NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish Pubs Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

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

Larger Text

E-mail

71 Comments

RSS

Archives

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!

E-mail

71 comments

Next Previous Page 4 of 5 pages

katiemac | Oct 14, 2012, 12:41 PM EDT

"call to President Obama to get in thw game in Tuesday’s debate." I thought you effete, liberal, intellectuals knew about spell check. Does no one edit?

Report abuse

shuvonn | Oct 14, 2012, 12:38 PM EDT

JohnValentine do you object then to the separation of church and state like the US Constitution does? And Ryan took all the time he was allowed to answer the questions he was asked so to even infer that he was not allowed to speak is an outright misleading statement at best borefield!

Report abuse

shuvonn | Oct 14, 2012, 12:33 PM EDT

KatieMc so every RC who takes birth control pills is also an oxymoron in your eyes? Chris Christy is like a moving mountain and a joke of a politician. Good job you do not have a vote in the US Eamonn from Dublin, I am from Dublin and your not living here clearly leaves you at a disadvantage to not know what is going on. Rommey voted in Obamacare in Massachusetts. The Republican Senate voted for a 30 million dollar cut to embassy security world wide and now want to be critical of the murders in Libya? Ryan was critical of the stimulus money yet asked on many occasions for money from the very funds he sought for his state. So you have NO clue clearly....

Report abuse

EamonnDublin | Oct 14, 2012, 12:22 PM EDT

No, Ms. Dowd - Mr. Biden did NOT get "penalised for smiling too much", as you put it. He was "penalised" because he sneered, laughed inanely, whispered in the background, interrupted rudely and generally behaved in a boorish, sarcastic, overbearing, childish, ignorant manner. And yes, ALL of the above apply in this case. I have the absolute height of respect for the United States of America. However, if you guys vote in Obama for a second term, I will have to seriously question whether the American people as a whole have the intelligence to continue to indulge in universal suffrage. If Obama wins, I suggest a National IQ test for the right to vote would then be in order. God Bless America! Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.

Report abuse

borefield | Oct 14, 2012, 12:21 PM EDT

Ryan came across as a well spoken professional respectful young man. He has great answers to all the questions if only he had a chance to verbalized them. Biden's brash and bullying behavior prevented people with a degree of decorum and manners from hearing them at the debate. It's time Biden retired to the rocking chair. He looked like a laughing idiot off his meds. instead of the gracious statesman he once was.

Report abuse

lokionline | Oct 14, 2012, 12:05 PM EDT

I would like to channel Chris Christie who foretold that the first Presidential debate would change the game. I suspect the Presidential debate this coming Tuesday will seal the deal one way or the other. The rest of the noise around this issue is irrelevant.

Report abuse

Katie McInerney | Oct 14, 2012, 12:01 PM EDT

Biden said that he is "a pro-abortion Catholic." HUH? I thought he was a moron, but now I know he is an OXYMORON.

Report abuse

johntvalentine | Oct 14, 2012, 11:57 AM EDT

My whold life I have been very proud of and always so overwelmed of my Irish heritage. I am so ashamed of this uncivilized chacter they call, VP biden. To stand before all of America's beloved Citizenry. And act like satan, lie and lie and deceitfull try to deceive America. But what hurts me even more, is that the National Democratic Party at the Democratic Convention says, "THERE IS NO GOD." The progressives have taken our Democratic Party values and principles. I have now made my decision, to not at least for this time around, to NOT VOTE DEMOCRATIC. PERIOD.

Report abuse

shuvonn | Oct 14, 2012, 11:56 AM EDT

You want to talk hypocrisy? Asking for funds that you are critical of (as in the stimulus funding Ryan repeatedly asked for for his state) Being critical of the embassy attacks while being on the side that cuts the funds in the senate. Ryan is a liar, so is romney since Romney brought Obama care to Mass and now is critical of it? PS do any of you know who that 47% are? You know the ones Romney does NOT care about ??? I DO!

Report abuse

BrianO | Oct 14, 2012, 11:37 AM EDT

I don't know but Barry kinda looks like spock in the above picture, If only he were more logical.

Report abuse

mreinhar2001 | Oct 14, 2012, 11:30 AM EDT

Grinnin Joe does not represent Irish American behavior in my neck of the woods. Brash, boorish, rude, and willing to laugh at the discussion of the ambassador's murder in Libya is how Biden presented himself. Those may be New Yorker Maureen's and Roberts' valued behaviors, but they are not Irish-American behaviors.

Report abuse

Mairin67 | Oct 14, 2012, 11:29 AM EDT

I believe Mr. Romney got away with wuite a few rude and arrogant interruptions but the "liberal media" let him away with it. Why I do not know. But funny to hear all the repub whiners go on and on and on about Biden....cuz once again, that's all ya got.

Report abuse

Sarge524 | Oct 14, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT

"Ryan appeared nervous?" Beg to differ, he appeared presidential especially compared to the lunacy of Biden.

Report abuse

katieherk | Oct 14, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT

Congrats on telling the truth about only one thing.... that Obama lost to Romney. On the other hand, lied about Biden... he did not win, or as you put it, Catholic wakeup call. He was rude, rash, kept interrupting (some 60 times) and was padded on the back by the moderator. He lied throughout his blubberings. Gosh, Maureen, when are you gonna see what he's is doing and will continue to do to our country/

Report abuse

Big Paul | Oct 14, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT

Joe was a demeaning jerk, interrupting and telling lies. And his answer on Catholic values should have everyone upset.

Report abuse

Next Previous Page 4 of 5 pages