Some on the right of U.S. politics were hoping for a massive and embarrassing meltdown on the part of Joe Gaffemister Biden. Perhaps they didn't get it but they did get a grin. Here's what some of the media had to say on this thing called Twitter (Politico via Drudge):
TIME’s Michael Scherer: “Not sure debate cameras have been light tested for Biden’s teeth. Best to watch with sunglasses.”
Washington Examiner’s Philip Klein: “Biden’s strategy seems to be to laugh at Ryan constantly. Will it work to infantalize Ryan, or backfire like Gore sighing?”
NBC’s David Gregory: “Biden’s smile is out of control.”
ABC’s Rick Klein: “Biden on verge of breaking down in laughter when Ryan talks.”
Former Eric Cantor staffer Brad Dayspring: “Joe Biden needs to realize this isn’t a Senate Foreign Relations Hearing. His laughter and condescending attitude is a disaster.”
Radio host Neal Boortz: “Looking like Biden’s gameplan is to laugh his way through this.”
Townhall.com’s Guy Benson: “Will Biden laugh his ass off at the terrible economy, too?”
 |
| I'm not biased! Obama went to my wedding! |
MSNBC’s S.E. Cupp: “Biden needs to laugh a little less through the Libya, Middle East, nuclear Iran segment.”
Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “Ok. I have decided. I find the Biden smile slightly unsettling.”
PBS’ Jeff Greenfield: “Biden has always had a smile that at times is really, really inappropriate.”
For what it's worth, I thought Ryan came over pretty well. Young, positive, earnest. He didn't grin, grimace, interrupt and smirk his way through his elder rival's statements. Bidenrude did.
Now. Whether either party is going to reverse our consumerist death-slide is another matter again, but it does seem that one group won't preside over the downfall with a grinning smirk.
Cheers,
LSP
I sat through that agonizing performance with slack-jawed astonishment. I have never seen an "adult" so-called statesman behave like Biden did this evening.
ReplyDeleteAnd Martha? At one point both Martha and Biden were interrupting Ryan at the same time.
Good grief!
Remarkable grin smirk performance by Biden.
ReplyDeleteThe Martha & Joe show was particularly interesting. Her mask came right off at that point. Not that it was ever really on.
If this was an election breaker, which it surely (?) wasn't, the Dems just lost.
Polls agree.
OMGosh! That was a mask? I thought it was just really bad plastic surgery. I feel better now. heh
ReplyDeleteJoe played to his audience - slack jawed knuckle draggers. I've just returned from dropping zingers over at Huff and Puff. It was fun. They thought Biden was "presidential" and can't wait for 2016. What in hell are those people smoking.
Oh wait - I forgot to tell you about one on my Catholic blogger buddies. He was really confused about Biden's "de fide" comment. He thought B said "defeater doctrine" or some such thing. I had to explain what de fide meant. Nicely, of course. He's a good man who probably never had Latin.
Ryan should have asked Biden if he was referring to de fide divina, de fide definita, or de fide ecclesiastica. That would have slowed him down.
Have a nice weekend, LSP
I also think Ryan did quite well. Definitely more statesmanlike than Biden.
ReplyDeleteAs for Palooka Joe and his smirking histrionics? All that was missing was the straightjacket.
Adrienne, viz. de fide -- Biden has a nerve...
ReplyDeleteBiden was certainly coming on weird and unsettled, Silverfiddle, and i don't think that did him any favors.
ReplyDeleteThe winner? With the Veep's strange behaviour I'd say Ryan had a bit of an edge. That'd make CNN fairly accurate. But let's see how it develops.
Absolutely embarrassing. Imagine, he is one heartbeat away from the Presidency.
ReplyDeleteI felt that Biden came over as weird and unsettling, CL.
ReplyDeleteThe medical theory is that the tighter Biden's hair plugs, the more his face is forced into an unnaturally wide smile.
ReplyDeleteI think there's truth in that, Infidel, though I've always been tempted by the religious view. Viz. Good old fashioned possession by an evil spirit.
ReplyDelete