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1. Blue John | October 16, 2012 at 11:13 pm

   Definite win for President Obama. Romney continues with his wish list and no credible way to pay for it.
2. Maloof | October 16, 2012 at 11:27 pm

   Obama four minute advantage. Result: Romney won and will gain in the polls as a result
3. Jack White | October 17, 2012 at 2:29 am

   Obama was back in form and, with a couple of exceptions, blew Mitt out of the water. Obama looked and talked like a president and Mitt spent much of the 90 minutes looking like a sheepish little boy who had been caught telling lies but did not want to admit it. The next three weeks will be VERY interesting. Jack White/ Abingdon
4. Art Hill | October 17, 2012 at 4:50 am

   Say goodnight, Mitt.
5. belle | October 17, 2012 at 6:52 am

   I will watch the debates when all the candidates running are included, not just the ones being force fed.
6. tass | October 17, 2012 at 7:22 am

   I think as a paid journalist and blogger you have an obligation to provide more meaningful analysis and framing for discussion than essentially saying “have at it!”
7. 1oneshot | October 17, 2012 at 7:32 am

   On the debate, Romney was clearly the most Presidential with his persona, his facts and his redress of the incumbent. I wish Romney would have seized on other opportunities to slam-dunk this anti-christian, socialist, “do-nothing” President.

   I understand the 47%, absolutely the factual demographics of the general population. The statement has been distorted by the Democrats to include Veterans with disabilities and those on Social Security and Medicare. Both of these are not entitlements but rather an earned and well deserved credit. These are not the issue? It is those who take and have never contributed that break the back of our tax system. The 47% statement is no different than Obama’s racist policies and his advertisement(s) directed at blacks only. This President along with Michele are consumed with racism and hatred for a successful American people.

   Denial of this President’s record and this party’s policies is suicidal. We cannot afford 4 more years of this administration. America will not survive the attack on our Constitution and the fundamentals of government that has kept this
   country’s “free enterprise” system of government the best place to live on earth for decades upon decades.

   The next President will appoint 2 more Justices to the Supreme Court. If these appointments are liberals this country can forget the Constitution which is one of his main goals. Remember he said he wanted to transform America. When one transforms it reshapes to suit the modelers agenda. Beware of any transformation brought on by this President.

   Obama does not have a clue with regard to foreign policy in the Middle East. He has clearly turned his back on Israel. He has a Secretary of State who has openly suggested that we should negotiate with non sovereign bands of rouge terrorists. This is not America nor Mitt Romney.

   What you can do as a voter, is to vote and solicit others to vote. Virginia may well be the tie-breaker in this election.
8. LB Hagen | October 17, 2012 at 7:34 am

   Obama tried vainly to defend his failed policys and dismal results and broken promises. His action plan continues to be to misrepresent Romneys positions and try to pander to select groups of voters. His handling of the Libya Embassy disaster is clearly malfeasance and dereliction of his duties and the media’s hiding this situation from the public is despicable.
   Obama Throws Hillary Under The Libya-Bus
   -
   http://roanokeslant.blogspot.com/2012/10/obama-throws-hillary-under-libya-bus.html
   -
9. steve | October 17, 2012 at 7:53 am

   same old lame obama excuses for his lack ability and leadership. he would throw his mother under the bus, drive over her and then blame her for his actions.
10. Uptheriver | October 17, 2012 at 8:26 am

    Good to see the President may actually want to be re-elected. Came out about a tie with a whole bunch of lies and misdirections.
11. Cold n P | October 17, 2012 at 9:55 am

    Obama won, hands down. Romney tried to dominate with his last word strategy again but got shot down. Tried to pin BenGazi on the president and got fact checked. I thought the crowd was going to turn on him. He was lost after that. The Bully got what was coming to him. No answer on womens equal pay, No answer on how to cut taxes without cutting much needed benefits to the middle class, just no class Mitt. The Nation does not want 4 more years of Bush policies and another war. Mitt is done.
12. Sandi Saunders | October 17, 2012 at 10:45 am

    Romney was aggressive, disrespectful, dishonest and rude to the point of badgering. He lost on style, substance and “likability” hands down. President Obama won the debate, but more than that, he showed the nation that a President does not act. Romney made himself look small, petty, petulant and yes, a bully.

    For people who are willing to look at this nation and this president honestly there is truly no contest. Romney has been a literal weather-vane since the Primary fight and he continues to flip-flop and renegotiate. He STILL has no specifics and no credible economists blessing his claims, there is no plan.

    The changes Romney/Ryan prescribe for this nation will lead to bitter protest, further division and true class warfare on a scale this nation has not seen in over a century. His wealth protection and tax avoidance schemes will leave this nation weaker, less able to care for ourselves and less able to be a world player. He WANTS us to be Greece.

