I had an interesting experience with the debate. I am home sick with a lovely case of Tonsillitis (yay!!) and out here in the sticks we don't have no TV or nuthin so I listened to the debate on NPR. I'm sure it made quite a difference not being able to see faces, gestures, colors, clothing, hair style, and the like.
As far as style - I thought Romney spoke with what seemed like more confidence. He did not pause very much nor stutter. I think he was speaking to an audience mixed of members of the Republican party who were losing a bit of faith as well as the Independent voters he has a shot of winning over by November 6th. I think he spoke to that audience well. He came off strong and aggressive. He also seemed to strongly stand behind his views.
I think the other audience being Democrats and Obama supporters (as well as some Independents or people who really don't have a party choice) he probably came off as rude, pushy, and defensive. Also, during the post debate discussion on the radio, analyzers said that Romney did in fact just change some of his views on the spot, including the ping pong debate of a 5 trillion dollar tax cut.
Aristotle doesn't speak of "the last word" as far as I recall, but I definitely noticed that trend! Phew! It took forever to move on to the next subject because each candidate (and I'd say Romney more than Obama) had to get in the last word - even interrupting the moderator!
Obama spoke slowely, and though he didn't trip on his words, sometimes he seemed to struggle to find the exact phrase. I noticed he used a lot of logos. He even brought up simple arithmetic when discussing Romney's economic plan. I think Obama's strategy was to call out Romney's plan and put it down with logic and figures.
I thought Romney used more of an ethos approach, arguing that the American people are suffering and he'll be the one to save us from destruction with his supreme business skills and his experience in Massachusetts! don don donnnnnn
BTW correct me if I'm wrong here, but I'm pretty sure Mass had superior schools before Romney became Governor...and I really like PBS...and Big Bird!
I think what threw Obama for a loop wasn't that he didn't know what to say about his own plans, it's that he didn't know what to say about Romney's plans (or lack thereof). How do you refute a plan without any details? His plan of attack should have been repeating "you have no plan" and calling Romney out more aggressively. Obama didn't need facts and figures. They only weighed him down. He needed a spine. Unfortunately, I think Romney ripped it out of him in the first five minutes.
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