Often acting as surrogates for their running mates, Joe Biden and Paul Ryan squared off on international affairs, taxes and abortion in the only vice presidential debate of the election season.
The candidates found little to agree on, whether it was a military withdrawal from Afghanistan, raising taxes or reforming entitlement programs. As expected, both sides spun the debate performances as victories.
One clear winner appeared to be widely-praised moderator Martha Raddatz, yet she did receive some criticism from conservatives.
Patch ran a statewide live blog that attracted upwards of 40 participants who offered their thoughts on the debate. Here are some of their reactions.
Cassandra
It's a toss-up. Biden: overconfident "I'm the voice of experience." Ryan: far-too-smiley equanimity.
John Flanagan:
Fortunately, or unfortunately, to the benefit of whichever VP candidate is deemed tomorrow, by the talking heads, to have fared worse, the debate is scheduled in the midst of the Yankees/Orioles, A's/Giants baseball playoffs and the Thursday night Steelers/Titans football games.
Angie
I was a little underwhelmed by this debate, but...full disclosure, I was a little distracted so it might be better when I rewatch it from the start.
Anonymous
Biden is a mouthpiece, an empty suit.
LiveForFreedom
"Sometimes the words do not come out of your mouth the right way [said by Ryan to Biden]" will be the quote for the 2012 debate.
WallyBoy1891
I love Biden's Passion.
Jay
Biden just nailed him on being a hypocrite about that stimulus.
Brigit
Ryan is calm, cool, and collected. Biden is angry and looks like a fool.
Archie Bunker III
Ryan, the phony also said he RAN a marathon in under 3 hours, when in REALITY-VILLE, it was OVER 4 HOURS. A completely scummy lie, FOR SURE! I ran 15 marathons more than 30 years ago and have NO problem remembering the times.
Biden did what was necessary, he called out the liar, just what BO will do with rr from now on!
So what is Romney hiding.......could it be Amnesty?
The thing is, Dems believe Joe won the debate, but he may have helped them lose the election. His anger and rude, condescending behavior, treating opponents with total disdain, and absolute COLDNESS to real human economic suffering--let alone to the needless slaughter of 4 Americans in Benghazi--perfectly epitomize exactly what the Democratic party of today has become. In stark contrast, Paul Ryan was calm and respectful, even-tempered and even Presidential in bearing. All but the most diehard hateful dyed-in-the-wool Dems saw that, and the Romney/Ryan "Comeback Team" definitely won this one with the Independents, whom this election depends upon! Romney/Ryan are now WINNING Florida, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Virginia, with Obama only a sure thing in 7 states!!
We've come through a rough time and the sun is just beginning to rise. To go back to the Republican programs that cratered the country while rewarding the 1% is unconscionable. The party of "no" and their obstructionism caused the country's first downgrade. The party of "no" and obstructionism has no agenda that will benefit this country. The party of "no" cratered the jobs bill to help home coming Veterans. The party of "no" and obstructionism will NOT pass the middle class tax cuts unless the 1% get their blood money. The party of "no" has never voted against a war. Why? They benefit - check out Haliburton. Very few of the party of "no" allow their sons and daughters to serve in the military - they avoid like the plague. Romney, 5 sons and none have even served in the Coast Guard! Bush - AWOL. VP Biden's son served in Iraq. VP Biden believes enough in this country to have his son be put into harms way for his beliefs.
Who controlled the House and Senate for the 1st two years of Obama's presidency? Nice try!
President Obama had a Filibuster-proof Majority for 72 Days.
The First War: Return to Iraq War number 2: Syria "“we are missing an historic opportunity to win new friends" The entirety of Europe has declined to get involved in Syria is that there is no UN Security Council resolution authorizing the use of force. In its absence, any army that used force except in self defense would be open to being hauled before judges in the Hague or judges in some country where the judiciary claims universal jurisdiction. If the US went into Syria unilaterally, the same thing would happen to Romney as happened to Bush– the US would bear all the costs The Third War is with Iran -Romney couldn’t stop Iran’s nuclear enrichment program if he were president, any more than Obama can. That step would require an invasion and occupation of the country. Simply bombing the facilities would only briefly set them back. The fourth war is in Afghanistan - Romney said he would wind down the war by 1214 but.... He implicitly is reopening the question of the US withdrawal from that country. On Afghanistan, Romney is pulling an anti-Nixon. He appears to have a secret plan not to end the war in Afghanistan. The small wars #5 - Intervention in Yemen, Somalia, even Libya in a ‘war on terror.’ Romney says that drones are not enough. Infantry? Four or five wars and lots of other conflicts are not a foreign policy vision, they are a nightmare.
What you fail to see is the growth that Romney/Ryan purpose - 4 million new jobs. While this administration's record is more hand outs, and America cannot see see who is going to pay for these programs. It's easy they roll them out after the election, why the sneaky tactics??? Why not during their term? Keep us in the dark, America's dont need to see the forest through the trees. Your boy Obama/Biden purposes more handouts and government assistance causing the average wage of every America to go lower. But, your medical will be less also (maybe) - congrats! I dont know about you but I can pay my mortgage on government assistance. Stop the Welfare States of America, elect Ronmey/Ryan!!!
Why are you jumping to conclusions. Firstly, Syria - no one says this is easy, however the word friends are far from what they are! These people hate us. America doesnt understand this! It doesnt matter if we play nice or kick their butt, They hate us. Period. We are everything they dispise. They don't have freedom of religion. If you don't beleive that they hate you! They say what you want to hear to your face, and turn around tell their friends to kill you at night in your sleep. Don't mean to scare you, but 9/11 is how the entire region feels. We have to be resolute about keeping these people off our shores. If they want to come here, use the front door, and become an American patriot. Not a part time American. Afghanistan, Ryan just doesnt want to tip his hat when he would leave. Nothing to do with aunouncing "hey Taliban were leaving see you later, the towns/states are all yours. Oh yeah, it will be on Jan 1, 2020. Whenever the date. You can move in then." Iran, Biden says we will know when they are able to put fission material in a bomb, humm oh yeah just like they knew when our embassy was going to get bombed. What a joke!!! We need to work with Israel to show some muscle that we mean busy not the joke of a ploicy that Obama/Biden is putting forward. Get these jokers out of there.
What gets me is all these people that want war are too old to fight! Send someone elses son or daughter! ( not my kids though )