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class="post-9732 post type-post status-publish hentry category-uncategorized tag-debates-political entry " id="entry-9732"> <header class="postHeader"><div class="postMetaHeader"> <span class="timestamp published" title="2012-10-04T17:37:58+00:00"> <span class="date">October 4, 2012, <em>1:37 pm</em></span></span><span class="postMetaHeaderCommentCount commentCount"><a class="commentCountLink icon commentIcon hidden" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/no-the-debate-was-not-substantial/"></a></span></div><h1 class="entry-title">No, the Debate Was Not Substantive</h1> <address class="byline author vcard">By <a href="/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/author/david-firestone/" class="url fn" title="See all posts by DAVID FIRESTONE">DAVID FIRESTONE</a></address></header><div class="entry-content"><p>Trying to salvage something useful from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/10/04/us/politics/20120804-denver-presidential-debate-obama-romney.html?ref=politics&ref=politics#/?annotation=5f882089b">last night’s dreary debate</a>, a few commentators have claimed that it was at least substantive, that it dealt with the real issues the country faces. But substance means grappling with the truth and its many interpretations, not merely sounding wonky by repeating the words Dodd and Frank. Truthful arguments were missing on the Denver stage.</p><p>You could have a substantive argument on whether tax cuts for the rich stimulate the economy and benefit the middle class and the poor. But Mitt Romney didn’t want that argument; instead he simply walked past the facts and denied that he was even proposing a $5 trillion tax cut. That’s not substance; it’s thin air.<br/> <span id="more-9732"></span><br/> You could have a substantive argument on whether the government should play a role in providing health insurance to the uninsured, requiring coverage of pre-existing conditions. If Mr. Romney really feels so strongly that “Obamacare is a mistake,” as he said, he could explain why that’s not government’s role and why the chronically ill should rely on the private market. Instead he said he has a plan to cover pre-existing conditions. There is no such plan, and thus no real substance.</p><p>A debate isn’t serious simply because it ostensibly deals with complicated subjects. A real discussion of education policy, for example, would grapple with whether Mr. Obama’s investment in Race to the Top is working, and whether those dollars should be cut. It does not consist of a line like this from Mr. Romney, one of his most egregious in the debate:</p><p>“I’m not going to cut education funding. I don’t have any plan to cut education funding and grants that go to people going to college. I’m planning on continuing to grow, so I’m not planning on making changes there.”</p><p>This was a head-slapping moment from the man <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/debates/presidential/2012-10-03#sha=666b55a85">who told donors in Florida</a> that he would do exactly that, either merging the Education Department into another agency “or perhaps make it a heck of a lot smaller.” When he was trying to persuade Republicans to make him their nominee, he loudly endorsed the Paul Ryan budgets in the House that would have forced drastic cuts to education spending, including dropping 200,000 children from Head Start. And <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/debates/presidential/2012-10-03#sha=6e6b5a766">he has made it clear</a> he would reduce the number of students eligible for Pell grants for college.</p><p>A substantive debate would also have required Mr. Obama to interrupt a lie like this one and ridicule it with the facts. But time after time, the president passed up opportunities to do exactly that, leaving uninformed viewers with the impression that Mr. Romney was crisper and had more “facts” at his fingertips.</p><p>The president’s failure to engage was, in miniature, the same one that has allowed Republicans to misrepresent the stimulus, and health care reform, and the sequester, and get away with it. For four years, Mr. Obama has been an ineffective salesman of his own hard work and vision, and he was an even worse salesman last night, when it counted. He seems to view the work of making a sale as beneath him – an advertiser’s grubby task – but that is the essence of politics, and Republicans are quite good at it.</p><p>It’s time the president joined the game, and not just to win re-election. If he does return to the White House, he will need all of his persuasive powers to make his second term more successful than his first. For the moment, he seems to have misplaced them.