Biden’s Bully Pulpit
Reading through the blogosphere yesterday, it seemed to me that the conventional post-debate wisdom was that Joe Biden’s boorish behavior during the VP debate was intentional, at least in part, as a means of firing up the demoralized Democrat base. That the left would even admit that it is demoralized is telling when we are this close to the election, but it is the contention that Biden’s performance was aimed at re-energizing the base, much of which in the last election was made up by the 18-24 demographic, that seems rather lame to this observer.
What do the proponents of this theory see in Biden’s browbeating that has youthful appeal other than its in-your-face-America defiance? Here we have a pompous pol with phony old guy written all over him to youthful viewers, what with his hair plugs and improbably perfect dental implants, not just imperiously talking over his serious, well-informed, youthful opponent, but condescendingly and disrespectfully wagging his bony index finger in the face of the female moderator who seemed cowed by his aggression. Somehow I have a problem seeing Old Joe’s bullying behavior as being appealing to very many young folks whose youthful status too often renders them victims to similar condescension from arrogant professors, demanding bosses and even older family members who still view them as callow children.
Not all of the 2008 youth vote for Obama came from hard left, Occupy types; many serious young people sincerely seeking to make this a better world joined the Hope & Change campaign. How many of those, this time around, have had the blinders removed by the reality that their faith in a supposedly transformative Obama was squandered on just another glib politician? How many of those young people do you think were impressed by Biden’s buffoonery? Sure, the Occupy fools who believe urinating on a police car is a meaningful political statement would no doubt be impressed with Joe’s bluster and bullying, but how many of them do you think were actually doing anything as responsible as watching a televised political debate? As opposed to the serious students and the gainfully employed in the youth cohort?
True, Biden’s atrocious display may have fired up a few of the faithful on the far left, especially some of the administration’s apologists in the media, like Daily Kos who sent me an email claiming Uncle Joe had brought us back from the Obama debate debacle. But I’ll wager that even many loyal, older Democrats had to experience some queasiness watching the man they want to re-elect to be a heartbeat away from the presidency, demonstrate such immaturity and poor character in front of a nationwide audience. Worse, what were the independents and the Reagan Democrats out in flyover land likely to take away from such a display of deficient judgment?
It is highly likely that those who are praising Biden’s performance are going to be jerked back to reality when the polls reveal America’s response to his jerkish behavior. And if Biden’s boorishness was in fact intentional, as some liberals have proclaimed, the situation becomes even worse. The man was given the bully pulpit and he proceeded to use it as any bully would, a not-so-smart move in a nation where bullying is one of the serious social pathologies of our time.
Crossposted at American Thinker
Category: 2012 election, Barack Obama/Joe Biden
This is what a party does when they have nothing to run on. The “messiah” said it himself.
Joe is about 20 miles from me … at USMA West Point … beautiful place this time of year. And then he shows up! GEEZE!
I’m a 19 year old college student, and I can tell you the attitude toward Obama/Biden is completely different from ’08, at least among my peers. There are no “hope” shirts being worn like ’08, Romney bumper stickers outnumber Obama stickers about 3 to 1 from what I’ve seen, and this time around the teenage Obama supporters are the unenthusiastic ones. 18-24 year old Conservatives are energized, and apolitical kids are leaning right after the last 4 years. To me it seems like most of the kids my age that are still strong supporters of Obama are either gay and focus on gay marriage, girls who think unicorns, free birth control, and learning to “coexist” will guarantee world peace and jobs, black kids who want a black president, or the wealth envy types who hate Romney because he’s rich.
Several of my good friends have taken an interest in politics solely because they don’t like what’s happening to this country under this administration. There’s an internet meme with Obama’s face that’s captioned, “Get good grades, get a good job, we’ll give your money to people who didn’t.” I think my generations’s waking up the fact that that’s out future if we go “forward” with this Administration’s policies.
*generation’s waking up to the fact
This is from a weekly newsletter that I get from a financial analyst, regarding the veep debate:
“When loud combines with big and exaggeration, things can get wild and bellicose. It is a combination that lends itself to risk-taking activities as confidence is oftentimes high, but sometimes too high. And here is where the problem comes in. If things don’t go the way that one thinks they should, that confidence can turn quickly to hysteria and panic.
A good example of arrogance was on display in Thursday night’s debate between Vice-President Joe Biden and Republican VP nominee Paul Ryan. Joe Biden’s performance was – in my humble opinion – classical Joe. That is, he was extremely confident, loud, and bold. In content, he may have had the better debate. But he was also continuously laughing out loud and interrupting Congressman Ryan, and his overly aggressive behavior probably went over well with his base, but probably cost him points with independents.”
So, Ex-PH2, what is the John Birch Society publishing these days?
@6, it’s a little pamphlet titled “Jam It!” by Joe McCarthy.
Josef Bin Biden landed some solid hits on Ryan, especially the one where he accused Ryan of requesting stimulus cash, and had PR squirming and fumbling his response. However, Ryan aquitted himself well and came across as far more dignified, poised, and ready for executive leadership.
