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Subscribe to RSSBiden, the aggressor … His performance was therapeutic for base Democrats, but Ryan held his own. … It was Scranton Joe vs. Think Tank Ryan, heart vs. head … Both Biden and Ryan accomplished their goals … But Biden struggled on Libya … Ryan struggled on stimulus, abortion … The ball moves to Obama. His challenge – searching for Goldilocks, not too hot, not too cold. … Biden-Ryan didn’t come to blows but Berman-Sherman almost did …and things get nasty in Arizona.
With more than 40 million Tweets sent during vice presidential debate, TODAY takes a look at how viewers – and celebrities – are responding to Joe Biden's body language across the Twitterverse.
DANVILLE, Ky. -- If there was something both sides agreed on last night, it was this: Joe Biden was aggressive at last night’s vice-presidential debate. Now, Republicans thought he was too aggressive (with his interruptions, laughs, and facial expressions), and Democrats thought he was just right. After last week’s presidential debate, Biden threw the kitchen sink at both Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney -- on issues that President Obama didn't touch in Denver. He brought up Mitt Romney’s “47%” comment. “It [Romney’s opposition to the auto bailout] shouldn’t be surprising for a guy who says 47% of the American people are unwilling to take responsibility for their own lives.”
He brought up Osama bin Laden, resurrecting Romney’s 2007 line that he “wouldn’t move heaven and earth to get bin Laden." And Biden tried to score points on the issue of abortion. “I guess he accepts Gov. Romney's position now, because in the past he has argued that there was … rape and forcible rape.” More than anything, Biden's performance was therapeutic for base Democrats after Obama's dud in Denver.
Alex Wong / Getty Images
DANVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 11: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the vice presidential debate at Centre College October 11, 2012 in Danville, Kentucky. This is the second of four debates during the presidential election season and the only debate between the vice presidential candidates before the closely-contested election November 6. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
*** Scranton Joe vs. Think Tank Ryan: So who won? If you judge a debate on who took the fight to his opponent, who best defended his top of the ticket, and who best attacked the other side, you’d have to say it was Biden. (Indeed, by our count, Biden said “Romney” 26 times, while Ryan said “Obama” or “the president” 14 times.) If you judge a debate purely on style points, Biden might get penalized. And if you judge a debate by who best plays it safe -- especially on issue terrain that’s not your comfort zone -- then Paul Ryan scored well.
Related: Biden plays aggressor in debate as Ryan argues GOP case
That’s probably why the two insta-polls after the debate seemed to indicate a split decision. CBS’s poll of “undecideds” gave it to Biden. CNN’s poll of ALL voters went to Ryan. Both men had two different strategies: Biden was there to energize his side after last week and draw a clear contrast with his opposition, especially on issues like abortion and foreign policy. Ryan, meanwhile, was there to look competent, pass the presidential threshold test and do no harm as we head into next week’s second presidential debate.
Related: Ryan wades deep into lengthy Afghanistan argument
They both accomplished their goals but did it with two very different styles: It was Scranton Joe vs. Think Tank Ryan. Heart vs. head. And as political commentator Matthew Dowd, who worked for the Bush campaign but for Democrats before that put it on Twitter: “Heart wins.”
A glimpse over the years at U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del.
*** Fine lines: Biden needed to walk a fine line between gravitas and condescension. At times, he accomplished that; at times, he didn't. He did, however, appear more knowledgeable with one GIANT exception – Libya. When he said, stunningly, that the administration was unaware of security requests, it may have been the most significant news of the night (more on that below). Ryan needed to look presidential, and you could say he accomplished that, but he also sometimes seemed overmatched by the more aggressive Biden on foreign policy and even on SOME fiscal issues, like the stimulus. Ryan struggled to explain his letter requesting stimulus money despite criticizing the program. In all, Biden did what he needed to do – re-energize the base after the president's lackluster performance a week ago and stop the handwringing and fretting. He did that. Now, the ball moves back to the president, with a different style than Biden that has more appeal to independents and undecideds. Ryan’s job was not to blow the lead for Romney, become an unexpected problem. And he did that. Now it’s up to Romney to see if he can win two debates in a row, something he needs to do if he’s going to not just draw EVEN with the presidential in the battlegrounds, but surpass him.
