# Vice Presidential Debate Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 7, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999 "2012-10-07T16:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/521 "2012-10-13T04:44:19Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I don’t think Biden did that because he thought Ryan was beneath his contempt, I think he did it because that’s what Obama supporters wanted to see. I’m quite sure it was calculated. You don’t go on a national stage to debate like that without discussing how you are going to act. Whatever the reason, he went in knowing he would laugh at him. ---
**Author:** ![Nazarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nazarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nazarene)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/522 "2012-10-13T05:09:04Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > I don’t think Biden did that because he thought Ryan was beneath his contempt, I think he did it because that’s what Obama supporters wanted to see. I think maybe it was both. Ryan did deserve it, though. Why is that righties seem to think that laughing at a liar is more inappropriate than _being_ a liar? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/523 "2012-10-13T05:10:58Z")
So Ryan says the Romnelans support Obama’s timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan, 2014 skiddoo. So far, so good. But then a couple breaths later, he’s pissing and moaning about how stupid it is to let the enemy know our timeline so they can wait us out. We are seeing the birth of a quantum leap in military deployment: the stealth withdrawal. No hints are exposed, no intelligence leaks, while thousands of soldiers and tons of tons of equipment is prepped for evacuation. And then, when they least expect it - wham! We go! Before they know we’re going, we’re gone! The Greatest Generation likes to brag on the logistical miracle that was D-day. HA!. Child’s play, by comparison. Its so rare that the conservative mindset offers such a radical and bold innovation. We should savor the moment! OK, that’ll do. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/524 "2012-10-13T05:36:59Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So Ryan says the Romnelans support Obama’s timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan, 2014 skiddoo. So far, so good. But then a couple breaths later, he’s pissing and moaning about how stupid it is to let the enemy know our timeline so they can wait us out. > > We are seeing the birth of a quantum leap in military deployment: the stealth withdrawal. No hints are exposed, no intelligence leaks, while thousands of soldiers and tons of tons of equipment is prepped for evacuation. And then, when they least expect it - wham! We go! Before they know we’re going, we’re gone! > > The Greatest Generation likes to brag on the logistical miracle that was D-day. HA!. Child’s play, by comparison. > > Its so rare that the conservative mindset offers such a radical and bold innovation. We should savor the moment! OK, that’ll do. I’m getting a little worried about you, **luci** …if you don’t pace yourself, you’re going to do yourself an injury before November 6… ---
**Author:** ![A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@A\_nice\_guy\_with\_an\_opinion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_nice_guy_with_an_opinion)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/525 "2012-10-13T06:09:18Z")
I think Joe is awesome. Didn’t even need Thursday’s debate. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/QWM6EuKxz5A/hqdefault.jpg "FLASHBACK VIDEO: Biden Spars with Voter, 'I Think I Probably Have a Much Higher IQ Than You Do'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWM6EuKxz5A) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/526 "2012-10-13T06:27:32Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I’m getting a little worried about you, **luci** …if you don’t pace yourself, you’re going to do yourself an injury before November 6… Its just that there’s so much stupid rolling down on us, its like an avalanche of Nerf balls… ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/527 "2012-10-13T06:33:35Z")
> [@Jesus of Nazareth](#): > > I think maybe it was both. > > Ryan did deserve it, though. Why is that righties seem to think that laughing at a liar is more inappropriate than _being_ a liar? Thought this deserved folks looking at it again, though to be honest, I don’t think they believe he’s lying. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/528 "2012-10-13T19:43:38Z")
This sums up how I feel about the supposed laughing issue: > [@](#): > > **Joe Biden Was Right to Laugh** > > I’ve never thought much of Joe Biden. But man, did he get it right in last night’s debate, and not just because he walloped sniveling little Paul Ryan on the facts. What he got absolutely right, despite what you might read this morning (many outlets are criticizing Biden’s dramatic excesses), was his tone. Biden did absolutely roll his eyes, snort, laugh derisively and throw his hands up in the air whenever Ryan trotted out his little beady-eyed BS-isms. > > But he should have! He was absolutely right to be doing it. We all should be doing it. That includes all of us in the media, and not just paid obnoxious-opinion-merchants like me, but so-called “objective” news reporters as well. We should all be rolling our eyes, and scoffing and saying, “Come back when you’re serious.” > > [Rolling Stone](http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/the-vice-presidential-debate-joe-biden-was-right-to-laugh-20121012?print=true) ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/529 "2012-10-15T00:48:49Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > In that I think pro-life people who would make exceptions for anything are some of the biggest hypocrites in the world, I admire Ryan in the context of not believing\* any exceptions should exist. > > \*That is what he believes, isn’t it? I can’t keep track. It is what he believes, and that’s a scary thought. However, Eddie has gone to the Williard School for Liars and will say anything and fall on his moral sword until they get into office. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/530 "2012-10-15T01:54:53Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > This sums up how I feel about the supposed laughing issue: Yes, you should follow Rolling Stone’s advice. Because there’s nothing that gets the moderates and swing voters on your side like juvenile displays of sneering and sniggering when a politician that half the country supports opens his mouth. Please keep doing that. I also suggest more parades with giant puppets of evil capitalists, plenty of Che Guevera T-Shirts and signs with raised fists on them. Main Street just _loves_ that stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/531 "2012-10-15T02:01:27Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Yes, you should follow Rolling Stone’s advice. Because there’s nothing that gets the moderates and swing voters on your side like juvenile displays of sneering and sniggering when a politician that half the country supports opens his mouth. Nitpick: if they’re “moderates” or “swing voters,” why would they care that “half the country” supports Ryan? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/532 "2012-10-15T02:10:21Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Yes, you should follow Rolling Stone’s advice. Because there’s nothing that gets the moderates and swing voters on your side like juvenile displays of sneering and sniggering when a politician that half the country supports opens his mouth. I can’t take the outrage seriously when it comes from the people who make such absurd, outrageous, stupid and insulting claims about President Obama. Please come back when your side isn’t a bunch of drooling mouth breathing cretins. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2012, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/533 "2012-10-15T02:52:53Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Yes, you should follow Rolling Stone’s advice. Because there’s nothing that gets the moderates and swing voters on your side like juvenile displays of sneering and sniggering when a politician that half the country supports opens his mouth. > > Please keep doing that. I also suggest more parades with giant puppets of evil capitalists, plenty of Che Guevera T-Shirts and signs with raised fists on them. Main Street just _loves_ that stuff. First off, Matt Tabibbi likes to rock and roll his prose, and that’s cool. But he is no dummy, and no slouch. The man does his homework. Read him and then don’t admit it, we’ll never know, but set yourself to proving him wrong and you’ve got your work cut out for you. My tastes in essays run to Lewis Lapham, but the boy knows his shit, and you would profit. Second, are you quite sure you know whats going on in Main Street America? From Canada, you know this? Or are you operating on the Conventional Republican Wisdom, that America is essentially conservative, and all these liberal lurches are just abberations. In the words of Sportin’ Life, it ain’t necessarily so… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999.md?page=26)