Biden vs Ryan

[sentinel]

Biden had to be held back on Palin because they didn't want him to look condescending when he was up against a woman. He can look condescending against Paul Ryan, because of the huge age difference and experience gap.

[Sbane]

Biden will represent older Americans who are accustomed to Medicare and Social Security. Republicans would not want people in Ohio and Florida to watch that debate.

Seeing that Ryan's plan would not change anything for older American's I am not so sure about this.

This is assuming they aren't jealous bastards who don't care about their kids or grandkids. Why is there an exemption down to 55 years old besides electoral advantage? Is there any valid reason for it? Those already enrolled in Medicare should be allowed to continue, but why exempt those who are years away from enrolling?

The logic is probably that it gives those close to enrolling a pass since their financial planning was done with the understanding that they would be able to enroll. I'm sure there is some electoral consideration involved too. Obviously a budget plan must be able to actually pass for it to actually happen. The line has to be drawn somewhere and Ryan chose 55.

Discussing changes to the Medicare/Social security system is one of the unspeakable truths in American politics, that it will one day collapse if significant changes are not made. It remains to be seen if the voters will appreciate such honesty or eviscerate him for breaking the taboo. By choosing Ryan, Romney may have defined this election as such.

The choice is whether we do this while preserving tax cuts for the rich (hell Romney and Ryan want to cut their taxes more) or do we have a balanced approach. To be honest no candidate is running on a balanced approach, but personally I find letting the wealthy off the hook at the expense of middle class seniors as unacceptable. Obviously pain needs to be shared, but the Romney and Ryan plan would shift the pain on to those who can least afford it, and none to those who can most afford it.

[Sbane]

The Medicare and Social Security "problems" are two of perhaps the easiest solved issues in American politics right now, let's not pretend they require some unknown, wonky, new approach that has never been attempted ever before. The only reason no headway has been made on those issues and have subsquently been made "taboo" is because the ideology of the Right in this country has never actually been geared toward problem solving, but rather, focused on using problems as a vehicle to implement their ideological view of what government should do, rather than what it can do.

The left hasn't been remotely interested in dealing with it either. Every mention of what to do about the massive budget apocalypse of these programs is either demagogued ruthlessly as ___ hates old people/sick people/poor people/etc or just proposing some statement-making tax increase that does nothing to address the massive looming shortfall. No, the left has been raiding social security over the years just like everyone else.

A left-wing party would follow through on those solutions. Your problem is considering the Democratic Party as a left-wing party.

What in particular are you thinking of?

[RogueBeaver]

I think this will be evenly matched like 2000 was. Two serious, down-to-earth wonks who know their stuff and each other. Biden could gaffe or appear condescending, Ryan could come off too green-eyeshady if he's badly coached. Both should just be themselves.

On Biden-Palin: What sirnick said. Anyone who thinks Palin "beat" Biden either didn't watch it or is trolling.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

I think this will be evenly matched like 2000 was. Two serious, down-to-earth wonks who know their stuff and each other. Biden could gaffe or appear condescending, Ryan could come off too green-eyeshady if he's badly coached. Both should just be themselves.

On Biden-Palin: What sirnick said. Anyone who thinks Palin "beat" Biden either didn't watch it or is trolling.

I think you're right. 2000s debate, information and preparedness wise was a draw. BUT, Cheney came off as funny and like able (weird huh?) and so people gave it to him. That's probably what's gonna happene here. They'll both come off as knowledgeable, but Biden will seem funnier and more down to earth, while Ryan will seem eager and to matter-of-factly.

[RogueBeaver]

I agree with you. This personality part of the debate won't matter as much for Biden, he's the incumbent with a well-established persona amongst the voters. For Ryan it does matter because of the inevitable Dem attacks on him (and especially Romney) as a heartless accountant. He needs to come off like he does on the trail, not try and outdo Biden. That would be a redux of Jindal's response, trying to adopt someone else's personality/style.

[milhouse24]

Yeah, I think Paul Ryan is too much brains and not enough Heart. 

He sounds too much of an randian to care about the plight of the working class.  He needs a little more of Clinton and Dubya's "I feel your pain" empathizer-in-chief. 

Even Obama has a good "I feel your pain" vibe, hence the Obama-care. 

Its funny how simple it is winning the presidency when you compare "I feel your pain" candidates to their losing opponents.  Romney tried to be like Reagan but is quickly coming up short.  Romney needs to out-empathize Obama, which is difficult and can only be done by making him look "out of touch with the common man." 

The Romney-Ryan ticket is quickly being known for being the "arrogant rich guy" ticket and not the "common man's ticket"

[Lincoln Republican]

Obama did not want to take Ryan on.

Ryan will get the better of Biden by a long shot.

[mondale84]

Obama did not want to take Ryan on.

Ryan will get the better of Biden by a long shot.

   


.....Ryan was the VP the Obama camp was rooting for......

[DrScholl]

Experience gives Biden the edge, the ticket really lacks any foreign policy knowledge, so that issue coming up a lot and given Biden the opportunity to really outpace Ryan.

[Lincoln Republican]

In rsponse to Mondale84

You obviously did not see the exchange between Ryan and Obama on CNN footage where Obama backed down in an exchange with Ryan on budgetary matters by stating that is a matter that requires further discussion.

[mondale84]

In rsponse to Mondale84

You obviously did not see the exchange between Ryan and Obama on CNN footage where Obama backed down in an exchange with Ryan on budgetary matters by stating that is a matter that requires further discussion.

So you're basing your claim that Obama is somehow scared of Ryan on some CNN "footage" where Obama "backed down"? LOL

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

In rsponse to Mondale84

You obviously did not see the exchange between Ryan and Obama on CNN footage where Obama backed down in an exchange with Ryan on budgetary matters by stating that is a matter that requires further discussion.

You obviously didn't see the exchange between Ryan and Obama and pretty much every other House Republican back in 2010. He answered Ryan's question and then went on to explain everything soma caveman could get it. He smacked down each and everyone of them.

[Lincoln Republican]

Not according to liberal media outlet CNN my friend, in particular John King.

[mondale84]

Not according to liberal media outlet CNN my friend, in particular John King.

John King is good at analyzing maps but little else...

[Lincoln Republican]

Not according to liberal media outlet CNN my friend, in particular John King.

John King is good at analyzing maps but little else...

What?  But John King is a member of "the best political team on television" accoridng to Wolf Blitzer. 

[mondale84]

Not according to liberal media outlet CNN my friend, in particular John King.

John King is good at analyzing maps but little else...

What?  But John King is a member of "the best political team on television" accoridng to Wolf Blitzer. 

Wolf Blitzer is a troll and so is the Corporatist News Network

[Lincoln Republican]

But I thought all the trolls occupied this forum.