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[EmCeeGramr]

Although the debate is supposed to focus on foreign policy, I expect both candidates will veer into domestic issues at every opportunity. Romney doesn't have much to say on FP aside from standard bluster. Obama as sitting president still needs to mind his words. The only way for either to score points would be to tie FP concerns directly to whatever is in their domestic platforms and talking points.

"Now, I know the question is about diplomacy with Russia, but really we need to tackle what's at the heart of that issue: Jobs. We need jobs. We need to support our middle class and small businesses. The last four years has been disastrous for them, and they don't need to worry about Russia too."

 

[amar212]

US GAF, how many hours till start? Its 11 pm at Central Europe.

 

[Cubsfan23]

3.75 hours

 

[Ravensmash]

"So when you say "Libya," what exactly do you mean by that?"

Fox News: Biased moderator teams up with Obama against patriotic Romney.

 

[Clydefrog]

before

during

after

 

[Anticitizen One]

Can someone explain to me what the conterversey with libya is? Is it because Obama kept the public oblivious for a week?

 

[smokeandmirrors]

Can someone explain to me what the conterversey with libya is? Is it because Obama kept the public oblivious for a week?

Trying to frame it as Obama's Iran crisis (like 1979) or something would be my guess..

 

[massoluk]

Can someone explain to me what the conterversey with libya is? Is it because Obama kept the public oblivious for a week?

a) Apparently someone asked for more security in Libya before it happened. - this is legitimate issue
b) Obama said contradictory thing about it being terrorism or about that stupid film - this is nonsense

Romney chose to focus on option b, and got burnt for it.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

There's roughly what? Approximately NO real, applicable policy difference between the two of them?

Romney talks tougher, but won't do anything different than Obama is doing. He may embarrass us a bit more if elected, though.

Only substantive things I can see him doing differently are (a) increasing the military budget again and (b) talking more shit to Iran. So people will have to decide if our military needs more money than they already have coming their way and if people think further prodding and threatening Iran will improve the situation we have with them.

 

[KHarvey16]

a) Apparently someone asked for more security in Libya before it happened. - this is legitimate issue

Well, sort of legitimate. The security numbers requested were largely met the day the attack occurred. The bulk of the extra security was requested for Tripoli.

 

[eBay Huckster]

The OP says it is similar to the first debate,

however there is a key difference.
the stage appears to be set up similarly to the VP debate,

that is,
one small table, 3 chairs, with the moderator right in there with them.

just a heads up.

well, it's similar in the debate structure, not in stage setup

 

[MonkeyKing]

"Now, I know the question is about diplomacy with Russia, but really we need to tackle what's at the heart of that issue: Jobs. We need jobs. We need to support our middle class and small businesses. The last four years has been disastrous for them, and they don't need to worry about Russia too."

Pretty much this.

 

[NullPointer]

"Declare China a currency manipulator on day one!"
"A strong national defense starts with a strong economy, and that's why jobs, jobs, jobs"
"Credibility! We need to have credibility"
"We are witnessing the unraveling of Obama's foreign policy"
"Strongest military in the world, that's why we need to make more tanks, which create jobs".
"What two trillion dollar increase to the military? That's not my plan. Don't know where you heard that. I intend to avoid cutting the military in this time of unrest!"
"Daylight between the US and Israel".
"Look through the eyes of the Ayatollahs".
"What did he know and when did he know it?"
"Its never too early to stand up for American values."
"Apology Tour."

And I get to wince as both candidates slobber over Israel and puff up their chests on Iran.

"Now, I know the question is about diplomacy with Russia, but really we need to tackle what's at the heart of that issue: Jobs. We need jobs. We need to support our middle class and small businesses. The last four years has been disastrous for them, and they don't need to worry about Russia too."

Definitely this. Romney has no leg to stand on when it comes to foreign policy. He's an embarrassment, and the whole world knows it, so he has to bring it all back to domestic policy and his vapid promises.

 

[Wes]

Awww yeah my favourite topic. Hoping for lots of Olympics references!

 

[Jack_AG]

Here's hoping the last segment is a Tekken tournament. Settle this shit like real gentlemen.

 

[Ravensmash]

I hope we here the good ol'

"A military so strong that no nation would ever dare to test it!"