Josef not only acted like a clown, but kept saying “its a fact” like 26 times, that the WH next day had to sheepishly walk back on many. I see what’s happening, Josef was overcompensating and setting up the plate for Barry to go on the attack in next debate w/o looking shrill (compared to Biden). Problem is, BO struggles when he has to engage people and talk issues – too much stuttering, stammering, uhs, and ums. This will also be a townhall format, it will be interesting how BO engages the crowd while attacking Romney. Pressure is on Barry to deliver big time.
Someone on CNN said after the debate “If you have to worry about firing up your base three weeks before the election, you’ve already lost”. Can’t remember who said it but I hope they’re right.
BO need only blame himself. This guy is an elitist who is all about Barack Obama and enjoying the good life on tax payer expense. Now that the gravy train could be coming to an end, he’s desperate for outreach to supporters – yeah, wasn’t too concerned the last 3 1/2 years when he thought all had to do was show up to win reelection. Guess what? The Gubna has proved to be a formidible opponent and Barry is intimidated and outmatched – you wonder why he kept looking down and avoiding eye contact? Gov John Sununu said it “lazy and disengaged”.
Keep voting GOP. Those homeless Vietnam vets are going to die off and need being replaced. You weren’t said to be wasted if you died in Nam for no reason. But, hey, you vote for this draft dodger you deserve what happens. Too bad you bring the rest of the country down with you.
No, actually, I do not deserve what happens unless it is that life goes on pretty much the way I planned it for myself and mine. We worked very hard to set ourselves up so that no one would be forced to support us.
Unfortunately, there are entirely too many who covet what we have and would rather steal ours than go earn their own. And we really don’t have all that much.
@ BWB … thanks and keep up the fight! All hope is not lost for returning this great country back to its people.
Obomber never served, and Biteme received 5 deferments. So what’s your point again?
I don’t think Biden’s obnoxious behavior was done strategically, I think the guy actually suffers from “I’m the smartest guy in the room” syndrome. Several years ago, when challenged by a reporter, he told him that “I have a much higher IQ than you do.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D1j0FS0Z6ho#! Try to imagine forming that sentence and saying it aloud to someone else under almost any circumstance and I’ll bet that most people would balk at doing so.
Biden’s estimation of himself is incredibly high and I think it influences his behavior: he told more than a few whoppers the other night and made mistakes (like saying that Syria is 5X larger than Libya) that would have the gang on SNL beside themselves if someone like Sarah Palin had said the same. But Joe probably doesn’t think that he made any mistakes (or told any lies) and knows that even if he did the media has his back. Most people saw him for what he is the other night-an arrogant, preening jerk with a massive sense of entitlement. He shouldn’t have let the mask slip on such a big stage.
I’d just like to say that monitoring BiteMe’s performance via the live feed on this blog site was the tits. I look forward to many more. (By that I mean debates, and tits.)
GDContractor//OUT
Oh, come on, 68W58. Don’t you know that Joe the Big B got his brain from the Cylons on the original version of “Battlestar Galactica”?
He may have had a hot toddy or two before he went out there, too.
SNL skit of Biden/Ryan debate was lame – pretty bad.
Lucky LSU got over on South Carolina 23-21 – hard to believe this is actually considered an upset – a 9 over a 3. Old ball coach has turned SCAR into a serious contender last 3 years.
Real Clear Politics has Romney leading Obama 47.3 to 46.0 nationally. In 3 key battleground states Obama leads in Virginia by 0.7% , Ohio by 1.7%, and behind in Florida by 3.2%. The tide is shifting towards Romney – Obama supporters are shaken – Barry has to give an outstanding debate performance Tuesday or 3rd debate won’t even matter. There could be record TV viewership of the 2nd debate mainly to see if the Messiah can pull it together or flop again. Barry will be holed up in a Virginia resort for 3 days cramming for Tuesday – yeah no pressure.
Ex-PH2: I can see Joe as the original Balthar or maybe the one cylon that gave Balthar his orders.
#19 — By your command.
And with all that I have seen (not) happen over the last 3+(something) years, and the way he whined about “doing his homework” last time, I’m thinking he still won’t take it seriously enough to snap out of it because he’s lazy. He’s had everything handed to him from day one. Why should he have to work for it? I think he just does not believe that some people think he’s a putz.
@ 15. You are correct. Most respected reporters are saying, “he can’t help it.” Meaning what you see IS what you get with this guy. I am curious to hear what he said at USMA West Point yesterday. No doubt and one point he said, “GM is alive and OBL is dead.”
@ Devtun. Agreed SNL Biden Ryan skit was lame. That skit was trumped by the “iPhone Chineese Factory Worker” skit that was funny and addressed several serious issues … Well done SNL. It was quite accurate.
@18. He can’t change who he is or what he is. And that works against him. Debates are a nice sideshow but anyone who isn’t certain which way he’s voting by now ought to be barred from the election booth.
[…] view them as callow children,” said This Ain’t Hell. Biden’s losing the sullen teenager vote! (Or at least […]
[…] demanding bosses and even older family members who still view them as callow children,” said This Ain’t Hell. Biden’s losing the sullen teenager vote! (Or at least the vote of sullen teenagers who […]