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Bill Clinton saved President Obama at the convention. Joe Biden saved him last night. Now it’s up to Obama to make his case.
 
Biden was by far the dominant figure in the VP debate. At a minimum, he won by showing some fight and rallying panicky Democrats. Past that, your opinion of the debate probably depends on whether you liked his act.
 
The talking heads on TV shouldn’t pretend to know how that plays. It’s fine to say: “I didn’t like it” or “I thought it was great.” But how do they know what undecided voters thought? That will sort out in the days ahead.
 
It was revealing that criticism of Biden focused on style. On substance, he did some big things: He questioned Romney-Ryan’s slippery $5 trillion tax math. He savaged them on Medicare and Social Security. And he made Ryan look like a hypocrite for attacking the stimulus after asking for stimulus money.
 
As the debate went on, Ryan looked more and more over his head. He didn’t do much to help Romney, and he didn’t do much to help his own chances in 2016.
 
Bottom line: When the other side complains about (a) the moderator or (b) your guy’s behavior, your guy won.
 
Most important, Biden bought Obama a mulligan. Whatever headaches the Vice President gave the White House over the last four years, he earned his keep last night.
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dap916
# dap916
Friday, October 12, 2012 4:51 PM
Joe Biden saved Obama last night? You must have watched a very different debate than I did....or that the majority of the political pundits in our country did.

Give us a break, Gary. He was disengenuous, snarky, rude and down right disgusting. Sad part is that you know it and try to put something here to dissuade the liberal/progressive readers from knowing it.

Just think about one thing, Gary. Joe Biden would be president if anything happened to Obama. Think about Joe Biden...how he reacts...who he is. That okay with you...honestly? I don't care if you answer to me on this...just answer to yourself. My goodness, Gary. This guy is a joke...there is absolutely no other way to describe him.
Carbine
# Carbine
Friday, October 12, 2012 10:59 PM
So far it looks like the debate was a wash. I thought Joe made a complete ass of himself, but that's pretty much par for the course for Joe. He's always been little more than a populist buffoon. He gets a pass for childish behavior because that's really about all anyone ever expects of him. Ryan came across as serious and much more presidential by not sinking to Joe's level.

It's hard to imagine that this will move the needle at all, however. People who find the classless, low-brow antics of a Joe Biden attractive were probably going to vote the Democratic ticket anyway. People who want a serious-minded, disciplined candidate were going to vote Republican. The Democratic base needed shoring up far more than the Republican one, so in that regard Joe's little circus probably helped Obama more than Ryan's performance helped Romney.

Meanwhile Obama has now been outperformed on stage three times--once by his opponent, once by his own VP, and once by Bill Clinton's speech at the convention. How many more times can he be exposed like this before it begins to wear on his public stature?
clarence swinney
# clarence swinney
Saturday, October 13, 2012 8:54 AM
MEDICARE $716B
It was not removed to aid obamacare.
It was funding cuts
Reduction in high subsidies to private Medicare Advantage plan.
Many enroll at a higher average cost than traditional Medicare.
Reduction in pay to health care providers like hospitals, nursing homes
and health care agencies.
It is a multi-year program.
The plan is to get more efficiency by providers.
Preventative care is part.
We (70%) have yelled for decades “Cut the costs of that Health Care Sucker”
Romney-Ryan are distorting the plan.
I scream when I get these outrageous charges: two tests find elevated blood pressure
and 8 hours in bed with nitro patch on chest costs $6000. Elevated blood pressure.
Emergency room. Night in bed costs $4400.
Sleep lab. Hooked to monitor. In bed 8 hours. $5500.
A supervisor and two attendants for the night.
Four rooms. $22,000 income for one night?
It showed me why the firm has so many sleep labs throughout the state.
clarence swinney
# clarence swinney
Saturday, October 13, 2012 8:57 AM
Obama has failed to promote his good things. He has many.
For example,if he hits his 38o0B budget in 2013 fiscal year
he will have increased spending by 8.6% to Bush 92%

3510B to 3800B for Obama
1830B to 3510B for Bush

Great stuff to promote.
Reaganite
# Reaganite
Sunday, October 14, 2012 9:16 AM
Shouldn't that be Smirkin' Joe? Beclowning himself in a national debate showed the real Biden.

As to the moderator, the complaints on her, which are quite valid, came before the debate. How can someone who had Obama as a guest at her wedding and who had Obama give her husband a job even remotely be considered fair or objective? If this woman had had an ounce of integrity, she would not have taken the moderator spot.

The Romney campaign committed political malpractice by agreeing to all the moderators coming from the MSM, which is also known as the Obamedia and has always been in the tank for Obama. Half of the moderators should have been from outside the Obamedia.
clarence swinney
# clarence swinney
Sunday, October 14, 2012 1:27 PM
THE BIG THREE
Republicans 1980-2009 controlled Presidency for 20 years—Senate for 18 years-House for 12 years-6 years of total control
In those 20 years our budget went to 3500 Billion from 600 Billion under Carter.
Of course Clinton added a little of that 2900 increase.
The Big 3 took Carter under 1000B debt to 10,000.
Took Clinton surplus to a 1400B deficit. First time to exceed 1000B.
Took Carter record job creation of 218,000 per month down to 99,000 per month.
“Initiated” our involvement in 10 foreign conflicts. In 12, Carter + Clinton=0
The Big 3 had recession in all or part of 7 years.
The Big 3 destroyed our wonderful Savings and Loan Industry which was instrumental in the housing boom for Middle Class 1945-1980.
The Big Three smashed our Housing Industry. !945-1980, it took 2.5 years of average income to buy an average size home to 5.4 years.
The Big Three allowed Wall Street to Outsource entire Industries and in past decade close 58,000 plants. I can show plenty in my home town.
The Big Three alienated 1500 Million Muslims by invading their destitute unarmed Iraq
of only 15 million adults. What had those 15M done to us?
The Big Three invaded a Muslim nation of 50% illiterates, third poorest nation and no arms.
The Big Three allowed Wall Street Gamblers to turn into Casino Derivative Of America.
The Big Three allowed Inequality of Wealth And making us #4 in OECD nations.
The Big Three penchant for tax cuts for the richest made us #3 As least taxed in OECD just below Chile and Mexico.
The Big Three allowed us to become #2 in OECD in least tax on corporations
Want a BIG FOUR then elect Mitt Romney.
Want to cut the minimum wage?
Want to change Social Security and Medicare?
Want to waste more on our overloaded wasteful killing machine empire?
Want to invade Iran?
A disgusted Independent
clarence swinney
# clarence swinney
Monday, October 15, 2012 9:07 AM
FISCAL YEAR END 9-30-12 and 2013 Budget

Expenditure—3540B---3800(2013)
Revenue-------2450B---2900
Deficit---------1100B----900

Borrowed again? When will we stop letting the rich get richer instead of taxing wealth?
Our leadership is too weak to face the facts that Wealth Income and Estates
are not being taxed Fairly. Pay 15% on income in Gambling and 28% as a school teacher or policeman.
Top 400 Incomes paid less than 1% of Income in Payroll Tax.
Rip off must stop.
Obama inherited a 3510B Budget and three budgets later it is 3540B
Big Spender? Ha Ha
If he spends 3800B in his last budget(2013) he will have increased Spending by 8.6%
Bush 92% and Reagan 80% Obama 8.6% Wow! Why is this not promoted?

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