Yeah, yeah. I know. Tomorrow night is the first big debate and the President is going to get mittened with well practiced "zingers". Ruths Chris Christie assured us that "this whole race is going to be turned upside down." after Rmoney does "extraordinarily well" in the first debate with President Barack Obama on Wednesday night.
Far be it for me to disagree with the man who had the good judgement not to mention his nominee until he was nearly done speaking at the nominee's convention, but Romney isn't going to deliver anything extraordinary on Wednesday.
The opportunity for extraordinary and a campaign winning homerun in the debates this year belongs to Joe Biden ... if the Vice President goes "rouge"
Follow me below the fold to hear me out and let me know what you think.
Despite the hopes and wishes of the Romney/Ryan supporters, the debates don't turn elections around. Even more, Vice Presidential debates rarely make a dent in a campaign. Remember one of the greatest debate moments in history when Senator Lloyd Bentsen in 1988 lit up then Senator Dan Quayle with the "You're no Jack Kennedy" retort? That great moment didn't save the Dukakis/Bentsen ticket.
This year is different. The dynamics are different.
The Vice Presidential debate in this campaign can seal the deal for Obama/Biden.
Remember when Romney introduced Ryan as his running mate?
"With energy and vision, Paul Ryan has become an intellectual leader of the Republican Party. He understands the fiscal challenges facing America: our exploding deficits and crushing debt – and the fiscal catastrophe that awaits us if we don't change course."
Congressman Ryan is not a budget wonk. He's a fraud. Don't believe me, go read Dr. Krugman. But you and I don't need convincing that the choice of Congressman Ryan as his running mate is just one more mittastrophic decision of Romney. In a little over a week from now Vice President Biden can put that case before the American people at the debate.
Here's my thinking.
In Vice President Biden's opening remarks he could say something like this and forever tattoo the Lyan on Ryan's forehead.
Vice President Joe Biden's hypothetical opening remarks:
“This debate is very important. But a little while back Congressman Ryan was asked by Fox News correspondent Chris Wallace’s how much his side’s proposed tax cuts for the wealthy would cost and Congressman Ryan would not answer. Mr. Wallace pointed out just like the President and I have repeatedly pointed out (and President Clinton!) that neither Congressman Ryan nor Governor Romney has never given us the math for more tax cuts for the wealthy.
Congressman, you responded that ‘I don’t have the time.’
Well, Congressman Ryan, I’m going to go rouge on you [audience laughs] and offer you the next 90 minutes to explain to the American people the math for your tax cuts for the wealthy.
What do you say Congressman? Will you take the next 90 minutes in prime time to explain to the American people how you’re planning to pay for those tax cuts? Or how much time do you need?“
The way I see it is that if Biden makes such a statement, especially if he gets the opportunity to lead off the opening remarks, Ryan is in a box for the rest of the evening. It is unlikely Ryan would say 'yes', and even if he did he can't pull it off.
It would dramatically show the lie to the Romney/Ryan plan once and for all.
And maybe, just maybe, put the stake through the heart of trickle down fairy dust tax cuts economic policy, killing it.
And as Joe Biden has nothing to prove to anybody there's little risk to Obama/Biden, and I think Joe could pull it off masterfully.
What do you think?