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Flap’s Blog @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2012-10-14
- My Daily Twitter Digest for 2012-10-14 – Locum Tenens (Temporary) Dentist – Gregory Cole, D.D.S. http://t.co/61hVzlkS #tcot 23:33:04, 2012-10-14
- GetGlue – Your app for TV, Movies, and Sports http://t.co/CLcvyzGQ #tcot 22:30:04, 2012-10-14
- GetGlue – Your app for TV, Movies, and Sports http://t.co/iTcdDvLE #tcot 22:30:03, 2012-10-14
- My Daily Twitter Digest for 2012-10-14 http://t.co/QgYXv52v 22:03:56, 2012-10-14
- NRCC Launches More Than $6 Million Worth of Ads | At the Races http://t.co/0GwvrI9m #tcot 20:19:34, 2012-10-14
- GetGlue – Your app for TV, Movies, and Sports http://t.co/RnDZliOI #tcot 20:19:34, 2012-10-14
- GetGlue – Your app for TV, Movies, and Sports http://t.co/jXXE6wRl #tcot 20:19:34, 2012-10-14
- I unlocked the FOX MLB: Giants vs. Cardinals sticker on #GetGlue! http://t.co/7mOBXcdl 20:07:02, 2012-10-14
- Go Cards.. http://t.co/IMU402H4 #GetGlue #MajorLeagueBaseballOnFOX 20:06:58, 2012-10-14
- RT @rollcall: NRCC launches $6M worth of TV ads in more than a dozen race, via @jm_dc http://t.co/52g3OSuc 19:35:21, 2012-10-14
- I unlocked the Hollywood Extra sticker on #GetGlue! @intel http://t.co/0YPdkLuR 19:29:46, 2012-10-14
- Brody becomes the terrorist errand boy… http://t.co/Gu6W2iWL #GetGlue @SHO_homeland 19:29:42, 2012-10-14
- Wisdom Teeth Turf War Erupts in Utah http://t.co/4WFhy9zG #tcot 19:27:46, 2012-10-14
- Destinations / The space shuttle Endeavour moves north on Bill Robertson Lane in front of the Coliseum in … http://t.co/DBZpImQU #tcot 16:41:44, 2012-10-14
- Dilbert for October 14, 2012 – Scoot Over – Flap's California Blog http://t.co/ukP9rMax #tcot 16:41:44, 2012-10-14
- GetGlue – Your app for TV, Movies, and Sports http://t.co/6OcSX8g4 #tcot 16:41:43, 2012-10-14
- The space shuttle Endeavour moves north on Bill Robertson Lane in front of the Coliseum in LA Sunday. http://t.co/byAbF8kT via @pinterest 15:39:40, 2012-10-14
- Dilbert for October 14, 2012 – Scoot Over http://t.co/RtlNCjXR 15:24:10, 2012-10-14
- Enjoying the Sunday NFL action… http://t.co/HTAwDU7v #GetGlue #NFLRedZone 15:15:14, 2012-10-14
- Many Dentists Violating Child Abuse Reporting Laws? http://t.co/tVGUEKm8 #tcot 15:10:08, 2012-10-14
- Sprint reportedly agrees to sell 70 percent stake to Softbank http://t.co/qIXhEVe7 #tcot 15:08:08, 2012-10-14
- Today's Dilbert:Alice is mocking you….. http://t.co/m19Umt2m via @pinterest 14:37:47, 2012-10-14
- ObamaCare is bad for small business http://t.co/oUznsqdx #tcot 12:32:06, 2012-10-14
- Election May Well Come Down to Colorado http://t.co/xwNAtg0m #tcot 12:32:05, 2012-10-14
- Live Broadcast | Red Bull Stratos http://t.co/m67HOZh7 #tcot 12:32:05, 2012-10-14
- RT @NASA Congratulations to Felix Baumgartner and @RedBullStratos on a record-breaking leap from the edge of space! http://t.co/QEAogHWD 11:58:52, 2012-10-14
- RT @AP #Skydiver Felix #Baumgartner lands safely after 24-mile leap to Earth in bid to break sound barrier: http://t.co/JSBs6EGr -MM 11:57:38, 2012-10-14
- R. I. P. RT @vcstar Longtime GOP Senate moderate Arlen Specter dies http://t.co/u1FZrbSf 11:55:56, 2012-10-14
- Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is.