    America knows that for over 30 years, Wall Street has taken from Main Street and they will not elect a Wall Street vulture to the White House as a reward for making money off other people’s backs. Not to help people even, just to enrich the already rich.

    Romney’s health care plan does not exist. He cannot repeal Obamacare, he can only ruin it.

    Romney’s civil rights commitment does not exist. He will set this nation back on privacy, women’s and gay rights.

    Romney’s “get rough on China” will never happen. China is not our dog.

    Eomney’s plan for jobs does not create jobs. His plan enriches and pushes paper on Wall Street.

    Romney’s immigration plan is no plan. He will never hold his friends accountable for their hires. He outsources his own employees so he won’t have to deal with it.

    Romney’s commitment to education, workers, the deficit, the debt and the nation are all second to wealth protection and enrichment and the military industrial complex. His ignorant swagger and refusal to even see the other side may well lead to WWIII. You do not take on people who believe dying for their cause makes them a martyr by telling them to “bring it on”, which is his plan.

    Mark my words, I do not hide in anonymity and regurgitate talking points and memes fed to me by the Plutocrats trying to run this nation (all friends of Romney). He is not a conservative, he is a Plutocrat.

    If Romney wins, America loses.
13. Will R | October 17, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    The record ( a partial list to be sure)

    Doubled deficit spending
    Increased national debt by $6 trillion and growing
    Record numbers of people on welfare and food stamps
    +/- 8% unemployment all 4 years REAL unemployment over 10%
    15 to 17% unemployment in the black community
    Gas and energy prices through the roof
    Food prices skyrocketing
    Record numbers of people living below the poverty line
    Middle class families worse off by far than 4 years ago
    no comprehensive immigration policy.
    Refusal to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act even though it is federal law
    Dangerous foreign policy blunders
    Lied about Libya (even in a UN address) now hiding under HC’s skirt
    Fast and furious cover-up
    Arab spring failures

    How can anyone seriously consider re-hiring this man for another 4 years?
14. HokieGal | October 17, 2012 at 12:40 pm

    Wow….very well said, Sandi!! Couldn’t have said it any better myself.
15. LB Hagen | October 17, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    On second thought: What’s up with Candy’s “protective mothering” thing last night?
    Debate Number 2: Hiding Behind Candy’s Skirts
    -
    http://roanokeslant.blogspot.com/2012/10/debate-number-2-hiding-behind-candys.html
    -
16. dave | October 17, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    LBHagen

    The only one misrepresenting Mitt Romney’s positions is Mitt Romney. Every position he took during the primary to get the nomination has now morphed into something else when he talks to voters. His etch a sketching of his positions won’t work and is clearly seen by most people as dishonest and a cynical attempt to get votes. Mitt has no core. There is only one overriding puirpose in his life—to be President. Sorry to disappoint him but it’s not in the cards.
17. b.o.h.i.c.a. | October 17, 2012 at 1:31 pm

    Gov. Romney won hands down. obama tried to be Mr. toughguy, but had same old, same old nothing to say. He whined about the clock running out when Romney was speaking, and had over 3 1/2 minutes more speaking time during the debate.

    Gov. Romney had two he had to debate, Candy and “eye candy”.
18. Larry McDonald | October 17, 2012 at 1:57 pm

    Debate? I thought it was the world’s most expensive puppet show.
19. Art Hill | October 17, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    You know the Republicans got whipped when they start piling on the moderator.
20. Sandi Saunders | October 17, 2012 at 4:32 pm

    Will R, you merely join the long line of right wingers intent on blaming Obama for the recession he did not cause and could not cure in two years. Nobody ever accused the right wing of fighting fair and I know from your candidates that honesty is not all that important, but you destroy your own credibility with claims like those you “blame” on Obama.

    We are no longer hemorrhaging 800,000 jobs per month.
    We are no longer mired in Iraq.
    We still have GM and Chrysler building American cars in American factories.
    We have 30 million more people who will have health insurance and we all will have an improved relationship with the insurance rulers.
    We are trying to crack down on Wall Street and “too big to fail”.
    We are recovering, but we have a long way to go.

    As to your “claims”, Not True: “Doubled deficit spending”
    If the national debt had not already been blown out in the good times, “$6 trillion and growing” would not matter.
    In an economic crash there is always “Record numbers of people on welfare and food stamps”.
    The President does not control the price of “Gas and energy” or any other commodity.
    The middle class has been suffering and losing money for over a decade.
    Romney also has “no comprehensive immigration policy”.
    I applaud the Obama administration’s “Refusal to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act” and hope it is soon overturned.
    Your fantasy world of “failures” would only grow under Romney. So you have no point at all.

    Put the blame where it belongs, or at least stop being dishonest.

