I don't understand why Obama has to practice for debate on Foreign Policy
By stary1
@stary1 (6612)
United States
October 20, 2012 6:25pm CST
Shouldn't he as President know enough to be able to just talk about it?? Why does he need to practice what he will say. I can understand a challenger needs to be sure he is up on all foreign affairs..but the Pres should already be informed. I wonder if this means he doesn't know as much as he (or Axelrod)
thinks he should....
thinks he should....4 people like this
13 responses
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Oct 12
Any time you are going into an unknown situation it is good to practice on any given situation you might meet. Not necessarily practicing what he will say but how to over turn any given onslaught he might get from Romney. Unexpected situations can make him look bad and lose points in the public's eye. And I feel he needs all the help he can get.
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Oct 12
Yes, role playing. They seem to have a lot at stake and want to be as on their toes as possible. I think it shows they are nervous and unsure of the outcome as far as i can see.
1 person likes this
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
21 Oct 12
Maybe "practice" is not the right word to use, but just to go over the topics again and again, so words come easily and automatically, without hesitating or making mistakes. Debaters must seem to be sure, as it gives the wrong impression when those debating seem to stop to think about the question or what to say.
2 people like this
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
21 Oct 12
I'm not so sure that he was practicing, but more preparing his comments in such a way that he'll be knowledgeable but won't compromise national security with an off-the-cuff remark. He probably knows a lot more than he's letting on, and that's fine in today's world, especially when foreign policy is changing minute-to-minute. It's a heck of a lot better than shooting his mouth off without knowing the facts, or insulting our top allies, as his opponent has been known to do. 
1 person likes this
@scorpiobabes (7225)
• United States
22 Oct 12
Well, I'm more familiar with Biden and how he is as a legislator because I grew up in the Delaware Valley and often saw him on the news, even though I grew up in New Jersey. He's older and more sure of himself and what he says, similar to Romney-that comes with age. Both Ryan and Obama are younger, and often let their running mates take center stage with their comments. Also, Biden and Ryan have similar backgrounds growing up; Obama and Romney have extremely different backgrounds from one another, as well as from Biden and Ryan.
I wasn't referring to any particular person; I think that the Clintons have that handled for the most part (I'm sure that Bill still has his hand in to a certain extent). Perhaps if you go back to when Romney went to the Olympics (because he had a horse entered in the equestrian events) and made several missteps with the Brits regarding their preparedness for the Olympics. While it may not be important to some people, it DID ruffle some feathers there.
Anything regarding the Middle East really is because the players have changed, and there's been so much unrest in the last 12 years, I don't think that anyone in US politics has been successful.
I'm really not interested in getting into a fight about politics, especially with someone who already has made their mind up, and has extremely different views than I. I'm happy to discuss differences between the candidates, and their policies with someone who is open minded and is willing to listen to both sides.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
21 Oct 12
scorpiobabes
I think 'off the cuff compromising security' is more Bidens style than Obama's
If you are speaking about Benghazi, I don't think Romney in any way was 'shooting off his mouth' as some want to accuse...I think Obama botched it and it might just be his downfall...
I don't think Israel feels Netanyahu was respected by Obama...
If you are speaking about Benghazi, I don't think Romney in any way was 'shooting off his mouth' as some want to accuse...I think Obama botched it and it might just be his downfall...
I don't think Israel feels Netanyahu was respected by Obama...2 people like this
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
22 Oct 12
scorpiobabes
I do not like fighting about politics either. I like to hear the opinions and discuss with someone who has different views than mine. I learn a lot that way. I can see whether I have a strong POV or if I need more study and research.
I can appreciate your loyalty to Biden, being from Delaware. And you are correct that he must be doing some things right to be in politics for so many years.
I do think it was a mistake for Obama to blow off Netanyaho when he asked for a meeting. Many felt the same and considering the current situation with Iran I think Obama was wrong.
The ME is indeed a tough place...and I think Obama is perceived as weak and that is something many overseas take advantage of.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
21 Oct 12
May be just to keep himself up to date of the changing events in foreign policy issues, after all, it is a lot more complicated issue than you think, the dynamic nature of elements shaping present US relationship with other foreign country require an incumbent to be on the top of his knowledge curve, you can't never know too much or as much as you think in foreign policy, it contain very wide learning curve for any president. 
@lampar (7584)
• United States
22 Oct 12
I guess for a president of USA to learn the lesson and keep himself up to date on foreign policy is alot more difficult than as a president of Cuba, since there are so many alliances US has over the world and also the number of potential adversary. A week probably is not enough to learn them all.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
22 Oct 12
As the President who should know about the economy, Obama didn't do very well in the first debate. Do you suppose maybe that's the reason he needs to practice for the third debate?
1 person likes this
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
21 Oct 12
I cant understand why Obama practices anything. I cant see a thing hes done well for the usa. They need a new president. Only problem is the guy running against Obama may not be any better than he is.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
21 Oct 12
mariaperalta
There are many who would agree with you. For some it is a decision of who would be worse..then vote for the other guy.
Of course the argumment is it could have been worse and no one can really argue that because we just don't know...
I just hope everyone votes, because giving up should not be an option even though there is no perfect candidate. But then, there never has been a perfect candidate..Obama won on hope and change and I too thought he could/would do much better than he did...
1 person likes this
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
22 Oct 12
bagarad
I know a lot about Obama's background but am not quite ready to say he is a Marxist..I do believe he has socialist ideas that are not in the best interests of the country. I also jusy think he is over his head and can't handle the job of President.
