On Oct. 1, I wrote a dairy that said, "Jim Lehrer of PBS will be the moderator, although what he will moderate remains a secret. The chances of any real conflict Wednesday evening is slim and the chances of any honest-to-goodness policy initiatives is even less."
On Oct. 3, I've seen the "debate" and can only gloat, although what I'm gloating about is, like Mr. Romney's plans, a secret. In truth, Romney's plans are even more of a secret. He claims he will maintain or increase military levels, not raise taxes, increase medical benefits and bolster the nation's schools by means unknown except "closing loopholes," a promise that's been batted around for decades with zero results. Further, in the "debate," he succeeded in blaming everything wrong with the United States on Mr. Obama, inclluding the incredible claim that he, Romney, would work together with the opposition as opposed to Mr. Obama's intransigence with House Republicans.
After a short time out for laughter, it might be appropriate to ask why the President didn't remind Romney that in Massachusetts, he didn't have the leader of the opposition publicly declare that its main purpose was to make sure Romney didn't have a second term.
Come to think of it, it might also be timely to ask why, with an entire arsenal of opportunities in front of him, Mr. Obama chose to use a popgun. He did not quote from the Republican platform on abortion or Mr. Ryan's view of small government - which mainly consisted of eliminating regulation on banks, drug companies and the like. Likewise, he neglected to counter Romney's expressed concern for the Middle Class by asking about the statement that this middle class consisted of people earning "between $200,000 and $300,000 a year" or the famous 47% who paid no taxes and were "dependent" on the government.
Mr. Obama asked very little - and said very little that hadn't been said numerous times on the stump. Nor was he helped by the lamest mederation in a "debate" it has ever been my misfortune to watch. Jim Lehrer was either showing his senility prematurely or else merely allowed his famous tendency for softballs and pliability to overcome what was left of his sense of journalism. As a MSNBC commentator observed, Romney not only debated Mr. Obama, but also the moderator - and he won every time. If a classroom teacher had the same control over the students that Lehrer had over the "debaters," he or she would be on the unemployment lines tha next day.
Yes, folks, Mr. Obama "lost" the "debate." Mr. Romney "won." All I lost was my hope and, nearly, my dinner.