McCain lost. He was testy, nasty, mean, ill tempered, and creepy.

[Neshanic]

Obama did great. McCain became the old nasty guy that the neighborhood can't stand. Obama stood tall and presidential. He also got his big points across concerning the link of economy and security.

McCain played his old hand way too much tonight and came across as the nasty senior citizen that is too quick to condemn, to quick to get his mouth open, and too nasty and jaded to be trusted.

[Malikshah]

1. More importantly for me, he was lying.

[Neshanic]

2. That goes without saying.

[FatDave]

36. Yup. He was full of shit.

But Joe Average Low Info will never know that. He'll just know McCain was a total dick.

[kestrel91316]

3. Obama was cool and composed the whole time. It's his nature.

McCain's nature is to be snotty and cranky and hostile. It certainly showed, when he wasn't mind-numbingly boring.

[Neshanic]

4. He came through with flying colors on the snotty and cranky.

[Bubbha Jo]

5. He reminded folks of Bush's behavior for the last 8 years....

Overbearing BS.

[bluethruandthru]

7. The worst was McCain's smirk (just like the chimps) while he

kept saying "Senator Obama doesn't understand, Senator Obama doesn't understand"

[Bubbha Jo]

11. But he was truly treating voters as stupid

when he kept repeating that line. Anyone could see Obama wasn't an unintelligent loaf like McCain was trying to portray. That line really made McCain seem stupid himself.

[curious one]

31. Don't forget that the stupid ones are voting for him.

[Bubbha Jo]

33. Sure..... he was appealing to his voter base

which isn't very appealing to the independents, which are must have for hims.

[Lars39]

6. And petty, sarcastic and mealy-mouthed.

[Bobbieo]

8. You forgot 'smirky' Was he told to be smirky - it was distracting!

I wanted to punch him out.

[Johonny]

9. I agree

[Avalux]

10. Obama was targeting the undecided voters and with that in mind, he won hands down.

The only people McCain made happy were his base. Obama is one smart cookie.

[Colobo]

12. McClown acted like a prick.

[bdamomma]

17. his body language and his rudeness towards Obama

he was being a prick.

[blogslut]

13. We agree on something

McSame was hostile, condescending and generally unlikable. This is the overriding narrative that came out of the first debate. I sincerely believe the majority of Americans that watched tonight felt one common sentiment:

"What an asshole."

[Neshanic]

14. He was just a couple of snide remarks short of becoming Cheney.

[blogslut]

21. Yep

As for the content of the debate, I was glad to hear actual issues discussed. Both candidates were quick-thinking and forceful and I am thankful to Mr. Lehrer for giving us the most substantive debate we've had this campaign season.

But I also know that millions and millions of American citizens are going to vote based on the emotional reaction to the demeanor of the candidate. McSame was a dick - a Cheney if you will. His pissy attitude will be as condemned as Gore's heavy sigh.

[Neshanic]

23. He reminded me of Cheney. He looks like Cheney, he is nasty like him too.

[SaveAmerica]

15. McCain was creepy right from the beginning!

[BumRushDaShow]

16. Fineman is saying that McLame's "attack attack attack" debate strategy didn't do him well. n/t

[4_Legs_Good]

18. Absolutely agreed! McSame looked like Gollum in that awful LotR movie

just sitting around ready to pick the bones.

David

[beachmom]

19. Also, he told too many stories. It was like, oh GOD, not another story!

And he was openly a jerk to Obama. He should not have done that.

[Neshanic]

22. Yes, yes, we know, we know John, now can you answer without the old shit?

[eilen]

25. He was totally channeling my neighbor who tells long boring stories

with corny endings. It is excruciating.

[President Decider]

20. Grandpa McCain is like the old neighbor who yells out the window for kids to get off his lawn .

[sakura]

24. The best part was that despite all of McCain's creepiness, Barack didn't pick up the rope.

Instead, he smiled his 1000 watt smile. My favorite part was when he asked Lehrer for a moment to rebut one of McCain's lies, and McCain butted in again. Then Obama just smiled at Lehrer and said something to the effect of "let's just move on." McCain looked like a sniveling 70 year old child, and Obama looked like the adult.

[lumpy]

34. McCain came across as rude, snarky, petulant and terribly

rigid. No grace whatsoever. Appaling that he does not accept diplomatic means of solving foreign problems, just more of Bush's foreign policy.

[Waiting For Everyman]

26. It's the same 'demeanor' thing that sunk Nixon in 1960.

[Supersedeas]

27. we must have seen the same debate -- what did Andrea Greenspan and Gregory see??

[SarahB]

28. And orange.

Was it just me or was his makeup terrible?

[crazy_vanilla]

29. yes, worse than Scroodge

[curious one]

30. The only thing he did was lie after lie even after Obama saying his piece. To me it seemed that he

didn't even listen to Obama. Lie after lie. BTW did he vote with * on torture?

[gulliver]

32. McCain was spastic and looked like he was about to boil over.

The guy was shaking, twitching, not making eye contact, smiling with a clenched jaw, his eyes were watery...he was whiny, complainy.

Scary that anyone could even think about voting for McCain over Obama.

[BlueIdaho]

35. Unpresidential.

In a word. We all have expectations about what a President should look like, sound like, and act like. Grumpy Mc Petulant did not pass the test tonight. Since this is about who he is on the inside things don't look too good for round two either.

[ecstatic]

37. McTroll lol nt