THE TEXAS SCRIBBLER

Here's a take on the first debate that resonates, though the bogus polls already are giving Barry the win:

"Obama lost because he comes across as a smug, arrogant, self-important, smart ass. His style is condescending constantly pointing fingers, frequently raising his fingers to eye level, jabbing constantly, make’s one feel he’s lecturing us - because he thinks he is smarter than us all."

Unfortunately, you could also say that Mac was condescending, with his words, if not his fingers. But it could be that Barry is another Stevenson, whose loss to Eisenhower (twice) often is credited to his professorial, smarter-than-you style. Too bad there were no "debates" in those days to compare.