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Oct 12
I was not at all surprised. I expected exactly what we got. I knew he had no qualifications to prepare him for the job and that he was a Marxist. All that was evident in his associations, mentors, and the way he ran his campaign. You just had to know how to interpret the speeches and the way he never defined exactly what he would change. Had he been white and all else was the same, he would have lost. People felt they were helping to make history and many felt they were paying back what they owed for the blemish of slavery on our history.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
23 Oct 12
I know if I was in on a debate, and if it was a topic I was passionate and, or well acquainted with I don't think I would need to practice. I hope this country elects the one best able to get the economy bustling once more. I think it's all a matter of world view and agenda which depends on that world view. If you are a person of faith or a traditionalist, you're not so much into "changing America" as the changes already accomplished do not seem to be benefiting the country nor its society and state of society. What the other side wants, I'm completely clueless. It seems as though we want to tear down our own companies which provide jobs, declaring them guilty with no trial, and giving no thought to the conditions of society without the jobs and bustling economy. Like making the u.s less will somehow help other nations. I think that's a pipe dream and hope we can wake up from it soon.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
2 Nov 12
You would think he would know. I am not voting for the President personally because I think this country is in terrible shape right now and I really don't think staying this course is going to help any of us. But I do think he did a pretty good job in the last debate. So apparently the studying paid off.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
2 Nov 12
ladym33
I just don't see Obama as having looked Presidential...I think he was petty and said things beneath the dignity of a President...
I understand your frustration in not voting..if both candidates are equally objectionable to you it makes sense just to not vote..
@matersfish (6306)
• United States
21 Oct 12
I'm on the fence on this one.
I realize the Obama-loving crowd, with dreams of choco-glazed nipple-licking, want to make excuses and suddenly smudge perfection with realism. And the Obama-hating crowd, with tickets reserved for Kenya, want to treat it like he knows nothing about the subject at all.
I just think he doesn't want to get pwned by a challenger, so he has to bone up (that just made his supporters faint) on his foreign policy.
I doubt he'd be "practicing" if he would have defeated Romney in debate #1 or pulled off a lopsided victory in #2. Romney's ability to make Obama appear small on the Prez's unspeechified subjects was shocking. Romney beat him down the first go-'round, and the second was a squeaking by with a field goal from Obama. I'm sure both Ali and Frazier trained harder for their rubber match.
1 person likes this
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
21 Oct 12
matersfish
Good points...and I bet he didn't practice before the first debate thinkng he already knew it all.
I an leaning toward him practicing how to answer and perhaps reviewing details as opposed to learning new facts...and also reviewing what Romney has said and how to zing him...
1 person likes this
@Troublegum (641)
• United States
21 Oct 12
If I were to give him the benefit of the doubt I would say that all the pausing hedging and general appearance of lack of understanding is just him trying to remember what is classified and what he can talk about with the general public. Unfortunately I don't think I am right, because it the past he hasn't worried about such things
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
21 Oct 12
Troublegum
I think for some of the pausing, you could very well be correct. Of course Obama is not a very good speaker without his teleprompter..
Romney needs to point out Obama's weaknesses and especially point out how wrong Obama is/was about alQaeda.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Oct 12
I don't see how any one individual, President or not, can keep track of everything happening in every country we deal with unless he can check the files. Remember, he did not even know our Ambassador in Libya had asked for additional security because that was supposed to be handled by the State Department. And that's just one country. That being said, it would seem he'd make it a point to keep on top of what's happening in trouble spots like the Middle East. I, after all, have never run for president and never will. I can barely keep track of what I had for breakfast two days ago. Those who aspire to remain or be become president should be on top of any publicly available information on places where there is or could be trouble. I would expect candidates to have a good picture of what's happening in China, Mexico, the middle East, and Russia at the minimum and have a policy in mind for dealing with them in trade and for defense. It's one thing to say that you didn't need to know because the state department handles something -- quite another to think everything is hunky-dory when it isn't.
The pre-debate preparation for both men is probably just practicing responses to questions they expect to have to answer and doing it quickly, since debates responses are timed. I guess it's practice in responses and thinking under pressure.
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
21 Oct 12
bagarad I agree with all you said. Obama has a tremendous advantage over Romney on this one. Many were surpriswed to see how well informed and educated Romney was on foreign affairs during the first debate.
I agree..unless one has daily info it is hard to keep up with. I still fault Obama for not having more in person meetings with security for daily briefings..GW had personal meetings every day so he could ask questions while Obama reads most of the reports.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
21 Oct 12
I also think GW would have had a much more compassionate response to the mom who lost her son in the Benghazi attack and that he would have dealt with the public more honestly about it than this administration has. Sure glad Obama wasn't President in 2001.
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
21 Oct 12
No.Just because someone should know something doesn't mean they shouldn't practices. You don't just go out and do something that you know how to do with out practicing it a few times. It's like a singing. They know all the words to there songs but they need to practices a debate is the same way. Any topic it's on you need to work it get all the kinks out. Come up with some questions that might be asked, you got make sure it sounds good not only to you but to the people that will be listening. A debate is a profornces and it needs to be perfect or it could mean the different. One wrong word can make a million people either happy or unhappy.
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
23 Oct 12
It never hurts to practice. I know I always practice certain things before doing it.As they say practice makes perfect or at least nearly perfect.
