In case you haven’t seen it yet…
…watch this ad. It’s devastating, capturing the disturbing (and disturbed) nature of Joe Biden’s odd behavior during last night’s debate:
Biden made me think of the Joker:
…[I]nterpretations and incarnations of the Joker have taken two forms. The original and currently dominant image is of a highly intelligent psychopath with a warped, sadistic sense of humor. The other interpretation of the character, popular in the late 1940s through 1960s comic books as well as the 1960s television series, is that of an eccentric but harmless prankster.
Biden’s laughter is derisive laughter, in keeping with the Obama campaign theme of contempt for the opposition. There is no actual humor in his guffawing, and his grin looks forced, as though he’s made a decision to laugh as a technique, perhaps to goad Ryan to anger. Most pundits agree the behavior was a way to rev up the base. But what does it say about the Democratic base if this is the sort of thing that gets its members’ juices flowing?
But it’s Clint Eastwood who’s come out way ahead in both these debates. His “empty chair” metaphor for Obama seemed amazingly prescient. And listen to what he said at the Republican Convention about Joe Biden:
“Kind of a grin with a body behind it.” Is Eastwood clairvoyant?
Is it possible that the Obama-Biden campaign wanted Biden to behave this way during the debate? If so, why? Was Biden trying to win the clown vote?
Clint’s point that Biden is the intellect of the dem party stands up pretty well too.
Anyone wanting to understand the coming fiscal cliff and the failure of Washington to work out an agreement need only look at Biden last night to see why. Biden’s behavior was a perfect embodiment of the attitude and actions of the administration for the last four years. And that’s why liberals are loving it so much.
There is no way Ryan and the GOP could be expected to negotiate a reasonable, rational deal with people who treat them this way.
From what I could see on Facebook this morning, my liberal female friends thought Biden was splendid. One said he “schooled” Ryan, another said he was the hands-down winner. Nobody mentioned his weird behavior. (I have got to find some new friends.) Maybe his antics were focus-grouped to energize this part of the Democratic base?
I didn’t watch the debate; I listened to it during my evening commute. But what struck me was Biden laughing when Ryan discussed Iran getting nuclear weapons. What’s funny about that?
My students (high school students) saw the debate in a class and commented on the rudeness of the interruptions. They said their teacher tried to defend Biden, but they clearly believe that he didn’t follow the format of a debate. One of them likened Biden’s behavior to a failing student who doesn’t contribute anything to class but make faces and snickers when other students make presentations.
Boy, I wish they were old enough to vote! 🙂
Too bad Clint didn’t include a prop for Biden when giving his address. I wonder what it would be though.
For the true believers, like Mrs. Whatit’s friends, Biden’s behavior expressed what they believe, that republicans and conservatives deserve only contempt because they’ve swallowed the left’s kool-aid; people on the right are religiously intolerant, greedy, selfish fools led by evil leaders.
But what’s obvious to high school students is obvious to those independents who haven’t swallowed the kool-aid. Buried among all the poll data is plenty of indications that a significant majority of independents haven’t bought the left’s narrative.
That ad is devastating and Ryan had many moments when what he said and how he said it was compelling.
It’s Ryan who came across as calm. level-headed, thoughtful and even ‘Presidential’.
While Biden exuded the attitude of contempt and dismissal. he acted as if rebuttal wasn’t needed, almost as if he questioned the very need for a debate because obviously any ‘good’ person would know he’s right. Yet Biden had no response when Ryan pointed out the statistics that proved that job growth has gotten progressively worse under Obama, not better.
Biden was preaching to the choir, yet in doing so he threw his own credibility into question…with independents.
And independents wil decide this election.
Heard about it, read about it, hadn’t seen it (Biden’s antics).
After seeing the excerpts, all I can say is he’s more of a jerk than I thought. What an dork. And an embarrassment to the office.
I watched/listened to the debate last night–listened mostly because I wanted to catch what was said vs. what I might pick up in non verbal–IMO it was bad in mostly audio–so I will disagree with the, I believe it was Krauthammer’s, assessment if only listening on radio, Biden came out winning. Now watching it’s even worse.
Biden (the Obama camp) really did not want Ryan heard throughout that soundbite, and was doing everything to distract and diminish from him. As he did through the entire debate. This is probably highly indicative of how much they fear Ryan’s (and Romney’s) message and knowledge, and how dangerous they find him (them).
“my liberal female friends thought Biden was splendid.”
You need new, sane friends.
“They said their teacher tried to defend Biden, but they clearly believe that he didn’t follow the format of a debate. One of them likened Biden’s behavior to a failing student who doesn’t contribute anything to class but make faces and snickers when other students make presentations.”
All is not lost, this echoes my observations.
Pingback:Instapundit » Blog Archive » RIGHT AGAIN: Neo-Neocon asks “Is Clint Eastwood Clairvoyant?” …
I heard someone on the radio say you can learn all you need to know in a debate by turning the sound down and watching the speakers. It was certainly true watching these 2. Biden is a goofball.
I agree with Geoffrey Briatain’s assessment — I just finished writing my own post (personal journal, so I’m not spamming for attention here) making many of the same points.
This debate put into stark contrast for Americans — many of whom may not have realized just how polarized our society has become — how different the two parties are, and that only one wants to seriously address the problems our nation faces. The democrats, meanwhile, are busily undercutting any solutions the republicans might offer. (“We don’t have our own plan, but we certainly don’t like yours.”)
You can see it in the way the left claims to support the First Amendment, unless you’re said to be using “hate speech.” Hate speech (which apparently includes republican “lies”) doesn’t deserve any legal protection. Voila! Problem solved. We’re not against free speech; we’re only against people disagreeing with us, because that’s hateful.
