Posted on 10/12/2012 9:03:51 AM PDT by Clint N. Suhks
If you're a liberal or a Democrat, you probably loved Joe Biden's performance last night; if you're an independent or a Republican, not so much.
According to RealClearPolitics.com, the Obama campaign was deeply wounded after last weeks presidential debate. Mitt Romney not only came off as more likable the he ever had previously, but he also came off as more knowledgeable and confident than President Obama. Over the past eight days, the polls have shifted over to Governor Romney's favor.
Biden was sent out to reverse this increasing trend, rally the base and show the American people that the administration still had fire in its belly. There is, however, one word that Vice President Biden forgot, and that word is overkill.
Biden's been here before. All throughout the 2008 Democratic primary season, and during his 2008 VP debate with Governor Sarah Palin, he was calm, collected, even presidential. He was a likable and charming guy. This time, we saw a different Joe Biden.
Biden smirked, grinned, and waved his hands wildly. Some people would call it impassioned. Others might suggest that he was doing an impression of a southern preacher trying to perform an exorcism. He shook his finger repeatedly in the air, and interrupted Congressman Paul Ryan 82 different times. Paul Ryan maintained his cool, and was polite to a fault.
As the old adage goes, it's all about how things look. Biden tried to exude strength, but ended up coming across as unhinged, cocky, arrogant and rude. Paul Ryan tried to come across as confident and composed, but may have come across as slightly timid. So who ended up getting the best results for their team in the end? Well, as of right now, it might very well have been vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan.
According to the CNN poll of independents, Paul Ryan won the debate, 48% to 44%. The same poll showed that people who watched the debate believed that Paul Ryan expressed himself better than Joe Biden, 50%-41%. An NBC poll of 435 uncommitted voters after the debate showed Paul Ryan winning with 63% to 31%. CNBC had it 56% to 36%, again with Paul Ryan coming out on top. Even the Danville Advocate Messenger had Paul Ryan on top at the end of the day, attracting 56% to Biden's 41%.
So how could Joe Biden's strategy have backfired so horribly? It's quite simple. He did not come off as 'presidential.' He wasn't Joe Biden. He was Malarkey McSmirk.
One of the reasons that Romney was able to move so many undecided and independent voters over to his side last week was because of how he came off during the debate. On Thursday, Paul Ryan may have accomplished the same thing, although he may have Joe Biden to thank for it. President Obama's smirking and looking down did him in. Biden's frantic arm waving and persistent chuckling may have done the same thing. Independent voters do not like someone that looks like they do not want to be there, and they definitely do not like someone who comes across as an arrogant, interrupting madman.
A large number of pundits from across the spectrum would seem to agree. Peggy Noonan, Charles Krauthammer, Piers Morgan, and many others.
Like Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume...
the yolks on you Joe - drunken sot.
A song for this fight ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCgZpYZZ6og&feature=related
“Malarkey McSmirk”
Heh heh heh...hey Joe, that’s Irish for “get the f away from me before I knock yer block off.”
“Malarkey McSmirk”
Heh heh heh...hey Joe, that’s Irish for “get the f away from me before I knock yer block off.”
Although Nixon knew his facts, the visual of him was sweating and uncomfortable.
Biden came off looking rude and disrespectful.
That image is not going to fly with independents.
smirken joe.
Remember Who We Are .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wusgcG4rfo&feature=related
I prefer Pinoccio Joe.
Whenever he proudly displayed his pearly whites, he looked to me like a Horses ass with dentures.
While watching this ABC/Democratic party joint venture, I kept asking myself, “What does this chucklehead think is so funny?”
The topics were national security, the tragedy at our Libyan consulate/poor judgment shown by authorities, and other matters important to our country.
The only time he wasn’t grinning like a cat in its own litter box eating scat was when he was asked his opinion on abortion? “As a catholic ...” and then Cotton-eye Joe proceeded to try and square the circle of abortion as birth control.
Biden has an extremely poor sense of humor. He must find funerals hilarious. Let’s see how hard he’s laughing in 24 days, 12 hours ... and counting.
Hey joe and all liberals in lala land; Can You Hear Us Now ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O913AR3IA2M&feature=related ... if you can’t ... You’ll Hear From All of US SOON
You might even say "'Plugs' Unplugged".
I agree. I never had strong feelings about Biden one way or the other until last night. I was completely appalled by his behavior. His unhinged laughter reminds me in a way of Howard Dean’s scream that sunk him. I’m hoping that last night’s image of Biden will sink the “Obama-Forward!” ship.
Joe Biden is an ass and he showed his last night! He wasn’nt funny or clever or even amusing, he acted like a fool!
This election, in terms of the momentum feel, not political positions, reminds me a lot of 92, only without Perot in the mix. The reason I don’t compare it to Reagan/Carter is that I don’t think a huge 40 something state blowout is even possible right now, in this climate (by either side). Cali and NY aren’t going GOP for a loooong time. Same for Texas and most of the West and South in the opposite direction.
Obama and Biden are Bush and Quayle, and no matter what was actually said, the feelings of the time (rightly or wrongly) shaped the way the participants were received. Obama and Biden are going to seem out of touch to Joe and Joanna America almost no matter what, because of the perception of the direction of the country.
We can argue all day about the real direction of the country in 1992, but the truth is the MSM and Team Clinton successfully pushed and rode the perception of a malaise. Yes I know that if Perot wasn’t in, Bush might have won, but I still think the comparison stands...except the economy is MUCH worse now...so it is the same turned up 2 notches.
This time around the MSM can’t cover UP the malaise, no matter how much they may try.
So in one sense, it almost doesn’t matter what Biden or Obama do, because people are inclined to see it through a lens of the economy and general malaise.
What was different is that Romney absolutely crushed the debate in terms of performance in a massive way, which doubled down on this natural tendency.
Ryan, whatever one says, looked up to the job and does not look like a Gaffemaster or over his head. That is ALL THAT MATTERS.
People will look at Romney and Ryan and see energy, and a desire to work and that they will be able to handle it. They WANT to vote for someone else, they simply just want to feel they aren’t voting for a nutjob...and that has ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. Thus the polling.
Debates 2 and 3 now only matter, IMO, if Romney does something really, really bad or odd. Which is technically possible, but I don’t see it.
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