Vice President Joe Biden took an aggressive fighting stance from the get-go at his debate with Paul Ryan.

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he first and only vice-presidential debate began with foreign policy on Thursday night, with Vice President Joe Biden dismissing Paul Ryan's criticisms as "malarkey," suggesting that the Wisconsin congressman was "full of stuff." Ryan criticized the Obama administration for failing to protect the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and for allegedly failing to slow Iran's drive to produce nuclear weapons. But Biden was having none of it, laughing incredulously at Ryan's responses and defending the administration's record. Here, some Twitter recaps and reactions to the debate:

Biden: "With all due respect that 's a bunch of malarkey."

— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 12, 2012

Biden already more aggressive in the first 2 mins of this debate than Obama was the entire debate last week. #debates

— amy walter (@amyewalter) October 12, 2012

"Malarkey" to make its way straight to the top of trending topics and Google searches

— Frances Catanio (@FrancesCatanio) October 12, 2012

Biden: "Usually, when there's a crisis, we pull together as a nation...the governor (Romney) was holding a press conference."

— Molly Ball (@mollyesque) October 12, 2012

Biden to Ryan on Iran: "You want to go to war? Is that what you want to do?" #veepdebate

— Ben White (@morningmoneyben) October 12, 2012

Biden also tore into Ryan on the economy: "I have had it up to here with that notion of 47 percent. It's about time to take responsibility. Instead of signing pledges to Grover Norquist, not to ask the wealthiest among us to contribute to bring back the middle class, they should be signing a pledge to the middle class saying, 'We are going to level the playing field and give you a fair shot again.'"

The reaction:

Biden smackdown

— Taegan Goddard (@politicalwire) October 12, 2012

Biden basically uncorking every line liberals wanted Obama to use.

— daveweigel (@daveweigel) October 12, 2012

One Biden answer contains all the points liberals say Obama missed: 47 percent, Romney's personal taxes, auto bailout #nbcpolitics

— Savannah Guthrie (@SavannahGuthrie) October 12, 2012

Dem enthusiasm and confidence will be restored after this debate.That's my big takeaway so far.

— Marc Ambinder (@marcambinder) October 12, 2012