It seems that Obama’s startegy last night was to channel Bill Clinton from the DNC, be wonky and detail oriented in a way that can connect with average, non-wonky folks and in so doing make it clear that he had detailed proposals relative to Romneys lack of detail. That only works if you’re willing to press Romney anytime he starts getting less than truthful or evasive.
But Obama didn’t do that. He passed on countless opportunities to attack, he allowed Mitt to pivot back to the center, and worse he allowed Mitt to turn the world upside-down. Mitt Romney would insure more people, Republicans are the party of compromise, and Obama governs by just saying no to everything. If I hadn’t been paying attention to anything until last night, that’s what I would have come away thinking.
The most interesting thing, though, is the conservative reaction to the debate. They are elated, even though until last night every time Romney has even glanced towards the left they lost their shit. But last night Romney committed all kinds of conservative heresy. He’s pro-regulation! He wants to attack big banks! He jettisoned his own tax plan and supports Romneycare again! He took completely different positions last night on everything, as compared to his positions thus far. At the beginning of the debate, I even commented that I was confused because Romney seemed to be just repeating after Obama and agreeing with him. Team R was elated. They truly will do and say anything to win.
As for the single biggest missed opportunity: Mitt Romney, the man with the tax dodging offshore accounts, actually said “where you put your money is where your heart is”. He said that. Out loud. At the debate. And Obama passed on it! All he had to do was look Romney right in the eye and say “My heart is in America, governor, but its good to know yours is in the Caymans”. And then pivot off of that to “but the governor is right, where you put your money is where your heart is [repetition: make damn sure no one forgets the quote!] and that’s why I support insert programs to help the middle class and create jobs here.
But he didn’t.
520 Chestnut 
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