The Official Vice-Presidential Debate Thread

[Abraxas]

Wow, what a waste. Both ducked questions which hurt them and instead with "Oh yeah? What about THAT."

What is disappointing is that there will be people who think one or the other was spot on and deserves to be elected.

I see two clowns who left their big shoes and makeup home.

Granted, but at the same time the entire idea of elections being decided on verbal combative skills, and lets be honest, that is all this is, is ridiculous to begin with. Who would say that the capacity for public speaking should be one of the prevailing criteria for the selection of who should run a country? You aren't going to get policy details you can't find elsewhere or get in depth discussion of the issues in a debate like this.

This is theater, this is entertainment, this is the cheap joy of watching the other side take a couple body blows in the kidneys. I hope you'll agree that it is a sad commentary on the voting public that the polls move so much with debates to begin with.

 

[TraumaRN]

goddamit yes it does

I'd go into the medical facts that life does NOT begin at inception but rather once the fertilized egg successfully implants in the uterine lining(endometrium) of a woman.

I'd explain it but feel like the facts would be lost on a few people.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I thought this was a good debate no matter what side you are on but those in the middle that haven't been following the election, the issues, and the facts, are probably clueless as to what they saw. It had too many facts for your average voter in my opinion.

I thought the opposite. There was a lot of irrelevant bullshit and finger pointing, but little of substance. It was like an internet forum where people pull out isolated facts which mean nothing without context.

Painfully transparent and insipid.

 

[Zorkorist]

When people start blaming the moderator, you lost the debate. Ryan got schooled.

LOL, you're kidding? There was a time there when Biden leaned over to his right, dreamy, while the moderator brought the fight to Ryan.

Absolutely a liberal, Moderator.

-John

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Granted, but at the same time the entire idea of elections being decided on verbal combative skills, and lets be honest, that is all this is, is ridiculous to begin with. Who would say that the capacity for public speaking should be one of the prevailing criteria for the selection of who should run a country? You aren't going to get policy details you can't find elsewhere or get in depth discussion of the issues in a debate like this.

This is theater, this is entertainment, this is the cheap joy of watching the other side take a couple body blows in the kidneys. I hope you'll agree that it is a sad commentary on the voting public that the polls move so much with debates to begin with.

I think you have said much which is true. Speaking skills are important with leadership, but if the ability to lead and understand are lacking it works against the people, but in the context we are dealing with? I'm entirely in agreement.

 

[Jhhnn]

And the Moderator seemed very aggressive towards Ryan at times. Granted, he seemed to deserve it more, but it doesn't come across as very even-handed.

Heh. You hit the nail on the head- he deserved it spouting canned pablum, refusing to be specific about anything at all.

R&R will make the Rich pay more, his own words, by cutting their taxes & cutting their benefits, as if families averaging $8M/ yr won't do even better w/ more tax cuts while losing what are to them pissant benefits they don't need. That's the Repub version of sacrifice by the uber wealthy. Put big money in one pocket, lose small change out of the other.

Thanks, Joe. Well done.

 

[Zorkorist]

I thought the opposite. There was a lot of irrelevant bullshit and finger pointing, but little of substance. It was like an internet forum where people pull out isolated facts which mean nothing without context.

Painfully transparent and insipid.

Obviously, you aren't listening.

-John

 

[jackstar7]

I thought the opposite. There was a lot of irrelevant bullshit and finger pointing, but little of substance. It was like an internet forum where people pull out isolated facts which mean nothing without context.

Painfully transparent and insipid.

You only watched the last third...

 

[HomerJS]

Something I wished Biden had said when he mentioned Ryan was part of a bill that attempted to redefine rape...

"How dare you make it more difficult for women who have to report being a victum of this awful crime"

 

[ivwshane]

Lol, and the republican spin begins.

"The moderator sucked!"

"Biden was rude!"

"The debate was a tie."


Oh righties!...

