TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
AP: b7921d1a-bb35-4f30-8f8c-da73ce79387a
In this Sept. 27, 2012 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks in Springfield, Va. When it comes to voting for president, not all votes are created equal. Chances are yours will count less than a select few. Each state's Electoral College votes are based on the size of its congressional delegation, not its population. Because of that, a presidential vote in Wyoming mathematically counts more than three times as much as a vote in Ohio, at least in terms of choosing electors. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

The first 90 seconds

September 28, 2012 @ 10:48 am (Updated: 10:39 am - 9/30/12 )

I've heard it said that Mitt Romney has exactly 90 seconds in the first debate to appeal to America and turn his poll numbers around, so let me give his speech-writing a try. Here we go:

"My fellow Americans, I can't pretend that my family has ever faced the kind of insecurity that so many Americans feel today. I know I'm lucky to be where I am. Yes, I worked hard, but I spent most of my time at a desk crunching numbers or in airplanes heading for meetings, and I know a lot of you work MUCH harder than that.

"And I can see where people think the rich are spoiled. I've met rich people who think they're special, that they deserve every imaginable luxury. But I'm here to tell you, as someone who's been in that world, they're not better than you.

"I'm a capitalist, but I'm also a religious man and I know we are all equal in God's eyes, and so I'm going to promise you this: that as president, I will make sure that, rich or poor, you will not be denied access to education or health care. Your income should not dictate which school your child goes to. In America, anyone with talent and dedication should have an education every bit as good as the one that I got. And in America, no one should go bankrupt because of an illness they couldn't control.

"And if that costs money, I know some wealthy people who could get by with a little less if need be.

"Because, you see, one of the fundamentals of capitalism is that value creation doesn't happen on Wall Street; it happens when people LIKE YOU create and invent and make new things. And you can only do that when you're healthy, educated, and free."

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Comments (76)


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  • Kief Sloberman wrote...
    and I promise you all will get free Romney phones
    September 29, 2012 6:44 am
    to go with your fool stamps.... and free malt liquor too.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MittensRomney wrote...
    Wait a second, dont say that!
    September 30, 2012 12:28 pm
    I set up and paid for all the Obama phones to make a political point and grab some sound bites, I am NOT going to pay for my own phone now!I cant even text yet, why bother?
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    President Romney does not have to re invent himself.
    September 29, 2012 6:57 am
    The Obama ministry of re immac propaganda needs to invent some more skewed polls. Even the oversampled useful idiot voters polls are old.

    Time to make some more lies Parrots!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    Ha Ha
    September 29, 2012 8:09 am
    Yeah, Fox News is in the pocket of those leftist Dems.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick (4) wrote...
    @Ha HA
    September 29, 2012 8:32 am
    So Fox News is skewing the polls as well? Even Fox News polls show Obama is gaining a lead in the swing states. Romney is dropping and Gary Johnson is increasing. Yep, Romney is toast unless he turns his campaign around quickly.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MittensRomney wrote...
    Way to go Haha!
    September 30, 2012 12:39 pm
    and don't forget, say it at least 27 times to make it stick!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    I wish Obama
    September 29, 2012 7:04 am
    would re-invent himself into a leader.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MittensRomney wrote...
    WILL YOU STOP!
    September 30, 2012 12:29 pm
    you are going to run out of wishes! What happens if it comes true..Oh my, what? Noooo! Oh, How I hate you!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Country_Dog wrote...
    And Dave Ross knows all about winning elections...
    September 29, 2012 7:07 am
    ...oh, wait...that's right. He doesn't. He just knows how to talk a good game on the radio.

