The more you look, the worse Biden becomes at Catallaxy Files

The more you look, the worse Biden becomes

These are a few considerations that have emerged in the quite interesting thread following my post on watching the Vice Presidential debate for the second time. First is something I wrote myself.

In my view the difference in the debate and which affected Paul Ryan is the difference between talking to an audience that knows the facts and the general public that does not. Ryan’s experience comes from discussion in the House where it is difficult to get away with untruths and misstatements for very long. The unemployment rate went down below eight percent for the first time in 43 months – hardly a worthy test of economic competence – and even then the number had the look of a fiddle as has been noted. Anyway, as the Washington Post further noted, the data also showed “the biggest increase in so-called underemployed Americans since February 2009, during the depths of the Great Recession.” Loved the “so-called” since it is a stat in the same league as the unemployment rate.

Meanwhile Iran really is moving closer to the bomb and whatever nonsense there may be about Iran being “more isolated” than ever, it will make hardly an ounce of difference since even North Korea has the bomb and no one is more isolated than they are. And if you’re not scared about that what does scare you? Romney often talks about a suitcase bomb in New York against which there would be no defence.

And the bit about tax cuts for the rich, it is necessary to understand the American system which means that to raise this rate will raise taxes on a multitude of small firms.

Ryan’s problem – a general problem for Republicans – is that they assume a higher level of knowledge and a better comprehension of the issues. The Democrats, like all the parties of the left, stick to the P.T. Barnum Principle, there’s a sucker born every minute. With population growth being what it is, we’re down to one every ten seconds and the numbers are growing.

James K also found quite a quite interesting article which is more or less summarised in its heading:

Palin To O’Reilly: ‘My Buddy Joe Biden Has A Penchant For Making Shhh—Stuff Up’

Not only is that exactly so, but these lies are also being exposed. This time even the media will be somewhat less forgiving nor will they be able to cover up as much as they may have preferred. And as the falsehoods seep out, it will do more and more damage to the Obama campaign. Most importantly, as again JamesK points out, the lies about the Libyan ambassador are major issues, not just because they are lies but because they display a level of ineptitude that really ought to be unforgivable. This is from an article by Jennifer Rubin:

Vice President Joe Biden served up the worst gaffe of any of the 2012 debates, in a moment that will harm not only him but also his boss. Sure, the obnoxious grimacing and the mannerisms will be mocked relentlessly, but it was his egregious misstatement on Benghazi that will now plague the Obama-Biden ticket….

That’s about the size of it. The Post’s Glenn Kessler reamed Biden: “Biden’s bold statement was directly contradicted by State Department officials just this week, in testimony before a congressional panel and in unclassified cables released by a congressional committee.” NBC’s Andrea Mitchell likewise called out Biden

Biden’s flub illustrates why Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter on Thursday said Benghazi was only about politics; apparently for the Obama-Biden team that’s about the size of it, thereby alleviating them of the need to figure out what happened and to speak truthfully to the American people.

Foreign policy has now become a liability for the Obama campaign. This will make it even more so.

And speaking of which, Token has now found the video of Mitt Romney which will no doubt be a major part of the final debate with Obama on foreign policy as well as in every speech Romney makes right up to 6 November. This is an issue from which they cannot hide and for which they can find no refuge. They may have been able to hide Fast and Furious in the shuffle but (i) the death on 911 (ii) of an ambassador who (iii) had asked for more protection (iv) for reasons unrelated to a trailer of a film released on Youtube (v) but which Biden and Obama have lied about, all this will be part of the campaign no matter how often Biden or his president choose to try to lie and deceive.

And lastly, there is this from Michael Medved

I watched the proceedings on a big screen together with 250 listeners from the Seattle flagship station for my radio show. In the discussion afterward, one of the women present said that Biden made her cringe by reminding her precisely of her abusive ex-husband. Another 23-year-old came up to me afterward and emphatically agreed, saying she had just left her own abusive relationship and that watching Biden’s antics gave her the creeps in the same way that her former boyfriend’s dismissive snickering always made her feel inadequate.

In these days of misogyny and all, there may have been no greater sin.