 

[The Technomancer]

Definitely this. Romney has no leg to stand on when it comes to foreign policy. He's an embarrassment, and the whole world knows it, so he has to bring it all back to domestic policy and his vapid promises.

I don't expect Obama to be too much better though, if there's been one problem with his debate performance so far its been how easily he tends to just slip into repeating campaign speeches.

 

[IdreamofHIME]

Not sure where Romney can really go on this debate. Obama's still putting out fires Bush created abroad, while actually being incredibly popular worldwide....while Romney is seen as a horror that will bring the world to it's knees.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

I hope we here the good ol'

"A military so strong that no nation would ever dare to test it!"

As we all know, terrorists are too afraid to attack American soldiers or civilians when a strong Republican is in office.

 

[massoluk]

Not sure where Romney can really go on this debate. Obama's still putting out fires Bush created abroad, while actually being incredibly popular worldwide....while Romney is seen as a horror that will bring the world to it's knees.

I'm still amazed he managed to fuck up his world tour debut that bad.

 

[DietRob]

I'm looking forward to this debate. For my money Foreign Policy is one of the most important skills of a President.

POTUS represents us on a global scale. POTUS does not have exclusive power to enact change domestically so this is the skill that really matters.

edit: I'm tired of all the blustering patriotism of "Our military can destroy the world, ect.." so I'm sure there will be some cringe worthy moments from Romney. We need minds not guns representing us on a global scale. Enough with the wars already.

 

[Joel Was Right]

Considering the topic arguably affects other nations more so than it does the US homeland itself, I would loved to have seen questions from Israel and Iran put forward to the candidates.

 

[ascii42]

I guess I'll watch this. Might as well.

I'm looking forward to this debate. For my money Foreign Policy is one of the most important skills of a President.

POTUS represents us on a global scale. POTUS does not have exclusive power to enact change domestically so this is the skill that really matters.

That's an excellent point.

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

Awww yeah my favourite topic. Hoping for lots of Olympics references!

Or how Romney wants another cold war and is focused on Rocky III policies.

 

[mercenar1e]

Romney is probably going to act like a baby over who has the last word... lol

 

[TheFightingFish]

I'm not a hardcore politics guy, but am I off in thinking that foreign policy would probably be about the most similar area between Obama and Romney if elected? Seems like not so deep policy divides when compared to social issues or economic policy.

 

[Something Wicked]

I want a fist fight.

I'd put a grand down on Mitt, though I don't think I'd get much of a payout due to the odds.

 

[antonz]

I'm not a hardcore politics guy, but am I off in thinking that foreign policy would probably be about the most similar area between Obama and Romney if elected? Seems like not so deep policy divides when compared to social issues or economic policy.

Its an area they are pretty close on for sure. Both are spineless in reality too when it comes to places like Syria.

Obama touts Ghadaffi threatened to kill his own people so we kicked him out with help. Meanwhile Assad doesn't threaten he actually commits mass murder and we whistle down the street because Russia and China are on the other side.

 

[Deified Data]

Romney's not going to take any chances on Libya after the embarassment of the town hall...there's no good reason why a semi-competent debator couldn't hammer Obama over the issue.

Obama will nail Romney on the rest. It'll be the least eventful of all the debates, I feel, and probably the one with the fewest people watching.

 

[Oblivion]

Relevant:

Donald Trump says Obama has the worst foreign policy record ever and he had as much to do with killing OBL as Brian Kilmeade did.

 

[7he Talon]

I'm really looking forward to this debate. It'll be interesting to see what's to be bought to the table.

 

[Like the hat?]

Will watch to see if the after debate commentary will actually be about what was said for once instead of endless yammering about either candidate's personality.

 

[mj1108]

Romney is probably going to act like a baby over who has the last word... lol

No doubt. He continually throws a fit trying to get the last word in on everything.

 

[Salvadora]

Relevant:

Donald Trump says Obama has the worst foreign policy record ever and he had as much to do with killing OBL as Brian Kilmeade did.

:lol blaming the Middle East on Obama.

 

[Übermatik]

GEOFF.

 

[metalslimer]

I'm really looking forward to this debate. It'll be interesting to see what's to be bought to the table.