</p></div></div><div class="entry-meta"><meta name="emailThisHash" content="rBOMls2Cwizvn+gV2ku7Kw"><div class="shareTools shareToolsThemeClassic shareToolsThemeClassicHorizontal articleShareToolsBottom" data-shares="facebook,twitter,google,email,showall|Share,print" data-url="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456oe_/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/no-the-debate-was-not-substantial/" data-title="No, the Debate Was Not Substantive" data-description="Substance means grappling with the truth, not merely sounding wonky by repeating the words Dodd and Frank."></div><div class="entry-tags"> <span class="entry-category"></span> <span class="tags"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/debates-political/" rel="tag">Debates (Political)</a> </span></div><div id="related-content" class="entry-related module"><h4>Related Posts</h4><div class="clearfix"><div class="entry"><h5>From Taking Note</h5><ul><li><h6><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/about-that-90-billion-green-energy-tax-break/" title="About That ‘$90 Billion’ Green Energy Tax Break">About That ‘$90 Billion’ Green Energy Tax Break</a></h6></li><li><h6><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/obamas-late-comeback/" title="Obama’s Late Comeback">Obama’s Late Comeback</a></h6></li><li><h6><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/opinion-report-the-debate/" title="Opinion Report: The Debate">Opinion Report: The Debate</a></h6></li><li><h6><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/the-first-presidential-debate/" title="The First Presidential Debate">The First Presidential Debate</a></h6></li><li><h6><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/questions-for-tonights-debate/" title="Questions for Tonight’s Debate">Questions for Tonight’s Debate</a></h6></li></ul></div></div></div></div><hr/><div class="module box nav nocontent"><ul class="opposingFloatControl wrap"><li class="element1"> <span class="previous">Previous Post</span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/opinion-report-the-debate/" title="Opinion Report: The Debate">Opinion Report: The Debate</a></li><li class="element2"> <span class="next">Next Post</span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/obamas-late-comeback/" title="Obama’s Late Comeback">Obama’s Late Comeback</a></li></ul></div><a id="postComment"></a><div id="commentsContainer" class="commentsContainer"></div><script type="text/javascript">// NYTD.jQuery(document).ready(function($) { NYTD.commentsInstance = new EmbeddedComments($, 'NYTD.commentsInstance'); 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//</script></div><div class="box module nocontent"><div id="tabWidget-"><div class="tabsContainer"><ul class="tabs"><li class="selected"><a href="javascript:void(0);">Editorials</a></li><li><a href="javascript:void(0);">Campaign Stops</a></li><li><a href="javascript:void(0);">Columns</a></li><li><a href="javascript:void(0);">Opinionator</a></li></ul></div><div class="tabContent"><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/a-checkup-for-natural-gas-in-new-york.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss" title="A Checkup for Natural Gas">A Checkup for Natural Gas</a></h5><p> The governor of New York made a reasonable decision in slowing down to review the health risks of hydraulic fracturing.</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/fraud-in-the-scientific-literature.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss" title="Fraud in the Scientific Literature">Fraud in the Scientific Literature</a></h5><p> The solutions are not obvious, but clearly greater vigilance by reviewers and editors is needed.</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/when-flooding-is-not-a-taking.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss" title="When Flooding Is Not a Taking">When Flooding Is Not a Taking</a></h5><p> Government should not be required to pay under the Constitution’s takings clause for temporary water damage caused by releases from a federal dam.</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/falling-behind-the-season.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss" title="Falling Behind the Season">Falling Behind the Season</a></h5><p> The seasons march fast ahead, making it especially hard to keep up.</p></div></div><div class="tabContent"><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/frenemies-a-love-story/" title="Frenemies: A Love Story">Frenemies: A Love Story</a></h5><p> Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan fought tooth and nail - until the American people needed compromise.</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/pity-the-plutocrats/" title="Pity the Plutocrats">Pity the Plutocrats</a></h5><p> Why do the well-to-do whine so? Why do they wring their hands?</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/cool-hand-barry/" title="Cool Hand Barry">Cool Hand Barry</a></h5><p> Obama's debate strategy was misguided. His tactics were ineffective. He must solve both problems before round two.