-
We Will Remember
May 24, 2013 | 9 comments
-
The Prince of Madrid
May 14, 2013 | 16 comments
-
French Fears, French Fantasies
April 30, 2013 | 262 comments
-
The Prince of Monte Carlo
April 23, 2013 | 362 comments
-
Winning and Staying Honest in America’s Game
April 1, 2013 | 1 comment
Another Perspective
How to Win a Debate
How Mr. Romney will have to come out swinging.
(Page 2 of 2)
“This, my fellow Americans, cannot be allowed. It cannot pass. It must be dealt with as forcibly as necessary, without delay. We cannot let the world get the message that we are suckers who can be rolled by primitive thugs.
“Now, do I really think we should turn Benghazi to rubble, as my rhetorical question to our president suggests?
“To be quite honest, I would not rule it out, were it put on the table as a viable option by our national security leaders in the Executive branch and in our armed forces. But the real issue, of course, is elsewhere: how is it that they dare to do this and why is it that our response was to apologize and assure the offenders that we feel their pain?
“And the answer is quite simple. After four years of the Obama administration they know they can get away with it. We have an administration that does not fight for America, that does not, quite frankly, believe that America’s interests come first. Including, of course, being respected, perhaps even feared as well as admired — for without respect, none of our other interests can be secure.
“In asking our president why he has not ordered the bombardment of Benghazi, I am not proposing that we start World War III, as surely the Democrat spinners and distorters are already saying. No, I am saying that the Obama administration has not led — neither in the grave international crises that define the period we are living through, nor in any other area of importance to our country, most notably putting our economy back on track and restoring the American dream of hard work and success. They have let us down. Their policies not only invite the kinds of outrages that occurred at Benghazi, they encourage more. Their policies do not restore our competitiveness and our job-creating free economic system, they sink us deeper into the mire and quicksand of debt, deficit, and discouragement.
“Bomb Benghazi? My fellow Americans, if that is what it takes, that is what I will do, but let me say this. What it really is going to take is leadership founded in faith in America and in Americans — in you, my fellow citizens.
“For the Republic, for America! And may the best team win the World Series.”
Okay, okay, perhaps he should not refer to the World Series in this riff, because too many people will say he is ending on a trivial note. But Mitt Romney must come out swinging — if not tonight, then surely in the coming weeks as he hits the road, goes on the 24/7 stump, and carries the message that what America lacks is pro-American leadership. Whatever the theme — when he is addressing foreign affairs, or jobs and growth, or debt and deficit, or health care and education, he must indicate that always the first principle is this: we will fight against anything that brings our country down.
About the Author
Roger Kaplan, a Washington-based writer, covers the Middle East and Africa (and tennis) for The American Spectator.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (17) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Roger Kaplan
More Articles From Another Perspective
http://spectator.org/archives/2012/10/03/how-to-win-a-debate
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
Moe Blotz| 10.3.12 @ 6:45AM
Stick with the tennis.
Bob K| 10.3.12 @ 7:58AM
Right! Romney should not attack Obama's and Clinton's foreign policy. Wimpout is the word for the day of the debate!
Bob K| 10.3.12 @ 8:02AM
And why not?
Most everybody here is predicting that Romney will lose the debate and the election. Wimpout is the word for today!
Appleby| 10.3.12 @ 7:11AM
They'd never let him grab the ball and run with it like that; Romney is no Reagan in that respect.
My own suggestion for a takeaway line is "Mr. President, Get Off the Party Bus and Get Back In The Oval Office." I'd say "Party Bus" as often as I could stick it into any question or answer. "Mr. President, why was your response to the murder of our people in Libya TO TAKE YOUR SEAT ON THE PARTY BUS and head to Vegas?"
Obama doesn't want to be President because of any love for America. Obama wants to RIDE THE PARTY BUS. I'd ride him about that.
Mike G| 10.3.12 @ 9:22AM
If Romney attempted to do that, my guess is that the LSM would pull the plug on the broadcast and feign technical difficulty. Anything to keep the truth from coming out.
Al Adab| 10.3.12 @ 11:49AM
This "debate" like most of the others is just a set up. Jim Lehrer, a government employee of PBS is moderating. Big deal that.
