Obama wins 3rd Debate

Notes from the Old Noank Jail                                        

President Obama wins 3rd Debate                                                                                           

by Ed Johnson  

With the exception of died-in-the-wool Tea Party members and paid Fox News staff, most of us would probably agree that President Obama came out ahead of Governor Romney tonight in the debate. This was in spite of the moderator giving Mr. Romney some time leeway at least twice.  

There were some classic moments, such as Mr. Obama explaining to Mr. Romney that we now use aircraft carriers and submarines, or Mr. Romney telling us that Iran needed to go through Syria to get to the sea, and that he (Mr. Romney) did NOT state that the auto industry should go bankrupt...but now actually claims that he had advocated federal assistance. And it was amusing to hear Mr. Obama's calm understatement as he described Mr. Romney taking "an airbrush" to historical facts.  

I noted that Mr. Romney had, once again, changed his political position very recently on some notable foreign affairs issues and, as examples, was now agreeing with Mr. Obama's handling of drone attacks and withdrawing troops from Afghanistan by 2014. And I was amused when Mr. Romney complained that Mr. Obama was attacking HIM....after the way Mr. Romney behaved toward Mr. Obama during the prior debates.  

A CBS poll gave statistics on local voter opinion for this third debate, listing 53 % favoring Mr. Obama, 23 % for Mr. Romney, with 24% undecided. One of the major concerns, expressed by more than one newscaster, was that Mr. Romney had now created a feeling of uncertainty as to his quality of character as a leader by making so many last minute foreign policy changes just prior to this debate.  

But as to whether this debate will actually have a major effect on the election itself, only the poll takers can give us any answers until November 6th and it will still be a close race. For reasons of leadership consistency, mixed with my own desire for a more centrist, more cooperative and less conservative and obstructionist Republican party, I will still vote for Mr. Obama to finish the job he started.  

And, yes...the very wealthy 1% really do need to pay their fair share. 

Comments are welcomed at  EdwardR.Johnson72@gmail.com