The extraordinary Joe did brilliantly, in my opinion, saying many of the things that Obama never managed to get in during the first debate. The death panel myth, the lies of the Republicans, Palin, how much people in MA hate Romney as a result of that Governorship he likes to bring up so much, Romney’s “I don’t care about the 47%” comment. Biden laughed at Ryan’s silly Kennedy worship and I always enjoy to see Kennedy worship ridiculed.
Ryan was extremely rude but I’m not surprised. He kept using these “recalcitrant teenager in the midst of a fit” intonations that made him sound childish and petulant. He also moves the scalp on his head in a very creepy way. He was repeating a very weird thought that I didn’t manage to decipher about people running away from him. Seeing those scalp movements, I know why they run away. (I counted, he tried to repeat this weird line 5 times during the debate. Is that his favorite – and only – party joke, or something?) Creepy. In general, the endless bad puns Ryan loves make for horrible public speaking. “Tackle the debt before it tackles you!” Did he work as a used car salesman before running for Vice=President?
I expected Ryan to be able to say something on the taxes since his main area of expertise is supposed to be his budget plan. But his responses to Biden were impotent. Biden says “You will tax the middle class to benefit the billionaires,” and Ryan doesn’t even try to deny this assertion. His only response is “Raising taxes on billionaires will not close the deficit.” Which reminds me of bad students in my classes who try to hide their ignorance behind talking about anything but the actual question.
He did recognize, though, that his plan is all about “starting with the wealthy” in terms of tax cuts. He said that, right? At least, that was honest. I hope everybody was listening. Unless you are a billionaire, you have no logical reason to vote for the party that is not promising anything to you personally. Except bad things. In Ryan’s opinion, a small business makes over $250,000 per year. That alone said a lot about where he comes from.
Of course, Ryan’s “We are going to cut 80,000 soldiers and 20 cargo planes” shows a great contempt to soldiers. He is counting people as if they were objects.
The part on Afghanistan was a snooze. I wonder how people manage to make such a tragic topic sound so boring. It’s all I, I, I. I went, I spoke, I sat, I was in awe, my wife is somebody’s best friend. Seriously, dude, you are not the focal point of the war in Afghanistan. And wasting time during a vice-presidential debate on your wife’s best friend sounds like you have nothing of value to say. Who cares about your stupid experiences when there are people who are actually dying there right now?
From what I understood out of Ryan’s convoluted argument on Afghanistan is that the Republicans are planning to cancel the withdrawal of troops in 2014. Biden got Ryan on his willingness to send Americans to die in the most dangerous area in the world instead of letting the Afghanis figure things out on their own. Good job, Joe!
Ryan’s insistence on the “Putin threat” made no sense in the immediate aftermath of the Afghanistan discussion. Is Ryan too young to remember the Cold War and when the endless war in Afghanistan actually started?
Ryan showed himself to be a terrifying religious fanatic. I almost had a panic attack when I heard his completely insane explanation that he wants to deprive ALL women of our reproductive rights because his wife something-something. Like I give a fuck about his wife and the rest of his relatives. It is terrifying that MY rights should depend on how a person I never even met experienced her pregnancy.
Biden demonstrated that one can be a religious person and a good human being. Thank you, Biden for somewhat redeeming us, the religious folks. Biden should have hammered Ryan on the war on women. Women will win the election for Obama if his campaign finally manages to reach out to women. Obama has been stupidly trying to reach out to ultra-religious fanatical men and we all know how many chances he has with them.
The moderator was much better than the weak and mumbly guy from the first debate. She caught Ryan with her “You are anti-humanitarian?” question. What I hated is when she asked the question about how their religion influenced their views on abortion. That was absolutely ridiculous, anti-Constitutional, offensive, and wrong. It was also a little creepy when she asked “What can you do for this country as a man?” The last thing we want is to see politicians do things for this country with their penises. I can only imagine what I would have felt if during my job interview had I been asked, “So, Professor Clarissa, what will you do for this department as a woman?”
