This was the debate that the President forgot to have in Denver. Governor Romney's own words on immigration, on taxes, on women's rights and most critically on the 47% kept coming back to make his present assertions hollow. It was almost inconceivable that, in his closing remarks, the governor would open himself up to attack by portraying himself as the champion of 100% of this country. It was an invitation to disaster, and the President, pounced on it.
Whether this evening's gains will prove enough to offset the declining numbers of the President and right not only his ship, but those in Congress who will ride his coattails in their own elections, is unknown. And with one final debate upcoming, the answer may have to wait for another day and another performance.
But what I found distressing and disturbing in the remarks of both the President and Governor Romney was the ceding of the second Amendment to the NRA. When asked about the assault weapons ban, both men wandered off into discussion on education and parental responsibilities. In what was left unsaid was an announcement, from Democrat as well as Republican that this continues to be untouchable territory. We are a nation of hundreds of millions of guns and persistent mass violence, but, so it appears, there is nothing here to talk about.
In all likelihood, this topic will have little play in the coming days. And in the succeeding years. While there was a victory, large or small, for President Obama tonight, there will surely be an ongoing enormous and unnecessary loss for this country.