</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/debating-points/" title="Debating Points">Debating Points</a></h5><p> Columnists and contributors weigh in with early reactions to the presidential debates.</p></div></div><div class="tabContent"><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/blow-dont-mess-with-big-bird.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss" title="Don’t Mess With Big Bird">Don’t Mess With Big Bird</a></h5><p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/blow-dont-mess-with-big-bird.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss"></a>When Mitt Romney threatened PBS and “Sesame Street” in the presidential debate, he insulted a national treasure.</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/collins-of-hooters-zombies-and-senators.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss" title="Of Hooters, Zombies and Senators">Of Hooters, Zombies and Senators</a></h5><p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/collins-of-hooters-zombies-and-senators.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss"></a>This is truly an election year to remember. Aside from Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, attention must be paid to the races for U.S. Senate.</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/nocera-jobs-report-cooked-or-correct.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss" title="Jobs Report: Cooked or Correct?">Jobs Report: Cooked or Correct?</a></h5><p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/nocera-jobs-report-cooked-or-correct.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss"></a>The latest government employment report, a month from Election Day, created quite a stir.</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/opinion/roger-cohen-spain-in-the-time-of-skinny-cows.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss" title="In the Time of Skinny Cows">In the Time of Skinny Cows</a></h5><p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/opinion/roger-cohen-spain-in-the-time-of-skinny-cows.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss"></a>Spain agonizes after its spending spree, but fracture is not the answer.</p></div></div><div class="tabContent"><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/can-you-stand-some-more-stan/" title="Can You Stand Some More Stan?">Can You Stand Some More Stan?</a></h5><p> In Los Angeles, a pilgrimage to the infamous steps from the comedy classic 'The Music Box.'</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/not-yet-freedom/" title="From Union to Freedom">From Union to Freedom</a></h5><p> The Emancipation Proclamation has to be understood within the context of Lincoln's war strategy.</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/idiots-delight/" title="Idiot's Delight">Idiot's Delight</a></h5><p> At this point in the campaign, how can the undecideds expect to have anyone's support?</p></div><div class="entry singleRule"><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/jonathan-haidts-plato-problem/" title="Haidt's Problem With Plato">Haidt's Problem With Plato</a></h5><p> In "The Righteous Mind," Jonathan Haidt argues that psychologists have overturned philosophers' view of reason. But there are ways for the two groups to work together.</p></div></div></div><script type="text/javascript">NYTD.TabSet("tabWidget-");</script></div><div class="box module nocontent ad" id="Box1"> <script type="text/javascript">/*<![CDATA[*/// if ((typeof adxpos_Box1 != "undefined") && (typeof adxads[adxpos_Box1] != "undefined")){document.write(adxads[adxpos_Box1]);} ///*]]>*/</script><script type="text/javascript">// if ((typeof adxpos_Box1 == "undefined") || (typeof adxads[adxpos_Box1] == "undefined")) { if($("Box1")) { $("Box1").hide(); } } //</script><noscript><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=cookie&pos=Box1"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456im_/http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_remote.html?type=noscript&page=blog.nytimes.com/takingnote/post&posall=TopAd,Bar1,Position1,Position1B,Top5,SponLink,MiddleRight,Box1,Box3,Box3A,Bottom3,Right5A,Right6A,Right7A,Right8A,Middle1C,Bottom7,Bottom8,Bottom9,Header1,Header2,Header3,Inv1,Inv2,CcolumnSS,Middle4,Left1B,Frame6A,Left2,Left3,Left4,Left5,Left6,Left7,Left8,Left9,JMNow1,JMNow2,JMNow3,JMNow4,JMNow5,JMNow6,Feature1,Spon3,ADX_CLIENTSIDE,SponLink2&pos=Box1&query=qstring&keywords=?"></a></noscript></div><div class="box module nocontent"><h4>From the Opinion Blogs</h4><div class="entry"> <img class="w50 left" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs_v3/krugman/krugman75.gif" alt="Paul Krugman | The New York Times"><h6 class="kicker"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/">Paul Krugman</a></h6><h5> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/constant-demography-employment-wonkish-but-relevant/" title="Constant-demography Employment (Wonkish But Relevant)">Constant-demography Employment (Wonkish But Relevant)</a></h5><p class="summary">Yes, things are slowly getting better. