Paul Ryan Wins the VP Debate
One must not ask too much of Obama-manic journalists. They only reluctantly admitted that Barack Obama was massacred by Mitt Romney during the first debate. You wouldn’t expect them to also admit the defeat of Joe Biden (69 years old) against Paul Ryan (42 years old), too?
And yet, even the politically correct panel selected by CNN recognized the 48 percent - 44 percent victory of Mitt Romney’s running mate. Since the majority of you didn’t stay up in the middle of the night to watch the event, here are the impressions I got from it.
1) Paul Ryan was “presidential”:
The young Paul Ryan, unknown outside of Washington and Wisconsin (from where he is a congressman) won his debate. First, because he was clear, calm, precise, smiling and polite; he wasn’t troubled by Joe Biden’s constant interruptions or his repeated snickering, which was improper to say the least.
He could have been more precise on the questions of reductions in spending and the elimination of fiscal reductions. But to be quite honest, he would have been immediately shot down by lobby groups who live on these deductions. The sad game of this campaign is that one does not have to tell the truth to voters if one wants to be elected.
Then, Ryan was surprisingly competitive on the questions of foreign politics, a subject that is not at all his specialty. Not that he was extraordinarily good, but he seemed informed and judicious, which is important.
2) Joe Biden was disorganized and impolite:
Joe Biden was true to himself. The former senator of Delaware is pompous, wordy and disorganized. One felt that he had learned phrases by heart. He said everything without order. Notably, a bunch of numerical figures meant to “do good.” The “middle-class” was praised to the skies at every possible occasion. Rich, millionaire profiteers were duly criticized.
Mitt Romney’s unfortunate quote about the “47 percent of Americans who are assisted” was cited by him [Biden] numerous times in order to discredit the Republican candidate.
All these remarks fell out of context. One felt that old Joe Biden had been “coached” and instructed not to forget anything. On the whole, he wanted to make Thursday night the night that Barack Obama had forgotten to make during his first debate.
Most saddening was the impolite conduct of the Vice President. He constantly snickered and interrupted his rival. On Friday morning, this is what America was talking about. The former Senator of Delaware never had class. We knew that. He confirmed it Thursday night.
3) A debate that benefits Romney more than Obama:
Americans knew Joe Biden but discovered Paul Ryan. The undecided could certify that Mitt Romney had chosen a lively and intelligent young man as running mate, nothing like the pathetic Sarah Palin chosen by John McCain.
The mediocre conduct of Joe Biden is without serious consequence for the Democratic ticket. It just reinforced the Republicans’ conviction of their candidate’s chances.
In the event of a simple tie, Ryan would be thought of as the winner: He would have proven that he could hold his own against a political veteran. By defeating his adversary, he serves Mitt Romney’s campaign well. The outcome of the debate is not going to profoundly change the race.
The most interesting thing will be to see if the debate affects the polls in Wisconsin. Ordinarily, this state votes for the Democratic candidate. If Mitt Romney became competitive in Wisconsin, a state that holds 10 electoral votes, this would pose a problem for Obama’s camp.
And yet, even the politically correct panel selected by CNN recognized the 48 percent - 44 percent victory of Mitt Romney’s running mate. Since the majority of you didn’t stay up in the middle of the night to watch the event, here are the impressions I got from it.
1) Paul Ryan was “presidential”:
The young Paul Ryan, unknown outside of Washington and Wisconsin (from where he is a congressman) won his debate. First, because he was clear, calm, precise, smiling and polite; he wasn’t troubled by Joe Biden’s constant interruptions or his repeated snickering, which was improper to say the least.
He could have been more precise on the questions of reductions in spending and the elimination of fiscal reductions. But to be quite honest, he would have been immediately shot down by lobby groups who live on these deductions. The sad game of this campaign is that one does not have to tell the truth to voters if one wants to be elected.
Then, Ryan was surprisingly competitive on the questions of foreign politics, a subject that is not at all his specialty. Not that he was extraordinarily good, but he seemed informed and judicious, which is important.
2) Joe Biden was disorganized and impolite:
Joe Biden was true to himself. The former senator of Delaware is pompous, wordy and disorganized. One felt that he had learned phrases by heart. He said everything without order. Notably, a bunch of numerical figures meant to “do good.” The “middle-class” was praised to the skies at every possible occasion. Rich, millionaire profiteers were duly criticized.
Mitt Romney’s unfortunate quote about the “47 percent of Americans who are assisted” was cited by him [Biden] numerous times in order to discredit the Republican candidate.
All these remarks fell out of context. One felt that old Joe Biden had been “coached” and instructed not to forget anything. On the whole, he wanted to make Thursday night the night that Barack Obama had forgotten to make during his first debate.
Most saddening was the impolite conduct of the Vice President. He constantly snickered and interrupted his rival. On Friday morning, this is what America was talking about. The former Senator of Delaware never had class. We knew that. He confirmed it Thursday night.
3) A debate that benefits Romney more than Obama:
Americans knew Joe Biden but discovered Paul Ryan. The undecided could certify that Mitt Romney had chosen a lively and intelligent young man as running mate, nothing like the pathetic Sarah Palin chosen by John McCain.
The mediocre conduct of Joe Biden is without serious consequence for the Democratic ticket. It just reinforced the Republicans’ conviction of their candidate’s chances.
In the event of a simple tie, Ryan would be thought of as the winner: He would have proven that he could hold his own against a political veteran. By defeating his adversary, he serves Mitt Romney’s campaign well. The outcome of the debate is not going to profoundly change the race.
The most interesting thing will be to see if the debate affects the polls in Wisconsin. Ordinarily, this state votes for the Democratic candidate. If Mitt Romney became competitive in Wisconsin, a state that holds 10 electoral votes, this would pose a problem for Obama’s camp.
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