High Stakes Ryan-Biden Bout Could Seal Deal for Romney

Newsmax ^ | 08 Oct 2012 | David A. Patten

[kingattax]

President Barack Obama’s perilous drop in the polls following last week’s shaky debate performance sets the scene for an extraordinary moment in presidential politics: A vice presidential debate that could play a major role in the outcome in November.

If Vice President Joe Biden can prevail in his 90-minute face-off against GOP foe Rep. Paul Ryan, it could turn the media narrative and help repair some of the damage incurred by the weak Obama showing on Oct. 3.

But the savvy Ryan, who gobbles up dense budgetary reports as if they were dime novels, will try to replicate the political jiu-jitsu Romney performed against Obama. If he succeeds, it could go a long way toward convincing swing-state independent voters not to wait to see what four more years under Obama would bring.

[lewislynn]

If you look real close when he gets mad you can see where they did Biden’s lobotomy.

[MNJohnnie]

No but I do think this cavalier dismissal of Biden is a huge mistake. God has a habit of humbling hubris.

[duckman]

Hope all this ‘hoop-la’ over the first debate, doesn’t put a jinx on RnR. In the words of Yogi Berra, “It ain’t over till it’s over”.

[IndyTiger]

I remember the Quayle/Benson debate very well. It STILL makes me burn.

The irony is that Dave Powers, one of JFK’s closest aides and then director of the JFK library, was quoted after the debate as saying he had no idea that JFK and Bentsen were even acquainted. They did briefly serve together in the House in the early ‘50s, but no one could ever recall an instance where they were together, or when JFK had even mentioned Bentsen’s name.

My guess is that Bentsen knew JFK well enough to say hello in the hallway, or make small talk in an elevator, but they were hardly the good friends like Bentsen intimated they were in the debate. I’ve read numerous books on JFK, and nowhere is Bentsen named in any of them.

[cymbeline]

I wonder if Biden might damage the Obama campaign by being too honest, for instance, by acknowledging that some of the Obama ideas do indeed have flaws.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Biden is well known all over the D.C. area as a pathological liar. Ryan will mop the floor with Neil Kinnoch....I mean Joe Biden.

[pallis]

I might even tune in to see Biden’s comedy act. Ryan will beat him with an idiot stick.

[kingattax]

get the popcorn

[kabar]

This could be a replay of Obama versus McCain, i.e., the young, virile challenger versus the grumpy old man. The 42 year old against the almost 70 year old. Ryan has the requisite style and substance to beat the old pro.

Let's not forget that unlike Palin, Ryan is a seasoned Washington pro. He has been in Congress for almost 14 years. He has been reelected 7 times in a Dem leaning district. Ryan knows the issues and won't be fazed by the 40 year Washington insider--Biden.

Biden will want to focus on foreign affairs, his strength. Hopefully, Ryan can swing that issue towards his own strength, the budget and domestic issues. As former JCS Mike Mullen said, the biggest threat to our national security is the national debt.

[exit82]

Keep praying for Ryan and Romney.

Four weeks left to save a nation.

If Biden makes a fool of himself, the momentum will build into a crescendo to elect Romney. We need enough votes to counter any potential voter fraud by the Dems.

[patriotspride]

Ryan is going to clean his clock, just like he did to Obama in that budget meeting.

---

Ryan has probably been in meeting with Joey Plugs, and knows his style.

I think Ryan will be respectful, but call him on any misrepresentation of the facts.

Joey can try the scare tactics, but Paul will call him out on them by using the
“ what have you done in the last 4 / 6 years line”

Many forget the majority the Dems have had to push their agenda, but failed to deliver on their 2008 promises.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Biden has been in seclusion for 6 days. Just enough time to get rid of Rove’s programmer and get another chip in his head programmed by someone who is actually part of the Obama team.

Rove you magnificent bastard. I read your book!!!!

[ridesthemiles]

I think the pressure now on Biden is severe—Obama flopped...so they are waiting for Biden to bail out the Dems.

My money is on Ryan.

[Little Ray]

I agree with you - Biden is a evil clown, and a LOT more dangerous than folks realize!

[lacrew]

I’m on a different side of the fence.

First of all, I believe Biden to be one of the dumbest people ever elected to high office. Its not just his gaffes, but he is consistently on the wrong side of every important issue (think Alaskan pipeline vote in 1973). He really is plain dumb.

But fast forward to his debate against Palin. I was amazed at his ability to lie with absolute conviction. One example - he claimed McCain had voted just like Obama on a tax bill. It turns out McCain had not been present for that vote...but Palin wasn’t prepared to defend against a complete fantasy. She had to let it slide...she pushed a little, but Biden was just so darned confident...and she relented.

Other small things like the restaurant he frequented...but had been closed for 15 years, and the misplaced Home Depot he hung out in...its very hard to defend complete fabrications.

So, no, I don’t ‘respect’ Biden. I recognize that he is an accomplished politician...mostly because he is an unabashed liar (remember how he plagerized campaign speeches during one presidential run).

I think Biden will do better than Obama...and he will be very well rehearsed. But nothing ‘stellar’.

[VRWCarea51]

If I were Ryan I would remind Ole Plugs that it was President Dumbo that put HIM in charge of the Stimulus money and was to see to it that every dollar was spent on things that would Stimulate the Economy.

Hey Plugs, were you asleep at the Wheel when the Checks were cut for Solyndra, Big Bird, Monkeys on cocaine. New windows for a closed visitor's center. Modern dance as a tool for software development. Tennessee Electrified Truck Terminal.

Solyndra
•Received $535 million in DOE Loan Guarantee Program6 •Filed for bankruptcy September 2011

Abound Solar
Received $70 million of $400 million commitment from DOE Loan Guarantee Program before funding stopped in August 2011 •Filed for bankruptcy July 20121

Beacon Power
•Received $43 million in DOE Loan Guarantee Program12 •Filed for bankruptcy October 20111

Watch List

The Wall Street Journal reported that as of February 29, there were 10 out of 32 total projects on the Department of Energy’s internal watch list because of “breaching loan terms, falling behind on agreed-upon performance milestones and being part of ‘an industry or market sector experiencing challenging market conditions’.”14 Although the Department of Energy declined to name the ten, the challenges for some of the following companies are not private knowledge.

Nevada Geothermal
•Received partial loan guarantee of $98.5 million in September 201015 •Encountered problems at its only operating plant resulting in financial problems16 •Auditor reported in October 2011 “significant doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern”

NRG Solar
•Received $1.2 billion in DOE Loan Guarantee Program18 •NRG Energy acquired SunPower (the company originally granted the loan) in Sept. 20111
•SunPower reported $520 million in losses for the year ended Jan. 1 and reported in Nov. 2011 it would lay off 85 employees

[Windflier]

Biden is in the same position as Obama. You can't defend the defenseless.

More accurate: You can't defend the indefensible.