# 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:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/41 "2012-10-11T22:11:34Z")
What’s the format for this debate? Standing at podiums? Town hall? Sitting at a table? ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/42 "2012-10-11T22:13:36Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > That’s a possibility, but it’s also a very risky strategy because if it doesn’t come across perfectly, it can easily look like Biden is being a bully. Ryan has a very soft-spoken, matter-of-fact way of speaking, and he looks like the all-American boy. If Biden tears into him, it could easily cause a backlash if he goes too far. I’m having trouble imagining a situation in which Biden could come across as bullying. Biden can be gregarious, but he’s not hostile. He’s not a Gingrich-type politician. So unless, for whatever reason, he’s _shouting_ at Ryan whilst his younger opponent is suppressing tears, nobody is going to accuse Biden of being too aggressive. I’ll go even further and say that if Ryan comes across as a shrinking violet, the audience won’t be extending him any pity. They’ll be wondering why he isn’t able to adequately defend his positions. However, I agree with you that Ryan could come across as an all-American\* boy\*, which is exactly the kind of thing that will reflect poorly on him in a debate against an elder statesman. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/43 "2012-10-11T23:05:56Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > What’s the format for this debate? Standing at podiums? Town hall? Sitting at a table? _American Gladiators_ pugil-stick combat, hopefully. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/44 "2012-10-11T23:06:34Z")
Pugil-stick? Did you google that, or make it up? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/45 "2012-10-11T23:11:03Z")
Neither. There was a UK “reboot” of AG in the early nineties (just called _Gladiators_) and that’s what they were called. I assumed the name was used in AG too. We can call them giant cotton buds of war if you like. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/46 "2012-10-11T23:11:46Z")
Paddy-fight-sticks is my preferred nomenclature. And I got Biden for $40. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/47 "2012-10-11T23:13:11Z")
People were speculating that Biden would come out looking like a bully against little ol’ Palin too. He didn’t. I really doubt he’ll look like a bully against Ryan. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/48 "2012-10-12T00:17:30Z")
Biden will get off a real zinger. “Young man, I _knew_ Jack Kennedy. And…wait, no I didn’t.” ☹ ---
**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 12, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/49 "2012-10-12T00:23:16Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Biden will get off a real zinger. > > “Young man, I _knew_ Jack Kennedy. And…wait, no I didn’t.” ☹ Let me help you out there. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPOAKXBi9Pw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPOAKXBi9Pw) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/50 "2012-10-12T00:48:49Z")
“Let’s get ready to RRRRRUUUUUUMMBLE…” ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/51 "2012-10-12T01:01:54Z")
Watching ABC. Martha Raddatz is the moderator. Basically, they just said it’s a tight race, critical debate. Let’s go! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/52 "2012-10-12T01:06:53Z")
First question (Libya), totally dodged by Biden. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/53 "2012-10-12T01:07:44Z")
Ryan’s not doing an better on the answering the question. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/54 "2012-10-12T01:08:07Z")
5 minutes in and I already want to punch Ryan in the face. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/55 "2012-10-12T01:09:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > 5 minutes in and I already want to punch Ryan in the face. Ah, Biden just did. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/56 "2012-10-12T01:09:49Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Ryan’s not doing an better on the answering the question. True. “We’d do what Obama did, but we’d do it sooner and more…better.” Biden: “Malarky”. Heh. ---
**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 12, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/57 "2012-10-12T01:09:52Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Ah, Biden just did. Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/58 "2012-10-12T01:10:03Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Ah, Biden just did. Damn, Joe! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/59 "2012-10-12T01:11:28Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > True. > > “We’d do what Obama did, but we’d do it sooner and more…better.” > > Biden: “Malarky”. Heh. I’m hearing echos of FDR. “We will do it better…” said in a really snarky voice. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999/60 "2012-10-12T01:12:02Z")
Ryan says we can’t afford to cut defense funding. Why he voted for it is anyone’s guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vice-presidential-debate-thread/636999.md?page=4)