*** Ryan struggled on abortion: Where Ryan struggled the most, interestingly, was on abortion. And don’t be surprised if we see Obama pick up the same attack. When moderator Martha Raddatz asked if a Romney-Ryan ticket should worry those who want abortion to remain legal, Ryan replied, “We don't think that unelected judges should make this decision; that people through their elected representatives in reaching a consensus in society through the democratic process should make this determination.” Biden pounced, “The next president will get one or two Supreme Court nominees. That's how close Roe v. Wade is. Just ask yourself, with Robert Bork being the chief adviser on the court for -- for Mr. Romney, who do you think he's likely to appoint?”
Larry Downing / Reuters
See images from throughout his career in Washington, D.C.
*** Where Biden struggled was on Libya and the Benghazi attack: “We weren't told they wanted more security,” Biden said. “And by the way at the time, we said exactly what the intelligence community told us that they knew, that was the assessment." But as NBC’s Andrea Mitchell has pointed out, the State Department DID know that requests for more security resources had been made -- and were turned down. In fact, a State Department official acknowledged that while testifying on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Considering the timing of this debate, yesterday’s Capitol Hill hearing and the Tuesday full tick-tock of what REALLY happened in Benghazi, it’s shocking Biden didn’t have a better answer than what he said. His strategy for the debate was, give the minimum answer and move to Iraq and Afghanistan. Not sure that can work for the president.
*** Looking ahead to next week – in search of Goldilocks: The pressure is still on Obama in next week's town hall-style debate in New York. But make no mistake: Biden -- by turning his volume to 11 last night -- takes some of that pressure off the president. If you've followed Obama over the past six years, you know it's not his style to be overly aggressive. Well, Biden last night both gave Obama a roadmap for how to attack Romney-Ryan (on abortion, tax fairness, foreign policy), and he gave him room to do it in the way he feels most comfortable. The question is: Can he deliver? And can Romney deliver another solid performance? Obama is looking for a Goldilocks' performance. Obama in Denver was too cold, Biden in Danville might have been too hot, and Obama, the sequel, has to figure out how to be just the right combination of assertive without being condescending. On to Hofstra!
*** Berman vs. Sherman (literally, folks!): A lot of boxing metaphors are thrown around before and after debates. No one expects there to be a REAL fight. Of last night’s Biden-Ryan showdown, at least you can say they respected one another – enough not to come to blows, anyway. The same CAN”T be said of a debate last night between two DEMOCRATIC congressman. The L.A. Times: “The bitter race for a San Fernando Valley congressional district took a bizarre turn Thursday when Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Valley Village) and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) got into a near-altercation during a forum at Pierce College. Video of the event in Woodland Hills shows the candidates exchanging words and Sherman at one point putting his arm around Berman, saying: ‘Do you want to get into this?’ A uniformed officer then came onto the stage and appeared to ask that they move away from each other.” Sherman, by the way, who initiated the touching has apologized.
*** Raising Arizona: And speaking of nasty, don't miss what's happening down in the open Arizona Senate race. Rep. Jeff Flake (R) went up with an ad featuring Richard Carmona’s (D) former boss, who says Carmona angrily pounded on her door in the middle of the night, and it was Carmona. “Carmona’s not who he seems,” she says looking directly to camera. “He has issues with anger, with ethics, and with women. … Richard Carmona should never, ever be in the U.S. Senate.” Carmona responded with an ad of his own, showing pictures of his family, a former female co-worker from his SWAT team, him talking to children, and the famous picture of him rappelling from a helicopter to save a man. “When I see a career politician like Jeff Flake attacking Rich Carmona, who has spent his life helping others, it’s despicable,” the co-worker says. “Congressman Flake should be ashamed.”
*** On the trail: Fresh off of his debate performance, Ryan heads to Ohio where he’ll hit a rally with Romney in Lancaster at 5:40 pm ET… Before that, Romney campaigns in Richmond, VA at 12:10 pm ET… Meanwhile, Joe and Jill Biden stump in La Crosse, WI at 2:00 pm ET.
