. How can anybody trust what Romney says? In Massachusetts, the only state that ever elected Romney to office, the polls indicate that Romney will lose to Pres. Obama in a landslide. The people of Massachusetts know Romney the best and we should trust their negative opinion of him.

Everybody is really up and excitted abou the first debate. Any political figure knows the challenger wins the first debate (see Kerry, Dole). The bar is set lower for them so they can make the greatest impact in the first debate. In the Third Debate most voters have made up there mind on who they are voting for. It is the second debate that is crucial. Romney won the debate, but he might have set himself up for failure in the second debate. Now he has raised the bar of expectation in the second debate, while Obama lowered his bar. Unfortunitely being the creatures we are we base the second debate on the first debate. So if Obama is any better we will see it as him coming out a stronger and more aggressive. And if Romeny comes out with the same fire, it will be a loss because there was no gain.
They both went against something things they have been campaigning for in the debate, to win votes. So if you fact checked the only real loser here is us, because we are getting more of the same. As The Who said,"The New Boss same as the Old Boss".

Romney may have succeeded in changing my vote. If you vote for Romney, everybody gets everything they ever wanted, and it will cost nothing to anyone! The man is a God!!!!

Just when Romney thought that he could hit the gas, guess what...oil slick on the Mitt Romney highway... unemployment is improving without Romney, under Obama...

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/jobs-news-makes-obamas-case-easier/#more-35589

Finally goes below the make it or break it threshold of 8%.

Jay Leno goes after the President again.

Early in his opening monologue, the NBC Tonight Show host said of the stellar television ratings for Wednesday night's debate, "The only person who didn't tune in, I think, was President Obama"

What a crowd! Man! Yeah! You sound like Republicans watching last night's debate. Oh, my gosh. Well, the consensus is Mitt Romney won the presidential debate last night. The only people that thought Obama won - the replacement refs. Those are the only ones.

They're saying close to 60 million people may have watched the debate. In fact, the only person who didn't tune in, I think, was President Obama. What happened? [Laughter] Even Tony Romo was going, “What happened?”

Big Bird is going to win and Romney can't fire him! Obama>Biden 2012!

The American people need to look at the real facts and not sound bite ads or two-minute response debates. Look at the policies. The Republicans are for tax breaks to the richest, eradicate Medicare,eliminate student loans, cut Social Security, cut worker safety, send more jobs overseas, cut environmental and health protection laws including food and drug inspection cutbacks, eliminate all pensions, eliminate minimum wage, cut back oversight of Wall Street. The Democrats just the opposite.

Hey Michael D. want facts?
January 3rd, 2007 was the day the Democrats took over the Senate and the Congress. At the time: The DOW Jones closed at $12,621.77 The GDP for the previous quarter was 3.5% The Unemployment rate was 4.6% George Bush ' s Economic policies SET A RECORD of 52 STRAIGHT MONTHS of JOB GROWTH! Remember the day... January 3rd, 2007 was the day that Barney Frank took over the House Financial Services Committee and Chris Dodd took over the Senate Banking Committee. The economic meltdown that happened 15 months later was in what part of the economy? BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES! Unemployment... to this CRISIS by (among MANY other things) dumping 5-6 TRILLION Dollars of toxic loans on the economy from YOUR Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac FIASCOES! Bush asked Congress 17 TIMES to stop Fannie & Freddie - starting in 2001 because it was financially risky for the US economy. And who took the THIRD highest pay-off from Fannie Mae AND Freddie Mac? BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA! And who fought against reform of Fannie and Freddie? OBAMA

The lesser of two evils is still evil.

Dusty you couldn't have said it better! It appears others here have been drinking the kool-aid that obummer is offering.

I can't see how either one of them are a clear choice, and until the majority of electorate can see how both side are branded as burdening the future we will continue in the same direction we've been going for the past thirty plus years. The last great hope to turn the ship around ended with Perot! To patronize either party in these times is just wasteful thinking and the lazy american way!

Las Vegas odds maker doubles down on Romney landslide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Soh6cwFwcXo