Romney 2.0 {1}-Obama {0}. Conventional wisdom tells us that the first debate yielded that score. A fairly decisive victory for Governor Romney. We know that this Thursday there will be an undercard battle between Vice-President Biden and Representative Ryan and then there will be two more main events between President Obama and Governor Romney. In between, there will be a constant war of words, in political advertising, political rallies, surrogate speeches, newspaper accounts, talking head opinions, etc. But the one thing that we won't get; the one thing this nation is really looking for; the one thing that might seal the deal for one side or the other, is the necessary debate between Mitt Romney 1.0 and Mitt Romney 2.0. How important is this debate? It may be the single instance that the American people can see the starkest difference in positions available in this campaign. Unfortunately, it is in one candidate, but the American people really do require some answers.

So picture yourselves at home, watching two Mitt Romneys on the television screen. They are each asked the same question and given an opportunity to answer it in either their liberal or conservative voice. How do you think the Mitts would explain.

Question 1:    Why did you support a woman's right to choose, but now you don't?

Question 2:    Why did you support gay marriage and a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and now you are in favor of neither one?

Question 3:    Why did you support a health care insurance mandate when you were governor but now you don't support the same kind of mandate in the Affordable Care Act, fashioned after your own health care law in Massachusetts?

Question 4:    Why did you support an immigration policy that provided a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, but now you say that there should "be no special pathway to citizenship"?

Question 5:    Why did you once believe in global waming and now you don't?

Question 6:    Why did you demand ten years of tax returns when vetting your vice-presidential candidate yet continue to refuse to reveal ten years of your own tax returns to the American people, your potential employers.

Question 7:   Why are you calling for being economically tough on China while you continue to have current investments and business interests in that country?

Question 8:    How can you publically condemn 47% of the population for having an entitlement mentality and indicate that you were completely wrong?

Question 9:    Why did you argue against the support of Ronald Reagan before you proclaimed him to be one of your heroes?

Question 10:  Why were you a supporter of an assault rifle ban and the Brady Gun Control Law before you were against both of them?

Question 11:  Why did you support public financing of elections before you decided that McCain-Feingold was an attack on free speech?

Now, before you believe that this is a totally partisan attack on Governor Romney, republican politicians and groups have had the same opinion as they have seen the man campaign over the years. Some examples.

From Rudy Giuliani:

This is a man without a core, a man without substance, a man who would say anything to become president of the United States.

Jon Huntsman had this to say:

You can't be a perfectly lubricated weather vane on the important issues of the day, whether its Libya, whether its the debt ceiling. Governor Romney has been Missing in Action in terms of showing any leadership.

And from the inimitable Rick Perry:

Americans are tired of politicians who change their beliefs to match public opinion polls. Mr. Romney needs to realize that when you try to stand on both sides of an issue you stand for nothing.

Even Michele Bachmann got into the fray:

Voters want to know what's the truth. They're not interested in a chameleon.

This recognition has gone beyond individual republican politicians. Even the highly conservative Club for Growth has said:

The big problem many conservatives have with Mitt Romney is that he has taken both sides of nearly every issue important to us.

Romney's strategy may turn out to be brilliant. If he can convince the conservative republican in Mississippi that he shares their viewpoints on issues like abortion and other social issues and then give a speech in the suburbs of Philadelphia and have the liberal Romney show up telling that group that he will govern as a social liberal, maybe there will be enough of the electorate, left, right, and center who will be willing to take a bite of the poisoned apple. I for one, however, want to keep trying to keep Mr. Romney's nose to the grindstone and force him to debate himself. There's only one answer to the question "are you with me or against me?" and people should know that answer before they cast their votes.