Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
Richard Fulmer ·
October 18, 2012 at 5:10am
In the third debate (foreign policy) what does Romney need to say about: Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Israel, Russia, China, Europe, world trade, or other topics (the apology tour, offending allies, supplicating enemies, the bust of Churchill, etc.)?
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Mar '12
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
He needs to focus on the big picture, with few details. He should lay out his vision of how he will revive respect for America from our allies and fear from our enemies. He should emphasize solidarity with Israel, Europe, Korea and Japan. He should promise to end foreign aid to regimes with terrorist organizations in the government, like Egypt. He should announce that he will modify rules of combat to protect our troops. He should promise to reverse the degradation of our military.
One zinger would be to promise a full and open investigation into both the Benghazi incident and the Fast & Furious scandal. Also, he could state that the war on terror is not over.
Apr '11
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
Agree with Schrodinger's Cat. Additionally, I would emphasize the importance of recognizing the values that Americans share...values that make Americans Americans, and that we don't have to appologize for being American.
That we take seriously the notion that we are the leader of the free world because we believe in what we are, what we do.
Apr '12
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
I think he should take a moment to thank the men who actually risked their lives and killed bin-Laden and then thank the President for letting them do their job.
Jan '11
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
In the VP debate, Biden described the war in Afghanistan:
They never understood what the wars were about. They considered 9/11 to be a crime, and not a war. In Afghanistan, they thought we were trying to round up specific criminals for a specific crime. Oh, and to bring security to Afghanistan, as if we were doing them a favor while we were in the neighborhood.
No. We went into Afghanistan was to prevent it from being an open training ground for al-Qaeda.
The Obama Administration, I'd argue, has misinterpreted the last couple years. al-Qaeda has been relatively quiet. The SEALs killed OBL in Pakistan, and we've been killing a lot of people with drones. Obama thought we'd removed the threat.
No. Obama told them when he was leaving. They've been quiet because they were waiting for us to leave.
They're as dangerous as ever.
Apr '11
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
He needs to be forced to own the Obama doctrine which appears to be, "Be nice to your enemies and nasty to your allies." He needs to be held to account for squandering opportunities in Iraq, Syria, and Latin America. He also needs to be pressed on what his grand strategy is for US foreign policy. Declinism is not popular and that is all it can be if he has one at all. I personally would love to see him held accountable for the deterioration of Afghanistan and Iraq; however, I suspect that is too much of a double edged sword for Romney to want to engage on that front.
Sep '12
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
1. Fast and Furious slam Obama and Holder for this--both deny responsibility
2. Libya slam Obama and Clinton for this--both claim responsibility
3. Syria slam Obama and Clinton for this
4. Afghanistan slam Obama for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda resurgence
5. Israel emphasize commitment to them
6. Iran Enemy #1
That's plenty to work into the "conversation".
Finally, I wish that Romney could name a Foreign Policy Team made up of undisputed brains and experience whom he would have in his White House and Cabinet.
Oct '12
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
The only thing right Obama did on foreign policy was Bin Laden. Everything else was a failure or a disaster.
1) Applaud obama his "gutsy call" to kill binladen, while criticizing Obama's decision to surge in afghanistan while simultaneusly declaring a fixed exit date for everyone to hear, including the enemies. How is that working out over there?
2) How can the U.S. protect itself when Obama wants to gut the military to World War I levels. How exactly will than affect Afghanistan? Republicans didnt want this. Obama does. No wonder he's unpopular w/ military people. No wonder Obama doesnt want to count their votes
3) Obama prefers a diminished USA. If USA will not take the lead, somebody else will. Do you prefer China, or Russia? Is that a good thing? Read Condi Rice's RNC speech.
4) When Iran's people rose up to try to topple the Ahmadinejad, Obama refused to support it. When longtime U.S. ally Egypt was in the same boat, Obama threw Mubarak under the bus and helped the Muslim Brotherhood into power.
