Who Won the Vice Presidential Debate?
Did Joe Biden and Paul Ryan impress you or were they full of malarkey?
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Talk about a debate. Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan came out swinging and never backed down during the Oct. 11 vice presidential debate.
In contrast to the much more staid presidential debate, Biden and Ryan went toe-to-toe in Danville, KY, in a debate split between domestic and foreign issues. The men interrupted each other frequently, sometimes raising their voices — and in Biden’s case, throwing up his hands.
Biden and Ryan challenged each other at almost every turn, accusing the other of misrepresenting facts, budget calculations, past records and pretty much anything else they could disagree about. (Fact-checkers, of course, are already parsing the statements.) While moderator Martha Raddatz, ABC News chief foreign correspondent, exercised more control in keeping the candidates on point, she allowed them to debate directly with each other as well.
Big Bird stayed out of the conversation this time, but the infamous "47 percent" came up, unlike in the presidential debate. Also addressed were the terrorist attacks in Libya, Syria, job creation, pulling out of Afghanistan and even how the candidates' Catholicism affects their position on abortion rights.
While Obama and Romney were allowed to talk at length—drone on, some said—Biden and Ryan lobbed one-liners at each other with aplomb.
“Mr. Vice President, I know you're under a lot of duress to make up for lost ground …” Ryan said to Biden at one point, referencing President Obama’s poorly received debate performance.
Meanwhile, Biden busted out “malarkey”—twice—and at one time retorted to Ryan, “Oh, now you’re Jack Kennedy.”
What did you think of the debate? Was it a good mix of issues? Did you get the information you wanted from Biden and Ryan?
Tell us, Patch readers: No matter who you support, who turned in the better performance in the vice presidential debate?
Max
4:20 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
"No matter who you support, who turned in the better performance in the vice presidential debate?"should be "No matter whom you support, who turned in the better performance in the vice presidential debate?"
Max
4:21 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Who won? As long as the Commission on Presidential Debates restricts its sponsored events to only Republicans and Democrats, the American people, and indeed peoples of the world, are the losers.
This limited range of political opinion and the paltry political options available to Americans significantly damages what passes for democracy in this country.
AStar Gazer
5:14 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
These 'debates' are a farce, being more about body language, than substance. All we heard were lies, lies and more lies, from both candidates. Seems both parties know that the voter's are just plain stupid, expect for the fact all believe if the candidates lips are moving, they are lying. Sad.
Marion Knott
11:51 am on Saturday, October 13, 2012
I think Joe Biden won since he had to make up for the lacklustre performance of the President. Most of all he had Paul Ryan spell out just what he and Romney's beliefs are when Romney has been shying away from it. That is a win in itself.
jeff goldstein
8:25 pm on Saturday, October 13, 2012
Ryan won. He was well informed and calm. Bidden, on the other hand, laughed inappropriately and generally acted out of control. It is clear that Bidden lied about many subjects. The most obvious lies were the ones relating to the murder of the ambassador to Libya. According to sworn testimony by the State Department to Congress, the State Department know real time that his murder was a planned terrorist attack and that previously multiple requests for additional security were received. Bidden lied about all of that. It is scary that someone as undisciplined, and unscrupulous as Bidden is the VP
Max
11:03 am on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Vote the issues! Before you choose your candidate, before you vote, join over four million voters and take the quiz at http://www.isidewith.com. It doesn't take sides, but only asks your opinion on a range of important issues, then shows how your views compare to those of the Presidential candidates. You may be surprised.
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation whatsoever with isidewith.com. I just hope to one day see governments of, by, and for the people in the United States.
Keith Best
2:22 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
If rudeness, boorishness, condecension and childish behavior were the criteria, then Biden won.
That was no way for a sitting VP to act. Biden is a buffoon.
AStar Gazer
3:34 pm on Sunday, October 14, 2012
Max, vote the issues? Really. How would one do that when all the candidates stands on the issues are untruthful and dishonest? Seems all politics today is liar, liar, liar. Sad.