VP Joe did awesome! But I do have to ask a simple question...Why not cite the American Jobs Act???

[LakeErieLiberal]

Last edited Fri Oct 12, 2012, 03:54 AM - Edit history (2)

The very first question that I saw was asked after flipping it on was how each ticket proposed getting the economy below 6% unemployment.

Joe's answer was great on a meta level but I wish he could've simply hit Ryan with the fact that had Paul Ryan and the Republicans in Congress passed the American Jobs Act and sent it to the President's desk, the unemployment rate would already be below 7% and the economy would be growing a whole percentage point faster according to Macroeconomic Advisers.

It would've also made the point of tying the slow recovery post 2010 to Romney/Ryan and the scorched earth vision of the Republicans.

Paul Krugman made this point in his column on Monday. You might think it would be required reading for the Obama White House at this point.

Don't mean to nit pick. I love Joe and think he did great but thought it should be pointed out that the only reason we're not already on a steady path toward 6% unemployment is because of Republicans.


EDIT: Somebody emailed me and asked me to make an edit.

There was a point later in the debate where he mentioned the AJA in passing suggesting that Paul Ryan and the Republicans should've just "gotten out of the way."

I am talking specifically at the beginning of the debate when he might have been able to specifically answer the moderator's question on how to get below 6% unemployment. The administration has really not advocated for fiscal stimulus following the election or stood up for its proposal of the AJA last fall. Realistically they've just argued that they have a better, more sound and more middle class friendly deficit reduction plan. This would've been an opportune time to bring it up is all I was saying.

But, once again, Joe did great.

[exboyfil]

1. Another point he should have launched on was

the Jack Kennedy reference about lowering taxes and growing the economy. Kennedy lowered the top marginal rate from 91% to 77% on what is now over $3M. Rates at our top income ($380K) went from 62% to 56%. We are arguing about the difference between 35% and 39.6% a long way from the those rates from the early 1960s. A much better model would be 31% to 39.6% (from $240B to near budget balance) back to 35% (generating a $300B deficit before the crash and $880B in last budget year). These are 1983 dollars.

[Tigress DEM]

3. OK, so let's go back to the JFK rates 77% on over 3Mil, 56% on 380Thou and leave 250Thou alone

RYAN, SEE... if you think like a DEM, we just might find the money to fix the economy after all!!

YOU can even CUT your 20% out of that 77%, heck the 56% too.

the Jack Kennedy reference about lowering taxes and growing the economy. Kennedy lowered the top marginal rate from 91% to 77% on what is now over $3M. Rates at our top income ($380K) went from 62% to 56%. We are arguing about the difference between 35% and 39.6% a long way from the those rates from the early 1960s. A much better model would be 31% to 39.6% (from $240B to near budget balance) back to 35% (generating a $300B deficit before the crash and $880B in last budget year). These are 1983 dollars.

[LakeErieLiberal]

9. Also very good points

Love Joe Biden!

[longship]

2. Ho-hum!!! HE DID!!!

I do not have the transcript yet. But, I'll guarantee that Biden specifically mentioned the American Jobs Act. It was early on in the debate. Maybe you ought to snag the C-SPAN video and review it.

I think you are incorrect. Check it out.

Thanks.

[phleshdef]

4. He did mention it. It was during that part where he was telling them to "get out of the way"....

...and he listed off things they've tried to do and have been obstructed on. The jobs act was one of the things he mentioned.

[LakeErieLiberal]

7. You're right

He did mention it in passing...I was talking specifically about the part where she asked them how they would get the economy back to 6% unemployment and asked them to be specific. Would've been the perfect time to mention it. But can't really complain as he did a great job.

[SunSeeker]

5. Ed said he wished Biden would have brought up outsourcing.

At this point, we'll all find something Biden could have talked more about. But Obama's got 2 more debates to do that in. Biden did what he had to do, and then some. I'm just loving Biden right now.

[LakeErieLiberal]

8. Amen

Exactly what you said. He did what he had to do. He's got that populist fire in his belly that resonates with people.

[Bigredhunk]

6. Yeah, Pretty Sure He Mentioned It

I wish he'd have said a couple of other things, like:

-These folks like to talk tough...sounds like they want another war (Iran). I remember this tough talk 10 years ago about Iraq being a danger to America. That war of choice was a huge mistake.
-Mr Robme says that the uninsured can go to the hospital...that nobody dies because they don't have health insurance. 44,000 people die every year, in fact. The ER is only for acute care. It's incredibly wasteful for people to get the most expensive care and then stick taxpayers with the tab.

JB did kick ass though!

[RBInMaine]

10. He did. Said they were blocking it along with much else thus slowling the recovery.

[malaise]

11. He did n/t