There’s a limit to everything. Ridicule is a powerful tool, but I think you’re already off on the wrong foot if you think it is “man’s most potent weapon”.
To be used effectively ridicule must be done on a constant but not aggressive basis. If you do what Biden did during the debates his attempt at ridicule made him look like a clown which he is.
If you want to look at effective ridicule, watch CBS and NBC and ABC. When reporting the news they will subtlety make comments that are moderate ridicule or facetious. In and of itself one day of this type of subtle ridicule has no effect. However, when this is used day after day after month after year it is deadly effective. If you look at what was done to Vice President Dan Quayle you can see how effective this is. Quayle made a few minor gaffs in office and on the campaign. They were minor and of no importance. Obama has made many more and not minor.
After 4 year of this low intensity constant ridicule of his minor gaffs the public perception of Quayle is that he is slow and stupid. He is not. He was a victim of classic character assassination using Saul Alinsky tactics.