Countdown to 2nd presidential debate: 4 days
Countdown to 3rd presidential debate: 10 days
Countdown to Election Day: 25 days
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Joe grabbed little Ryan by the ear and took him to the woodshed...Very pleased that Joe stood up to all the Republican "Malarkey" Obama better do the same next week or I may stay home Nov 6
three points: i am not concerned about Romney's money or where it's deposited- I am very concerned about a President that leans into a Russian official's ear and whispers that the election is upon him and after that matter,he'll have more "wiggle' room in which to negotiate with the Russians. I am disturbed and disappointed that Biden would whisper profanities in his boss's ear on stage and in an open-mike complimenting him on a railroaded,misguided and misunderstood "deal". And thirdly, as I read the dialogue in these remarks, I am not favorably impressed by the Biden-supporters excessive profanity and vulgarity-it does not equate to passion or conviction-it just re-enforces the fact that too many folks substitute crudity for substantitive opinion.
How about this , the fact is there are none.
Hey Ryan, if you can't run with the big dogs, then stay on the porch.
Now that I have gotten a good look at Biden, I will for sure now vote for Romney. Biden came off as crude, arrogant, disrespectful, sleazy, slimey, loudmouth, and just an all around Unlikeable person. Why Obama chose this guy for Vice president is beyond me. But he won't be in office after the election so I guess that's some comfort.
My opinion of the debate….
From a political stand point, neither one of them won the debate; both were caught in lies, as politicians that was to be expected.
From a debater stand point, Biden showed more experience at it than Ryan did; Biden has done this far longer than Ryan has, and did win the debate there.
From the stand point of who they are (the VP, and a senator) and what they represent, Biden was rude, crude, and obnoxious, as for his smiling, and smirking, that told me he had no real response to what Ryan was saying.
Had Biden kept his mouth shut while Ryan was speaking, I would have had a great deal more respect for him, even the moderator called him down twice about it.
This debate was to be over the policies of each side, and while both of them lied, Biden was the one who showed no class or respect for his rival, Biden also played to the camera a lot, making his response seem more like a campaign speech that a debate.
The one thing that did piss me off was Biden saying they did not know there was a request for additional security forces in Benghazi, that was an out and out lie, they knew, and then he tried to blame the republicans for it.
Obama is so good at EO passing, why did he not do the same for security at our embassy, according to his own EO on the subject of security, he had that right, I know all politicians lie, but that one stuck in my craw.
Glad i didnt waste my time viewing this circus. Ive got to wonder how these moderators continue to lose control of their debates?
On a more humurous side, I wonder what the headlines would have been today had Romney or Ryan taken the same tack as VP Biden? I can guarantee it would be decidedly negative.
Bidden acted like an ass and couldn't control his laughing.
Ryan pointed out that Biden failed at getting the resolution with Russia and with the Budget. It also needs to be pointed out that Biden made it sound like he was against the wars, when indeed he voted for them.
If you wanted Biden to "win" regardless of his childish attitude, his sustenance, and his record, then it didn't matter that he showed up with a pacifier in his mouth.
Its not amazing the adult in the room was Ryan, if Biden was a adult they would have gotten the country in better shape by now..
I was hoping for a debate, instead I witnessed smirking, giggling, interrupting and whining by Biden. His first answer was a clear lie when he blamed "intelligence" for his cover up and said he didn't know our embassy asked for help.
After that, I did not believe another word out of his mouth.
You can call them liars but then can you prove it. Substance would have been proving the lies not just repeating them. Fact Check ! Do they ever check the facts and connect the dots or are we always left guessing as a rule ?
If you can't take the heat get out of the Kitchen! Biden did not let Ryan steal his Thunder. If Obama would have done the same (Which He Will ) in the next debate, the talking points would be that the DEMS are through taking the Republicans bull@!$%# and are going to fight to keep the offices they hold and the direction they are headed is ahead steady.
Quit your freakin cryin and whinin and get the @!$%# out of the way!
Obama Biden 2012
My wife and I watched the debate last night.Now I'll give you she's not the brightest star in the sky ,shame on me , but her coment about half-way through was "Isn't he talking in circles" refuring to Mr.Ryan. I couldn't have said it better.
Go Pres. Obama
Hey Romney/Ryan ticket remember this: We don't have to cheat you to beat you...you do the math...oops...sorry you forgot how to do that.
You can learn something from the truth...look it up. Obama 12. Go Biden.
Biden's Convenient Memory Loss - Trust???