Written by Steve Kates

October 13th, 2012 at 3:37 pm

Posted in Uncategorized

49 Responses to 'The more you look, the worse Biden becomes'

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Latest Swing State Polls
Here are the latest polls from the battleground states:

Colorado: Romney 48%, Obama 47% (Denver Post)

Florida: Romney 49%, Obama 46% (American Research Group)

Florida: Romney 51%, Obama 47% (Rasmussen)

Michigan: Obama 52%, Romney 45% (Rasmussen)

New Hampshire: Romney 50%, Obama 46% (American Research Group)

North Carolina: Obama 46%, Romney 45% (High Point University)

Virginia: Romney 49%, Obama 47% (Rasmussen)

JamesK

13 Oct 12 at 4:09 pm
Toldya.

CC

13 Oct 12 at 4:24 pm
Here are the latest polls from the battleground states:

So on those figures, the swing states are all in the bag for Romney, and they’re not even close.

dd

13 Oct 12 at 4:32 pm
These are a few considerations that have emerged in the quite interesting thread following my post on watching the Vice Presidential debate for the second time. First is something I wrote myself.

The lone trumpeter.

m0nty

13 Oct 12 at 4:34 pm
So on those figures, the swing states are all in the bag for Romney, and they’re not even close.

Ohio is the key and Romney is either behind or it’s a draw.

JamesK

13 Oct 12 at 4:39 pm
Ohio is Obama: 47.6, Romney: 46.3 on the latest poll, which gives it to Romney, although it’s pretty line ball. The reason is that the numbers don’t add up to 50 due to undecideds, but historically the undecideds usually vote against the incumbent on polling day by a wide margin.

This is why Obama has to be punching close to 50 percent to be competitive. At 47 he’s underwater.

dd

13 Oct 12 at 4:46 pm
The lone trumpeter.

The lone idiot.

Tom

13 Oct 12 at 5:08 pm
DEVASTATING OHIO EDITORIAL: OBAMA’S HANDLING OF LIBYA INDEFENSIBLE

This morning, the Columbus Dispatch out of the crucial swing state of Ohio, published a brutal (because it’s true) editorial lashing out at Obama’s dishonest and incompetent mishandling of Libya:

The fact of a successful terrorist attack against the U.S. on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks — a day, above all others, when security for American officials in volatile countries should be at its utmost — is demoralizing and infuriating.

After months of concern by diplomats in Libya about the country’s deteriorating security, Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three embassy employees were murdered by heavily armed and organized terrorists. The possibility the government could have prevented their deaths by responding to their pleas for greater security is devastating. …

What is equally evident is that, despite repeated concerns by diplomats working in Libya, the administration shortchanged security. And when the worst happened, it wasn’t willing to tell the truth to the American people.

And as of Wednesday, administration officials continued to insist that the consulate had adequate security.

The tragedy is magnified by the fact that Stevens, by all accounts, was passionately devoted to restoring Libya as a U.S. ally. He wanted to help build a democratic nation. But he wasn’t blind to the danger still posed by militant Islamists and other anti-American groups.

The murder of Stevens and his colleagues raises serious questions about the administration’s priorities and competence.

JamesK

13 Oct 12 at 5:39 pm
I’m starting to get confident that Florida, Virginia, North Carolina will go to Romney. So everything depends on Ohio, which with a few more editorials like the above, and some more strong campaigning, Romney can win this.

dover_beach

13 Oct 12 at 5:48 pm
The next debate will probably break it for Romney, because Obama will perform more poorly than in the previous debate.

dd

13 Oct 12 at 5:56 pm
Poor Joe, he’s as authentic as his bad hair transplant and his preternaturally white teeth.

manalive

13 Oct 12 at 6:09 pm
James Taranta tears Biden apart –

In addition to the vice president’s boorishness a lot of observers noted that he frequently smiled and chuckled at inappropriate times–even during a discussion of Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.

The Republican National Committee quickly put out an ad consisting of nearly a minute of such clips followed by the caption: “Vice President Biden is laughing . . . Are you?”

If Biden finds himself out of work in January, he may have a career ahead of him as a Fixodent pitchman.

Walter Plinge

13 Oct 12 at 6:35 pm
“Taranto” of course. The link didn’t work –

http://on.wsj.com/QX7gJx

Walter Plinge

13 Oct 12 at 6:37 pm
The next debate will probably break it for Romney, because Obama will perform more poorly than in the previous debate.

