Do you feel more encouraged about Social Security and Medicare after listening to the VP tonight?

[kentuck]

Joe Biden addressed these issues like a Democrat that believes in these programs. There was no ambiguity in his comments. The same with taxes. He called for the Bush taxcuts to end and for the wealthy to pay more. He said it was time to get out of Afghanistan and let the Afghanis handle their own security. He was vehement about it. For Democrats, it was hard not to feel a lot better after listening to Joe Biden.

As for Paul Ryan, I'm sure Repubs thought he did a good job and that Biden was rude and condescending and smiled too much. Of course, they failed to see anything rude or condescending in the lies told by Mitt Romney in the first debate. Let' em spin. Joe put the brakes on their dream wagon tonight.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Joe was wearing his Democratic creds like a badge of honor.....

Gotta love him.

[David Zephyr]

2. Seniors knew who would be on their side after that debate. No question about it.

I think this VP debate might have just sealed the deal.

Seniors vote. Ryan shit the bed.

And the Afghanistan War? Joe Biden: We are leaving.

[DURHAM D]

3. There is no question Biden will move undecided seniors

to vote for Obama/Biden. I know a lot of seniors who have been confused. Tonight (if they were watching) will fix that.

Also, seniors will like the fact that the old guy more than held his own against that whippersnapper.

[jberryhill]

4. There is a contingent here that will never believe this administration on that

[Oilwellian]

5. If you're already a senior...

I think they found Biden more comforting. For those who are within a few years of senior status...not so much. Biden skirted the direct question about raising the eligibility age for Medicare.

[Johonny]

6. If the goal was to fire up Dems after the first debate scare

I think Biden did it. The polls seem to suggest Democrats think he did just fine. Perhaps some undecided came Obama's way, but generally VP debates don't matter.

Tonight was Obama's administrations chance to refire up it's base. It is hard to say they didn't. My facebook comment page said he did. The DU is saying it. The polls show no Dems are unhappy with Biden. This was much better news tonight.

The best part the post debate fact checking will start tomorrow and Ryan is going to not look good. It's easier to use this debate tonight to hammer Romney on facts because so many Dems left it feeling good than last week when so many Dems were to down to really amp up with fact checks. Big Bird jokes work better when you feel you are winning. Tonight people think they are winning again.

[woo me with science]

7. No, and there was absolutely ambiguity.

Last edited Fri Oct 12, 2012, 01:32 AM - Edit history (1)

...the very same ambiguity that we have been given all throughout this campaign. Ambiguity big enough to allow huge cuts to SS benefits through Simpson-Bowles and the chained CPI: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021493159

Biden made the case that Republicans will assault senior benefits severely. But Obama/Biden continue to avoid ruling out cuts by Democrats.

Cuts to Social Security benefits by Democrats are absolutely unacceptable. We must judge policy in this area not in comparison to what Republicans would do, but based on what we know is the right thing to do.


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Just as a juxtaposition, note Biden's comment about the automatic cuts in defense that are scheduled to take place. His words were, "Nobody wants that."

We need a clear statement that Obama/Biden will not tolerate cuts in SS benefits, period.
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On edit: And frankly, the more I read your OP, the angrier I get about the lack of clarity with the American people re: the Democratic position on cutting benefits. You seem to suggest that people should be "reassured" about benefits after this debate...and I think that was the emotional message our side intended to send to people. The Republicans will hurt you, and the implied message was that we won't. Yet the careful wording and avoidance of any promise to resist benefit cuts masks the massive loopholes through which they will drive Simpson Bowles and the chained CPI once the election is over. I think a hell of a lot of Americans have no idea whatsoever that Democrats plan to put their SS benefits on the table.

We can still make cutting benefits politically untenable. We need to be loud and clear and demanding of specific promises now, before the election, while we still have the leverage to do so. We OWE Americans this clarity and this pressure to our party to do the right thing.

[MannyGoldstein]

8. Well, Obama/Biden are infinitely better than Beldar/Liar, but

Biden said SS shouldn't be cut WITHOUT doing other things too.

A qualifier, as always.