The Debates Round Three

Watching last night's debate it seemed apparent that the candidates are a little tired of meeting like this. I mean, after all, how many times can they say the same things over and over.

Mitt Romney : I know how to create jobs, I have balanced budgets, I have not spent my life in government.

Barack Obama : You don't balance the budget by increasing military spending by, everyone say it with me, " two trillion dollars they didn't ask for." I do not know if the Joint Chiefs agree with that statement but if they do they would be the first military figures in history who would not happily accept more money to spend on soldiers and equipment.

As to the specifics of the third debate I think it is clear that Obama won. Romney continued to modify his positions and move to the center, agreeing with much of what they President has done, only differing on the edges.

With this being the third debate this month, on the subject of foreign policy, matched up against Monday Night Football and a Game Seven in the baseball playoffs we do not really know who was watching or if they care to hear any more information.

As I have mentioned it is hard to know who could possibly be undecided at this moment. Is it one housewife in Akron, Ohio that is going to be the deciding vote in the election. Perhaps this weekend Obama and Romney will be there at her house winterizing her house for her.

If I was a Republican I would be concerned that Romney played it too cool. He behaved like a candidate who thinks that he has the race locked up and did not want to make any mistakes. He might be forgetting the impact of early voters, many of whom have voted already, and who all indications show have Obama leading by double digits in the swing states.

If I were a Democrat I would be concerned that Romney so clearly played it close to the vest that one has to wonder if he knows something that you don't. We have heard rumors of a big announcement coming from Donald Trump. While it is hard to take anything Trump does seriously if by chance, he drops some piece of information on the election close enough to election day to blow up with no time to refute it could change the script. Does Romney know this? Romney debated like a man with a big lead that he did not want to blow. There is nothing to indicate that this is true but Romney is not a dumb man. Does he know something that we do not. Democrats must be very cautious, every vote counts.

And for Democrats and Republicans both Mitt Romney if elected is going to be like a wrapped present. You do not know what you are getting.

Romney over the last two weeks has moved to the middle. For those moderates wanting to embrace the " not Obama" he has made himself an easy candidate to vote for. For those on the right who are talking to each other and saying things like " I don't like what he is saying Bill, he is just saying that until after the election right? ....right Bill? " The truth is they do not know.

And here is a newsflash. Mitt Romney does not know either. Mitt Romney is in some ways what we most need in Washington. He is a pragmatist. When he talks about working with Democrats in Massachusetts to get things done lets keep in mind, it was Massachusetts and he had to. If the House and Senate were somehow to tilt that Democratic with a Republican Romney as President then he would be Moderate Mitt and things would get done and the country would prosper. However if the Congress were to tilt far right he would become Conservative Mitt.


The man has no real ideology. We all know that Republicans in control of all branches of government are a force to be reckoned with. They do not break ranks. Ever. Democrats on the other hand eat their young. Obama did have majorities in both houses but for a Democrat that is no blessing.

I believe Obama is going to win. I want him to. I believe he will be a better President this time, and frankly some of his plans will have a very positive effect on my life. I fear Romney but it must be admitted that I fear Romney the Conservative. If the Democrats control enough of the Congress to force him to be moderate Mitt he could be a very successful President. In a way all these debates have done is shown what a wildcard Romney is, both for those who vote for him and those who do not.

It will be a very interesting two weeks.