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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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whiteycat | Oct 12, 2012, 02:22 PM EDT

Biden with all the smirks and laughter was not VP material, nor did he win any points with people who are undecided.

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Helen Ferone | Oct 12, 2012, 02:19 PM EDT

I thought Joe Biden would win hands down being a seasoned politician, but the up-start young Irishman held his own againt him, and even caught good ol' Joe in several lies. Also, very rude for Joe to take notes during the debate, and his continuous smile was to rattle Paul, but it didn't work. No wonder the seals have a special name for Joe. Read the book and find out.

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KweenOHearts | Oct 12, 2012, 02:16 PM EDT

Let's see... out of 43 comments on this one-sided piece of slobbering lib "mullarkey," only 7 so far see any merit on the participation of that blithering neigh-haying jackass who masquarades as a VP for the most inept and corrupt administration in American history. -- It is quite interesting to note as well, that those few who think Bidet --given the condescending, idiotic and outright lying remarks he was clearly programmed to spout off by his panicked coaches-- is deserving of credit by anyone claiming to belong to the human race. Therefore, it is quite possible those few who admire the grinning imbecile must have been watching either in a padded cell at the local State hospital, or in the planet Pluto (whose earthling name btw, is Goofy). -- The sane among us saw the attack-dog in full display of his limited capacity as 'debater,' and apparently so did the majority of viewers. Including two of the TV channels whose sympathies NEVER stray too far away from the 'dark side': CNN and NBC. They gave the win to Ryan at 48-44 and 52 to 36 respectively; so that tell us quite a bit, doesn't it?

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BigDaddy | Oct 12, 2012, 02:05 PM EDT

It would serve conservatives well to have to live under Romney/Ryan. However, that would condemn intelligent people to that same fate. Smiling is not laughing maniacally. If you are too stupid to see that Romney is a dolt and Ryan is a water carrier for the Kochs then please don't have children. But judging by what I've seen, you people make rabbits look inhibited.

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Frosty38 | Oct 12, 2012, 01:40 PM EDT

This was in a Boston Newspaper and you will NOT see it on FOXNEWS I did email it to them Mitt Romney stops mentioning how he met ex-Navy SEAL killed in Libya after mother's complaint that he was using son's death for 'political agenda' Mother of ex-Navy SEAL says Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is exploiting her son's death on the campaign trail Romney revealed this week that he had met the former soldier who was killed last month in the Libyan terror attacks Romney campaign says the nominee will no longer make reference to Glen Doherty

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ceceann | Oct 12, 2012, 01:35 PM EDT

OMG--O'Dowd you have lost all credibility. Biden was not only disrespectful to his opponent and the moderator but, by laughing when the discussion was on serious issues, he was disrespectful to the entire nation. He acted deranged and gives further worry to the fact that he is a heartbeat away from being President. His performance did, however, make me happy that nothing has happened to Obama. Obama is the lesser of those two evils. @Eschetic--Your discription of O'Dowd as a writer with a consistently conservative bias discounts anything that comes after.

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travelmpq | Oct 12, 2012, 01:34 PM EDT

So apparently you can "win" a debate by interrupting, laughing maniacly and being an all around boor.

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joreilly | Oct 12, 2012, 01:21 PM EDT

HELLOOOOO you blind republicans.Check out the fact checkers ! As usual the republicans lie thru their teeth SHAMELESSLY witout any fear of being caught out 'cause they know that America has a short memory.They'll say anything it takes to get elected and put us back into the doldrums of yesterdays.

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MegK311 | Oct 12, 2012, 01:16 PM EDT

Niall, How could you write a bunch of Malarkey and expect us to agree with you. Here is a scripture from the NIV version of the bible. Proverbs 29: 9 - If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs and there is no quiet. Biden acted like a ill behaved child laughing and carrying on. Ryan was the adult trying to be respectful to his elder which we were taught to do. For Biden to laugh, giggle and grin through the whole debate was distracting and made it difficult to follow the debate. I don't think anyone won and the moderator did a terrible job and she was obviously supporting Biden.

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mreinhar2001 | Oct 12, 2012, 01:08 PM EDT

Joe Biden only "won" the debate if one has poor communication skills (that is based on North American standards). He simply demonstrated a model of rudeness in communication. Americans: vote for whoever you will for US president, but Joe Biden must have his Annie Glenn award (from the American Speech and Hearing Association for overcoming a communication disorder) revoked ASAP. He is no longer a role model for others who have a communication. disorder

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paddyRanger | Oct 12, 2012, 01:02 PM EDT

Hunter 993 "Biden showed great restraint sitting next " WHAT....what planet are you from Biden showed restraint, do you know what restraint means, Biden was acting like a moron, a 5 year old shows more restraint and common decency and respect to someone they debate, he shouted made faces like a loon.

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Eschetic | Oct 12, 2012, 12:53 PM EDT

The reaction of some readers is laugh worthy when you consider that a writer with as consistent a conservative bias as O'Dowd acknowledges that the round went to Biden, an objective viewer has to rate it as a rout. I was not at all surprised that the Vice President came across as the experienced adult PREPARED to BE the President if called upon - I may still be a Republican but I was never so proud of my fellow Delawarean - or that the gym-fit Ryan spouted his candidate's distorted numbers (caught by most of the independent fact checkers afterwards) and tried to flaunt his Sophomores' economic knowledge. What DID surprise me was how simply weasily our party's VP contender came across. We *know* he's smarter than Sarah Palin or Dan Quayle - but he didn't look THAT much smarter or more trustworthy last night. We're back where we were before the first debate - and that means "advantage" (well earned) "to the incumbant."

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Eschetic | Oct 12, 2012, 12:41 PM EDT

I think it was absolutely appropriate for Joe Biden to laugh and insult Paul Ryan because he was repeatedly not telling the truth, and that is frustrating to deal with. All politicians lie, but Ryan and Romney have done a record-breaking amount of it and Americans who want to buy into a fairy-tale keep drinking it. There are many, many journalists who have been documenting the amount of complete lies they've been spewing. Romney/Ryan are selling snake oil folks. THERE IS NO QUICK FIX FOR AMERICA. THERE IS JUST HARD WORK, FISCAL AUSTERITY, INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY AND PATIENCE AHEAD OF US IF WE ARE NOT TO FALL AS A NATION. Romney/Ryan are trying to sell some quick fix that won't work (tax cuts for the rich and de-regulations of banks and Wall Street which got us into this mess). Joe Biden and Barack Obama have every right to tell those tell those lying cheats to piss off. And then when they do I'm going to rip Obama/Biden and congress a new one for not doing a better job.

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tom77381 | Oct 12, 2012, 12:40 PM EDT

BIDEN'S IMPERSONATION OF JACK NICHOLSON LAST NIGHT PROVES THE OLD PROVERB "EMPTY BARRELS DO MAKE THE MOST NOISE"

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paddyRanger | Oct 12, 2012, 12:38 PM EDT

Absolute garbage O'Dowd you should be ashamed of your self for writing such a journalistic piece of garbage "Biden is one of the most liked men in politics, and that is what came across in the debate.".......THAT is not what came across from this debate at all, he came across as a utter gobshite, he did not come with one concrete example of HOW the obama/biden regime would help the middle class, he just claimed we are on the right path...WE are not on the right path at all. He also lied through his teeth and throw the Intelligence community under the bus...he claims the Intell did not say they needed more security for Bengahzi or that it was a terrorist attack, THEY said it was one the day after....BIDEN is a liar and a worthless sorry excuse for a human being

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