–Vince Lombardi
Happy Sunday! 11:54:44, 2012-10-14
- @ Flap Daily Twitter Digest for 2012-10-12 – Flap's California Blog http://t.co/m0Nc3oLM #tcot 05:17:21, 2012-10-14
- @ Flap Daily Twitter Digest for 2012-10-13 – Flap's California Blog http://t.co/1tvAjqmJ #tcot 05:17:20, 2012-10-14
- @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2012-10-13 – Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/tZNhxa5v #tcot 05:17:20, 2012-10-14
- @ Flap Daily Twitter Digest for 2012-10-12 http://t.co/dtsZ3Awq 04:02:50, 2012-10-14
- @ Flap Daily Twitter Digest for 2012-10-13 http://t.co/CCAtRj0n 04:02:49, 2012-10-14
- @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2012-10-13 http://t.co/o6xA1evJ #tcot 03:00:28, 2012-10-14
- Day By Day October 13, 2012 – Liar, Liar http://t.co/y7QcLmVZ #tcot 03:00:27, 2012-10-14
- My Daily Twitter Digest for 2012-10-12 – Locum Tenens (Temporary) Dentist – Gregory Cole, D.D.S. http://t.co/lmCIJDa9 #tcot 01:37:56, 2012-10-14
- My Daily Twitter Digest for 2012-10-13 – Locum Tenens (Temporary) Dentist – Gregory Cole, D.D.S. http://t.co/5T232mXv #tcot 01:37:55, 2012-10-14
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Wisdom Teeth Turf War Erupts in Utah
A number of Utah oral and maxillofacial surgeons have begun a dentistry turf war with a fellow dentist, Heath Hendrickson, over the extraction of wisdom teeth. The surgeons have sponsored a website (trooth.com) and a billboard on I-15 in Utah County, Utah (I will endeavor to get a photo of the billboard tomorrow).
The oral surgeons who are listed below have a beef with general dentist, Health Hendrickson, who refers to himself as Dr. Wisdom Teeth.
Dr. Hendrickson is a licensed, undisciplined Utah dentist who extracts wisdom teeth.
There seems to be more to the story.
Here is Dr. Hendrickson’s website at DrWisdomTeeth.com:
My experience in these dental turf wars is money, money and more money.
Do the oral surgeons resent the fact that as a general dentist, Dr. Hendrickson is invading their lucrative turf of extracting wisdom teeth – and at a reduced fee to boot?
Or, is there a public safety concern?
Yet, the Utah Board that regulates dentistry has never disciplined Dr. Hendrickson.
Even the Utah Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons has jumped into the act seemingly denigrating general dentists in order to protect their own dental turf. Here is more:
Why an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Should Manage Your Wisdom Teeth
Dentists learn to remove teeth in dental school the same way physicians learn how to cast a broken bone in medical school. However as with broken bones, the difficulty, complexity and risk of the procedure varies; often requiring specialty training in order to provide the most effective, safe, and comfortable treatment.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are dental specialists who receive 4 to 6 years of additional medical and surgical training beyond dental school in order to specialize in surgical procedures related to teeth, jaw, and face and to administer general anesthesia. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons focus on:
- Wisdom tooth removal
- Complicated tooth removal
- Dental implants
- Reconstructive jaw surgery
- Facial skeletal reconstruction
- Management of impacted teeth
- TMJ disorders
- Facial trauma
- Facial cosmetic surgery
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology (diseases of the mouth, face and jaws)
- Sleep apnea
- General anesthesia
Dentists may perform any treatment they believe necessary that falls within scope of the state’s dental practice act, including tooth removal. Many dentists are able to perform straightforward tooth removal without difficulty. However, occasions may arise when removal of an impacted or erupted tooth is difficult or complicated. It is in the patient’s best interest to have these procedures performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with proper training, as this ensures the best outcome for the patient.
If a dentist without appropriate training performs difficult or complicated tooth removal, patients may have increased risk of infection, dry socket, nerve injury, a lengthy and unpleasant procedure, and possibly additional surgery needed to produce complete healing. (Some dental practices limit their procedures to tooth removal only and patients may not be aware that the practitioner is not a formally trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon. The Utah Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons understands “Wisdom Teeth Only” and “Simply Wisdomteeth” to be examples of this type of practice.) If complications occur during tooth removal, the patient is often referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. In such cases, the patient has often experienced considerable stress and discomfort that likely would have been avoided if a properly trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon had been consulted originally. In most cases, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon can perform complicated or difficult tooth removal in a few minutes. A properly trained oral and maxillofacial surgeon typically can provide an anesthetic and remove four impacted wisdom teeth in 30 minutes or less.