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/constant-demography-employment-wonkish-but-relevant/">Continue reading →</a></p></div><div class="entry"> <img class="w50 left" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs_v3/opinionator/opinionator75.gif" alt="Opinionator | The New York Times"><h6 class="kicker"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/">Opinionator</a></h6><h5> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/can-you-stand-some-more-stan/" title="Can You Stand Some More Stan?">Can You Stand Some More Stan?</a></h5><p class="summary">In Los Angeles, a pilgrimage to the infamous steps from the comedy classic 'The Music Box.' <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/can-you-stand-some-more-stan/">Continue reading →</a></p></div><div class="entry"> <img class="w50 left" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456im_/http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs_v3/publiceditor/publiceditor75.gif" alt="The Public Editor's Journal | The New York Times"><h6 class="kicker"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/">The Public Editor's Journal</a></h6><h5> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/tributes-from-times-readers-mattered-most/" title="Tributes From Times Readers Mattered Most">Tributes From Times Readers Mattered Most</a></h5><p class="summary">The Times publisher found the comments from readers most meaningful after the death of his father, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/tributes-from-times-readers-mattered-most/">Continue reading →</a></p></div></div><div id="tag-list" class="box module nocontent"><h4>Tag List</h4><div class="entry"><ul class="odd"><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/mitt-romney/">MITT ROMNEY</a> <span>93</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/barack-obama/">BARACK OBAMA</a> <span>75</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/immigration/">IMMIGRATION</a> <span>55</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/health-care-reform/">HEALTH CARE REFORM</a> <span>39</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/same-sex-marriage/">SAME-SEX MARRIAGE</a> <span>39</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/campaign-finance/">CAMPAIGN FINANCE</a> <span>39</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/abortion/">ABORTION</a> <span>39</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/political-advertising/">POLITICAL ADVERTISING</a> <span>36</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/supreme-court/">SUPREME COURT</a> <span>36</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/newt-gingrich/">NEWT GINGRICH</a> <span>35</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/gun-control/">GUN CONTROL</a> <span>30</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/taxes/">TAXES</a> <span>28</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/voter-registration-and-requirements/">VOTER REGISTRATION AND REQUIREMENTS</a> <span>28</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/rick-santorum/">RICK SANTORUM</a> <span>25</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/super-pac/">SUPER PAC</a> <span>25</span></li></ul><ul class="even"><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/death-penalty/">DEATH PENALTY</a> <span>24</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/european-debt-crisis/">EUROPEAN DEBT CRISIS</a> <span>22</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/paul-ryan/">PAUL RYAN</a> <span>22</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/republican-national-convention-2012/">REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION 2012</a> <span>22</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/democratic-national-convention-2012/">DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION 2012</a> <span>21</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/birth-control/">BIRTH CONTROL</a> <span>20</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/citizens-united/">CITIZENS UNITED</a> <span>20</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/debates-political/">DEBATES (POLITICAL)</a> <span>20</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/polls-and-public-opinion/">POLLS AND PUBLIC OPINION</a> <span>18</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/andrew-cuomo/">ANDREW CUOMO</a> <span>18</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/gay-rights/">GAY RIGHTS</a> <span>18</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/torture/">TORTURE</a> <span>18</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/syria/">SYRIA</a> <span>17</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/indefinite-detention/">INDEFINITE