But not decisively—Romney always held his own. And I would only say Obama won on the parts of the debates focused on foreign policy. On domestic issues, Romney won. Romney played the gentleman and the minimize-the-exposure strategy. Also a strategic vote-gaining focus on Israel. Very good . . . . Continue Reading »
So I’ve gotten a couple of emails asking me to say something about the death of McGovern. There has been a lot of conservative commentary about his basic decency and class. He was a gentleman and eventually even a fine businessman. The man is not to be confused with the general looniness of . . . . Continue Reading »
I agree with everything Pete says below: All the polls are tied, except Gallup and one other. Negative for Obama: His approval rating is higher than his one for handling the economy. For Romney: He’s more liked than he was, but still not that much. The “turnout model” is always . . . . Continue Reading »
Last month’s issue of First Things had an exchange between Patrick Deneen and Daniel Mahoney. Deneen repeated many of the arguments he has made in other articles and posts e.g. Lockeanism =’s Progressivism . On the other hand, he did seem to pivot to the center on one . . . . Continue Reading »
So I just saw (for the second time) the very moving film ONE TRUE THING. The English professor/novelist/husband/dad (played brilliantly by William Hurt) is a multi-faceted jerk. To make a long story short, his narcissism and vanity crowed out any sustained sense of personal responsibility to those . . . . Continue Reading »
1. There is some good news for Romney in the coming foreign policy debate. The expectations for Romney’s performance among the political class are as low as they could be. The Libya thing ironically helps here. People are expecting the love child of Inspector Clouseau and Buck Turgidson, so . . . . Continue Reading »
So I’ve gotten several enthusiastic emails from otherwise smart and sensible people about Romney being up seven in the new Gallup poll. I have to say I’m going to contain my personal enthusiasm until I see that surge confirmed by another poll. It’s not yet. But there is new reason . . . . Continue Reading »
1. Larry is as nonpartisan as analysts can be these days. 2. The debate, I think, was, from a debating expert’s point of view, a victory for the president. But in terms of changing minds, it was a tie. That probably means the erosion of Romney’s new slight advantage on the enthusiasm . . . . Continue Reading »
1. So I was right about everything . The questions leaned farther left than would have been likely if Crowley had to take full responsibility for what was asked. Crowley spent a lot more effort interrupting Romney even though Obama was doing more talking. Crowley even intervened in the conversation . . . . Continue Reading »
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