Why do you say that?

JC

13 Oct 12 at 6:53 pm
The lone idiot.

If only that were true.

Keith

13 Oct 12 at 6:56 pm
Undecided voters get to ask the questions on Tuesday. Given the media basting of Biden, it seems the questions might focus on his gaffes and lies, or is there some sort of moderation to ensure a wider coverage of issues ? Obama is going in to this with a definite handicap – his own previous performance, and Biden’s Benghazi lies.

Keith

13 Oct 12 at 7:12 pm
Why do you say that?

His advisors are panicking and he’s going to be spooked into mistakes.

There’s a real risk that his advisors are telling him to come out and be aggressive. That’s the worst advice they could give him and it will be a disaster. Obama doesn’t really do aggressive. You can’t just “be aggressive” as a debating tactic, it’s not a switch that you can throw. You have to know what you’re doing.

Plus Obama’s going to walk in having memorized a handful of silly, lame mini-speeches to denounce Romney to his face. But that’s misdirecting his preparatory energy. He’ll get some CBS out-takes for the news that way, but he needs to get through a long, gruelling debate with more than one-liners.

There’s a lot of pressure on him now and he’s stressing, and we could even see some full-blown election losing gaffes.

dd

13 Oct 12 at 7:14 pm
Undecided voters get to ask the questions on Tuesday.

Let’s hope they aren’t undecided in the same way that the audience on Q&A claim they are 50% liberal.

jupes

13 Oct 12 at 7:17 pm
DD

Thanks DD fair observations. I always took the Kenyan for someone unable to take any heat and this may be the time he really breaks.

I think the next debate is a town hall format. Anyone know how the Kenyan performs in those?

I’m also a big believer in the big mo for elections and Romney certainly has it at the moment. (momentum)

JC

13 Oct 12 at 7:20 pm
I think Ryan in the debate with Biden set out to defang the democrat attack line that he was a dangerous right wing nut job that wanted to abolish welfare etc. On the whole he achieved that, with the help of Biden of course.

Mike a.

13 Oct 12 at 7:37 pm
Obama tends to perform well in the town hall format when he has the floor to himself and the audience is carefully screened and demographically analyzed. However, he has never had to do it when an opponent has had the capability of calling him on his bulshit and firing right back.

It will be worth the ticket and popcorn to watch.

Zatara

13 Oct 12 at 7:38 pm
This is the Kenyans theme song for the rest of the election.

JC

13 Oct 12 at 7:40 pm
Obama tends to perform well in the town hall format when he has the floor to himself and the audience is carefully screened and demographically analyzed.

In that case, we might have to wait for the third debate for the meltdown.

dd

13 Oct 12 at 7:59 pm
Just a query, but are there any of the debates that are formaly on foreign issues?

Or is it a case of moderators pleasure as to the subjects raised?

thfrollickingmole

13 Oct 12 at 8:12 pm
Mole

I think the third debate is about Foreign policy. Americans generally don’t give much of a shit about it, however this year could be different with the fuck up and subsequent cover up in Libya.

JC

13 Oct 12 at 8:17 pm
I’m starting to get confident that Florida, Virginia, North Carolina will go to Romney. So everything depends on Ohio, which with a few more editorials like the above, and some more strong campaigning, Romney can win this.

The latest Richochet podcast has a senior pollster Rick Wilson who backs that up (though Virginia is in play). He thinks New Hampshire & Colorado are in the same place. The question is Ohio and Wisconsin which are both in Obama’s column but winnable.

The podcast is always good fun and has plenty of laughs.

One big take out from it is that in every campaign he has ran with Axelrod Obama has dumped a huge bucket of slime 10-14 days out from the poll, most likely the tax returns which any US Senator could get their hands on.

Token

13 Oct 12 at 8:36 pm
Oh yes, Obama has disappeared over the past few days. Most likely to do debate prep, so we can expect him to hold his own next debate.

The other theory as as Benghazi blows up he doesn’t want to have to actually answer any questions (considering the fact the campaign peddle BS for 15 days after 9/11).

Token

13 Oct 12 at 8:38 pm
One big take out from it is that in every campaign he has ran with Axelrod Obama has dumped a huge bucket of slime 10-14 days out from the poll, most likely the tax returns which any US Senator could get their hands on.

