The Great Debaters

I have been ruminating for days about so many subjects, but I have to begin with the Vice Presidential debate between VP Joe Biden and Representative Paul Ryan.  I knew it would be a great debate. What I did not know is how smart and on top of it the moderator, Martha Raddatz would be.  I don't really know her because ABC is not my choice for news, but I did find her most impressive, mostly.  I could've done without the last two personal questions: one about their Catholicism (which I think was a way of getting them to speak about abortion) and two about what kind of men they are.  

In terms of which candidate won, I think there is a very good case for both sides.  I am partial because as previously stated, I love Joe Biden.  I have loved him from afar almost as long as Jill Biden has loved him.  I love him.  I find him charming, smart, accessible, and very appealing.  So there is my bias from the outset.  Paul Ryan, not so much.  I find him a tad creepy and it has to be restated that his both attractive looks and strong resemblance of a grown up Eddie Munster contributes to that.  He can't pull off smirking well.  The split screen is also very disturbing.  The whole time?  It's unnatural and I wish the debate producers would use the split screen more judiciously.  As far as the content of the debate, well I thought that Joe Biden really held his own.  He had more specifics and facts on his side.  Paul Ryan made some good points but can't back anything up with specifics.  I did think one of the stand out moments was talking about social security and the fight for privatizing from the Right.  Joe Biden said if social security had been privatized what would have happened when the market crashed to the ground.  That would have been disastrous and Biden brought clarity to that.  I wouldn't call it a zinger more a direct hit.  Biden did great on foreign affairs.  Better than Ryan, but he should.  Joe Biden has been involved in foreign policy for years, probably before Ryan was born.  Domestic issues was a draw.  NOT from my point of view, but there can be an argument either way.  Look, honestly, if all things were equal and I liked the Romney/Ryan ticket as much as I like the Obama/Biden ticket, I could never ever vote for Romney/Ryan because of their stance on abortion.  

That is a deal breaker for me. I hope all the women in America heard Ryan's clear stance on abortion and revoking Roe v. Wade.  If you didn't, hear it now.  Ryan will do everything in his power to turn Roe v. Wade over and make abortions illegal.  This is incredibly important.  He also has strong feelings against contraception covered by insurance.  There is an attack.  If it isn't "against" women, it is against choices.  It is pushing his religious beliefs on us all.  That isn't right.  He made it clear during the debate.  Biden said he believes in his Catholic doctrine, but wouldn't presume that others believe the same. He clearly believes in choice.  And by the way, if Ryan is able to get insurance companies not to cover contraception, can that be said for all the E.D. drugs i.e. Viagra, Cialis???  That's never mentioned. 

So, again, WOMEN and MEN, listen up, our rights are being threatened.  It's as clear as the nose on your face.  

Sidebars:   Baseball playoffs are aging me.  The SF Giants won in a long, finger biting game yesterday.  The A's lost to the Detroit Tigers and the sterling pitching of Justin Verlander.  The Yankees are playing their fifth game today against the Baltimore Orioles.  The Washington Nationals also playing their fifth game against St. Louis Cardinals. Winner of that game will play the Giants next.  I do love this time of year, but oy vey!  My husband's dear friend, colleague and apartment mate, Beano Cook passed away the other day at the age of 81.  He was a one of a kind.  There will never be another Beano Cook.  Characters like that don't seem to come along anymore.  The mold was broken.  After the Iran hostages were released in 1981 and Major League Baseball offered them tickets for life, he said, "haven't they suffered enough?" Classic Beano.  R.I.P. Have a great weekend, everyone!

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