Wake the @#$ UP!
If Romney wins, Senior's will lose. No insurance company will write a policy for the old and sick. They will be left holding their meaningless Voucher in their frail little hands. If you don't like the term voucher, call it a Golden Ticket. Doesn't matter, they won't be able to use it.
I guess if the american people want Ronald McDonald for vice president again ... they pick Binary Biden. If we want a class act we pick Righteous Ryan. There is no comparison. By the way, has anyone seen our ambassador to Lybia and the three other young heroes lately?
Pamela,
Then they stay with traditional medicare - it's an either / or not just a voucher. If you take the time to actually listen / hear what is said by both sides and do your homework checking facts, you will be a better informed voter instead of one who "swallows" what the media puts out without question.
Yinna
Well then, why introduce the voucher at all?
I think we all know that traditional medicare will be phased out, and maybe sooner than we think.
Smiling Joe.
All Biden did was laugh and interrupt. Apparently to the liberal media this is being aggressive.
Now had a republican candidate committed these same missteps, it would have been considered a disgrace, disrespectful and an outright show of condensation. You know, as opposed to "walking the line."
Ive said it before and I'll say it again, Kill Romney for flip flopping. He has been known to do it just as any other politican. But the CURRENT Administration cant get their facts straight on Lybia, which was decidedly a terrorist attack and everyone knew this yet the administration continues to waffle on the situation. While Mr. Obama's team was admitting it was a terrorist attack, he was blaming it on a youtube video. While Congress was holding hearings on security, Biden was saying they never got a request. If im the family of the Americans lost, thats an utter slap in the face. But go ahead, vote for a man who tripled the national debt in four years after voting him in based on the predecessor's building of the national debt.
Fact is socialism is socialism and they both get the title of CZAR from me...Univ. health is nothing more than a socialist farce.
Biden had the perfect performance for radio.
O' 'Joe round up with a change up and snot nose Eddie swung and missed big time. Biden wins and lyin' Ryan is heading for the showers.
FACT CHECK is reporting this morning that the "biggest blunder" in the debate was Biden's statements in regards to the murders of our Ambassador and citizens in Libya terrorist attack.
Joe admitted the administration's incompetence and threw intelligence "under the bus"
Confidence in Incompetence leads to you and me and our families being at risk
Biden pulled a Harry Truman on Ryan and gave him hell, do not agree with some of Obama's policies, but rather have him as pres than Romeny. Romney really has not come forth with details of his tax policies, etc. Well if Romney wins, expect the middle class to take a tax hit, so the wealthy get more tax breaks, the debt will go up to pay for it, not to mention the defense dept will get more bucks, that some in the defense do not want. We can save money in defense by closing some of those overeas bases, why do we still have troops in europe. Bring them home to protect or borders
thats a good question. and the answer is our international obligations to keep the world safe. Unfrotunately, while i agree that we should pack it up and head home, the reality is that people hate us when we are there and call us selfish when we are not.
The only thing that Ryan was "left holding" was Willads dick. I wonder if he had to reach in Willards "magic underwear" to find it?
Funny I didn't hear The LGBT subject mentioned. Sounds as though you are disappointed
I'm as happy as a clam with Biden's thumping of Lyin Ryan. Now go make some more whine with your sour grapes!
The only thing Biden "thumped" was his own chest.
Ryan handled Biden's condescending arrogance with grace and poise. In fact, Biden should be thanked for allowing Ryan to put to bed any doubts about his ability to handle sitting in the spotlight!
Willie, The topic was Phallic envy. Care to elaborate
Joe was big on theatrics short on substance. Loud ,Rude and disruptive.
But you remember him, what he said, how he counter punched, and his challenging of indefensible policy proposals by Ryan. Mr. Ryan was well rehearsed but that became apparent early on with his automaton approach to every issue. Biden's "style" just seemed more genuine and spontaneous while Ryan appeared scripted on every topic. However one may "score" the performance, Biden is the one being spoken of this morning with very little challenge for his commentary.
I want someone in the white house that can get business going again not a career politician like Obama but a businesman like Romney. The only thing Obama knows how to do is tax the people that are still working and give the money to the ones with there hands out. The only job he can create is more government jobs that do not produce more revenue.
Want to live in Pottersville..............just vote republican.