That trick was played a few months back. It’s not going to work as the voter will see it as really sleazy.

Romney could also have a trick of two a few days before.

JC

13 Oct 12 at 8:42 pm
JC
Thanks for that, I dont think looking distracted will cut the mustard for Obama when Syria comes up.

thfrollickingmole

13 Oct 12 at 8:43 pm
John O Sullivan.

My first take on the debate … concludes (a) that Biden won on points, (b) that Ryan did reasonably well, and ( c) that Biden’s initial win on points might be reversed both by the fallout over his false claim about Benghazi and the intelligence services and by hostile reaction from women to his amazingly blatant mugging and grinning at the camera during Ryan’s arguments.

dd

13 Oct 12 at 8:55 pm
That trick was played a few months back. It’s not going to work as the voter will see it as really sleazy.

Romney could also have a trick of two a few days before.

If even I know, everyone knows Axelrod does these things.

It must be noted that someone organised for the tape of Obama race-baiting speech with the misrepresentation of the response to Hurricane Katrina the day before the debate.

Also remember how Santorum and the other Republicans in the primaries noted that Mitt campaigned real dirty.

Token

13 Oct 12 at 8:58 pm
It seems clear that this VP debate was an utter disaster for Obama.

Biden lost and lost clearly.

And Obama has many more pointed questions on Benghazi

Biden was boorish and frightened off women and swing voters.

He is clearly not fit for the Presidency.

Ryan demonstrated himself to be a polite, thoughtful and intelligent man.

He introduced himself to a national audience as even-tempered and reasonable potential President.

His aim – categorically – was emphatically not to crush Biden in a fury of rebuttals.

JamesK

13 Oct 12 at 9:49 pm
JC, you wondered about Obama’s ability in a Town Hall Q&A format. This video is about as good as it gets.

Obama at a town hall in Virginia

Philip Crowley

14 Oct 12 at 1:09 am
Whoa, hold on… is Willard getting into conspiracy territory?

“We can’t stop here Mittens this is bat country”

Lord Rexington

14 Oct 12 at 3:09 am
This video is about as good as it gets.

2 slips? 2! is that, “As good as it gets”?
oh for crying out loud, Imma Obama apologist and I can find more than that

Lord Rexington

14 Oct 12 at 3:12 am
I think the third debate is about Foreign policy. Americans generally don’t give much of a shit about it, however this year could be different with the fuck up and subsequent cover up in Libya.

Oh do fuck off JC, “Mr Know-it-all-about-the-U-S-A because he was a trader in NY for a “coupla years”"

Seriously fuck off, you fuckwit.

Do not speak for Americans, there are more than 300 million of them who can speak for themselves without you piping up.

You shit me beyond tears and if it wasn’t for your weird little attack squad ageing blogger mates then you would just another dickhead in the suburbs (south yarra is the suburbs, right?)

Lord Rexington

14 Oct 12 at 3:26 am
I think the third debate is about Foreign policy. Americans generally don’t give much of a shit about it, however this year could be different with the fuck up and subsequent cover up in Libya.

I agree JC.

And I believe that Obama/Biden know this as well.

Hence Biden’s remarks about security during the debates.

He can say anything he likes!

NoFixedAddress

14 Oct 12 at 5:58 am
Here is an American commenting on America’s Foreign Policy

NoFixedAddress

14 Oct 12 at 6:30 am
The Obama-Clinton “Prisoner’s Dilemma”

While they have a senior-subordinate relationship, at that altitude, Obama and Clinton are more like peers, especially in the broader scope of the Democrat Party, where Barack is hoping Bill will loan enough luster to Obama to somehow win re-election. Thus, Benghazi-quiddick (we should limit the -gate suffix on scandals lacking a death toll) resembles the classic game theory example The Prisoner’s Dilemma….

Here, we have two public figures who both look negligent over a tragedy. And they hold grudges against each other going back. They can both get hammered together, or can try to minimize their damage by pinning blame on the other.

The bad news about this ‘game’ is that the price of admission is four human sacrifices. Those deaths were tragic for the four, and their families. The shame for the United States, and the increased boldness of our enemies, is far worse. Then there is the damage done to the validity, the basic confidence the people have in our government, brought on by the shameless deceits of the Obama Administration.

