Obama: basketball skills on display in foreign policy debate

President Obama brought his skills from the basketball court to this foreign policy debate with Republican Mitt Romney, combining a driving attack with the ability to pivot back to domestic issues like education.

Romney managed to agree with his opponent, at least on policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan and Libya, more than any presidential debate participant since Richard Nixon engaged in his first 1960 debate with John F. Kennedy.

At times, it seemed that Romney was saying of Obama’s foreign policy:  It’s in great shape and I’m the guy to fix it.

“I don’t blame the administration for the fact that our relationship with Pakistan is strained,” he said at one point.  A few moments earlier, Romney declared:  “We had to go into Pakistan to get Osama bin Laden.  That was the right thing to do.”

In mid-debate, vociferous conservative attack dog Glenn Beck tweeted in frustration of Romney:  “He is not hitting anywhere.  Is this to make him not scary?  He is scaring me.”

Democratic strategist Joe Trippi allowed:  “Lets face it!  On foreign policy this debate could become known as the ‘Big Hug.’  Romney agreeing with Obama moderates him.”

Beck was onto something.  A snap poll by CBS News of viewers had 53 percent saying Obama won the debate to just 23 percent for Romney, with 24 percent believing it was a draw.  The CNN insta-poll gave it to Obma by a 48-40 percent margin.

Romney did show an ability to get critical without getting nasty.  Obama, by contrast, was downright condescending.

When Romney talked about the Navy having the lowest number of ships in a half-century, Obama shot back:  “Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets . . .  We have these things called aircraft carriers.  Planes land on them.”

Obama delivered a tough guy answer on Iran, starting out by saying:  “If Israel is attacked, America will stand with Israel. “  He went on to say of Iran, “Their economy is in shambles” and that sanctions have reduced Iran’s oil exports to their lowest point since the Iran-Iraq war.

Romney was left — essentially — to agree and then quibble around the edges.  “There’s no question a nuclear Iran and a nuclear capable Iran is unacceptable to us . . . Crippling sanctions is what I called for four years ago.”

He disagreed with Obama only in saying sanctions could have been imposed “earlier” and that, as President, he would “tighten those sanctions.”

Obama hit back with olive branch and shield.  “There is a deal to be had (with Iran),” he said, but a moment later added:  “The clock is ticking.  We are not going to allow Iran to perpetually engage in negotiations.”

Romney had his lines.  “America has not dictated to other nations,” he said at one point.  “We have freed other nations from dictators.”

At the 55 minute point in the debate, Romney did attack, saying Obama remained silent as the “green revolution” in Iran was crushed and had launched “an apology tour” of nations with which the United States had differences.

The “apology” charge “is probably the biggest whopper of this campaign,” Obama shot back.

A Democratic analysis frequently outgunned on Fox News, Doug Schoen, observed:  “Romney seems weaker and more uncertain.”

Obama was on the attack from the beginning, using his opening remarks to say that Romney’s positions had been “all over the map.”  A few moments later, he was accusing Romney of advocating the “social policies of the 1950′s,” and joking:  “The 1980′s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back.”

During this early phase, Republican State Chairman Kirby Wilbur tweeted:  “Not the best answer Mitt.”  (He would praise Romney’s later performance.  New York Times scribe Nicholas Kristof took note of Romney’s answers on education and gender equality in the Middle East, and joked:  “Romney sounds like a liberal New York Times columnist.”

Watching the reaction of undecided voters, recorded by CNN, Obama received a sharp upward “bump” with another pivot, stressing that America has commitments abroad but must “make sure we are doing nation building here at home.”

The debate had few overt bloopers.  Bob Schieffer of CBS News was a capable referee, but did at one point refer to “Obama’s bin laden.”

In one very funny moment, Romney declared:  “I love teachers.”  “I think we all love teachers,” said Schieffer, moving on.

One sure mark of evaluating debates has been instant reaction by conservative pundits.  They cheered Romney’s aggressiveness in Debate 1.  Last night, however, SuperPAC co-founder and “Bush’s brain” Karl Rove was tweeting:  “Obama just lost his temper and composure.  Very unpresidential.”

Well, this President plays pickup basketball, is famous for driving to the basket, and once had his nose bloodied by the elbow of an opponent.  Obama came away from Monday’s debate without any noticeable bruises.  The President was on his game.