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

I like the whining about Biden acting like a dick. Like that has ever hurt a Republican candidate. Biden won this by going all alpha-male over his opponent, just like Romney.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Even after this debate, I've yet to figure out how Romney/Ryan are going to:

- Repeal Obamacare (but keep all the popular parts that incur the most expenses)
- Not let any of the pending Military cuts happen
- Increase military spending (larger Navy, new subs, etc)
- Increase Medicare funding
- Not touch Social Security
- Cut taxes by 20% across the board

For such a "numbers guy," Ryan didn't really explain how any of that adds up.

 

[mrCide]

Single issue, "abortion" or "gay rights" democrats, will at some point realize there are greater issues, than whether Government should pay for abortions, or Government should treat Gay couples the same as married couples.

-John

Human civil rights aren't important to you, because they're for women and gays. Got it.

 

[Zorkorist]

That Ryan held his own, against an obviously top-shelf, Biden, is telling.

Ryan's ideas, and conviction, speak volumes, against Biden's charisma, and politico.

-John

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Even after this debate, I've yet to figure out how Romney/Ryan are going to:

- Repeal Obamacare (but keep all the popular parts that incur the most expenses)
- Not let any of the pending Military cuts happen
- Increase military spending (larger Navy, new subs, etc)
- Increase Medicare funding
- Not touch Social Security
- Cut taxes by 20% across the board

For such a "numbers guy," Ryan didn't really explain how any of that adds up.

I posted his answer for this earlier in another thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=34084451&postcount=124

 

[Zorkorist]

Human civil rights aren't important to you, because they're for women and gays. Got it.

Civil rights. I guess by that you mean more Government? Because at one point in time, the act of free speech was a civil right.

But today, you are saying tht Government should give you money for your abortion, or tax breaks and othe rights to gay people.

Those aren't civil rights I have heard of. Theay are Governmental, or Socialized rights.

-John

 

[disappoint]

Ryan: "I don't see how you can seperate your public and private life"

Those right wing firebrands in congress do it all the time

Isn't there one that just forced his ex-mistress to get an abortion?

New drinking game: Everytime a Republican says or does something hypocritical you have tss sake a srink.

Asssoo I fee a bi wiea waasss happeaniii uhhhh I feesick any ess see rroo spinnnniinnnnnnnnrrooooooooooooundddnnnnnnnroooouuunnnndAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

[Brainonska511]

That Ryan held his own, against an obviously top-shelf, Biden, is telling.

Ryan's ideas, and conviction, speak volumes, against Biden's charisma, and politico.

-John

What dimension were you watching the debate in?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

You only watched the last third...

That is true. If that's the case why did both candidates shift to inane mode? Ryan went idiot on funding specifics and Biden decided to ignore the moderators points and blame it on the Afghanis yet not say how staying justifies more lost lives. She wasn't talking 2014 but he responded like she implied staying indefinitely.

I feel another poll coming on.

 

[yllus]

Even after this debate, I've yet to figure out how Romney/Ryan are going to:

- Repeal Obamacare (but keep all the popular parts that incur the most expenses)
- Not let any of the pending Military cuts happen
- Increase military spending (larger Navy, new subs, etc)
- Increase Medicare funding
- Not touch Social Security
- Cut taxes by 20% across the board

For such a "numbers guy," Ryan didn't really explain how any of that adds up.

I feel bad for Romney in that if he ran as a Democrat he'd be a far better candidate. He is a centrist, he has worked with the other side, he knows business. But because he's a Republican in 2012, he's chained to a party that demands he pray to an altar of complete bullshit fiscal policy. He knows the numbers don't add up, so he has to evade.

 

[openwheel]

Biden won. No question about that.

 

[Zorkorist]

What dimension were you watching the debate in?

Right here, Rainbow. (Right Here) (right here)

-John

 

[SheHateMe]

Biden won. No question about that.

I need a looping soundclip of Biden's laugh. That was great.

 

[Zorkorist]

Biden won. No question about that.

Naw , I was impressed by Ryan.

He took everything Biden had to sling, and yet got out the Romney/Ryan message.

-John

 

[lotus503]

Naw , I was impressed by Ryan.

He took everything Biden had to sling, and yet got out the Romney/Ryan message.

-John

You also had drunken diarrhea of the mouth a week or so ago, your judgement is by no means sound.