I will try to interview some of the parties involved during the next few days.
I have a feeling this turf war is going to get uglier.
Stay tuned…..
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Many Dentists Violating Child Abuse Reporting Laws?
Perhaps, according to a new study in the the Journal of the American Dental Association.
Although all 50 states require dentists to report signs of child abuse in their patients, some research suggests that few dentists are reporting these cases, according to a report published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA).
In addition to violating the ethical standards upheld by the American Dental Association (ADA) and other professional groups, dentists who fail to report suspected abuse face civil and criminal penalties and, in some states, the loss of their licenses.
Dentists can play an especially important role in detecting abuse because many abuse injuries are to the head and neck, the researchers note. Chipped or fractured teeth and strangle marks are among the most common signs of abuse. “When kids get abused, it’s common for them to go to the dentist because of injury to the mouth,” first author David R. Katner, JD, told Medscape Medical News.
Previous research suggests that many dentists are not fulfilling their obligation to report these injuries, said Katner, a professor of clinical law at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He cited a 1995 JADA study in which researchers showed that dentists made less than 1% of all reports in states that track cases by the reporter’s profession.
Katner said he spoke to leaders at several dental schools and found a lack of awareness of the issue.
Well, it is not that simple, especially if you are in private practice.
If a child or teenager presents in your office with obvious facial and/or dental trauma and the parents say they fell. What are you going to do?
You treat the injury and are not going to ask 20 questions of either the child or the parents. There is NO time.
When a child presents with rampant caries who needs extensive treatment, does the dentist pick up the phone and call Child Protective Services? Probably not.
In all of my years of private practice, I may have been tempted to call the authorities on maybe a few occasions. But, I did not.
Why?
If I was wrong, I was afraid the family would sue me, despite the California State immunity that is given to dentists.
And, when I worked in public health dentistry, I saw many children and teenagers with destroyed dentitions. Did I call the County? No, I treated their dental disease as best I could and tried to educate the patients and the parents.
So, despite this study, it is easier to blame and then threaten the dentist than actually help the abused child.
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@ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2012-10-13
- My Daily Twitter Digest for 2012-10-12 http://t.co/ldzBdOsq 22:02:38, 2012-10-13
- My Daily Twitter Digest for 2012-10-13 http://t.co/Xs5MCDeS 22:02:38, 2012-10-13
- RT @MattGu3: Walking for @TonyStrickland today in #CA26. Met with almost 100 volunteers today, mostly women supporting Tony. #VenturaCounty 12:05:37, 2012-10-13
- Off soon to Venice Beach and @LAMarathon training with the LA Roadrunners. 8 miles today and then Ronnie's Diner after. Temps in 60's. 05:06:05, 2012-10-13
- @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2012-10-11 to 2012-10-11 – Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/LHYhOSdD #tcot 03:43:41, 2012-10-13
- @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2012-10-12 to 2012-10-12 – Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/1n1T3b4u #tcot 03:43:41, 2012-10-13
- @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2012-10-12 to 2012-10-12 http://t.co/PNQQEGJE #tcot 03:06:15, 2012-10-13
- @ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2012-10-11 to 2012-10-11 http://t.co/OggAzEEZ #tcot 03:06:15, 2012-10-13
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Day By Day October 13, 2012 – Liar, Liar
The Obama Administration has NOT been truthful on the Benghazi debacle.
But, alas, it was her boss who chose to “politicize” a security fiasco and national humiliation in Benghazi. At 8:30 p.m., when Ambassador Stevens strolled outside the gate and bid his Turkish guest good night, the streets were calm and quiet. At 9:40 p.m., an armed assault on the compound began, well planned and executed by men not only armed with mortars but capable of firing them to lethal purpose — a rare combination among the excitable mobs of the Middle East. There was no demonstration against an Islamophobic movie that just got a little out of hand. Indeed, there was no movie protest at all. Instead, a U.S. consulate was destroyed and four of its personnel were murdered in one of the most sophisticated military attacks ever launched at a diplomatic facility.
This was confirmed by testimony to Congress a few days ago, although you could have read as much in my column of four weeks ago. Nevertheless, for most of those four weeks, the president of the United States, the secretary of state, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and others have persistently attributed the Benghazi debacle to an obscure YouTube video — even though they knew that the two events had nothing to do with each other by no later than the crack of dawn Eastern time on September 12, by which point the consulate’s survivors had landed safely in Tripoli.