DETENTION</a> <span>17</span></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/catholic-church/">CATHOLIC CHURCH</a> <span>17</span></li></ul></div></div><div id="archive" class="box nocontent module"><div class="entry"><h4>Archive</h4> <select name="archive_chrono" onchange="window.location.href=this.value; this.selectedIndex=this.options[0]"><option class="archiveform_option" value="">Select Month</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/"> October 2012</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/"> September 2012</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/"> August 2012</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/"> July 2012</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/"> June 2012</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/"> May 2012</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/"> April 2012</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/"> March 2012</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/"> February 2012</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/"> January 2012</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/"> December 2011</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/"> November 2011</option><option value="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/"> October 2011</option> </select></div></div><div id="recent-posts" class="box module nocontent"><h4>Recent Posts</h4><div class="entry"><p class="date">October 05<br/> <span class="postMetaHeaderCommentCount commentCount"><a class="commentCountLink icon commentIcon hidden commentCountNumberOnly commentCountNoPrompt" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/everything-you-thought-was-hard-is-easy/"></a></span></p><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/everything-you-thought-was-hard-is-easy/" title="Read: Everything You Thought Was Hard Is Easy">Everything You Thought Was Hard Is Easy</a></h5><p class="summary"> Justice Antonin Scalia calls abortion, the death penalty and "homosexual sodomy" obvious Constitutional issues.</p></div><div class="entry"><p class="date">October 05<br/> <span class="postMetaHeaderCommentCount commentCount"><a class="commentCountLink icon commentIcon hidden commentCountNumberOnly commentCountNoPrompt" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/all-hail-the-moderate-mitt/"></a></span></p><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/all-hail-the-moderate-mitt/" title="Read: All Hail the Moderate Mitt">All Hail the Moderate Mitt</a></h5><p class="summary"> How do we know that the new Romney is the real Romney, and that the version from the primaries was fake?</p></div><div class="entry"><p class="date">October 05<br/> <span class="postMetaHeaderCommentCount commentCount"><a class="commentCountLink icon commentIcon hidden commentCountNumberOnly commentCountNoPrompt" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/opinion-report-screening-firefighters/"></a></span></p><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/opinion-report-screening-firefighters/" title="Read: Opinion Report: Screening Firefighters">Opinion Report: Screening Firefighters</a></h5><p class="summary"> A summary of what's on today's editorial page.</p></div><div class="entry"><p class="date">October 04<br/> <span class="postMetaHeaderCommentCount commentCount"><a class="commentCountLink icon commentIcon hidden commentCountNumberOnly commentCountNoPrompt" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/about-that-90-billion-green-energy-tax-break/"></a></span></p><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/about-that-90-billion-green-energy-tax-break/" title="Read: About That ‘$90 Billion’ Green Energy Tax Break">About That ‘$90 Billion’ Green Energy Tax Break</a></h5><p class="summary"> Mitt Romney's energy policy whoppers.</p></div><div class="entry"><p class="date">October 04<br/> <span class="postMetaHeaderCommentCount commentCount"><a class="commentCountLink icon commentIcon hidden commentCountNumberOnly commentCountNoPrompt" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/obamas-late-comeback/"></a></span></p><h5><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121006142456/http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/obamas-late-comeback/" title="Read: Obama’s Late Comeback">Obama’s Late Comeback</a></h5><p class="summary"> At a post-debate rally in Denver, the president finally came up with the retorts that escaped him last night.</p></div></div><div class="box module nocontent ad" id="Box3"> <script type="text/javascript">/*<![CDATA[*/// if ((typeof adxpos_Box3 != "undefined") && (typeof adxads[adxpos_Box3] != "undefined")){document.write(adxads[adxpos_Box3]);} ///*]]>*/</script><script type="text/javascript">// if ((typeof adxpos_Box3 == "undefined") || (typeof adxads[adxpos_Box3] == "undefined")) { if($("Box3")) { $("Box3").hide(); } } //</script><noscript><a 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