    Politicfact, who tracks these things has scored 437 Obama statements and 188 Romney statements. Guess who has the most “pants on fire” ratings?

    http://www.politifact.com/personalities/mitt-romney/statements/byruling/pants-fire/

    And the percentages are no better:

    http://www.politifact.com/personalities/barack-obama/

    http://www.politifact.com/personalities/mitt-romney/

    Come out of the bubble sometimes folks. Do you WANT a Plutocracy?
21. Liniel Gregory | October 17, 2012 at 6:33 pm

    I notice that my submission in which I critisized Sandi Saunders and made my point about the debate much earlier today has been irgnored by The Roanoke Times. Big surprize ! Ya’ll liberals have a nice night and rest well while you can, won’t be long til long and restless nights will occur. Good night, Linnie Gregory
22. Mason Adams | October 17, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    Liniel:

    I’m one of the writers/moderators on the Blue Ridge Caucus. I haven’t been on today, as I’ve been out in the field reporting. I checked in tonight and noticed your comment claiming we deleted one of your posts. I checked the trash and the only comments I see in there are a pro-Democrat one that crossed the line in a few eways and one that was a duplicate where some lady tried to post twice (we approved one and trashed the duplicate).

    Are you sure your comment went through? I don’t see it in our system at all — in spam, trash or otherwise.

    You might try re-posting it again.

    – Mason Adams
23. 1oneshot | October 17, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    Saunders,

    From your pontificating lack of logic I’m sure you have an EBT card, free Obama phone and live in total suppression to live only on dependence of a failing government lead by the 47% like you who will never get it. And all for your single vote!

    I would also speculate that I pay a large portion of your mortgage or section 8 housing rent and that your government dependency keeps you in poverty. You are living on dependency of those who have contributed to the system in order that you have a voice in this Country’s governing body.

    If you voted for Obama to prove you are not a racist, vote for someone else this time to prove your are not the idiot you suggest to be. And if that isn’t well enough, get your picture on the poster with Joe Biden as the intellectual poster child of the Democrat part.
24. dave | October 17, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    Boo Hoo! Thr Repubs and TPERS now jumping on Candy Crowley. When somebody lies and tries to be the town bully, they deserve to be called out for it.
    He did and she did. Nuff said.
25. Sandi Saunders | October 17, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    Well obviously it is a vast Roanoke Times conspiracy Mr. Gregory. They won’t let you “criticize” me. Me being such an important part of the organization, I doubt they would last long without my subscription. Odd that they will only let you complain about not being allowed to. But I guess I cannot have my way on everything. Darnitall. It is the perfect crime.

    Mason can barely tolerate me. I can assure the world if such a post existed, he would have found it. Heck, he would probably help you compose it, but of course that is not your reality because he works for that “liberal rag”.
26. Linda | October 17, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    Mitt Romney is lying about a number of things and I’m glad President Obama called him out on them. As for his so-called concern for women – he acts like he never thought about women in leadership roles until he was Gov of Mass. How about Bain Capital? How many women did he have in important positions there? As for his “fine” work on the Salt Lake City Olympics, you might want to check to see how much federal tsx money went into those Olympics. Mitt used his influence to garner those tax dollars. It had little to do with his, or anybody else’s, business expertise.
27. Mason Adams | October 17, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    Sandi Saunders –

    We value all of our readers and commenters here at the Blue Ridge Caucus, no matter their political stripes. We promote free speech and passionate discussion. That said, everyone can compose their own posts without any help from me. I’m busy enough just trying to cover my beat these days!

    – Mason Adams
28. Leon | October 17, 2012 at 9:59 pm

    If Romney wins, America loses.

    Comment by Sandi Saunders — October 17, 2012 @ 10:45 am

    Lypocrisy.
29. Leon | October 17, 2012 at 10:05 pm

    Romney won the 2nd debate despite Candy’s vain attempt to protect Obama.
    Obama did appear to have more energy, however, he is still lacking anything to run on…the economy, foreign policy, fast & furious, Solyndra, Delphi, unemployment and Libya are all his chickens coming home
    to roost.
30. Art Hill | October 18, 2012 at 12:15 am

    1oneshot represents the typical Republican, folks, read it and weep.
31. Sandi Saunders | October 18, 2012 at 9:36 am

    Keep it classy while you hide in the safety of anonymity and attack people you obviously know nothing about 1oneshot. Low effort voters like you do assure that the structure of this nation keeps people dependent, ignorant and in your case, offensive. Such is the bane of a free nation.
32. Kristen | October 18, 2012 at 11:19 am

    Between 1shot and Gregory, the language is taking more than its usual waterboarding.
33. Sandi Saunders | October 18, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    There is something truly bloodcurdling and obscene about a right winger speaking of chickens coming home to roost. May God have mercy.
34. Kathie | October 19, 2012 at 4:41 pm

    Even Bill Clinton felt sorry for Obama when the man asked why he should vote for him again during the last debate. Said he ‘thought he was going to cry’.

    Not sure if Bill meant Obama or the dear man that seems so desperate.