We should have a true debate along the lines of: Resolved, the main purpose of the federal government is to redistribute wealth, or Resolved: the best method of dealing with international terrorism and national enemies is to engage in negotiations to settle their grievences. Those would be interesting conversations.
We should hear from Romney what he proposes to do about the impending tax increases in capital gains, dividends, estate taxes, medicare rates, etc. automatic on Jan first.
Occam's Tool| 10.3.12 @ 5:09PM
That's why Romney needs to simply ask (and reply to himself) as follows in his closing remarks:
"My fellow Americans, are you better off than you were 4 years ago?
Mr. Reagan asked that of our country when Mr. Carter was in office and debating him, and Mr. Carter had no lucid response, as Mr. Obama has none today.
I plan to follow Mr. Reagan's economic approach, modified for today's deficit. I also plan to follow his foreign policy approach of "peace through strength" and "no better friend, no worse enemy." We will not have another embassy attack situation on my watch, as we had no further embassy hostages under Reagan. I may not have his eloquence, but I do possess his management skills, and understand the approach needed for economic growth and the protection of our citizens.
If you believe you are better off because of Mr. Obama, vote for him. But, if you believe that you are worse off since January 2009, please note that Mr. Obama's plans for the future and Mr. Carter's plans in 1979 are very similar: high taxes and job destruction. Mine is low taxes and job creation. For more information, check my website, which lays out specifics in considerable detail.
G-d Bless my fellow Americans, and G-d Bless the USA.
Short, sweet, and to the point. Five paragraphs, two of which are simple sentences. Feel free to use, Mr. Romney, and G-d Bless You.
Occam's Tool| 10.3.12 @ 5:11PM
I guess there should be quotation marks after USA, above.
C. Vernon Crisler | 10.3.12 @ 8:29AM
Best thing Romney can do is ask if the economy is better off now than it was four years ago.
PolishKnight| 10.3.12 @ 10:28AM
Such a question, especially asked repeatedly, would be political suicide.
The USA went to war in Afghanistan, with popular public support, after 9-11. Since then, the war has bogged down and many in the public are weary of it. The last thing they want to hear is us getting involved in a third military adventure. And for the "neo-cons" here, that goes for Iran as well.
What matters to Americans right now is domestic policy with two main factors: jobs and gas prices. Inflation would be good to pound on as well. Many in the lower class that love Obama for his Obama-phones might think twice when it's pointed out that their precious sugar has skyrocketed due to sugar and ethanol subsidies and cartels.
Al Adab| 10.3.12 @ 11:53AM
Gasoline and groceries both hit the poorer amongst us hardest. Thank you Mr. President for devalung the dollar.
War making is one thing while nation building is quite another. The blurred distinction is what has led this foreign policy astray for about the last ten years. The wars ended quickly while misguided attempts to "democratize" nations continue to cost lives and money.
Occam's Tool| 10.3.12 @ 4:54PM
PK: a mild thought: our port security sucks. Iran can easily false flag a primitive nuclear weapon carrying container ship.
Here are some ports: NYC, Houston, Galveston (Texas City is across the bay), LA, SF, Seattle.
You may wish to ignore Iran. Rest assured, Iran will NOT ignore you. How is it "neo-con" to want to protect our ports?
Pleasant dreams.
SUBVET| 10.3.12 @ 10:32AM
I say NEWT should be picking and posing the questions to the black Jesus tonight.
Who Knows?| 10.3.12 @ 10:42AM
Univision is bombing Obama, NOW.
Dave Williams| 10.3.12 @ 12:37PM
King Zero could skin and boil kittens onstage tonight, and the lamestream media will STILL declare him the winner. And a solid chunk of this brain-dead country will STILL vote for him. I am sad, depressed, and angry, and I do not like to think what America will be like in 5 years....
Bob K| 10.3.12 @ 1:38PM
Do you think he could get away with clubbing a seal pup?
Occam's Tool| 10.3.12 @ 4:55PM
Yes, Obama could easily club a seal pup to death and say that's what Romney wants to do to the ANWR. Don't give him ideas.