UPDATE: I listened to the V.P. debate on the radio. I didn’t see either candidate’s personal affect, gestures or facial expressions.
From the first question directed to Vice President Joe Biden (who didn’t answer the question) about whether was a big intelligence failure in the lead-up to the 9/11/12 attack that killed Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, to rambling financial and micro-detailed tax-speak that most Americans have no clue about (including me) by Paul Ryan (who did more than his share of irritating stammering), this debate was not really a debate. I don’t know what to call it.
Joe Biden proved to be the stronger-voiced bully, making Ryan sound like a high school senior. He spoke more powerfully and more smoothly. He also told more than his share of lies. Ryan lost us with all the detail about finances and taxes. Biden succeeded in confusing us with the intentions of Romney and Ryan by some very effective hyperbole.
Ryan is deluded if he thinks the Taliban will not be in Afghanistan, no matter how long our troops stay there. Further, they’ll be back in force as soon as we pull out. Neither Biden nor Ryan said a word about Islam’s doctrines as the source of our Big Problem. We’ve gained nothing there. Ryan thinks we should stay until 2014. It won’t matter when we pull out. The Taliban jihadis will be back and they’ll take over the country.
The entire discussion on Afghanistan was a waste of words. Until someone in power begins to analyze the doctrines of Islam and their dynamics in the war, nothing will be accomplished. Surge shmurge. Fighting season, shmighting season. It’s about the immutable, eternal, bellicose, belligerent Koran, the Hadithe and the Sura, gentlemen.
Martha Raddatz actually asked some good, pointed questions, until the last couple on abortion and character and being a good human being. Joe Biden was the overbearing bully. Paul Ryan was the stammering freshman. Both of them frequently lapsed into obviously rehearsed canned responses that failed to respond to the queries. The whole thing was pathetic.
And Ryan advocates putting American troops into Syria to secure chemical weapons.
Who “won”? Hell, I don’t know. I call it a draw. Surprise. Read the mainstreamers tomorrow. They’re the pundits.
