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Noonan: Confusing Strength With Aggression (Noonan nails it)
wsj ^ | 10/12/2012 | peggy noonan

Posted on 10/12/2012 4:59:38 AM PDT by barryobi

Last week Mr. Obama was weirdly passive. Last night Mr. Biden was weirdly aggressive, if that is the right word for someone who grimaces, laughs derisively, interrupts, hectors, rolls his eyes, browbeats and attempts to bully. He meant to dominate, to seem strong and no-nonsense. Sometimes he did—he had his moments. But he was also disrespectful and full of bluster. "Oh, now you're Jack Kennedy!" he snapped at one point. It was an echo of Lloyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle, in 1988. But Mr. Quayle, who had compared himself to Kennedy, had invited the insult. Mr. Ryan had not. It came from nowhere. Did Mr. Biden look good? No, he looked mean and second-rate. He meant to undercut Mr. Ryan, but he undercut himself. His grimaces and laughter were reminiscent of Al Gore's sighs in 2000—theatrical, off-putting and in the end self-indicting.

I have just realized the problem with the debate: it was the weird distance between style and content, and the degree to which Mr. Biden's style poisoned his content.

In terms of content—the seriousness and strength of one's positions and the ability to argue for them—the debate was probably a draw, with both candidates having strong moments. But in terms of style, Mr. Biden was so childishly manipulative that it will be surprising if independents and undecideds liked what they saw.

National Democrats keep confusing strength with aggression and command with sarcasm. Even the latter didn't work for Mr. Biden. The things he said had the rhythm and smirk of sarcasm without the cutting substance.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012debates; biden; clownbiden; disresepctfulbiden; jokerbiden; noonan; obama; rudebiden; tyan
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Watching Tom Brokaw on Morning Joe this morning, he said about the same thing. Joe lost the debate with his behavior. Any points he scored on policy, he more than gave away on style.
1 posted on 10/12/2012 4:59:41 AM PDT by barryobi
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To: barryobi

He came away as Certifiably Crazy and RUDE.


2 posted on 10/12/2012 5:03:04 AM PDT by Ann Archy ( ABORTION...the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: barryobi
This was posted and should be posted on every thread about the Ryan-Biden debate. God has the answer for Biden's behavior.

Proverbs 29:9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, the foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

3 posted on 10/12/2012 5:03:29 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
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To: barryobi

Joe Biden is in way over his Peters Principle head.

And he is an A-hole.


4 posted on 10/12/2012 5:03:56 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: barryobi

Finally Noonan says something for which I can agree. It’s been awhile.


5 posted on 10/12/2012 5:05:47 AM PDT by snarkytart
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To: barryobi

They used to say, somewhat unfairly, that Hillary Clinton reminded every divorced man of his first wife.

Last night, Joe Biden reminded every divorced woman of her first husband.

One of Romney’s strongest points is that he will work with everybody and listen to what everybody has to say in the legislative process. Biden debates the way Obama governs, listening to nobody and talking over the opposition.


6 posted on 10/12/2012 5:08:46 AM PDT by Haiku Guy (Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!)
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To: barryobi

I nearly always disagree with Noonan...but she does make a good case this time.


7 posted on 10/12/2012 5:09:35 AM PDT by RochesterNYconservative (ROMNEY/RYAN 20121)
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To: barryobi
"National Democrats keep confusing strength with aggression and command with sarcasm."

Sorry, Peggy, but there is no confusion on their part. It it the essence of what they are: rude, arrogant, and condescending. It is why I stopped speaking to, and associating with leftists long ago. Oxygen and time are commodities too precious to waste in debate with their ilk.
8 posted on 10/12/2012 5:13:32 AM PDT by PowderMonkey (WILL WORK FOR AMMO)
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To: Haiku Guy
Last night, Joe Biden reminded every divorced woman of her first husband.

My point, raised in this essay.

9 posted on 10/12/2012 5:15:00 AM PDT by Lazamataz (WAAAAAAAAAHHHhhhhh.....)
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To: barryobi

Look at the thread right above this one on bullying. Poor Joe must have been bullied as a 15-year-old and now it’s time for payback.


10 posted on 10/12/2012 5:16:04 AM PDT by Past Your Eyes (You knew the job was dangerous when you took it.)
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To: barryobi

I think BiteMe’s strategy was to keep him from answering to his record. It worked to some degree but he looked like a jackass in the process.


11 posted on 10/12/2012 5:16:49 AM PDT by TMA62 (Al Sharpton - The North Korea of race relations)
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To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

I wonder if Biden was advised to keep interrupting Ryan so that he would not be able to complete his very effective arguments — an Alinsky-like approach.


12 posted on 10/12/2012 5:17:47 AM PDT by buridan
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To: barryobi

Comparing to Jack Kennedy. Kennedy died in 1963, Ryan was born in 1970. Joe Biden really going into ancient history to try and slam Paul Ryan. How old is Joe?


13 posted on 10/12/2012 5:17:54 AM PDT by YukonGreen
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To: barryobi

Comparing to Jack Kennedy. Kennedy died in 1963, Ryan was born in 1970. Joe Biden really going into ancient history to try and slam Paul Ryan. How old is Joe?


14 posted on 10/12/2012 5:18:00 AM PDT by YukonGreen
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To: PowderMonkey

You’re correct this is how the leftists operate 24/7. They are the essence of arrogant.


15 posted on 10/12/2012 5:20:02 AM PDT by snarkytart
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To: Past Your Eyes

After a while, I began thinking back to the Thomas confirmation hearings. That was way back in 91 and Joe acted like this back then. He was kind of like an attorney in the courtroom can be, badgering and baiting. He has learned the Lunchbucket Joe schtick convincingly, but the derision of Romney/Ryan was too much. Call him Archie Bunker.


16 posted on 10/12/2012 5:25:53 AM PDT by taterjay
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To: barryobi

Liberalism 101: if you can’t be right, be rude.


17 posted on 10/12/2012 5:28:14 AM PDT by FlipWilson
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To: barryobi

Liberalism 101: if you can’t be right, be rude.


18 posted on 10/12/2012 5:28:26 AM PDT by FlipWilson
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To: barryobi

I agree with Noonan’s assessment. Biden’s behavior was more than just off-putting to me and my husband. I support the Romney-Ryan ticket and was definitely annoyed by his behavior, but imagine how frustrated an undecided voter (the people the debaters are trying to sway) felt when they were waiting for Ryan to finish his points, and either Biden or the moderator interrupted time and time again.

The other thought that we had last night was that Ryan seemed much more even, respectful, and Vice Presidential. He is the man that we want sitting across the table from other world leaders, NOT that grinning, laughing, condescending a$$ named Biden. It is no wonder to me that the state of the US foreign affairs is in the condition it is now with the two losers running the show. One is a petulant, whiney baby, and the other is a blustering, condescending boob.


19 posted on 10/12/2012 5:28:52 AM PDT by MNGal
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To: PowderMonkey

Well said.....Biden is a typical “liberal”....rude, loud, in your face...and short on substance. I disagree with Peggy about the moderator. She was in on this and when I saw both looking and arguing at Ryan....I became very angry. BUT I must say, Ryan held his own.


20 posted on 10/12/2012 5:30:10 AM PDT by Blue Turtle
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