A panel made up of several of New York's political insiders were hoping for specifics on policy during the first presidential debate.
The panelists who took part in a live blog on Patch during the debate were, in many cases, left disappointed.
"So far this debate is the worst presidential debate I've ever seen...from both sides...neither candidate is resonating," said Steve Behar, a former NYC Council and State Assembly candidate and Democratic consultant, as the debate was winding down.
Paul Feiner, the Greenburgh Town supervisor, said the debate lacked excitement.
"Obama's performance is good but no one relates to the average voter who are not policy wonks like Bill Clinton did," said Feiner, a Democrat. "I wonder what percent of the American people who are somewhat interested in politics are paying attention to the entire debate. Bill Clinton simplified the issues–he made it easy for the average person to understand his vision."
At one point in the debate, Mitt Romney claimed that Obama's stimulus bill poured $90 million into green energy companies. “Now I like green energy as well, but that’s about 50 years of what the oil and gas industry received," the former Massachusetts governor said.
That stirred up our panelists.
"Come on Romney, opposed to green energy too?!" wrote Ede Fox, a Democratic candidate for the NYC Council.
Betty Manzella, the vice-chair of the Brookhaven Town Republicans, said Romney was making a fair point.
"Seriously?" Manzella said. "When did he say he was opposed to green energy? He said he was opposed to putting $90 billion into FAILED green energy companies."
Several panelists said they wanted to hear specifics on Romney's tax policy.
"OK, I'll agree that middle-class people are being crushed," said Laura Morris, a Pelham Village trustee. "Will we hear anything specific from Romney on how he would fix this?"
Peter Swiderski, the Democratic mayor of the Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, said: "Romney is well-prepared. He's sounding competent and knowledgeable but is avoiding specifics on what deductions and loopholes will be covered."
On other topics, though, including health care, Swiderski said the candidates may have been too wonky for their own good.
"I recognize that knowledgeable answers are great - but they both feel like they're overkilling it on substance and want to to show what they know," he said.
Kevin Brady, who is running on the Working Families line for State Assembly in Nassau County, said judging the debate a draw was a win for Romney.
"Was hoping for raucous or sharp contrast here and we got neither," Brady said. "We got this weird stasis, combined with a slowing of momentum of the D side."
How do you think the candidates did on addressing the major issues? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Even the Dem. talking heads on morning Joe, said it was the best since 1980.
You set up a lopsided blog, overloaded with Democrats. They were singing Obama's praises and stating he was winning. No that the poll are out and show Romney defeated Obama handily, you publish this nonsense about the debate being disappointing and not measuring up?? I'm not a fan of either candidate, but I'd bet my last dollar that you will be voting for Obama. You should learn to keep your obvious agenda away from your publication and report without bias. The Fourth Estate should report the news, not create and mold it to the benefit of their political choices!!
Besides, even with the Middle East going up in flames and rioters/terrorists overrunning our embassies and killing our ambassador Obama certainly didn't appear "lost and out of it" during his "The View" appearance.
His passion for excellency and honest dealings as well as his intelligence, unlike bamas all preach no action style?
Dr. Jill Vecchio, a Colorado Radiologist...I looked for her on Google, she heads the breast cancer section at Lutheran Hospital . This should be frightening to women everywhere!! https://www.youtube.com/embed/6e3udzHIiVs?feature=player_detailpage
Any chance you can respond to/rebut my above post?
Forget politics let's get down to basics .. relegating Seamus to the roof of the family car coupled with not only wanting to kill Big Bird but Kermit, Ms. Piggy, Foo-Foo, Fraggle Rock ... and well over one thousand Muppets. Sure, we'll be told that "Bain Capital can save NPR", but in the end all the Muppets will be loaded with debt and made homeless without healthcare and forced into becoming blood-sucking victims, like the 47% No, the only answer is to save them, PBS and NPR by reelecting President Obama.