Dana Milbank: Joe Biden was brilliantly and gloriously adequate

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Joe Biden was good enough. And that, in itself, was a victory.

His fellow Democrats began attacking him in the very first minute of Wednesday night’s debate, and they didn’t stop. They attacked him on health care. They attacked him on immigration. They attacked him on crime. They attacked him on inequality, race, climate change, trade, equality, abortion and Iraq.

And Biden was .?.?. perfectly adequate. He wasn’t the most eloquent or stylish debater on the stage. He struggled to find words at times, he seemed over-rehearsed, he seemed not to grasp how texting works (“Go to Joe 30330”), he cut himself off when his allotted time expired and, at times, he seemed stunned by the ferocity of the barrage — which, in fairness, was stunning.

But in contrast to his lifeless performance at the first debate, Biden was energetic and prepared. He returned fire with fire and, for the most part, he held his own.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/joe-biden-was-brilliantly-and-gloriously-adequate/ar-AAF9QPg?li=BBnb7Kz

[George II]

1. I think he did the best job last night - he was able to take the shots and rebound from him....

....directing the discussion to issues, not insults.

But he was well prepared for those who criticized him. I liked the way he handled Booker's criticism and turned it around to the ills of Newark when Booker was mayor.

[onetexan]

10. Agree, the format was terrible

& given the barrage from the wanabe's he had to answer the most. I thought he did great under those conditions. That deblazio was terrible.

[Thekaspervote]

2. This!! Biden does have a way of refocusing on what's important. A great quality in a prez

[underpants]

3. I don't get the criticism on the first debate

He was fine to my eye.

[onetexan]

11. Ditto

This is a proven candidate who can discuss policy like its on the back of his hand. The Idiot on the other hand doesnt even know the meaning of the word.

[Faux pas]

4. Is adequate

the bar we're shooting for???? Yikes!

[wyldwolf]

5. well, we saw the stunned "deer in the headlights" look from Harris when she was attacked...

... before partially recovering and managing to brilliantly declare, "that's not true."

Biden wasn't being attacked by amateurs. He was being attacked by professionals from all sides. Being adequate against heavy fire like that is more than enough to take on Mr. "Wrong" Trump.

[yellowcanine]

6. One person's word...

Do we freak out over one person's description? Yikes!

[asiliveandbreathe]

7. Exactly..my thinking, Joe didn't come this far, just to come this far..he made a decision

to run for President, listened to his advisors, listened to his family. IF, Joe didn't run???? - I do not know who is in the camp of the other formidable candidates..but Joe's camp..can only guess there are some heavy hitters sittin' 'round the camp fire...

[Faux pas]

8. One person's word,

many people's opinion. Dana's not alone.

[KPN]

9. I agree. He was adequate. Hope that's enough in 2020! nt