6) Mexico/Rapido y Furioso. Why wasnt Holder fired over this? Why invoke executive privilege?
7) Israel.
Edited on October 18, 2012 at 8:07amOct '12
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
Funny, Benghazi didnt even come up on my list. Not that i'm against bringing it up.
May '12
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
Maybe Romney should ask what he would have more flexibility to do in regards to Russia after the election.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
As a general strategy, Romney should use his full alotted time before ending each turn with a question or challenge to force the President to start his turn on defense. Disrupt the President's strategy, whatever it is, by making him talk about what you want to talk about.
As for specifics, I doubt many swing voters are concerned about China and I doubt they would support another war in the Middle East (Iran) for any reason. So focus instead on the Obama administration's shameful two-week response to Benghazi and on the damage he has done to our alliances.
And, as usual, bring it back to moral terms. Americans honor our agreements. We stand by our allies. We believe the strong are obligated to protect the weak (but the next President's focus should be here at home). People who pay little attention or thought to politics can latch onto such principles.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
When Obama brings up Bin Laden, ask if he knows a single American who would not have given the order.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
One more thing: sources. The heart of Obama and Biden's strategy has been to accuse Romney and Ryan of flat-out lying. Don't let him put you on defense, but acknowledge that many voters don't know who to trust. Politicians in general have a reputation for being untrustworthy.
So state that any facts you present will be available on your campaign website with links to sources.
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
And pray to God that Ron Paul's not in the room.
Aug '10
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
As James Taranto noted yesterday, aside from the dissembling and incompetence about Benghazi, there is the matter of the president announcing on Sep. 12, "We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others." In the third debate, Romney should take Obama to task for this and voice his strong support for the First Amendment. He should say, "It is not the president's role to 'reject' the exercise of free speech. If President Obama thinks that is his role, why did he not call for rejection of the Broadway show 'The Book of Mormon'? But this is not the president's role. I support free speech, even when it ridicules and denigrates a religion, and in fact, I plan to demonstrate my support for such speech by seeing Trey Parker and Matt Stone's musical. If certain groups act violently when their feelings are hurt by free speech, that is a problem of violence, not of speech."
Oct '12
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
Romney should use the term "gutsy call" during the debate.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
Romney needs specifics on dealing with defense cuts. We have to develop a leaner, more efficient military. Cyber security is vital to our national interests, so worth mentioning. Also, cuts to defense will eventually dump active duty and dependents into Obamacare. Tricare is too big a burden. The people who defend our liberties will be one of the first groups to deal with horrible healthcare. Federal employees are not far behind. Our indebtness to China is a national security issue. Israel is our ally, and we'll defend its right to exist. We'll need the best and brightest to protect our national security, and to attract those people we must offer a high standard of care for Veterans. Current wait times for VA claims are unacceptable. Finally, we must project strength in a world that is in a more precarious state than 4 years ago. Reserving the right to use force doesn't mean we always will, it means we might. We must stop showing our hand to our enemies as a national security strategy.
Dec '10
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
He should study this video segment:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1908509188001/attempted-cover-up-then-obama-revisionist-history-on-libya/?playlist_id=930909814001
Oct '12
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
On foreign policy, just channel condi rice.
Edited on October 18, 2012 at 2:08pmApr '11
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
a snark-arific idea! Too bad Romney is so committed to a McCain-like sarcasm-free campaign.
Dec '10
Re: Ricochet Think Tank: Debate Prep
He needs to speak fluidly and in complete sentences, as he does when talking about the economy and jobs, not flither around sounding breathless and nervously jumping from point to point.
He needs to look squarely into the camera and say that the apology tours are over.
He needs to say that Obama is running as if someone else has been President for the last four years, and that it's time again for America to have a President who knows what country he's the President of.
I think 90% of it is presentation. On jobs and the economy, he looks assured and Presidential. On foreign affairs, he starts to jabber and flail, even when he's talking sense. He needs to slow down, pace himself, and watch out for the 'moderator.'