An author's style is as individual as a signature.

The next time you pass a newsstand, pick up a copy of one of "his" books, read a few pages, and ask yourself who wrote it.

Honestly I don't see the problem here.

Preparing for a debate isn't just sitting down and pouring over facts and figures and analyzing your opponent's arguments for weaknesses. (Though those are big parts of it)

One must also seek out inspiration, one must let the mind wander a bit.

Would he be a better debater if he sat at a desk or in a park? Could it provide no mental stimulation if he stood in awe of one of the greatest marvels of engineering, design, and construction in the world, a monument to human achievement, science, strength, and drive to improve our condition?

No, much as I dislike the man and his policies and beliefs...I can't call this little detour a matter of mere arrogance, devoid of any purpose but avoiding his obligations to face his opponent.

(Its possible that it is of course, but to casually dismiss it as such, seems to be an empty statement)

if he stood in awe of one of the greatest marvels of engineering, design, and construction in the world, a monument to human achievement, science, strength, and drive to improve our condition?

I doubt he was in awe, as that doesn't fit his narrative.

If you recast the Hoover Damn as a monument to government achievement, then yes. After all, you didn't build that.

Actually, I'm not surprised he did poorly in the debate. He expected the Mitt Romney he's constructed in his mind to show up, and when that person didn't show up, he was lost.

Yeah, like the little binge before the Thermodynamics test helped clear my mind.

I got a 14 - part of one problem right. That was a C, by the way. The high grade was a 40. But don't worry, I don't delude myself into thinking I'm an engineer.

Obama, OTOH...

Yeah, like the little binge before the Thermodynamics test helped clear my mind.

I got a 14 - part of one problem right. That was a C, by the way. The high grade was a 40. But don't worry, I don't delude myself into thinking I'm an engineer.

Obama, OTOH...

@MarkD: "I got a 14 - part of one problem right."

Sounds like me in Physics 241 -- I remember it to this day, the class I liked so much I took it twice!

"One must also seek out inspiration, one must let the mind wander a bit."

So he went to visit the same Hoover Dam whose existence his party is opposed to.

I found taking a break can be really helpful. Without it the mind can become overly tired and rigid in its thinking. I found this with studying in college. It really becomes a problem if the test was not what I expected.

My guess is that as Aggie said, Obama was prepared two debate one way and when Mitt didn't debate that way he was lost.

Yep, there's the problem right there - Obama seems to take a little too many time outs.

"God, this president job is sooo hard - nobody told me I would have to do work!"

What's the problem? I'd just as soon he take every day off. he can do less damage that way.

Frankly, I would have done the same. But I also would have skipped a few golf sessions to do some prep work, maybe some fund-raisers to do prep (and meet with the Israeli PM!), etc....

Taking a few hours off work, OK: taking a few hours off several months of non-work, not OK.

Obama was decimated at the first debate. The national media has been trying to spin it, but even Chris Matthews knew Obama had lost right after the debate.

IRA has it right -- Obama expected this cold, aloof, detached, dogmatic person to show up. When a friendly, intelligent, thinking person showed up he couldn't handle it.

Jim's right. It'll be interesting to see how he does at the next debate.

He was never a great debater, though. Even against Clinton.

He was never a great debater
He's an ignorant, ass backwards marxist with racist, or at least race baiting tendencies.