    Loser.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sohojo wrote...
    The big difference
    September 29, 2012 7:35 am
    between democrat voters and republican voters is that democrats vote with their emotions, they want a "cool" rock star type for president. Republicans are not as emotional and are motre likely to vote based on the issues at the time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    I would disagree with sohojo
    September 29, 2012 7:49 am
    People from both sides vote very emotionally. A completely rational voter, from either side, is rare. A rational voter would see through the lies that the Republicans tell about Democrats and the lies Democrats tell about Republicans. Nope, most people just glom onto the lie that personally outrages them the most and use that to cast a totally red or blue ballot.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Realitycheck wrote...
    Chuck
    September 29, 2012 8:26 am
    100% right, you need to be totaly over emotional to even consider to vote for Obama and a selfish a z z as well because everybody should know this country will be bankrupt if we get another four years od this. But maybe that is it, maybe people love Obama because he runs up the credit card just like they do. Pathetic
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    romney should promise to in crease welfare, food stamps, subsidized housing, medicaid and make college free to the poor.
    September 30, 2012 9:41 am
    Heshould offer to tax the rich at 75%. He should offer a national campain to "despise the rich" despise corporations and business owners and to understand only the poor are moral and decent.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    No, Dave. Look what happened when YOU reinvented yourself inviting in Luke.
    September 29, 2012 7:40 am
    Mitt just needs to BE himself - not what the Obama camp wants him to be - and the toady media endorses. ... And to show Obama for the fake wizard of Oz that he is.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    What are you saying Dave
    September 29, 2012 7:49 am

    That somebody has to shake up that etch a sketch presidential candidate agains.

    I don't want a president that don't know what he wants and has to be shaken up to get with the people of this great nation.

    I will pass on that

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dozer40 wrote...
    What?!?!?!?!?
    September 29, 2012 7:54 am
    Correct me if I'm wrong, but Obama is the current president, right? He is the current president and is around 45-46% in Rasmussen and has been around those numbers consistently even though he has outspent Romney 4 to 1 in ads to this point. Who in America hasn't made up their mind yet how they feel about Obama? Every other election in history the undecideds go to the challenger to the tune of about 7 to 1. If the are both at 46% that means Romney wins 53-47. Its Obama that has to recreate himself in a hurry because people are not buying what he's selling.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Kief Sloberman wrote...
    What if Obama reinvented himself and told the truth?...
    September 29, 2012 8:07 am
    "My fellow Americans, I can't pretend that my family has ever faced the kind of insecurity that so many Americans feel today. I know I'm lucky to be where I am. No I, didn't work that hard, and I spent most of my time smoking dope, playing golf, community organizing and meeting with American hating radicals....and I know a lot of you work MUCH harder than that. I got lucky and was able to use liberal white guilt to my advantage in advancing my "higher" education and political career. I am not a capitalist nor a religious man. I worship only myself, not some imaginary sky god.

    I know that pandering to the ignorant masses is the best way for me to stay in power, so I will propose more redistribution of wealth. I don't care if America goes bankrupt. I will always have wealth and security."

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Romney needs to sell "hope and change", not open with a focus his wealth and privilege
    September 29, 2012 8:12 am
    I disagree with Dave Ross. Romney should probably *not* lead off with, "Sure, I'm rich as Croesus, born with a silver spoon that I turned into solid gold flatware for 72, but trust me, I can relate to folks who worry about how to make the next mortgage payment and have to pawn their deer rifles to raise money to fix their F150."

    Nope.

    He ought to go with, "The terms "hope and change" have been used in recent presidential campaigns. Tonight I would ask you to consider, are the changes you have seen so far those that you had hoped for?

    We don't change America from the top down, we change America from the bottom up. Things don't get better for individual Americans when we make government larger, less efficient, more self absorbed, and more empowered than before. Things get better for individual Americans when we empower them, instead of government.

    Along with millions of other Americans, I have enjoyed some degree of financial success in life. Some of it was hard work, some of it was good timing, and I'm not afraid to admit that a lucky accident or two added to my good fortune. My opponent hopes to change America by punishing some Americans for their success and prosperity and additionally entitling others. I will change America by enabling more of my fellow Americans to become successful and prosperous. There is no hope if we empower the government, our only hope for change is if we empower the people on an individual basis"

    If I had to write a speech for a Romney, or any other Republican these days, it would go more like that.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick (4) wrote...
    Chuck
    September 29, 2012 9:28 am
    Good speech.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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