The one and only Vice Presidential Debate took place on Thursday. It was at a Level which far superceded the preceding Affair which took place Four Years ago between Vice President (then Senator) Joe Biden and then Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin. The latter, one could say, was merely a Caricature of a Vice Presidential Candidate, a Choice which Senator John McCain came to regret deeply but, of course, too late for himself.
Both Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan had one Job to do and they both knew it; enhance the Position of their respective Presidential Running Mate and inflict as much Damage on the Opposition as possible, especially in View of the unexpected outcome of the First Presidential Debate only a Week ago.
Each of the two Opponents put into sharp Focus the Positions of their respective Ticket although, sadly, the National Audience for the Debate was modest; not too many seemed to care, apparently, what each had to say. At the same Time, however, this Observer believes, they both revealed, either unwittingly or because they did not know how else to avoid, the Weaknesses in their Views.
Vice President Biden argued eloquently and flawlessly for the Responsibilities of the Federal Government when it comes to Social Security and Medicare among other Things but he was not able to offer a Plan which would show how the Federal Government can sustain over the long Term, or even the short or moderate Term, these Expenditures. Although the Vice President argued, passionately, for an end to the ,,Tax Cut'' for People making $250.000,00 or more, the Truth of the Matter is, even if that Plan were to materialize despite the fanatical and, some would say, illogical Opposition by the Republican Members of Congress, that, alone, would not come even close to beginning to deal with the horrendous Federal Deficit which threatens to cripple not only Social Security and Medicare, but much, much more.
Congressman Ryan, on the other Hand, made the Argument, with equal Eloquence, for the Management and Control of Social Security and Medicare (but not Defense) Costs. Certainly, Management and Control of these Costs (whether in the Form proposed by Congressman Ryan, who has been advocating much of what he said long before he became a Vice Presidential Candidate) or another, are necessary. But, assuming for a Moment, that everything that Congressman Ryan is proposing were to be implemented, that, too, would not come even close to dealing with the - just as horrendous - Federal Deficit.
So, where does that leave us? Lost in the Equation was the Observation and Warning by IMF Director Christine Lagarde, who warned of dire Consequences if these severe financial Problems are not addressed and, soon.
One interesting ,,Tidbit'' that came out during the dueling was about Embassy Security Details. Vice President Biden pointed out, correctly, that Congressman Ryan had voted against increasing the Security Detail Budget for Embassies and Consulates abroad by $300 Million. One might well wonder just how much Money is being spent on Embassy Security Details in the First Place, if the Increase that was being sought, alone, was $ 300 Million. One might equally wonder why the U. S. Embassy in Baghdad has nearly 16,000 Individuals working there (Largest U. S. Embassy abroad, according to the last Fact Check). You could ask, which is the Second largest U. S. Embassy abroad. Here is the Answer: Beijing, China and, although just recently opened, it is too small and the Construction of an Addition is under Way.
Vice President Joseph R. Biden
Both Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan had one Job to do and they both knew it; enhance the Position of their respective Presidential Running Mate and inflict as much Damage on the Opposition as possible, especially in View of the unexpected outcome of the First Presidential Debate only a Week ago.
Congressman Paul D. Ryan
Each of the two Opponents put into sharp Focus the Positions of their respective Ticket although, sadly, the National Audience for the Debate was modest; not too many seemed to care, apparently, what each had to say. At the same Time, however, this Observer believes, they both revealed, either unwittingly or because they did not know how else to avoid, the Weaknesses in their Views.
Vice President Biden argued eloquently and flawlessly for the Responsibilities of the Federal Government when it comes to Social Security and Medicare among other Things but he was not able to offer a Plan which would show how the Federal Government can sustain over the long Term, or even the short or moderate Term, these Expenditures. Although the Vice President argued, passionately, for an end to the ,,Tax Cut'' for People making $250.000,00 or more, the Truth of the Matter is, even if that Plan were to materialize despite the fanatical and, some would say, illogical Opposition by the Republican Members of Congress, that, alone, would not come even close to beginning to deal with the horrendous Federal Deficit which threatens to cripple not only Social Security and Medicare, but much, much more.
Congressman Ryan, on the other Hand, made the Argument, with equal Eloquence, for the Management and Control of Social Security and Medicare (but not Defense) Costs. Certainly, Management and Control of these Costs (whether in the Form proposed by Congressman Ryan, who has been advocating much of what he said long before he became a Vice Presidential Candidate) or another, are necessary. But, assuming for a Moment, that everything that Congressman Ryan is proposing were to be implemented, that, too, would not come even close to dealing with the - just as horrendous - Federal Deficit.
So, where does that leave us? Lost in the Equation was the Observation and Warning by IMF Director Christine Lagarde, who warned of dire Consequences if these severe financial Problems are not addressed and, soon.
Mme. Christine (Madeleine Odette) Lagarde, Director of the IMF
One interesting ,,Tidbit'' that came out during the dueling was about Embassy Security Details. Vice President Biden pointed out, correctly, that Congressman Ryan had voted against increasing the Security Detail Budget for Embassies and Consulates abroad by $300 Million. One might well wonder just how much Money is being spent on Embassy Security Details in the First Place, if the Increase that was being sought, alone, was $ 300 Million. One might equally wonder why the U. S. Embassy in Baghdad has nearly 16,000 Individuals working there (Largest U. S. Embassy abroad, according to the last Fact Check). You could ask, which is the Second largest U. S. Embassy abroad. Here is the Answer: Beijing, China and, although just recently opened, it is too small and the Construction of an Addition is under Way.
