Debate Reaction

It's been a pattern ever since the governor of Alaska was offered the vice presidential slot: the closer we get to Halloween, McCain shows himself to be more and more frightfully unprepared.

McCain had already convinced most Americans he's not capable of fixing the economy, but last night he convinced them that... they don't like him, either.

The clear winner of Wednesday's debate, Joe the plumber, focused a national debate on the wisdom and fairness of progressive taxation.

I'd still like to like John McCain, especially since I once did - to some degree anyway. But with every day on this marathon, in every speech, and every debate, I'm less motivated to do so.

Last night, John McCain told us that Governor Palin "knows more about Autism than any other American I know." Perhaps he should get out more.

Even though I'm not for McCain and I think he has run a dishonorable campaign, I feel an empathetic sadness for him. Please let the sun set already. Let this campaign be over already.

For McCain, the urgent need tonight was not for McCarthyism on Ayers or ACORN, but for sounding authoritative on the economy -- a daunting objective for someone who said he doesn't know much about economics.

This debate was won on the reaction shots. Every time Obama spoke, McCain grimaced, sneered, or rolled his eyes. Every time McCain was on the attack, Obama smiled - underlining McCain's need for anger management. Read More New on Green: Sloan Barnett and Green Goes With Everything For many people, the signature image signifying threats to our environment is the disappearing snowcap atop Mt. Kilimanjaro. Sloan Barnett epitomizes the new image. She is a former consumer reporter who became an environmental activist when her son developed asthma. Read More October Surprise Update: What McCain May Be Planning and What Obama Can Do to Ruin It As the one arrow left in McCain's quiver -- other than appealing to racists -- national security becomes the likeliest playing field for an October Surprise. Read More

We have just experienced the worst financial crisis in 70 years. Eight hundred thousand people have lost their jobs in recent months. And all McCain wants to talk about is Bill Ayers and ACORN?

Barack Obama never delivered a knockout punch during the final presidential debate, but it did not matter. Obama won a T.K.O.

If John McCain wants us to think he's not the same as George Bush, perhaps he should stop embracing Bush's policies.

Ninety minutes of John McCain making faces was more than enough for a lifetime. It's hard to imagine anyone willingly inviting that antic lemon-sucking grinfest into their homes for the next four years.

While Obama came across like a breathless statesman, McCain came off incendiary, competitive, and humorless making it hard to accept his premise that he will use the military option as a last resort.

Forget Joe Six-Pack. We have a new American icon, who may not need a designated driver on the way home from the soccer game.

Arianna Huffington: McCain's Losing Strategy: Double Down on the Anger: McCain scored the zinger of the night with, "I am not President Bush. If you ...

McCain runs the gamut from rebellious teenager to grumpy old man without ever pausing at the stage of mature adult.

Wow, I never thought a presidential discussion would get me thinking so much about my toilet.

I have a brother who is a plumber. His name's not Joe, and he is voting for Obama.

Planetaria show us the beauty and grandeur of the Universe, and shouldn't be cynically relegated to being a political bludgeon used to score cheap points.

In the course of the debate, McCain was outclassed, outgunned and outrun, time and time and time again. Obama's performance was so commanding that he barely noticed a petulant McCain.

My God, does he realize how much gas it will take to drive to the moon?! — michael

If the people of this nation cannot tell the difference between presidential behavior and a sick and angry little man, then we're in more trouble than we are with Bush. Get a grip John. You're boring.

It's time to back off the precipice, Ms. Palin and Mr. McCain.

Obama's answer to the first question of the night was fine -- anodyne, uninspiring, reasonable, and utterly uninspiring.