Debate Club

I watched the first of the presidential debates scheduled for the television audience near and far. What I came away with was the feeling that Mitt Romney wants to help America to return to prosperity, constitutional principles and godly, moral behaviors. Obama left me feeling like a substitute teacher watching the biggest snot-wallet in class trying to score points on someone whom he thinks is clueless instead of realizing that he was merely revealing his arrogance and disdain for what he was there to do in the first place.

Maybe I read too much into the evening.

Then again, maybe I didn't.

Absent his familiar friend the teleprompter, Obama was strangely inarticulate. We finally saw what he is really like under pressure when dealing with someone who neither shares his world view or his opinions. What we saw is a person running for student council hoping to have everyone be his friend by saying what everyone wants to hear.

Ours is an AMAZING nation full of incredible people with brilliance that can help the world. What we need now more than anything is a leader who not only sees that divine promise in our country but who believes our place in the world is in front leading the pack, showing the way and holding aloft the light of liberty for everyone on earth who wants to be free.

Last night, I got no sense of that from our current commander in chief. It was a little like watching a small kid sneak into the principal's office and pretend to take charge with no real idea about the work that really goes on in the office. He bluffed and grinned, grimaced and sneered doing his best to look like he knew what was happening but really hoped he didn't get caught unprepared. But unprepared was exactly the truth.

Obama was hoping to skin through the debate on charm. We've had almost 4 full years of his alleged presidential charm. It's wearing thin and tired. Charm only works on the first couple of dates but now that the relationship has progressed, the nation is seeking substance - boring, steady, relentless pursuit of substance.

We've enjoyed the party boy long enough. We've endured the frat house humor and the blame game long enough. It's now time for an adult to enter the room and do what the job and office require - make decisions even when unpopular, work with people who can offer you no advantage, and listen to opinions that you do not agree with in order to understand ALL of the people you are supposed to govern, not just those who are kissing your ass and pretending you are the most brilliant thing since sliced bread.

We need a man who is willing to be a leader, take the flak and keep coming in the passionate pursuit of what is right, though not popular. We need a man willing to say "NO" and mean it even when the pouting, whining and crying are epic in nature. And more than anything, we need a leader more interested in running our nation than running his golf cart and more interested in forging alliances to strengthen our world than in how good he looks on camera.

It's time for someone prepared through life experience, business experience and governing experience in circumstances that were less than idea.

It's time for MITT.