Vice Presidential Debate

The version of the Vice Presidential debate that I watched was provided by the New York Times and can be found here:

http://youtu.be/j3roG09O6T4

My reaction to the Vice Presidential debate is relatively similar to the the first Presidential debate of 2012: uninterest, bordering on revulsion.

To the debate's credit however, there was one part that did amaze me quite a bit. The portion where Vice President Biden referred to Paul Ryan's two letters requesting stimulus funds for some businesses in his home state of Wisconsin. Biden mentioned it, and Ryan confirmed it, therefore it probably, could be, may be, true.

Of the recent debates I've watched or heard -- Obama/Romney, Biden/Ryan, and Brown/Warren -- I don't know that I've heard any blatant agreement such as the one featured there. What that meant -- that Paul Ryan did send those letters -- was somewhat irrelevant to me. I could see what Biden was trying to imply, but that's all it was: implication. I'd have to look it up and decide for myself to have a real opinion.

Also, it was pretty obvious throughout that Biden was determined not to repeat Obama's mistakes during the first Presidential debate. Both he and Ryan were concerned with the image they were projecting. It was smiles, frowns, and eye-contact throughout.

One of the most poignant aspects of the debate that I noticed was how entertaining it was. I should be fair and reveal that I am basically pro-Obama. Therefore, it may be possible that I enjoyed this debate more because there was a more animated Democratic candidate. Regardless, watching both Biden and Ryan writhe and struggle in the ring of honor was fun.

It felt akin to how the former WWF would put on wrestling. It opened with a good amount of smack-talk, followed with references and counter-references to "facts" on both sides -- this would constitute the debate's version of DDTs and pile drivers. Indeed, both candidates -- wrestlers -- dropped a zinger each: Biden's "You're no Kennedy" line, and Ryan's "...things don't always come out of your mouth the way you want them to" line. I pictured these instances as equivalent to a chokeslam, or perhaps even the dreaded Stone Cold stunner, delivered in verbal form.

Unfortunately, Biden didn't end the match by headbutting an effigy of Romney, nor Ryan by physically assaulting Biden and stealing his motorcycle.