Some of my reactions to last night’s second presidential debate:

• BORING!
• Debates seem to sap every ounce of charisma out of Obama.
• I found myself terribly annoyed at both of them for ignoring the agreed-upon time structures. They both see themselves as above the rules.
• Once, when Brokaw admonished them about following the time limits, Obama said he was just trying to keep up with McCain. Which is a totally leaderless way of whining, “He started it!”
• I fell asleep halfway through.
• I guess they did deal with issues, just in a droning kind of way.
• Where’s the witty, smiling, happy warrior McCain of 2000?
• Obama continually used up all his time, and then would say, “I’d like to make one more point.” Really annoying.
• Toward the end, I thought McCain was launching into another tedious “preconditions” rant. (Jesus said that when you have problems with someone, you go talk to them. I apply that view to international relations, which is why I’m in line with Obama on this. Talking is better than pouting.)
• McCain could take shots and just brush them off. But Obama was defensive, wanting to correct every perceived misstatement. As I said before: chill, dude.
• On Morning Joe this morning, they were lamenting that there wasn’t a baseball game they could switch to.
• People are making too much over McCain’s “that one” statement. In such a dull debate, it’s hard finding something to talk about.
• I found McCain’s answers easier to follow than Obama’s. But when I didn’t drift off, I liked Obama’s answers.
• McCain really really dislikes Obama.
• They both worked hard at contriving empathy for voters and for the people asking questions. I think we all saw through it. Obama and McCain didn’t truly “feel your pain.”
• Okay, John, we got it: you’re a maverick. Jolly.
• They’re saying Obama won because he didn’t lose. Maybe so. But he was somewhat diminished in my eyes. No great vision or hint of charisma (unlike the first debate).
• Michael Scherer notes that, “The key to the classic McCain town hall is that McCain is having fun. He did not appear to be having fun tonight.”
• McCain seemed to disappear real soon after the debate ended, while Obama stuck around. What’s with that?