VP debate rundown

Here is my post VP debate rundown.

On the big issues I would call it a push. I think Ryan won on the budget. Not that I agree with Biden on the issues, but I think Biden won on health care and got back on the Democrat message. Class warfare and division.

Foreign policy was a push. It sort of depends on what your thoughts are on foreign intervention. I think Ryan won on saying his "Litmus test" was the safety of the American people. I don’t think Biden even responded to that question.

Style wise I thought Biden looked pompous and rude, but I am not sure how the mass population will handle it. As a strategy, I could see why Biden was attacking (as I think Biden and Obama are behind and they didn't want Ryan to get into a flow) but I think Biden went over board. Waaay over board. The constant interrupting and smirking went too far. To his credit, I think Biden came across better when he was talking to the people directly.

Ryan had the lines. The line of the night had to be Ryan and his "Biden should know sometimes the words don’t come out the way you want." At times Ryan looked a little scripted and almost emotionless. It was an area I thought he might soften in this debate but he didn’t. Over all, I don’t think it mattered and may have even helped highlight Bidens rudeness. The style battle will end up not being Ryan vs. Biden, it will be "What did you think of how Biden acted?" He made Al Gore and his deep sighs look tame by comparison. If Biden had just hit his talking points and shut up he probably would have won the night hands down. Instead he looked kooky and rude, especially in comparison to the staid Ryan.

As for the moderator, in the last presidential debate I thought was OK as it was wide open. The questions were vague but it was handled in a somewhat fair fashion.

This time I thought it was 2 on 1. While the questions were tougher and more direct, it was the responses that I thought were not handled in a fair manor. I cant wait to see the talk time. To me it seemed it was much larger for Biden. Also, the moderator kept pushing Ryan on specifics but gave Biden a pass on his budget (Or lack their of). She also let Biden go crazy with interruptions and seemed to stop Ryan when ever he tried to counter or respond. Tough questions went to Ryan first and Biden got to respond later (A big upper hand in a debate). They also spent what I thought was a disproportionate amount of time on foreign policy (Bidens wheel house).

Over all, I liked Ryan better but if I had to score it I would score it a push. I think both sides can claim some victory.