So, a pants on fire Jay Carney should NOT be a surprise.
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@ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2012-10-12 to 2012-10-12
- Why Dems Loved Biden’s Boorish Behavior http://t.co/zCoNFrsR #tcot 18:21:42, 2012-10-12
- White House defends Biden on Libya http://t.co/9Pt5pmx8 #tcot 18:21:42, 2012-10-12
- Poll: Romney Opens 7-Point Lead in Florida http://t.co/NdQUVUaz #tcot 18:21:42, 2012-10-12
- What is so funny, "Slow" Joe Plagiarizing Biden? http://t.co/FT0wf7r5 via @pinterest 18:02:14, 2012-10-12
- RT @ppppolls: VP debate looks like a draw in the swing states where we launched polls tonight. Not a game changer either way 17:59:54, 2012-10-12
- Day By Day October 12, 2012 – Joker http://t.co/crXFiyrl #tcot 17:41:34, 2012-10-12
- The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.
–Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Happy Friday! 08:50:32, 2012-10-12
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@ Flap Twitter Daily Digest for 2012-10-11 to 2012-10-11
- Good job, Joe Biden. You took the advice of the LEFT and now have successfully looked like a rude ass. Keep it up #tcot 18:42:52, 2012-10-11
- Introducing the 2012 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index http://t.co/NO9czxSb #tcot 18:25:44, 2012-10-11
- RT @philipaklein: Here’s a link to the Cook Report’s new partisan voting index of all the congressional districts http://t.co/eLTdkQf6 17:49:38, 2012-10-11
- @KaiserJohnson Great! I will be dual screening and watching C-SPAN/Fox/CNN and MSNBC for laughs in reply to KaiserJohnson 17:37:52, 2012-10-11
- @3rdWAVElands If Biden tries to become aggressive, it could get interesting. Remember that Biden = gaffe prone. in reply to 3rdWAVElands 17:36:57, 2012-10-11
- OK Tweeps who is watching the VP debate tonight? On TV or online? Dual screen? What news sources are you using? #VPDebate #tcot 17:07:11, 2012-10-11
- RT @ByronYork: Now, Cutter original remark accusing Romney of politicizing Libya is factoring into internal Romney debate over how much … 16:50:02, 2012-10-11
- RT @stephenfhayes: Is Stephanie Cutter, who speaks for the president, still unaware that US intel had intercepts between jihadists “hour … 16:43:45, 2012-10-11
- Romney takes seven-point lead in new Florida poll http://t.co/aDwDXDMv #tcot 16:21:26, 2012-10-11
- Capitol Alert: Molly Munger says Jerry Brown using ‘impostor strategy’ to win votes http://t.co/scHvJRtT #tcot 16:21:26, 2012-10-11
- Twitter / dannysullivan: Bored in the dentist’s chair … http://t.co/2S2qSnz0 #tcot 16:21:25, 2012-10-11
- RT @cmarinucci: RT @FixAaron: Romney takes seven-point lead in new Florida poll – The Fix http://t.co/WVDyFzmR 15:49:18, 2012-10-11
- @lavieemusic Wow! You have a foul mouth too – see ya! in reply to lavieemusic 14:57:18, 2012-10-11
- Molly Munger Vs. Jerry Brown – says Governor using an “impostor strategy” http://t.co/NOkBKVrH #tcot #catcot 14:53:52, 2012-10-11
- @SoquelCreek Maybe they shipped them all to San Francisco? Or Oakland? in reply to SoquelCreek 14:51:05, 2012-10-11
- @SoquelCreek Nahhh I see many Obama 2012 stickers in Venice and the Peoples Republic of Santa Monica in reply to SoquelCreek 14:45:17, 2012-10-11
- @lavieemusic oh yeah that makes a lot of sense. Your logic defies belief… in reply to lavieemusic 14:43:31, 2012-10-11
- Lady tells Chris Matthews that Obama is a “Communist”. When Matthews asks her what she meant she says study it up, buddy. 14:31:27, 2012-10-11
- RT @jimgeraghty: I’m sorry, did @stefcutter just ask Chris Matthews what he’s doing later? 14:24:26, 2012-10-11
- RT @sistertoldjah: Awesome. RT @wcnc: Mitt Romney is paying a visit to Billy Graham at his home near Asheville right now. Pic: http://t. … 14:22:07, 2012-10-11
- Is Chris Matthews getting a tingle down his leg from Stephanie Cutter? #tcot 14:21:17, 2012-10-11
- Oh yeah if anyone cares, it has been raining in Thousand Oaks, California this afternoon. It does rain in Southern California… 14:18:47, 2012-10-11
