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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Joe Biden wins debate by not losing and ‘malarkey’ accusations fly -- Biden, Ryan donnybrook was a debate to really remember - VIDEO

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Joe Biden wins debate by not losing and ‘malarkey’ accusations fly -- Biden, Ryan donnybrook was a debate to really remember - VIDEO

Posted on Friday, October 12, 2012 at 08:15 AM

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Joe Biden & Paul Ryan in last nights debate
(Credit: AP/Charlie Neibergall)

A CBS poll of undecided voters gave last night’s debate 50 to 31 percent to Joe Biden while a CNN poll of all voters gave it to Ryan by 48 percent to 44 percent.

I think Joe Biden shaded the debate last night by just being himself and clearly not losing. That’s not a load of "malarkey", ie hot air. The Irish expression somehow made it into the middle of the presidential debate, though some spell it "mullarkey".

Biden is one of the most liked men in politics, and that is what came across in the debate.

I have met Biden many times, interviewed him once when he was a senator, and always came away impressed with his easy manner and basic decency.

He has an easy Irish charm, hail-fellow well met and the Vice Presidency suits him well.

That was what came across with the Ryan stand-off. He was keeping Paul Ryan under pressure but managed it in an amiable way and he “righted the ship” as political editor Gloria Borger on CNN noted.

Biden accused his fellow Irish American of "malarkey" at every opportunity and kept Ryan off balance enough so that he never got to do a Romney and slam home unchallenged assertions.

Biden accomplished what Obama never did, aggressively challenging fundamental Republican policies.

The fear of Democrats on the way in was that Biden would collapse like a burst balloon as Obama did in the first debate.

Near panic had spread through Democratic ranks after Obama’s faux pas. The slippage in the polls was a nightmare scenario come true.

There has been a tendency on the right to paint Biden as a buffoon liable to go rogue at any moment but he proved far from that.

Read all the Election 2012 news here.

Biden proved a hardy road warrior, well versed in the key debate issues.

Ryan is an extremely smart politician who comes across as robotic at times, but is very much in command of his facts.

It was a fascinating debate, full of substance, superbly moderated. It was everything the first debate was not.

The key moment for me in the Vice Presidential debate was when they both dealt with their religion and the issue of abortion.

It was an intensely personal moment, devoid of the accusations and reams of figures that each can spout.

Ryan made clear that he was personally opposed based on his experience of listening to his first child’s heartbeat at seven weeks.

Biden referred to Catholic social teaching but also stated that he was personally opposed to abortion but would not impose his views.

It was hard not to accept both men at face value and understand they were sincere in their sentiments.

Biden has bought Obama time, a precious commodity, but Tuesday night’s debate in Long Island now takes on even more importance.

Bring it on!

Complete Vice Presidential Debate 2012: Joe Biden vs. Paul Ryan - Oct:

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99 comments

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seanomelb | Oct 17, 2012, 01:23 AM EDT

I've been out to lunch with some friend. What's that you were saying gutter crawler,just crawl back into your trailer and switch on the Hannity show,that's about your level of understanding on all subjects.

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paddyRanger | Oct 16, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT

why would any dream of the life of a moron....so seanCANTvote in USA how does it feel to know your opinion is worth squat, because you don't pay tax in the US don't live in US, stick your 12th largest economy up you know where and enjoy you etch a sketch pathetic life. for someone living such a good life....no life spending all day on here haha what a loser

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seanomelb | Oct 16, 2012, 03:03 AM EDT

I live a life you can only dream of gutter trawler. I'm probably richer then Joe!! Life is good in the world's 12th. largest economy. Joe is the man and Ryan is the sketch in the etch and sketch show.

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paddyRanger | Oct 15, 2012, 09:06 PM EDT

wrong again seanFailedbusinessman retard from down under......must irk you that you don't even have a vote, your opinion is as useless as you are. Biden was calm, haha the moron was off his meds..and acting like a lunatic,. I can see you not able to see that must mean that is how you act too .....

