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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Maureen Dowd says Joe Biden delivered an 'Irish Catholic wake up call' to President Obama --Barack the big loser in V.P. debate says top New York Times columnist

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Maureen Dowd says Joe Biden delivered an 'Irish Catholic wake up call' to President Obama --Barack the big loser in V.P. debate says top New York Times columnist

Posted on Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 08:17 AM

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President Obama

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd has stated that Joe Biden delivered an “Irish Catholic wake up” call to President Obama to get in thw game in Tuesday’s debate.

In her Sunday column, Dowd, the most read columnist in The Times and daughter of an Irish immigrant, stated that the debate was like Thanksgiving at her place.

“A donnybrook with Irish Catholic uncles and nephews interrupting one another, mocking one another, arguing over one another, bombastically denouncing every political opinion except their own as malarkey.”

Surprisingly, Dowd says the big loser on Thursday night was Barack Obama whose passionless performance contrasts so hugely to how Biden performed and how Ryan spoke.

“The loser of the vice-presidential debate was, of course, Barack Obama. In contrast to the pair on the undercard slugging it out, the president’s limp performance the other night was even more inexplicable and inexcusable,” Dowd wrote.

Dowd stated that “ It’s hard to imagine a politician getting penalized for smiling too much, but Joe Biden managed it, breaking out in smiles and laughter 92 times by the count of ABC News.”

However, Dowd believes that Biden gave Obama a second chance because “he offered a tour de force on facts that brought the playing field to life again.”

Dowd stated Ryan looked nervous at times.

“Ryan, who was a toddler when Biden first came to the Senate, seemed a little green and shaky at moments ... talking budget blarney, the Tea Party’s boy wonder once more proved that he can come up with a number for any purpose.”

She stated Biden’s biggest and strangest moment was when he “went on a one-minute scream-of-consciousness about the 47 percent cited by Romney as moochers, the 30 percent cited by Ryan as takers, Scranton, his parents, the Buffett rule, Social Security, veterans, the 47 percent again, Grover Norquist, the middle class, a fair shot, Wall Street vs. Main street, and $500 billion in additional tax cuts for 120,000 wealthy families. Practically in one breath. Whew.”

Like the rest of us Dowd will be watching Obama’s performance on Tuesday night very closely.

It is “Perils of Pauline” time. Has Biden thrown him a lifeline? Can the president clutch it? Tune in on Tuesday!

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blackstone | Oct 14, 2012, 09:14 PM EDT

Joe Biden is a buffoon and a disgrace to civilized people everywhere. His debate performance was so sleazy and disgusting completely filled with lies and shameless pandering. He is the worst of the worst.Just the thought that this clown is a heartbeat away from being president is the only reason you need NOT to vote for Obama. I lost all respect for Maureen Dowd long ago, but this just confirms it. No intelligent person could think that the way Joe Biden behaved is worthy of anything but complete contempt, whatever your politics.

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SherryKay | Oct 14, 2012, 07:08 PM EDT

So,good for Joe Biden as Barack Obama sure needs to be beach slapped into reality again and stop being a pomous arse and end his stupid mooning and swooning over Michelle Obama and give up golf and shooting hoops childish nonsense!

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shuvonn | Oct 14, 2012, 06:38 PM EDT

There is a difference between being against wars and being against wars on credit cards and you have flip flopped between both in your comments:-) So was what you said a lie or a mistake? Funny you do not mention one hypocritical comment made by Ryan such as being critical of the stimulus package and yet at least twice begging for those very funds for his state ? Or using the Ben Ghazi attack to score cheap political points when it was the republican congress that cut the security budget for embassies world wide! Ain't hypocrisy grand!

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mairint | Oct 14, 2012, 06:26 PM EDT

What sort of 'Irish Catholic' would Maureen Dowd understand? Does she mean the nominal version or the one who understands and follows his/her faith? As for the vacuous comments of pagan ilk who cannot abide God or our faith in Him, what have atheists given to the world? Huh? How many hospitals, colleges, charitable organizations etc.? Carry on spreading your hatred and stand by as the Islamic fanatical version of religion takes over, then see how you survive and what sort of 'leadership' you will have to live under.