- Better bored than…RT @dannysullivan: Bored in the dentist’s chair 🙂 http://t.co/aZbwrSn6 14:15:50, 2012-10-11
- Montana Sen: Denny Rehberg (R) 43% Vs. Sen. Jon Tester (D) 40% http://t.co/yoknzx01 #tcot 14:13:02, 2012-10-11
- Pre-Debate Poll Watch: Ryan and Biden Both With Lackluster Favorability http://t.co/6HMAqm0M #tcot 14:07:11, 2012-10-11
- Poll Watch: California Proposition 37 in Free Fall http://t.co/wDSOQBhf #tcot 14:07:11, 2012-10-11
- (500) http://t.co/6Y9pelRa… http://t.co/zXl5whf9 #tcot 11:07:51, 2012-10-11
- (500) http://t.co/nkwjphXP… http://t.co/vxUDRyls #tcot 11:07:50, 2012-10-11
- Running / Ten Commandments for the Runner… http://t.co/3z5te1t2 #tcot 11:07:50, 2012-10-11
- DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz Says Wrong Statements About Libya Doesn’t Mean They Were False http://t.co/Nx358d4V #tcot 10:58:21, 2012-10-11
- Graphic Anti-Smoking Ads Work – Increase Attempts to Quit http://t.co/9fvB7mLP 10:34:20, 2012-10-11
- Ten Commandments for the Runner… http://t.co/vqn8yUyn via @pinterest 09:47:06, 2012-10-11
- Biden: ‘You Ever See Me Rope-a-Dope?’ http://t.co/sV1ALUX1 #tcot 09:30:07, 2012-10-11
- GOP Turnout Effort Tests Obama Campaign’s Prowess http://t.co/wH0e38EB #tcot 09:30:06, 2012-10-11
- The Official Movie Website for Hating Breitbart http://t.co/pbEMUPdo #tcot 09:30:06, 2012-10-11
- The Morning Flap: October 11, 2012 http://t.co/yAk0yUJF #tcot 09:29:37, 2012-10-11
- A pleasure RT @HatingBreitbart: I had a great time talking about Hating Breitbart with Gregory @Flap Cole. #War #tcot http://t.co/mb91gKSy 09:02:54, 2012-10-11
- ObamaCare: Health Care Direction Awaits Verdict of Presidential Race http://t.co/PbvhlNNl #tcot 08:59:10, 2012-10-11
- Just completed an interview with Director Andrew Marcus of @HatingBreitbart which will be released next Friday, October 19. #tcot #teaparty 08:35:59, 2012-10-11
- California gas prices are a warning http://t.co/47U4owDO #tcot 07:57:00, 2012-10-11
- Day By Day October 11, 2012 – Country http://t.co/HS2ZiEJU #tcot 07:33:32, 2012-10-11
- Hating Breitbart – The Documentary in Select Theaters Soon http://t.co/cKajdzpp #tcot 07:25:34, 2012-10-11
- @Janxy Good morning! in reply to Janxy 07:15:23, 2012-10-11
- @katebochte More than likely disengaged unfortunately… in reply to katebochte 07:15:02, 2012-10-11
- Hating Breitbart – The Documentary in Select Theaters Soon http://t.co/BeYmuk2S #tcot 06:27:21, 2012-10-11
- Rove: The Dividends of Romney’s Debate Victory http://t.co/GZx9r1qb #tcot 05:51:30, 2012-10-11
- Greek Unemployment Rises Above 25 per cent http://t.co/lsGGSl3P #tcot 05:19:58, 2012-10-11
- CBS 5 Poll: Romney Gains 8 Points On Faltering Obama In California http://t.co/qExbY6mi #tcot 05:19:58, 2012-10-11
- @katebochte 37% approve of Obama’s Libya policy. So, a lot less than disapprove = 46%. Thus, no. in reply to katebochte 05:06:41, 2012-10-11
- @Janxy 37% approve of Obama’s Libya policy. So, a lot less than disapprove = 46% in reply to Janxy 05:05:54, 2012-10-11
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-10-11 http://t.co/fTN6EClN 05:04:30, 2012-10-11
- RT @politico Poll: 46 percent of voters disapprove of how Obama is handling Libya: http://t.co/nQc4eA8y #tcot 04:59:02, 2012-10-11
- RT @WSJ Breaking: Japan’s Softbank is in advanced talks to acquire Sprint Nextel. http://t.co/OugPnAEU 04:51:59, 2012-10-11
- RT @jamiedupree New NBC/WSJ poll has Obama +1 in Florida (same as 10/1), Romney +1 in VA (+6 from Sept) & Ohio +6 Obama (-2 10/1) #tcot 04:50:12, 2012-10-11
- RT @jamiedupree New Q/CBS/NYT poll has Romney +1 in Colorado (up 2 from Sept), Obama +3 in Wisconsin (-3) & Obama +5 in VA (same) #tcot 04:49:08, 2012-10-11
- Another Obama failure RT @AP Mexican meth pours into US cities, negates effort to curb US drug production: http://t.co/rpt5tIPk #tcot 04:43:15, 2012-10-11
- To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle.–Walt Whitman
Happy Thursday! 04:41:29, 2012-10-11
