To the editor:
I watched the vice presidential debate. My basic though was if Obama was elected, we better pray that he does not die. Biden would then become president. What a calamity for our country. Could you see him confronting other world leaders? He would have that painted false smile on his face and every time anyone said anything that made sense, he would interrupt them with some nonsensical clownish gesture or speech. What a laughingstock our country would become. He would be so busy patting himself on his back and making irrelevant remarks that he would seldom be part of any serious decisions.
On the other hand, Ryan acted like an adult who was serious about answering the question. He even tried to answer Biden's comments, but since many of Biden's comments were nonsensical there was no answer. Unfortunately, the moderator was a bit in awe of the importance of her job so did not recognize Biden's interruptions as childish ego boosters because he had nothing to say about his readiness to take over. Actually does anyone remember Biden really answering any of Ryan's questions or actually meeting any of Ryan's challenges?
Biden would probably declare war on oil or maybe he would feel real macho and declare war on China. I do not understand why he was ever chosen as vice president unless it was because Obama wanted to make sure that no one would want Obama dead.
I can remember Truman's resolve when it came to the Korean War. Despite the immense pressure to actually invade North Korea, Truman was smart enough to see the potential consequences. He made MacArthur angry by holding our troops at the border. People in both parties called him chicken.
Could a blabbermouth like Biden have the self-confidence to make a similar decision? Usually those who shout the loudest are the first to seek protection when events turn against them.
Remember, Truman was a vice president who had to take over under very "dicey" conditions. On the other hand, remember Johnson who was also a vice president who moved into the presidency when Kennedy was killed. What did he do? He started a war that would never have an end.
Truman eventually won the Korean war and kept South Korea free. Johnson lost the Vietnam War and gained nothing for our country. I think that as a country we are often slack when it comes to picking our vice president.
John E. Brockett
Lewistown
