Hmmm. Our strength depends on our prosperity to fund it, and we cannot have national security without economic security nor control our destiny if wehave sold the next generation to the Chinese bondholders.

…. so I guess I disagree. At a time when no large foreign power threatens us but our gravest threat comes from our $16 trillion debt and a stalled economic engine, the economy IS the #1 issue of this election.

Well, you are right that MOST debates don’t matter. This was one of those typical debates.

Debate #1 mattered because Obama had and has a campaign devoid of new ideas but full of “you cant vote for the evil, rich guy” attacks. That attack only works if Romney plays the part; Romney in the debate punctured big holes in Obama’s attacks and millions of independents realized that Romney would make not just a plausible alternative but a BETTER alternative. that debate was the most consequential debate since 1980 Reagan-Carter debate, created by the same environment – media bias plus an incumbent who simply attacks the Republican and thinks that is sufficient will create “undecided” voters who need to see for themselves. Seeing Romney unfiltered has given millions the opportunity to make their own judgements.

This is why, btw, the biased moderators were shutting down Romney and Ryan before they finished their points while letting Obama and Biden yap overtime. That and biased questions ‘shape’ the debate so you cant hear the candidates unfiltered. No matter. Romney in 3 minutes (see video above) destroyed Obama’s reelection campaign. Obama has had that bad of a record that its not too hard.

For all the back and forth jockeying last night, it was remarkable that Obama did NOT present any real 2nd term agenda, nor did he change the equation from the first debate. “Vote for me because the other guy is an evil extremist” doesnt work when the other guy is anything but that. Romney’s 5 point plan has 5 more points to move the economy forward than Obama does.