My overall impression is that Biden wiped the floor with the cocky, snooty, smirky, interrupting kid who came completely unprepared and who is incapable of engaging in a dialogue with anybody. I meet a lot of teenagers in the course of my work, and Ryan was a typical teenager. Of course, the 15-year-old-boy hairdo did not help. He is a lot more like Palin than what I even thought. Is immaturity a defining characteristic of all Tea Partiers?
Of course, Biden is very attractive where Ryan is not. He is forceful, authoritative, passionate, sensitive, emotional, and as everybody has probably understood, I have a massive crush on him.
What are your impressions?
Clarissa's Blog 
“What I hated is when she asked the question about how their religion influenced their views on abortion. That was absolutely ridiculous, anti-Constitutional, offensive, and wrong.”
She didn’t. She asked them how their religion informs their political life. Ryan dived in head-first by talking about abortion. Huge mistake. He didn’t have to go there. Now he looks like the frat-boy woman-hater that he is.
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Pretty much agree with everything else you said, though.
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Yay!!!!
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“She asked them how their religion informs their political life.”
– Still, I disagree completely with the question. They have to be able to put their personal experiences aside and do the will of the voters.
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Oh, I absolutely agree. Ryan even failed there. He pretty much said his religion and personal experiences dictate how he will govern.
I think it’s a good question to ask. Biden answered it perfectly by saying his religion doesn’t give him the right to impose his values on others. In effect, he questioned the very premise of the question. Ryan got sucked in, and turned it into an anti-abortion stump speech.
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I agree with SB–I think it was a terribly important question to ask simply BECAUSE if one of these candidates is planning to push policy that matches his religion (as Ryan seems to be), we need to know that. (I mean, hell, we already knew that. but it needs to be Out There.)
Otherwise, yes, I totally agree with you too.
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” think it was a terribly important question to ask simply BECAUSE if one of these candidates is planning to push policy that matches his religion (as Ryan seems to be), ”
– the moderator made that position sound legitimate. She made it sound like it is OK for these people to use their completely irrelevant religious beliefs to rob innocent bystanders of our rights.
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“the moderator made that position sound legitimate. She made it sound like it is OK for these people to use their completely irrelevant religious beliefs to rob innocent bystanders of our rights.”
But she also got it out in the open that one of the candidates is planning to do that and the other one isn’t. How would you have approached that issue on her place?
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A good question to ask wpould be, “Do you believe in the American constitution and its separation of church and state?”
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That would have made it much too easy to give a vague answer.
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I am just watching now. She definitely asked how their religion influenced their political views on abortion, specifically. And then asked them to speak personally about it.
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And by doing that she suggested that it is perfectly acceptable for two men’s religious views to determine if the government of a secular country invades women’s bodies.
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Or take this: “Is Clarissa’s defense of the needs of the poor really a demand for a cushy academic job for herself.” It’s a stupid lie and you know that. I don’t need to “demand a cushy academic job.” I already have one. Please respond what made you lie so egregiously. I always find that people who screech about morality are the ones who will stoop to any form of baseness whenever it suits them.
I’m very disappointed with you, Izgad. You don’t know how to defend your indefensible, convoluted and illogical positions, so you lie and invent completely nonexistent “abortion supports” and “job demands.” This is simply sad.
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Ryan shows contempt for Soldiers? Please. Every politician, when cutting troops, says the same things. As a Soldier stationed in “lovely” Fort Sill, Oklahoma, I ask you to STOP using troops (as you contend the other “side” does) as a political tool. Thank you, and GFY.
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I don’t understand a word of this comment. Are you on drugs?
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Soldiers are a political tool by task definition. Go Fuck Yourself, you dumbed-ass militaro-terrorist!
You’re not on drugs, you are brainwashed to be a criminal submitted to the capitalo-statist mob.
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Biden was very disrespectful. This is not the type of debate that lets the American people decide on issues. Biden consistently speaking during Ryans time was very irritating and should have been tamped down by the moderator. Very poor moderator. Bidens childish grinning and laughing behavior during what should be a serious debate is embarrasing on an international level.
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Biden was phenomenal. Strong, authoritative and convincing. As for “disrespectful”, who was there for him to respect? Ryan with his Edward Cullen hairdo did not command respect.
“Bidens childish grinning and laughing behavior during what should be a serious debate is embarrasing on an international level.”
