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| Mitt Romney and Barack Obama: Second Debate (source: CNN) |
Earlier this week, we had the opportunity to watch a much enticing Presidential Debate. The gladiators fought hard and beautifully. Nevertheless, only one gladiator was victor: President Obama.
What a difference between this debate and the first one! If Pres.Obama keeps metamorphosing, he will prove my theory right and I might have to send him flowers over to the WH.
Anyway, in this article we will focus on details that caught our attention:
First, it seemed hard, for both contestants, to answer questions directly - they would cram their answers with their respective political programme, thus fatiguing the uncommitted voters. And I would like to know how many of them noticed that President Obama would only answer them in the very end of his interventions (except in the Energy and Libya issues, where he didn't answer the questions at all).
Second, Governor Romney's nervousness. He was nervous right from the start (his sweaty forehead gave him away); his face reddened in three occasions (when Pres. Obama strategically managed to bedevil him - a result of the notes taken in the first debate) and, he got so disoriented that he seemed to have forgotten that he was debating the President of the United States - the electorate, and the rest of the world, found Mitt Romney's behaviour to be quite disrespectful.
Third, I agree with both candidates when they say that the US need Energy Independence; because not only will America grow stronger domestically but will also have more political leverage on the international stage. I would like though to offer a small advice to Gov. Romney: when addressing this issue do not give away your future strategy to foreign relations, by mentioning the names of the countries you intend to affect with your policies - remember Sun Tzu's words "O divine art of subtlety and secrecy! Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy's fate in our hands"
Fourth, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is extremely important. If a woman does the same job as a man (working the same hours), why should she earn less than him? Pay equity was one of the questions that Pres. Obama answered quite well; but although Gov. Romney understands the advantages of having women in the workforce and having their rights protected; he seemed to have suggested that women shouldn't worry about equity pay because they knock off earlier to take care of their children and cook for them. This Mad Menish attitude reminded me of the founder of BCP (a Portuguese Bank) who didn't hire women, to fill executive positions, because their menstruation was a problem (i.e. "women use it as an excuse to take a day off"). I know that Mitt Romney meant to take advantage and insert conservative values in his answer, however he didn't convey his ideas properly.
Fifth, Mitt Romney said "My dad was born in Mexico of American parents" - many on my side of the world asked "If his father was born in Mexico how could he have run for President of the United States?" well, a 2011 Congressional Research Service Report stated that "the term "natural born" citizen would mean a person who is entitled to U.S. citizenship "by birth" or "at birth", either by being born "in" the United States and under its jurisdiction, even those born to alien parents; by being born abroad to U.S. citizen-parents (..)" and that is one of the reasons why Gov. Romney specified "born (...) of American parents".
Sixth, President Obama gave a Lesson of Leadership (not only to all Businessmen but mainly to Political Leaders around the world): "Secretary Clinton has done an extraordinary job. But she works for me. I'm the president and I'm always responsible," - a true leader is always responsible for what is going on in his House/Company. Furthermore, Barack Obama, showing for the first time a glimpse of emotion, had his finest moment as the President of the United States of America when he said "And the suggestion that anybody in my team, whether the Secretary of State, our U.N. Ambassador, anybody on my team would play politics or mislead when we've lost four of our own, governor, is offensive. That's not what we do. That's not what I do as president, that's not what I do as Commander in Chief." and his assertiveness earned our respect.
Seventh, Gov. Romney wanted to say that when it comes to children, parents are the primary caregivers and character moulders (not schools) and that they should work in collaboration with their community to decrease the violence in society. But instead, his words came out as if suggesting that single and Gay parenting is the root of violence. He further said that having two parents under the same roof decreases the chance of poverty; and, this is the sort of reasoning that generates the notion that he is out of touch with reality.
Eighth, President Obama placed twice Germany alongside China and India. This is a message to Germany: the US understands that you have to protect your interests, however your inflexibility is destabilising European nations; and in doing so, you are getting in the way of US Economic Interests.
Current Standings: Romney 1 - 1 Obama
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Dissecting Society™ welcomes all sorts of comments, as we are strong advocates of freedom of speech; however, we reserve the right to delete Troll Activity; libellous and offensive comments (e.g. racist and anti-Semitic) plus those with excessive foul language. This blog does not view vulgarity as being protected by the right to free speech. Cheers
Olá Max,
ReplyDeleteEspectáculo de artigo!! Loved it!
Yes, Pres. Obama was much better this time: he was all fired up. Mitt Romney was bad himself, but the mistakes he did overshadowed his good performance.
Ahahaha, yeah BCP...Jardim Gonçalves was an embarassment. Did you know that this year he told a newspaper that not hiring women was a myth; because women were the ones who didn't want to work at the bank because they were afraid of losing their husbands ahahahah how about that for a joke? Mitt Romney reminded me of the good old corporate men who wanted to keep things like a Boys' Club...the only women allowed were the secretaries.
I agree that when president Obama held himself responsible for the event in Libya and was assertive, he revealed himself as a true leader. It was definitely his best moment as the POTUS.
Tchau
Olá Celeste :D!
DeletePlease accept my apologies for the late reply.