Thursday night’s debate was a slap in the face to all Americans and showed the left for what it is: a bunch of snickering, unserious bullies. There are no legitimate ideas, other than their own. Even if they haven’t any ideas…
They don’t have any solutions; all they want is the power, wealth, and glory of ruling, without any of the burdensome responsibilities.
“Too bad Clint didn’t include a prop for Biden when giving his address. I wonder what it would be though…”
It would be a toilet plunger.
Steve Says: Too bad Clint didn’t include a prop for Biden when giving his address. I wonder what it would be though.
Maybe a whoopee cushion on that chair?
Meet it is I set it down
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
(Hamlet Act I sceneV)
@effess “Was Biden trying to win the clown vote?”
Can’t be. They’ve had the clown vote locked up since Gore ran.
Clint is the smartest political commentator in the country. Go thediplomad.blogspot.com for more
I also thought about Eastwood’s speech this morning when I commented on an Althouse post about Rush Limbaugh’s take on the debate and Biden’s performance. In the headline to her post, Althouse quoted Rush as saying: “The Joe Biden that you saw last night is the Democrat Party.”
I do love that RNC ad, as well. I hope they air it beyond the internet.
Pingback:GayPatriot » Joe Biden’s boorish behavior rallies the left
Saddened by the popularity of Mr. Biden’s histrionics among his base (which includes one of my elder brothers, and many friends and colleagues — since I am in the education business).
The triumph of the Rude Society seems to be nearing its conclusion.
This election may go down as the one where we did not elect two people, specifically *because* they were moderate, qualified, sober individuals. No; we may re-elect the current administration for reasons ranging all the way from we don’t want to admit we made a mistake, to we feel sorry for them and think they should therefore win out over the superior ticket, as a sort of vindication of the “Participation Trophy” trend in Western life.
At least, the debates have convinced me to vote for Romney/Ryan, as their opponents both signaled obvious contempt for their rivals and the process, while R&R projected competent executive manners.
How anyone could look at the twin display of off-handed arrogance and come away thinking, “Yes! I want those two in office for another four years!” — especially after the incessant carping over Dick Cheney’s offhanded “arrogance” — is incomprehensible to me.
/end vent
As a recovering Liberal I still have access to my Inner Liberal and it seems that part of me recognizes Biden’s behavior is great Greek theater. He is acting out the denial of ideas who’s time has passed. Think of his faux grin as a Greek mask – a rictus of denial worn for the part of the American collective which needs NOT to know we are in a deep deep hole. And here is this upstart Ryan wanting to acknowledge the hole and present a modest proposal for digging it more slowly! They HAVE to guffaw and grin if they are to maintain their pose that all is well and they have the situation in hand.
Just as the electorate did to Bush in 2006, in 2010 they said STOP to Obama. Ryan in particular has correctly played the role of the opposition and proposed a budget. As far as I know the administration has not ever negotiated with its duly elected opposition, but tried to govern as if the opposition’s job was to get out of its way. They have fooled a lot of Americans who flunked civics or were never taught it in the first place that it is acceptable to ignore a duly elected opposition. Clinton did not ignore the opposition and neither did the evil BOOSH. I think Obama looked so down in the first debate is because he has realized he could spend 8 years in office and only be able to govern for 2 of them. He is too inflexible to compromise evidently. Could Bill Clinton work with Ryan? Heck, could Hilary work with Ryan? I think so. Any normally qualified politician of either party can and have. Obama is too inexperienced and postmodern – he ‘privileges’ his narrative and his myth over the messy business of getting things done in the real world. You know the one where Paul Ryan and you and I live.
Steve, above, asks what prop other than an empty chair Mr. Eastwood could have used in his discussion of VP Joe Biden, “the grin without a body.” That’s easy. A plastic banana.
Haven’t been here in years…glad to see you are still blogging…and congratsnon the Powerline link
I’m from South Africa and I’ve watched both debates on YouTube – Biden came across as a slightly more polished version of the obnoxious bar drunk you’d have no compunction in decking after putting up with the guffawing, chortling and eye-rolling for 30 minutes non-stop. And to think Joey McChuckles is a heartbeat away from the Presidency…!
RE: “Is Eastwood clairvoyant?”
No. He has something even more rare and exotic.
Eastwood has common sense, and the courage of his convictions.
“JOE BIDEN–WHITE HOUSE IDIOT AND CLOWN’”
[Tune, “Maria” by the Nuns from the “Sound of Music”]
He smirks, he grins, he wildly “spins”,
His smile’s painted on.
He makes them laugh, with all his “gaffs”
His skill is with the “Con”.
BO hates his idiot ‘BFD”,
AND WE JUST WANT HIM GONE!
How you solve a traitor like Joe Biden?
How do you make the “Dolt of the Day” look smart?
How do you find a word that means Joe Biden?
An a$$hat who’s crazy, a drunk sad and lazy, A fart!
He often stalls; he’s rude to all,
The honest or the brave.
He’ll do ANYTHING depraved,
To o Islam he’s a SLAVE,
And that “heart beat from command”
Just makes us furious!
How can you save a deadbeat like Joe Biden”
How can you bear to hear this “Bleating Sheep”,
How do you find a word that means Joe Biden?
A debating disaster, a whore for his Master, a creep!
We hate to have to say it,
But we very firmly feel
Old Joe is not a leader for our Nation!
Not all the lies in hell will save BO BO and his Traitorous Dog “Old Joe” from our wrath. To smirk and joke about a bombs for Iran and future nuclear war is treason–TIME TO GO, JOE.
ROMNEY & RYAN WILL WIN BIG…absentee votes POUR IN FOR THEM, NOW!
Who ever thought we would use the terms “Hollywood actor” and “common sense” in the same sentence?
I loved Iowahawk’s tweet that Biden is what you get when you comb your hair with a taser.