– i will tell you a little secret: the entire world is vicariously embarrassed for the US where religious fanatics who believe in magic panties and hate women actually run for office. The world loves Biden. Romney, however, makes a horrible impression whenever he opens his mouth on international issues.
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Commentators agree: the seasoned politician Biden wiped the floor with the smirky teenager Ryan:
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/biden-vs-ryan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=biden-vs-ryan
Now I want to see Obama take a lesson from his older colleague, drop the overgrown school kid act, and do to Romney what Biden did to Ryan.
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Ryan’s insistence on the “Putin threat” made no sense in the immediate aftermath of the Afghanistan discussion. Is Ryan too young to remember the Cold War and when the endless war in Afghanistan actually started?
No, he was born January 29, 1970 he knows it even if the text books say nothing.
I was born November 23,1981 I know of the Cold War even if I did not live it. I have generation knowledge from my family. My history of the US ends with World War 2 that is where all history ended when I was in high school (Graduated 2000). But, I read past that to when my textbook ended that would be the Vietnam war.
It is easy to forget history when it has all been one nation from the start and protected by two oceans .
Wait until about 2045 or so when the history of World War 2 is no longer oral history and is no longer there, then the fun begins….
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That’s great but you are special. Most of my students do not even recognize the expression “Cold War” when they first come to college.
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Joe Biden performed better than Barack Obama – but the bar was on the floor for that. The snap polls of voters after the debate gave it to Ryan by a four point differential. And that is about right in my judgment, on the issues. Ryan was much better informed on domestic policy and toe to toe on foreignpolicy, where Biden should have dominated.
Clarissa criticizes Ryan hair style. But at least his hair is his own. An old man with hair plugs tells us pretty much what we need to know about vanity and lack of personal confidence.
Vice presidsential debates do not determine presidential elections. But the debate was fun to view.
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“Raising taxes on billionaires will not close the deficit.”
…but cutting PBS which is worth $180 million will.
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Good point. And this is that famed budget we have been hearing about?
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I saw the debate as being good for both the Democrats and Republicans in different ways. IF – abortion rights (e.g. more women, but some men) and the Obama income tax proposals and similar mattered to you and were appealing – e.g. most Democrats – then Biden won the debate easily. IF – “helping small business”, being “pro-life” and “trusting a business man” – types of things were important to you – e.g. most Republicans, then Ryan won the debate easily. IF – abortion rights/pro-life – is a non-issue for you, if “policy choices” – are “complicated” and similar – IF – you are NOT Democrat issue or Republican issue focused – e.g. the relatively few undecideds – (whose heads are in the sand in many ways) – then things like – “Ryan is cuter”, and “Biden interrupted Ryan too much”, “Biden’s smile was irritating” – types of things were – “The Decisive Factors” – and clearly Ryan won the debate. Personally – I was happy with Biden. I can also understand how people who are Not Scared – by the ideas of Ryan and Romney – might have seen Ryan as – “calm” and “reasonable”. This debate won’t – decide the election, however the last two debates may be very important.
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Biden is way better than Ryan. A no-brainer.
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Biden won the debate hands-down.
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Your blog makes this election way more entertaining to me that it would otherwise be. I think I will stop reading any news about American elections. 🙂 I love the part about the moving scalp of Ryan’s head. Never having seen a photograph of him, that single detail makes me conjures up an entire creepy person.
I just hope he will never be Vice president and so I can keep up my ignorance about what he actually looks like.
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I mean: I will stop reading them except on your blog, of course! You are my main source of information now! 🙂
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Oh thank you!!!! You really made my day. I always fear people will get bored with my long reports on the debates.
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Reading this comment makes me very happy.
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Me too, you’re my main source of information…in English!
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Even though you know that I like François Tremblay’s more than yours.
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It’s OK, I’m not jealous. 🙂 🙂 We both have our different purposes.
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François Tremblay’s blog, I should have said.
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I hear you, my friend. 🙂 It’s a good blog, too.
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For non-anarchists who like to learn more about Anarchism, this is the first blog to read. Au Québec, nous avons aussi la chance d’avoir celui d’ Anne Archet, qui est sublime!
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Living in Quebec is a great piece of luck in itself.
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