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paddyRanger | Oct 15, 2012, 09:02 PM EDT

shuvonn.....get your facts straight, 264 million was the cut in the budget for Embassy security, MAINTENANCE and BUILDING, to get a platoon of marines from Italy to Libya would not have cost a fortune, to try and blame this on a budget cut is PATHETIC, it would not have cost a fortune to have side arms for those three ex serviceman and a platoon of marines....but you clearly have no idea, so nobody is LYING here except Biden and Obama ...ryan has not denied his budget it has he ??? moron

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shuvonn | Oct 15, 2012, 02:59 PM EDT

Paddy ranger you are LYING the fact remains *Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) said today that he voted to cut funding for U.S. embassy security amid political attacks from Republicans that the Obama administration did not do enough to secure the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya that was attacked last month. Republicans and their allies have been trying to politicize the attack — which killed four Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador to Libya — suggesting, without evidence, the Obama administration may have ignored intelligence that the attack was imminent, didn’t properly secure the Benghazi compound and is now trying to cover it up. But hidden beneath the GOP campaign is the fact that House Republicans voted to cut nearly $300 million from the U.S. embassy security budget. When asked if he voted to cut the funds this morning on CNN, Chaffetz said, “Absolutely“:* ryan LIED, you LIED.....give it up

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seanomelb | Oct 14, 2012, 07:28 PM EDT

Joe looked so relaxed and smiling at his opponents lying comments.

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AvaJacquelyn | Oct 14, 2012, 06:00 PM EDT

I agree with you, moolysdee, a hundred %. Biden's Irish heritage shouldn't be a factor in judging the result of the debate. Losers usually laugh, smirk, joke, make faces, etc, which Biden did. Obama-"Burden" ticket must lose this coming election. We want real changes in this country, not just promises of changes.

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mollysdee | Oct 14, 2012, 02:49 PM EDT

You must have met another Joe Biden - Joe Biden our VP is not particulary liked by anyone I know. As for the debate, he made an ass of himself - rude, condescending, inappropriate laughter, and not in command of the facts, while Paul Ryan maintained his composure, presenting his views and backing them up with facts. This country has had enough of Obama/Biden. Romney/Ryan have the values this country was based on and desparately needs to get back to ... One Nation Under God ... that's who we want to be again.

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eiriamach | Oct 14, 2012, 02:43 PM EDT

For the first few days after the VP debate, I misunderstood the complaints, like some below, about Biden's "rudeness" and "arrogance." I thought such comments were written by a bunch of demure, over-refined Emily Post-ers who think a political debate is a Mr./Miss Congeniality contest, a "performance" in gentility and politesse. But now I think that's not what's going on in such comments. Every time I saw Joe Biden smile at one of Ryan's lies, I thought he was being too excessively self-restrained. He should have howled at Ryan's (and Romney's) howlers! Anyone sensitive to mis-statements of fact, I thought, would be direct and straightforward -- some call that "rude" -- about correcting them. But if folks don't know the facts, they cannot spot the howlers that ignore or misrepresent the facts. So now I think I understand these comments that Biden was "rude." That's how the truth sounds when it hears a lie and calls it a lie.

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JimmyJK | Oct 13, 2012, 10:47 PM EDT

Malarkey! you gotta love it... He exposed lyin Ryan for what he is.... a pee wee herman look alike who feeds Americans lies and has not clue about foreign policy.... one who would like increase unwanted pregnancies but not provide the parent or child with food, education or shelter. He would like to destroy the American government by eliminating all agencies except some protection... if you don't believe me then read Ayn Rand..... He wants to unburden the already over burdened ultra wealthy.... it's so tough being ultra wealthy and competing with your neighbor that they really need tax breaks..... Our government is not perfect and needs reform but romney/ryan do not care about Americans only ultra wealthy Americans..... I was captivated by Biden during the debate he spoke the truth and put a cork in the lies and exposed the truth.... even the moderator kept asking ryan to elaborate and he could not do so....

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boydshield | Oct 13, 2012, 10:21 PM EDT

You were in the pub, drinking &by half listening to the debate if you truly feel Biden won. He was rude, laughed about the war, Did anything Biden said or did REALLY make you & yours stay on this Mad hatter's ride another 4 years? And you talk about a cut in government services? Why not quit paving the road with gold for those who WILL NOT work? Not can't, WON'T.

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seanomelb | Oct 13, 2012, 08:10 PM EDT

paddyranger the gutter trawler is back with his teabagger views

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pilib04 | Oct 13, 2012, 07:59 PM EDT

NMcNallyM911. Watch your mouth. The good Sister Catherine says Biden won, that's more than enough for me.

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NMcNallyM911 | Oct 13, 2012, 04:06 PM EDT

You couldn't have watched the debate if you think Biden won. He was rude and condescending. Didn't know facts...but he did do better than his boss!

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