Final thoughts on first debate

Days after that debate, I can’t get it out of my head.

It seems every conversation I have with people, it’s all they want to talk about.

As presidential debates go, this one is destined to be historic in its lopsidedness, while its impact on the election remains to be seen.

How bad was it?

Barack Obama’s empty chair did better vs. Clint Eastwood than did the empty suit that showed up for the debate with Mitt Romney.

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Was Romney that good? Or was Obama that bad?

Here’s my theory.

Obama never before – either as the Democratic nominee in 2008 or as president – faced tough questions. He never got them from an adversarial media. He never got them from a curious media. And he certainly never got them from the Republican nominee in 2008.

In fact, the last tough challenges Obama faced were probably in the primary campaign he waged against Hillary Clinton, et al.

That’s a long time to go facing nothing but adoration from a drooling, fawning press incapable of seeing any error in the man.

I’m thinking this was a disservice to Obama from his biggest supporters – those who work in the establishment press, the only journalists who have access to him. Obama certainly didn’t have any debates with Republicans over the last four years. Could it be he was intellectually out of shape? Or was it the altitude, as Al Gore suggested? Was he preoccupied with something on the horizon – a big political surprise, a brewing scandal? Has he not gotten enough rest and relaxation with all the vacations and golf outings he has enjoyed?

I mean, what made this man fall apart so dramatically?

I don’t think I will ever forget this performance. It’s one for the record books. Even his facial expressions were telling. He knew he was getting shellacked within a few minutes and grew increasingly uneasy, nervous and inarticulate.

Does he have it in him to come back from that? Or is he truly helpless without a teleprompter?

Was Romney that good?

Well, he was impressive during the GOP primary debates. There was no question he had it in him. He’s masterful at deflecting criticism – even valid criticism. He’s always cheerful and upbeat, attentive and engaged.

He was not exactly an attack dog – but he controlled the entire debate.

Since this debate focused on the economy, there were many other points Romney could have made about Obama’s abysmal record. He didn’t have to! Obama fell apart every time Romney made a substantive point.

That’s why I really believe Obama is not up to this challenge from an intellectual capacity. If he ever was up to it, he’s gotten intellectually flabby. Can you even imagine this guy going toe-to-toe with some hostile foreign adversary? It’s unthinkable.

Worse yet, his performance betrayed an inability to even think clearly on his feet.

What does that suggest about normal, day-in, day-out executive capabilities?

What I’m saying here should be obvious. Obama didn’t just lose a debate. He demonstrated that he is incapable of running a small business, let alone the largest bureaucracy on planet earth.

And why are we just seeing this now?

Because, as has been pointed out over and over by many others, Obama was never vetted as a candidate, never screened for constitutional eligibility – and, as we now see – never challenged with any tough questions or criticisms of his policies over the last four years by the establishment press he may as well own.

That’s my assessment of why he caved like a house of cards in what for him was a unique experience.