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| Irish American politicians Paul Ryan and Joe Biden gear up for their first major battle |
Incredible, but the presidential race could come down to the debating skills of two Irish American politicians who were viewed as bit players just a few weeks ago.
Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan were supposed to be the afters, while the main course was Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.
However, after Romney’s sensational knockout of Obama in the first presidential debate the Ryan/Biden stand-off in Kentucky suddenly looms large.
The polls are essentially tied which means that any major mistake or a similar poor showing by Biden could doom the Obama campaign suddenly on the back foot.
For Paul Ryan, a complete unknown to most Americans, it will be the first and only chance to introduce himself. Is he the cost cutter and right-wing ideologue that the Democrats paint him as or a visionary young politician who will loom as a giant some day as Republicans believe?
Biden, whose secret service code name is “Celtic” will be trying to stop the rot that suddenly pervades the Obama campaign after the president’s faux pas in the first debate.
Paul Ryan, descendant of Tipperary Famine era immigrants, will seek to continue the upward momentum and the suddenly kinder, gentler image of the Romney/Ryan campaign.
The two men could not be more different. Biden is the Irish politician of legend; warm, gregarious, and downright sentimental at times. Ryan is a more withdrawn number cruncher, bright as all hell, and someone who sees politics as a battle about ideas not sentiment.
But those stereotypes will only carry both men so far. This presidential election is a battle about core ideas and both men personify the difference even more than the presidential candidates.
It is the small government, cut and slash spending view as against the traditional model that we can solve issues through government and private partnership.
This is what will make this debate so fascinating. The American people are finally engaged after the first debate and it is game on with polls showing the race the closest since Kennedy/Nixon and Bush/Gore.
Ryan has the tougher task, introducing himself to the American people under the harsh spotlight of a desperately close presidential campaign.
He is not in Wisconsin anymore and there has to be a sense of nervousness and anxiety heading into his big night.
Biden on the other hand has been known for his verbal gaffes and has to watch that Irish gift of the gab which isn’t such a gift on occasions.
Biden was chosen in 2008 by Obama to reach that Catholic working class voter who is so crucial in swing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Ryan was also picked in part because of that profile and both men will be aiming directly at the undecided vote, which contains so many Catholic working class voters.
They say Vice Presidential debates do not decide elections, but in one as close as this it could have a massive impact.
After Obama’s poor performance the pressure on Joe Biden is greater than he has ever experienced in a long political career.
But I have a funny feeling it will be the old dog for the hard road when the smoke clears.
Read more: New information on Vice President Joe Biden’s Irish roots uncovered
Read more: The Paul Ryan American dream -- fleeing famine in Ireland to Vice Presidential ticket
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.travelmpq | Oct 11, 2012, 11:52 AM EDT
Biden's "gift of gab" is just that: a gift for the Republicans. Can't wait to see what blooper-reel material this windbag will come up with tonight.
jamthecat | Oct 11, 2012, 11:05 AM EDT
How about this little donneybrook of Romney lying -- "There is no legislation with regards to abortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda." -- Mitt Romney to Des Moines Register editorial board "Governor Romney would of course support legislation aimed at providing greater protections for life." -- Romney spokesperson Andrea Saul, clarifying "The actions I'll take immediately is to remove funding for Planned Parenthood. It will not be part of my budget. And also...I will reinstate the Mexico City policy which keeps us from uisng foreign aid for abortions overseas." -- Romney, the next day
johnshiel | Oct 11, 2012, 09:35 AM EDT
the windbag vs, the jabber... old joe will be lucky if he doesn't expel more than his air tonight...
jamthecat | Oct 10, 2012, 11:33 PM EDT
Lies Romney's told prior to and during the debate. 1. His health care plan makes sure people with pre-existing conditions will be covered. He and members of his campaign said repeatedly before the debate that it will not. 2. He wanted to serve in Viet Nam...except he also said he didn't and got 4 deferments to keep from being drafted. 3. He's for abortion rights, except he wasn't until the debate and said so repeatedly. In the debate, alone, he was caught lying 27 times.
plstg67 | Oct 10, 2012, 08:53 PM EDT
I'm from Wisconsin & I think Paul Ryan will make a great VP.Because he will get the job done & not sit in the background like Biden.
