The Chess Master

Lately I have come to see Mr. Obama as the Chess Master.  Carefully moving the hearts and minds of the people through silent manipulation of those who seek to take his king.  He moves his queen to his advantage as the power of his family takes the stage away from posers and fools who thought they had him cornered.  He wins the battle of the Political Conventions with two strong knights and the support of his intelligent and faithful bishop.   And all the time working with an army of pawns in every state in the Union, he removes any hint of opposition in the field of political battle.

Last night we might just have watched the most masterful move of all.  Rachael Maddow had a segment tonight where she described the six times in our history of televised debates where the incumbent President faced his challenger.  And in 5 of the 6 times, the incumbent was perceived if not proclaimed to have lost the first debate to his challenger.  The only incumbent in all those debates who was proclaimed the winner was President Clinton.  Now, the incumbent didn't necessarily lose the election, just the first debate.  Five times out of six, the challenger, like Mitt Romney, left the sitting President in his dust.  And I'm sure there was great rejoicing by the Romney team last night and today, but I'm wondering about the Chess Master.

Everyone who has commented on the debate has said how unlike himself was the President's performance--how slow and seemly reluctant to speak or challenge Mr. Romney.  He didn't look at Romney much, he didn't look at the camera much and he seemed to be thinking more than responding.  He was certainly not the man I have known for all these years and I could hear the disappointment in the voices of many who spoke of his failure to debate and his "obvious" loss to Mr. Romney.  But what if this was just another move by the Chess Master:  who knew how Romney would feel, thinking he had won, who knew that many would see weakness and charge in to challenge him as they approached the other debates?  What if the Chess Master was not himself on purpose?  What if the Chess Master wanted to be perceived as weak and unprepared so that Romney and his team would slack off as the other two debates approached.  I think his actions last night were deliberate.  History has shown that the first debate between an incumbent and a challenger has always (except once) gone to the challenger.  The only way for that to happen, as I see it, would be if Mr. Obama was making a chess move that would signify his win of the game in the end.  I think many people have underestimated Mr. Obama, and have lost the battle because they saw what he wanted them to see and not what was really happening.  Mark my words.  The Chess Master is only a few moves from Checkmate.   And when the game is over, I believe he will be victorious!  I wouldn't play chess with him and I don't think many people could and win the game.

Are you with me?