Comments on: Lyles: The real lesson behind the presidential debates

By: Eleanor Oakley

Eleanor Oakley — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:31:50 +0000

Yes, Mr. Lyles, it is all a matter of perspective. Democrats and Republicans can look at the same debate, and, guess what! — Democrats will like President Obama's presentation and comments, and Republicans will like Governor Romney's. I watched the Al Smith dinner speeches and liked President Obama's speech much better. He is casual, his delivery with comedy is more natural, and I thought his remarks were funnier. Governor Romney has a stilted, scripted delivery. Do you think either wrote their own remarks? But then, I like President Obama, respect him, and have already voted for him. The lack of respect I have seen from Governor Romney for a sitting President, not only in words but the look on his face, far exceeds Vice-President Biden's with Paul Ryan during their debate. However, my Rancho Bernardo Republican Conservative friends no doubt agree with you. You speak to their perspective and Amy Roost speaks to mine and the many others who respect our President.

By: Amy Roost

Amy Roost — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 08:32:29 +0000

well i'm not sure i missed your point since your point was that pres. obama uses teleprompters which is somehow condemning. and i'm not sure a can agree with the above either. what you hear depends on where you stand. mr. romney comes across like finger nails on a chalk board to me. his delivery is often rushed and clipped and his expression is smug—to me. viva la differance i guess…

By: Dick Lyles

Dick Lyles — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 05:59:48 +0000

In order to read my column and comment here, you had to click on "opinion." It is my role to write opinion columns on the editorial page from a conservative perspective, just as Amy writes from a liberal perspective. This has never been a secret, but I'm glad you figured it out.
The bias we all observe that should concern us all is that which appears under the guise of news reporting. News should be factually reported and opinion should be labelled as such.
I think when Shepherd Smith reporst the news on Fox News he is reasonably unbiased. When BIll O'Reilly or Sean Hannity comment on the news during their news analysis shows they are both biased in favor of conservatives, although Hannity more so than O'Reilly.

By: Dick Lyles

Dick Lyles — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 05:50:00 +0000

You missed the point. Watch the speeches each gave at the Al Smith dinner earlier this week. Mr. Romney's was well-scripted, well-delivered and received a much better response from the audience. Mr. Obama's was not as well prepared, his delivery was awkward and the response more tepid. The contrast is startling. Then read the AP wire service story. According to them, the speeches were equally intertaining and engaging and the response to both was the same.
If you see the candidates yourself during these debates you'll see confidence and a much stronger presentation from Mr. Romney. Mr. Obama is losing his confidence and his effectiveness as a campaigner. The polls reflect these results. The articles written about the campaign by major national news media do not.
Because the polls are shifting in response to people seeing the candidates first hand I think we should have more, better focused debates in the future.

By: FED UP DEMOCRAT

FED UP DEMOCRAT — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 06:15:26 +0000

Ironic that the article is about media bias..hmm.. assume Dick Lyles is a Republican! Does he consider FOX news an unbiased news source ?

By: Amy Roost

Amy Roost — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 05:13:02 +0000

'Very few people had ever had an opportunity to hear Mr. Obama without his Teleprompter or in anything other than carefully selected sound bites often chosen to make him look much better than he deserved.'
Dick, do you seriously believe that Romney gives speeches without a teleprompter or talking points?. When he does, you get disasterous result such as the 47% speech. Obama is not beyond reproach, but to call him out for using a teleprompter is the pot calling the kettle black.

By: Tom Yarnall

Tom Yarnall — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:32:32 +0000

I think it would be good to have more debates on narrow range subjects, but would limit the time for each to an hour or less. I thought I was in an echo chamber as time went bye last night. No matter the question each of them reverted to their main talking points.
I think the debate was close to a draw, but without the help from the moderator Obama may have lost.