[RatRipper]

I don’t think Ryan allowed himself to be bullied. I think Ryan realized that Biden was making an a$$ of himself, so he gave him enough rope to do it.

[COUNTrecount]

Exactly.

Ryan sat back and allowed America to see who should be a

heartbeat away from the Presidency.

It was a brilliant strategy.

[berdie]

I'll be interested to see how much of the debate points made by both will be remembered at all.

Of the people I talk to (both R and D) the biggest topic of conversation was Biden’s demeanor. No one seemed impressed and some were totally appalled.

It may be another Big Bird moment.

[Anima Mundi]

I agree with you. Ryan somehow had sense enough to overcome the natural reaction we who were watching felt inclined towards, that is to do or say this or that. It was like Zen, using the other person’s fury against them.Ryan actually drove Joe crazy because when you are very angry or agitated and the other person stays calm and non-reactive, it tends to increase your level of agitation in an ever more ardent attempt to evoke a reaction.There was once a book based on this dynamic, called “Passive Men, Wild Women.” All in all it enabled Ryan to seem above it all and in the process to also get Biden to vomit up ALL of the debate points they had sewn into his brain. Now the RR team likely has most of the other side’s playbook for the other two debates. Who’s smiling now?