No good can come of the Obama-Clinton game. Beyond the entertainment value, the best we can hope for is minimal collateral damage.

JamesK

14 Oct 12 at 6:53 am
That article is AT is good NoFixedAddressed. The treatment of Copts in Egypt & Christians in Pakistan may just become an election issue (considering the US gives so much aid to Egypt & Pakistan)

I saw a clip with Krauthammar on Fix where he notes the following about Biden:

* he throws the state dep under the bus & contradicts sworn testimony on Libya, yet
* he says he’ll blindly follow their assessment on Iran (when saying the threat of Irani nukes is not real)

Token

14 Oct 12 at 6:58 am
Oh do fuck off JC, “Mr Know-it-all-about-the-U-S-A because he was a trader in NY for a “coupla years””

Seriously fuck off, you fuckwit.

Convincing argument.

wreckage

14 Oct 12 at 7:32 am
Somebody posted this in comments at Ricochet:

“When a wise person debates with a fool, the fool rages and laughs, and there is no peace and quiet.” Proverbs 29:9.

dd

14 Oct 12 at 8:03 am
James Taranto, WSJ: Dr. Strangelaugh
Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Iranian Bomb.

“Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength,” the longshoreman cum philosopher Eric Hoffer once observed. Hoffer died in 1983, so he probably wasn’t referring specifically to Joe Biden’s performance in last night’s debate. Still, the observation is fitting.

In addition to the vice president’s boorishness, a lot of observers noted that he frequently smiled and chuckled at inappropriate times–even during a discussion of Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. The Republican National Committee quickly put out an ad consisting of nearly a minute of such clips followed by the caption: “Vice President Biden is laughing . . . Are you?” If Biden finds himself out of work in January, he may have a career ahead of him as a Fixodent pitchman.

So what’s with Dr. Strangelaugh?…..

A smile is an instinctive gesture of submission. Often the submission is mutual, as when two friends exchange smiles or when Maestripieri’s strangers break into small talk on the elevator. But when a man uncontrollably smiles at a potential or actual adversary, it is a show of weakness.

That isn’t necessarily to say that Paul Ryan dominated Biden, although there is no question Ryan demonstrated self-control where Biden utterly lacked it. As some commentator or other (probably several of them) observed before the debate, Biden’s assigned task was to “right the ship” after the Barack Obama disaster. Since the ship has a titanic design flaw–a gaping O-shaped hole right in the hull–that was an impossible task. Biden had ample reason to find the situation intimidating.

And so he overcompensated for his weakness by acting the bully in an attempt to dominate Ryan. His behavior was not only consistent with Hoffer’s aphorism but in sharp contrast with that of Mitt Romney, who actually did dominate Obama in a coolly masterful way. If Biden’s rudeness was an imitation of strength, Romney’s poise was a display of the real thing.

JamesK

14 Oct 12 at 8:25 am
Just looking from the outside just out of interest in American politics, Paul Ryan was the polite and respectful, and calm, politician that you hope to see. Debaters getting frenzied doesn’t appeal.
Calmness with some humour is much more positive.

candy

14 Oct 12 at 8:33 am
Bloody hell – looks like rexington had a big night on the turps…

Rabz

14 Oct 12 at 9:02 am
@Token 6.58am

The treatment of Copts in Egypt & Christians in Pakistan may just become an election issue (considering the US gives so much aid to Egypt & Pakistan)

I believe their treatment is a disgrace that the entire horde of apologists for the religion of pieces has swept under the flying carpet.

NoFixedAddress

14 Oct 12 at 10:22 am
Things are bad when biden is your go to guy.

After a finishing fifth place in the Iowa Caucus in 2008 with only one percent of the total vote, Biden ended his presidential bid. Even his fellow democracts do not find him appealing. many did not know who he was despite 34 years in the senate

Jim Rose

14 Oct 12 at 3:33 pm
Do not speak for Americans, there are more than 300 million of them who can speak for themselves without you piping up.

Hmm, as opposed to some bloody minded, tribal, anti American bigoted, Australian far lefty…um yeah ok.

.

14 Oct 12 at 3:48 pm
Dot, that is the guy who was cheering on the rioters during the London Riots.

Token

14 Oct 12 at 3:50 pm

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