I realized tonight that the republicans have set the bar so low with Bush and Palin

[Matariki]

that I honestly expected McCain to drool on himself and be unable to utter a coherent sentence.

My expectations for McCain were so low, that he actually seemed better then I, and my roomful of leftie liberal friends, expected.

I'm really happy to see independents calling the debate for Obama, because when it was over we felt it was a draw.

[TwilightGardener]

1. He's been in the Senate for 26 years, been running for President

off and on since '99--he's an old pro at campaigning and debating. I have no idea why people had low expectations of him.

[lapfog_1]

2. people don't... pundits DO.

That way, when he stands at the podium for 90 minutes, Norah can gush about his "stamina". that's the only way to make this a horse race again.

[Matariki]

4. Yeah, I know. Its mostly because of his horrid judgment in a running mate

And Bush really, really lowered the bar. Also, McCain has made some pretty idiotic gaffes recently - like the Spain thing.

[FrenchieCat]

3. I wasn't impresed with his 20th century approach to

21st century problems.

I think folks just expect Barack Obama to be 12 times as good. I think that's the problem.

[Matariki]

6. Yeah I agree

I confess, we were probably looking for entertainment a little too much this evening.

You've got to admit though, this has been a pretty amusing election season. But the actual entertainment is going to be on October 2nd.

[AtomicKitten]

5. I hope McBush doesn't replace Palin before the VP debate.

That debate will be classic in a Blazing Saddles kind of way.

[intheflow]

7. This is what we always thought leading into Bush's debates.

And each time he was able to hold it together long enough to not visibly pee himself or pick at his butt crack. Then the pundits would waltz on and say how he not only held his own, but had a decisive win. Even Palin's interviews haven't reassured me into complacency about what her performance will be next week. After all, she trained to be an on-air personality, which might go a long way toward fooling people who pride themselves on being delusional.

[Matariki]

8. That was perplexing though. He was a gibbering idiot in those debates

especially the first one. Listening to the pundits spin the 2004 debates made me feel like I was in room 101.

I'm finding the polls tonight very reassuring.