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.
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?
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…
I think Joe is awesome. Didn’t even need Thursday’s debate.
Its just that there’s so much stupid rolling down on us, its like an avalanche of Nerf balls…
Thought this deserved folks looking at it again, though to be honest, I don’t think they believe he’s lying.
This sums up how I feel about the supposed laughing issue:
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.
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.
Nitpick: if they’re “moderates” or “swing voters,” why would they care that “half the country” supports Ryan? 
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.
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…