Taka’s live blogging the VP Debate right now!
After what’s been called everything from a mild setback for POTUS to a Barry-O-whopping by Republican challenger Mitt Romney last week, the stakes are high as the two running mates face off in tonight. Welcome to the 2012 Vice Presidential Debate!
The Vice Presidents will be scrabbling over every policy issue, but if Paul Ryan plays his cards right, he’ll steer the debate to his forte, national economics. If Joe Biden takes the helm, he’ll use that 4 years worth of foreign policy experience to his advantage.
Stay tuned for ’em fightin’ words. And some corndogs. (like, actually! Come to the Tisch Commons in the DUC now for the WUPR VP Debate Watch Party)
8:02 CST And We’re Off!
8: 04 CST Damn Martha, I like it. No beating around the bush: getting right to Ambassador Chris Steven’s Death in Libya.
8:06 CST Paul Ryan: it’s an unraveling of the Obama foreign policy! Obama’s trying to deflect blame.
8:08 CST Joe Biden: fuck that. Obama’s the man. We’ve only improved our security since. A few hiccups here…the Undecided voters graph shows it.
8:10 CST Paul Ryan: Do we need to apologize for standing up for our rights?No.
8:16 CST Biden says Israel and US agree that Iran’s nuclear capability is still far away. Any talk of war is foolish.
8:23 CST War in the Middle East or a nuclear Iran?
8:25 CST Again we’re loving the unemployment numbers. Biden: the rich better take responsibility for their actions and pay fair taxes.
8:27 CST “Sometimes the words don’t come out the right way”. Oh. That hurts, Paul. Mitt Romney cares about America, not just 47%.
8:30 CST Biden: prove that you care about America, y’all Reds. It’s not like the recession came out of nowhere. It’s from your policies, Mr. Ryan.
8:33 CST Both guys have got the condescending head shaking/smiling/laughing at the opponent thing down. OK Social security, drumroll please.
8:36 CST Ryan: Standard Republican Medicare/ social security speech: some relatable story about an elderly relative. How they worked so hard their whole lives, with only the sweat on their brows. She’s doing well. Cue evil big government.
8:40 CST This is getting nasty! I wish the presidential debates were like this, the judgmental laughter and all. Biden reaches out to the audience, looks to the camera: use your common sense! Voucher will cut savings at the expense of everyday Americans. This is you! You’ll be affected
8:45 CST Taxes: who will pay them? Biden: Bush tax cuts will expire–they’re holding the Middle Class hostage. Lots of numbers, lots of money offered to the middle class. THEY’RE the ones who need help. To be honest, we’re throwing a lot of big numbers. They’re kid of meaningless, however you package them.
8:47 CST Martha’s got some spunk. Hey Paul, do you have an actual plan? Not just negating the Democrats’ plan. Loopholes and deductions–we’ve heard it all before from Romney. We still seem skeptical.
8:50 CST Neither of them is letting each other talk. Biden is continually referring to Ryan as his friend. Some shitty friend he is. Both Martha the moderator and Joe Biden keep asking Ryan for guarantees of not cutting middle class benefits.
8:56 CST Biden: Joint Chiefs of Staff said we need a leaner Army. Last thing we need is more tanks.
9:03 CST Ryan: we need to maintain our gains in Afghanistan, but it depends on how we’re doing. He says “what we’re seeing is the unraveling of Obama’s foreign policy”…for the second time tonight. Biden: no dice. 2014 is it. Only with a deadline will the Afghan take their security seriously.
9:07 CST Biden seems pretty sure that Assad is on the way out in Syria. As much of the US government considers, the primary goal is ensuring that a stable, pro-Western government is in place afterward.
9:11 CST Ryan says fuck the UN. They’ve wasted our time. And fuck Russia.
9:14 CST Dropping the Catholic Abortion bomb. Ryan’s up to bat…ahhhhh! Obama’s war on religion! *foaming at the mouth*
9:18 CST Biden holds personal beliefs, but I’m not going to impose by beliefs on anyone else. Big brownie points from me!
9:21 CST Closing question-are you embarrassed by the negative tone of the campaign? Damn, what a great question. Biden: We’ve both become petty. But Obama’s got what counts. Ryan: Obama, you’re full o’ shit. Broken promises. Solid points. (but, he hasn’t answered the question).
9:26 CST Ryan: Romney’s the man. He’s got what it takes. Obama’s just some nice words. His closing speech is like a per-prepared speech. His steely blue eyes are penetrating my heart, though. “The choice is clear”.