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wjb1tex | Oct 14, 2012, 06:22 PM EDT

shuvonn | Oct 14, 2012, 06:08 PM EDT Strange you do not mention that Bush did NOT put any wars he started on the books why is that? Obama put everything on the books. Obama care may not have been penned before the last election but how long has affordable healthcare been spoken about in the US------------------------------- I was commenting on Biden's lie about not supporting the wars. Not whether they were on credit cards or not. Also he lied about Palin talking about them in his debate with her. Not what she has said since. The question is did Biden lie. Your response makes it clear you know he did.

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seanomelb | Oct 14, 2012, 06:12 PM EDT

I think we will see a different Obama on Tuesday.Ephraim's piece solidifies why we must have a secular government. Keep the crazies out of Washington. Adkin,Bachmann Walsh and the rest of the extremist religious freaks posing as human beings

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shuvonn | Oct 14, 2012, 06:08 PM EDT

Strange you do not mention that Bush did NOT put any wars he started on the books why is that? Obama put everything on the books. Obama care may not have been penned before the last election but how long has affordable healthcare been spoken about in the US? Clinton tried to bring it in and like Michael D says 'just a bunch of wa....s whipping up fear' was all that death panels was about. And I have seen and heard palin speaking death panels but I hear she's writing books now on faith and family are you going to purchase it??

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brendan gillen | Oct 14, 2012, 05:51 PM EDT

I like Joe Biden. He calls it like it is. Please read my book High Noon in Stewart and you will learn everything you need to know about Irish Canada.

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wjb1tex | Oct 14, 2012, 05:48 PM EDT

shuvonn | Oct 14, 2012, 05:39 PM EDT Murph what was Biden wrong on ?-----------------Although I am not Murph I will answer on a couple. Biden said he was against the two wars paid for by credit cards. The fact is he voted for both of them. He said "death panels come up in every v-p debate and that Palin had talked about them. Obama had not yet been elected so Obamacare was never even proposed so how did Palin know about them ?

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shuvonn | Oct 14, 2012, 05:39 PM EDT

Murph what was Biden wrong on ?

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shuvonn | Oct 14, 2012, 04:59 PM EDT

Katiemac every woman who takes the pill then is in the same category as is any man who uses a condom! Eamonn you come across quite dismissive yourself and i notice you didn't address the points I made about Ryan asking for stimulus funds while Condemning the stimulus package. Or Romney passing Obama care in Mass or the republican senate taking millions from the fund to guard embassies while making use of the Ben ghazi murders to score cheap political points. And I know well how to spell my own name thank you Siobhan!!

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righton | Oct 14, 2012, 04:41 PM EDT

Once again, Biden proves he IS the crazy uncle. Especially when he talked about the four murders in Benghazi and neither he nor the president knew about security risks or terrorists, just some stupid video no one watched as the week long reason. Keep laughing Joe. And go to confession for lying. And say six Hail Marys and the Act of Contrition for the rest of the lies.

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Smyrnian | Oct 14, 2012, 04:29 PM EDT

And we all know how much Irish Central absolutely worships the ground Maureen Dowd walks on so not much credibility here.

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Sashland | Oct 14, 2012, 04:13 PM EDT

The debate is a perfect litmus test for the election: if you are definitely going to vote for obama then you though biden gave a rousing, spirited defense of freedom. if you are going definitely going to vote for Romney then you though Ryan was steady, controlled, respectful and a viable VP office holder. if you were undecided and watched that debate over half watched and said "what the hell was that? who is that rudde obnoxious Cheshire Cat. One quarter said, well, I guess I need to watch the second Presidential debate to confirm I still can't vote for obama. The last quarter said "wasn't there supposed to be a baseball game tonight"... The polls that show Ryan winning 48 to 44, or 51 to 47, are actually a pretty good reflection of where the final vote will go. Romney is now above 50% and obama MUSt win the next debate or the election is virtually over. The VP debate was a perfect litmus test as one sees what they believe, and the truly undecideds and a-political were offended by biden's antics. Thank you Joe.

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eiriamach | Oct 14, 2012, 04:06 PM EDT

Right on, EphraimK. You expressed the problem well. They'll wake up in horror some post-election morning and ask, "Why am I in bed with these creatures?

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