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-10-11 – Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog http://t.co/dyCCBqiP #tcot 03:13:56, 2012-10-11
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-10-11 http://t.co/n5w25EdP #tcot 03:01:04, 2012-10-11
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Michael Ramirez: What Are You Smiling at Joe Biden?
Source: investors.com via Gregory Flap on Pinterest
Michael Ramirez asks the question of Vice President Joe Biden: What are you smiling at Joe?
The answer will be delivered on November 6th – without a doubt.
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Day By Day October 12, 2012 – Joker
Vice President Joe Biden was quite the JOKER during last night debate with Rep. Paul Ryan. But, what was so funny?
Slow Joe Plagiarizing Biden was rude, arrogant and basically an ASS.
One must not confuse aggression with debate strength and I really don’t think independent and undecided voters were to impressed with this display.
Here is a clip of the Biden laugh machine below:
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Pre-Debate Poll Watch: Ryan and Biden Both With Lackluster Favorability
According to the latest Gallup Poll:
Americans view Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan similarly heading into Thursday’s vice presidential debate, with 44% viewing Biden and 43% viewing Ryan favorably. This contrasts with most other vice presidential pairings since 1992 when one candidate had higher favorable ratings than the other in advance of the election’s vice presidential debate.
At 44%, Biden has the lowest pre-debate favorable rating of any Democratic vice presidential candidate of the past six elections. At 43%, Ryan’s favorable score is no better, but he is viewed more positively than Vice President Quayle was in 1992 and roughly on par with Cheney in 2000. Both of those candidates were associated with Republican tickets that lost the popular vote (although, in the case of Bush/Cheney, not the Electoral College).
Al Gore was easily the most popular vice presidential candidate of the last two decades. More than six in 10 Americans viewed him favorably prior to the 1996 and 1992 vice presidential debates, eclipsing both of his opponents’ favorable scores: Jack Kemp’s 51% and Dan Quayle’s 33%. John Edwards was viewed significantly better than Dick Cheney in 2004. Also, Joe Lieberman in 2000 and Sarah Palin in 2008 had slim favorability advantages over their counterparts.
But, does it really make any difference in the Presidential race?
Probably not and history says not so much.
Unless Ryan or Biden has a complete meltdown on stage, I would think that not too much would change in the polls. But, Biden probably has the bigger downside since President Obama performed so poorly in his first debate against Mitt Romney.
Biden and Ryan will take the stage in Danville, Ky., on Thursday about equally well-liked by Americans. Gallup trends suggest that past vice presidential debates have had little to no impact on voter preferences; nevertheless, the current parity between Biden and Ryan theoretically gives them equal opportunity to use the debate to their team’s advantage, something Biden may be particularly focused on given Obama’s subpar performance in the first presidential debate. However, demonstrating that pre-existing views are not determinative, Obama entered that debate with a 55% to 47% advantage over Romney in favorability, and yet, by 72% to 20%, debate viewers said Romney rather than Obama did the better job.
How much vice presidential popularity matters to the outcome of presidential elections is another question. The ticket with the more popular vice presidential candidate at the end of the campaign won in 1992, 1996, and 2008. However, George W. Bush won re-election in 2004, and roughly tied Al Gore in the popular vote in 2000 despite Cheney’s favorability deficits to Edwards and Lieberman, respectively.