Biden question

[asterroc]

I've heard a lot of analysts say that Biden was unusually reserved last night in the debate. (1) Do you have examples of how he usually is? (2) Anyone know why he would've been more reserved than usual?

Comments

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

From all the second hand sorts of analysis I've skimmed, I suspect the answer to (2) is that he/his handlers feared that being his usual self would lead to cries of "mean! sexist! jerk!" and the like. There were fears that he might be seen as condescending if he went after Palin the way he has gone after other people. I get the feeling he may be something of a loose cannon and prone to saying some pretty wild things, and so even if his opponent were more of an equal, he may have wanted to restrain himself a bit so as to avoid any remarks that he'd get attacked for in the press.

I haven't had a chance yet to track down, let alone watch, any of his previous speeches, alas.

[q10.livejournal.com]

because him being seen as a bully would have been bad for him politically, and arguing too aggressively against somebody who seems inexperienced or nervous tends to make you look like a bully even, if they had it coming, and this effect can, in our sexist society, be exaggerated by certain gender factors that are also in play here?

[tikva.livejournal.com]

The drinking game I was playing said to drink if he got angry, and it was on the list of common things to drink about, so I figure he does it a lot.

Also, he could have mopped the floor with her. He didn't, and it wasn't because she was particularly good, it was because he held back. I thought that was classy, myself, but I'm biased.

[meig.livejournal.com]

He was being diplomatic. Something the McCain ticket doesn't understand if Palin's remarks last night were any indicator.

[freakylynx.livejournal.com]

Supposedly this video has a few:

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

A better analogy might be that when you're coming up for tenure review, you don't want to take any risks - unless you know your chances aren't that good, and taking a risk might be the only thing that saves you. ;)