As a bonus two-point update (from inside a car! in China! an unfortunate first -- but at least I'm not driving) of the two earlier debate points:

1) The Obama team had clearly thought about one long-term tic in Mitt Romney's debate demeanor: His apparently uncontrollable vulnerability to being flustered if he thinks the "rules" are not being enforced. "I'm speaking ... it's my turn." Thus pictures like this, with Romney in a "teacher! teacher!" mode. This is the counterpart to the iconic picture of the first debate, which was Obama looking downcast and downward with a scowl. If I had more time I'd dig up one of those pics.

Getty Images



2) To spell it out, I agree with my Atlantic colleagues National Journal colleague Ron Fournier,



Update On reflection I think that the most important words in the debate, a kind of turning point, were "Please proceed, Governor." Explanation later; if you saw it, you'll know what I'm talking about. Clip is in

2) To spell it out, I agree with mycolleagues Ta-Nehisi Coates and also Robert Wright on the general flow of this one, and I disagree with ourcolleague Ron Fournier, who considered it a no-winner squabble that left everyone worse off. Certainly there were pitched disagreements -- but to me they did not amount to squabbling but rather to the expression of actual differences in outlook, on issues from Libya to taxes. Unfortunately not on the automatic-weapons question, but that's for another day.On reflection I think that the most important words in the debate, a kind of turning point, were "Please proceed, Governor." Explanation later; if you saw it, you'll know what I'm talking about. Clip is in previous post , and the crucial part starts about one minute in.