Back Towards The Locus

Far too much waffle was sprayed around during the course of the veep debate, and the format ensured that the moderator couldn’t pursue specifics. Thus, I’ve attempted to find questions, praise or invective that could have been aired.

Somewhat predictably, Biden completes the couple.

Domestic Policy

“[Barack], first of all, said there has to be oversight. We’re not going to write any check to anybody unless there’s oversight for the — of the secretary of Treasury.”

Excellent…

“He secondly said you have to focus on homeowners and folks on Main Street.”

Good…

“Thirdly, he said that you have to treat the taxpayers like investors in this case.”

Er, Joe, do you support the bailout or not?

“The charge is absolutely not true. Barack Obama did not vote to raise taxes. The vote she’s referring to, John McCain voted the exact same way. It was a budget procedural vote. John McCain voted the same way.”

An important note to take into any debate: saying something twice doesn’t make it any more right.

“Do I support granting same-sex benefits? Absolutely positively. Look, in an Obama-Biden administration, there will be absolutely no distinction from a constitutional standpoint or a legal standpoint between a same-sex and a heterosexual couple.”

Ah, good.

“Barack Obama nor I support redefining from a civil side what constitutes marriage.”

Er…right. Sort out your grammar, logic and ethics.

Foreign Policy

“Pakistan’s weapons can already hit Israel and the Mediterranean…”

What?!?…sorry, what?!? Is there some kind of objective evil to having weapons that could theoretically be aimed at Israel, or did mild Israel-Pakistan relations freeze suddenly?

Honestly, Joe, do you want to retract that or shall I just take the microphone and give you a thwack?

“And right now that resides in Pakistan, a stable government needs to be established. We need to support that democracy by helping them not only with their military but with their governance and their economic well-being.”

So, you oppose bloody attacks on Pakistan, right? Right?

“Gwen, no one in the United States Senate has been a better friend to Israel than Joe Biden. I would have never, ever joined this ticket were I not absolutely sure Barack Obama shared my passion.”

It’s not enough to give unconditional support to Israel, then, you actually have to have a passion for it.

“Here’s what the president said when we said no. He insisted on elections on the West Bank, when I said, and others said, and Barack Obama said, “Big mistake. Hamas will win. You’ll legitimize them.” What happened? Hamas won.”

Opposing elections, eh? Have you considered rebranding your Party?

“With regard to Iraq, I indicated it would be a mistake to — I gave the president the power. I voted for the power because he said he needed it not to go to war but to keep the United States, the UN in line, to keep sanctions on Iraq and not let them be lifted.”

Er, yeah, sure (Barack, keep this dude away from the button)…

You see, Joe, your problem is that you still want to look “hard”, “strong” and the like. The American citizenry does not support an aggressive foreign policy, the “hearts and minds” of Pakistan will not be won while attacks continue and it would be just a leeetle bit off to imply that illegitimate Palestinians are the only obstacle in the path of the Israeli peace machine.

“Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history. The idea he doesn’t realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the vice president of the United States, that’s the Executive Branch. He works in the Executive Branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.”

*Applauds, whistles, shouts “Go, Joe” etc.*

“You’re very kind suggesting my only Achilles Heel is my lack of discipline. Others talk about my excessive passion.”

Christ on a bike, is this a debate or a date?

“Look, I understand what it’s like to be a single parent. When my wife and daughter died and my two sons were gravely injured, I understand what it’s like as a parent to wonder what it’s like if your kid’s going to make it.

I understand what it’s like to sit around the kitchen table with a father who says, “I’ve got to leave, champ, because there’s no jobs here. I got to head down to Wilmington. And when we get enough money, honey, we’ll bring you down.”

…

“But the notion that somehow, because I’m a man, I don’t know what it’s like to raise two kids alone, I don’t know what it’s like to have a child you’re not sure is going to — is going to make it — I understand.”

To step out of character, this was the best moment of the debate, because it scythed through Palin’s “small town values” rot. Her failure to acknowledge this – it wasn’t in the script – only highlights her own cynicism.

“Look, folks, this is the most important election you’ve ever voted in your entire life. No one can deny that the last eight years, we’ve been dug into a very deep hole here at home with regard to our economy, and abroad in terms of our credibility. And there’s a need for fundamental change in our economic philosophy, as well as our foreign policy.”

Spot on, and if you could cage your hawks there might be more of a chance of it happening.

Again, h/t to LibCon.