Searlit | Oct 10, 2012, 07:20 PM EDT
The people that have all the money tied up in this country are very good at stonewalling and keeping what they are doing secret. I consider that very dishonest. Doubletalk and changing your position on an issue depending on the audience, like Mitt Romney has been caught doing on women's issues are sure as H*ll lying. I grew up in a much fairer United States than what there is now. I have seen which party has gotten in and changed the the rules to favor themselves, and that would be the Republicans. The country has become so violent, aggressive and mean-spirited it is barely recognizable. The Founding Fathers would be horrified by the way civil rights have been abused. Police are tasering innocent people, the TSA agents are allowed to pat innocent people down. It's like a police state. The Constitution allows for peaceful public protest, yet protestors and journalists are arrested, though they've done nothing wrong. You can't put that on the Democrats or President Obama.
mamaginnty | Oct 10, 2012, 04:27 PM EDT
Rory gave us his answer loud and clear when after his first big win, a fan ran over and gave him an irish flag, he dropped it to the ground. Afterwards he tried to cover up by saying he had not made his mind up whether to play for Britain or Ireland...money will do the talking for him either way.
mamaginnty | Oct 10, 2012, 02:43 PM EDT
Searlit | Oct 10, 2012, 01:20 PM EDT wjb1tex, Mitt & Paul are lying------------ Searlit Proof of who is at fault for the economy is an opinion. Not a lie. All of your other points are what Romney and Ryan say they will do. Again not a lie. Obamacare may or may not hurt small business. I can find just as many experts to argue either position. So that is not a lie. Before Obama took office he said he knew how bad the economy was and he could fix it. Right after he took office he said he didn't realize how bad it was ( pretty damming to be that unaware ) A year later he said if he couldn't fix the economy in three years he would be a one term President. So he didn't know how bad the economy was before he took office or how bad one year later. Now four years later he tells us he knows ho to fix it.
Searlit | Oct 10, 2012, 01:20 PM EDT
wjb1tex, Mitt & Paul are lying about President Obama 's achievements on the economy. They haved blamed him for the poor economy when the economy collapsed due to GW Bush's two wars and his ridiculous tax cuts for the wealthiest. All the pair of them have done is stonewall about everything. They won't tell you how they are going to pay for extending the tax cuts for the wealthiest, except for saying you will get a voucher for medicare if they win. They have said they will privatize Social Security, that sounds like another field day for the hedge fund crowd to me. They tell us Obamacare hurts small business, yet the President has made plans available that would reduce rates for groups. Americans pay most of the premiums themselves these days. The employers are mostly administrators, now. Let's put it another way. Romney & Ryan won't tell you the truth.
cillowen | Oct 10, 2012, 12:24 PM EDT
bishop mitt's boy trying to match his mormon partner
wjb1tex | Oct 10, 2012, 12:09 PM EDT
People (Democrats) keep repeating that Romney and Ryan lie about everything but never say what lies?
RonSarson | Oct 10, 2012, 11:22 AM EDT
It should be interesting. Biden is a pathological liar who grabs facts and figures out of thin air. This could be very frustrating for Ryan who has a lot of real facts and figures in his head. It might be difficult to disprove all Biden's fabrications on the spot, particularly for things where no real figures exist.
patrickesq | Oct 10, 2012, 11:17 AM EDT
Biden needs to highlight the huge contrast between the Democratic vision of America and that of the Republicans. Do Americans want a government that wants to help them secure health insurance at affordable cost;secure their retirement benefits and not let wall street gamble with their future; secure reasonable regulation of Big Business so that they do not exploit their employees and consumers;prevent Big Oil and Big Coal from polluting our air and water; prevent Big Agri Farmers from polluting our food with chemicals and drugs to fatten their profits; et cet.
Searlit | Oct 10, 2012, 11:08 AM EDT
Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney are allergic to facts.
Seanmor | Oct 10, 2012, 11:05 AM EDT
I wonder if any presidentian election was ever decided solely on the basis of a the team mate on the ticket.
PhlutiePhan | Oct 10, 2012, 10:58 AM EDT
A "Clown College" graduate versus a "stuffed shirt". What choice America? Nevertheless, the Muslim Marxist is "A Clear and Present Danger".
borefield | Oct 10, 2012, 10:55 AM EDT
Joe Biden is very well liked. He certainly has the gift of the gab and is not shy at stretching the truth if it suites the situation. He has the advantage over Paul Ryan in that he has been in the political arena for a very long time. He is Obamas puppet in his present role and to his credit will do whatever it takes to protect him. Paul Ryan should be wary for pit falls and of course a biased media to try every which way to trip him up.
jamthecat | Oct 10, 2012, 10:54 AM EDT
What facts, re Ryan? The man can't even explain his own bedget because he knows it doesn't add up. Biden can make dumb comments, but at least he's a human being capable of human emotions and actions.
wjb1tex | Oct 10, 2012, 10:17 AM EDT
For all his gaffes I think people just like Biden. My wife and I, both conservatives,do. His gaffes make him more like most of us. He should not be underestimated in my opinion. His funny remarks come when he is just freewheeling and the debate will make him much more on line. I think when he was in the debates running for President he won most of them. His knowledge of foreign policy was evident at that time.
torbreezy | Oct 10, 2012, 09:54 AM EDT
"Who wouldn't like to have a beer with either of these gentlemen?" is NOT the question. It is rather "Who is better SUITED to succeed the President 'were God-forbid' he die in office?"