Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Blue Belle

(5,912 posts)
Fri Oct 12, 2012, 04:44 PM Oct 2012

Matt Taibbi: Joe Biden was Right to Laugh

Source: Rolling Stone
By: Matt Taibbi

The Vice Presidential Debate: Joe Biden Was Right to Laugh

I've never thought much of Joe Biden. But man, did he get it right in last night's debate, and not just because he walloped sniveling little Paul Ryan on the facts. What he got absolutely right, despite what you might read this morning (many outlets are criticizing Biden's dramatic excesses), was his tone. Biden did absolutely roll his eyes, snort, laugh derisively and throw his hands up in the air whenever Ryan trotted out his little beady-eyed BS-isms.

But he should have! He was absolutely right to be doing it. We all should be doing it. That includes all of us in the media, and not just paid obnoxious-opinion-merchants like me, but so-called "objective" news reporters as well. We should all be rolling our eyes, and scoffing and saying, "Come back when you're serious."

The load of balls that both Romney and Ryan have been pushing out there for this whole election season is simply not intellectually serious. Most of their platform isn't even a real platform, it's a fourth-rate parlor trick designed to paper over the real agenda – cutting taxes even more for super-rich dickheads like Mitt Romney, and getting everyone else to pay the bill.

The essence of the whole campaign for me was crystalized in the debate exchange over Romney's 20 percent tax-cut plan. ABC's Martha Raddatz turned the questioning to Ryan:

MS. RADDATZ: Well, let's talk about this 20 percent.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well – (chuckles) –

MS. RADDATZ: You have refused yet again to offer specifics on how you pay for that 20 percent across-the-board tax cut. Do you actually have the specifics, or are you still working on it, and that's why you won't tell voters?

Here Ryan is presented with a simple yes-or-no answer. Since he doesn't have the answer, he immediately starts slithering and equivocating:

REP. RYAN: Different than this administration, we actually want to have big bipartisan agreements. You see, I understand the –

"We want to have bipartisan agreements?" This coming from a Republican congressman? These guys would stall a bill to name a post office after Shirley Temple. Biden, absolutely properly, chuckled and said, "That'd be a first for a Republican congress." Then Raddatz did exactly what any self-respecting journalist should do in that situation: she objected to being lied to, and yanked on the leash, forcing Ryan back to the question.


Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/the-vice-presidential-debate-joe-biden-was-right-to-laugh-20121012#ixzz297TcPDPp

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Matt Taibbi: Joe Biden was Right to Laugh (Original Post) Blue Belle Oct 2012 OP
You know it just dawned on me, Matt is Hunter S. Thompson without the Liquor and drugs.... WCGreen Oct 2012 #1
Matt Taibbi is awesome... Blue Belle Oct 2012 #2
Yeah, he was.. Cha Oct 2012 #3
IS that really him in that photo? joeybee12 Oct 2012 #4
They are thin because he's been running marathons in under 3 hours! Patiod Oct 2012 #7
Somebody needs to tell him that anybody over 16 with a backwards ball cap Warpy Oct 2012 #5
Agreed. Blue Belle Oct 2012 #8
Excellent! Great writing- love his work. NY KaryninMiami Oct 2012 #6

Patiod

(11,816 posts)
7. They are thin because he's been running marathons in under 3 hours!
Fri Oct 12, 2012, 05:51 PM
Oct 2012

That will take the weight off of you!

Warpy

(111,300 posts)
5. Somebody needs to tell him that anybody over 16 with a backwards ball cap
Fri Oct 12, 2012, 05:19 PM
Oct 2012

looks like a total dork.

And yeah, he needs to work on his legs. Bet I could outrun him and I have spinal arthritis and asthma.

Blue Belle

(5,912 posts)
8. Agreed.
Fri Oct 12, 2012, 06:04 PM
Oct 2012

The Romney campaign is beyond comprehension to think that these photos would be a good thing. Seriously?

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Matt Taibbi: Joe Biden wa...