I thought that too, but then I realized that Ryan did a clever thing by staying calm, not reacting. His behavior talked for him and this is what it said: “This is the problem with politics, this is why nothing can get done, it is good to listen to people and to have respect,we are sick and tired of the phoney theatrics and gotchas because our country is in serious trouble right now”... In the end, Ryan really won when he did his closing and after thanking the moderator, etc., he said, “and thank you JOE.” He got to stick the knife in so sweetly, call him JOE, and in that moment Joe felt very small because he, I think, had not thanked Ryan in his closing, nor said one nice thing all evening, while Ryan said several decent things to “Joe.” It was that thing like when someone is very intrusive in public and you allow them through and they don’t even say thank you...and you say to THEM “thank you.” I can relate to that and it wins.
Very good analysis, Anima! Thanks!