Nothing new. Obama will trumpet ending the Iraq war, winding down Afghanistan, and Bin Laden. Romney will whine about China and Afghanistan without offering anything of substance and somehow they will both get completely off track from foreign policy because in truth neither party is really different in a lot of aspects of foreign policy. I say this as someone who hates when people use the false equivalence between the two parties.

 

[Windom Earle]

I'm not American but watched the last debate on Youtube. Romney seems like an idiot.
Obama got this shit.

 

[mercenar1e]

I'm not American but watched the last debate on Youtube. Romney seems like an idiot.
Obama got this shit.

the american people voted Bush in twice....

 

[Feep]

My sister will be in the audience! If she does something hilarious and becomes a meme, I will be so proud of her.

 

[metalslimer]

I'm not American but watched the last debate on Youtube. Romney seems like an idiot.
Obama got this shit.

If only our own country could look at this from an outsider's perspective. The fact that Romney is even a legitimate candidate must be fucking hilarious to so many countries. Hopefully Romney's terrible foreign tour this summer gets brought up

 

[Gary Whitta]

Relevant:

Donald Trump says Obama has the worst foreign policy record ever and he had as much to do with killing OBL as Brian Kilmeade did.

Donald Trump is never relevant.

 

[7he Talon]

Nothing new. Obama will trumpet ending the Iraq war, winding down Afghanistan, and Bin Laden. Romney will whine about China and Afghanistan without offering anything of substance and somehow they will both get completely off track from foreign policy because in truth neither party is really different in a lot of aspects of foreign policy. I say this as someone who hates when people use the false equivalence between the two parties.

I think that's a fair prediction.

 

[Bowdz]

Romney's not going to take any chances on Libya after the embarassment of the town hall...there's no good reason why a semi-competent debator couldn't hammer Obama over the issue.

Obama will nail Romney on the rest. It'll be the least eventful of all the debates, I feel, and probably the one with the fewest people watching.

Obama certain got more cover from the public report that the CIA memo in the immediate aftermath of the attack said exactly what Rice, Clinton, and Obama had been saying: it was initially seen as a demonstration turned terror attack but later intelligence revised the situation as simply being an attack without any demonstration.

I think Romney will without a doubt try a different line of attack on Libya (Steven's asked for additional security for months, why wasn't it granted? There were 2 attacks on the Benghazi compound leading up to 9/11, did you know about them?), but hopefully, Obama has been well prepped to diffuse them.

IMO, it is up to Obama to tie Romney to the neocons from the Bush administration that are part of his foreign policy team and to continually remind people that it was the neocon philosophy that got us involved in Iraq, and that wars such as Afghanistan and Iraq has cost us trillions in debt and thousands of lives. They are bad for our security, our economic well being, and our prestige throughout the world.

 

[7he Talon]

I'm not American but watched the last debate on Youtube. Romney seems like an idiot.
Obama got this shit.

I'm Australian and I've been following this campaign since the beginning. I hope for the sake of the American people, that Obama wins.

 

[Deified Data]

IMO, it is up to Obama to tie Romney to the neocons from the Bush administration that are part of his foreign policy team and to continually remind people that it was the neocon philosophy that got us involved in Iraq, and that wars such as Afghanistan and Iraq has cost us trillions in debt and thousands of lives. They are bad for our security, our economic well being, and our prestige throughout the world.

That's the crux of it, I agree. If anything is said tonight, it needs to be that Romney's waxing nostalgic for the Bush years of foreign policy. That in and of itself should be enough for Obama to wrap up the debate nicely.

 

[Forever]

I'm Australian and I've been following this campaign since the beginning. I hope for the sake of the American people, that Obama wins.

Hope for the sake of the world that Obama wins.

 

[Gr1mLock]

Romney better hide a shiv somewhere.

 

[mercenar1e]

Hope for the sake of the world that Obama wins.

lol hope for the sake of the Middle East... Romney won't do shit to China or Russia

 

[Ovid]

I hate that these things end so late. I'm always forced to watch the post debate meltdowns on the cable networks.

Whatever, I'll tune in and watch with GAF.

 

[TheContact]

Donny boy just wants to keep his precious money. He will say anything.