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10:36: I gotta say, I think Obama got schooled. Every memorable line was McCain's. Every opportunity to take McCain or the Republican administration to task was missed. It must have been an intentional strategy, to avoid saying anything nasty or disrespectful that could be held against him. I think it was a stupid strategy, but perhaps being dignified and sticking to the script will work. Knocking McCain on his butt would have worked better.

10:32: McCain says he doesn't believe Obama is prepared to be president. Obama says he is from Kenya. McCain says veterans make him sad. Lehrer says we're done.

10:31: Jim Lehrer looks bored. I feel your pain, Jim.

10:24: "I think we are safer as a nation, but we are a long way from safe." Good line from McCain on likelihood of another 9/11.

10:17: Obama just spoke at length about Russia without making a crack about Palin saying she can see the country from Alaska. He should hire Tina Fey for his debate prep team.

10:14: Laugh lines for McCain: two. Laugh lines for Obama: zero. Temptation to change the channel: growing

10:11: Are both men really trying to lay claim to agreeing with Henry Kissinger?!

10:09: McCain just said he'd sit down with anyone, if he had preconditions. What Obama should have said: "That's funny, because you didn't even want to come here and speak with me."

10:03: McCain has so far used the words straight-talk and maverick in reference to himself. Along with his Main Street reference, and mention of the surge, all I need is for him to call his wife a nasty name and I can yell Republican Bingo.

9:57: McCain is bringing up the dead soldier's bracelet that he wears. Republicans memorize narrative, Democrats memorize facts.

9:51: McCain admits that the U.S. was culpable for the emergence of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

9:46: Obama needs to use his line about McCain saying he'll chase Obama to the Gates of Hell, but not the cave where he lives. Instead, he used the word precipitous.

9:40: Obama looks straight into the camera and says the U.S. has misused its military. McCain rebounds by saying the next president won't have to worry about why the war started, but how it will end. Now things are getting interesting.

9:39: McCain's hair is distractingly shiny and comb-over helmety.

9:35: Here we go. Obama finally points out that the Republicans have been in charge for the last eight years.

9:31: McCain is winning in my view right now. He's actually being more specific -- if not entirely accurate -- and is taking swipes at Obama, saying he's too far left to reach across the aisle. Obama seems to have forgotten that he's fighting for something, and that means landing some blows.

9:30: Did Stephen Colbert lend Ole Miss his giant eagle mural for the debate backdrop?

9:25: Come on, Obama. McCAin just asked your definition of rich. You were supposed to say "A guy who doesn't know how many houses he has." Stop throwing away these opportunities.

9:20: Lehrer really wants them to engage one another. Maybe if you asked a decent question, they would.

9:20: Taxes and lobbyists -- that's what foreign policy is all about.

9:15: Obama just threw away the perfect opportunity to slam McCain for the earmarks collected by his running mate, Sarah Palin. Take a swing, dude.

9:11: What in god's name do CNN's audience reaction lines at the bottom of the screen mean? I feel like I'm watching McCain's heart-rate monitor.

9:10: McCain gets first laugh for asking Lehrer "did you think I couldn't hear him?" when Obama was instructed to speak straight to him.

9:07: Both candidates admit that the economy has problems, neither will say whether the bailout will work. Actually, McCain just said "sure" when asked if he'd vote for the plan. Lehrer didn't ask if you'd like a glass of water buddy, you just shuffed off a $700-billion (U.S.) question.

9:05: Everyone has to stop using the Wall Street/Main Street comparison. Wall Street is a real place, Main Street is a condescending, cliched way to refer to those who got bent over by Wall Street.

9:01: Jim Lehrer said that "by definition" the economic crisis falls under the topic of foreign policy. Right, because the Sudan and Iraq are reeling from the sub-prime mortgage crisis.

9 p.m.: Well, the economy is still screwed, so I guess McCain will be too busy sorting that out to show up here.... Oh my god, wait - there he is! That's not campaign suspension I can believe in.