"Espectáculo de artigo!! Loved it!"
Obrigada. I am glad you loved it *bowing*.
"Yes, Pres. Obama was much better this time: he was all fired up. Mitt Romney was bad himself, but the mistakes he did overshadowed his good performance."
He was. I think you meant "Mitt Romney wasn't bad himself" and no, he wasn't.
"Ahahaha, yeah BCP...Jardim Gonçalves was an embarassment. Did you know that this year he told a newspaper that not hiring women was a myth; because women were the ones who didn't want to work at the bank because they were afraid of losing their husbands ahahahah how about that for a joke? Mitt Romney reminded me of the good old corporate men who wanted to keep things like a Boys' Club...the only women allowed were the secretaries."
He was indeed. No, I didn't know that: which newspaper did he tell this to? So typical of him, and his lot, to say such absurdities *nodding*. Yes, the only women allowed were the secretaries and we know why...
"I agree that when president Obama held himself responsible for the event in Libya and was assertive, he revealed himself as a true leader. It was definitely his best moment as the POTUS."
No doubt.
Celeste, thank you so much for your great comment :D.
Cheers
Max, I would like to explore the "fair pay" concept a bit. Most of the US is running on seniority systems enforced by unions where people doing equal jobs can get completely different pay based on how long they were there. In my case, I get three weeks of vacation per hear because I changed jobs a few times, but coworkers who nominally do the same job get five weeks for having stayed at the same company their entire career. Should that be legislated against?
ReplyDeleteIn my particular field - engineering simulations - productivity can vary by more than 10 to 1 from those with equivalent degrees. Is it the job assignment that determines the equality? Or the job output? Sales people will frequently get paid by commissions. Then there are all the other criteria for which people are discriminated against, such as whether or not they are good looking, over weight, old or young, ...
I generally prefer "merit" as the primary basis for pay per Silicon Valley ideals, but recognize that other discrimination factors play a big role. It seems to me that the "fair pay" legislation neither recognizes merit nor seniority as legitimate, but establishes "job assignment" as the sole criteria that is legitimate for motivating workers.
Hi Looney :D!
DeletePlease accept my apologies for the tardy reply.
"Max, I would like to explore the "fair pay" concept a bit."
Please do.
"Most of the US is running on seniority systems enforced by unions where people doing equal jobs can get completely different pay based on how long they were there."
I recognise the system. But is it fair?
"In my case, I get three weeks of vacation per hear because I changed jobs a few times, but coworkers who nominally do the same job get five weeks for having stayed at the same company their entire career. Should that be legislated against?"
In Europe it is. The rules are the same for everybody, having changed jobs a few times (which is highly recommended in the Scandinavia) or not.
"In my particular field - engineering simulations - productivity can vary by more than 10 to 1 from those with equivalent degrees. Is it the job assignment that determines the equality? Or the job output?"
It depends on whom you ask, really. Business people will say it is the output, Unions and others will say assignment.
"Sales people will frequently get paid by commissions. Then there are all the other criteria for which people are discriminated against, such as whether or not they are good looking, over weight, old or young, ..."
Yes, and that commission system is often detrimental to customer satisfaction. In all honesty, Europe has legislated against that sort of discrimination as well, and yet it still occurs.
"I generally prefer "merit" as the primary basis for pay per Silicon Valley ideals, but recognize that other discrimination factors play a big role. It seems to me that the "fair pay" legislation neither recognizes merit nor seniority as legitimate, but establishes "job assignment" as the sole criteria that is legitimate for motivating workers."
All right, the law may need to be perfected. However do you think it is fair for a woman to do the same job as a man (during the same hours) and get paid 25% less just because of her gender? Because, in many cases a woman's output is superior to that of a man's and yet she will earn less than him - is this just? This is what we are talking about here. And this happens not only in the US, but everywhere; so it must be fought against.
Looney, thank you so so much for this brilliant comment :D.
Cheers
Max, how eloquent you are! I enjoyed your observations and indeed they echo my own. Romney's nervousness belies a firm underlying core of conviction(s) and I fear that his often not-thought-through verbalization would not bode well for world peace. A true leader can command himself (or herself) in the heat of crisis (or debate).
ReplyDeleteAgain I commend you for your intelligent commentary and thank you for keeping an eye on world events and governments.
Miss ya, Lady!
xxx
Hi Lynda :D!
Delete"Max, how eloquent you are! I enjoyed your observations and indeed they echo my own."
Thank you *bowing*.
"Romney's nervousness belies a firm underlying core of conviction(s) and I fear that his often not-thought-through verbalization would not bode well for world peace. A true leader can command himself (or herself) in the heat of crisis (or debate)."
Indeed, indeed. I agree with you on what a true leader can (and should) do.
Unfortunately, Mitt Romney lacks consistency and that is his main problem.
"Again I commend you for your intelligent commentary and thank you for keeping an eye on world events and governments."
Thank you, my darling. You are most welcome and besides, it's part of my job to do so :).
"Miss ya, Lady!"
I miss you too, my dear (you know that)!
Lynda, thank you ever so much for your great comment and generosity :D.
Cheers