Body Language

It is striking that both Obama and Biden opted to use body language as their strategy for winning their respective debates. Not surprisingly, both lost. But there are several points worth making in this regard:

1. This demonstrates that they are both unserious men. It is one thing to employ body language as a tactic when appropriate. It is an altogether different matter to employ it as a strategy. The first can be shrewd and wise. The second is foolish and betrays the shallowness of those who employ it. Romney and Ryan had substance as their strategy. Obama and Biden had style (and extremely lame style at that) as their strategy. This defect has characterized the entire presidency (and, in fact, career) of Obama.

2. It is striking that, having opted to use body language as their strategy, both Obama and Biden were so horrifically bad at even that. Presumably, Obama was attempting to appear calm and presidential. Instead, he came across as apathetic and out of touch. Who can say for sure what was going through Biden's mind (apart from the usual: "Oh, look! Something shiny!")? But we can only assume that at least his handlers were hoping that he would come across as the wise, dignified statesman schooling the foolish, naive child. Instead, he came across as a stooge, giggling at a nuclear Iran and 23 million Americans unemployed. If you're going to be a one-trick pony, you should at least learn the trick.

3. Part of what caused them to fail so miserably is that ham-fisted overuse of their chosen strategies. One of the reasons body language doesn't work as a strategy is because you only get a few uses out of it before it becomes gratingly repetitive. To attempt to use the same lame little trick one hundred times in an hour and a half is a mistake normal people wouldn't even expect children to make. To base your strategy on style instead of substance is bad enough. But to base it on style when you're so bad at it, is inexplicable.

4. Finally ... TWICE?! Really?! After this strategy led Obama to the most humiliating defeat in the history of presidential debates, how clueless does the Obama brain trust have to be to say, "Here's a good idea... let's try it again!" No wonder these clowns have failed so miserably at everything they've put their hand to for the last four years.