Update: C-Span II (not I) is showing a split sccreen at all times.

****************
Ten minutes till the bell rings. I'll use this space to post some thoughts on the debate while I'm watching. Feel free to add your's in the comments. Starting now, you can go first if you want.

First question is to Cheney about whether Bremer's statements were included in a report he requested. Cheney goes over a minute without mentioning Bremer or the report--in other words he didn't address let alone answer the question.

Edwards responds and addresses Bremer's statements. We need a fresh start. He gives tangible ideas. Good demeanor. Earnest. Credible.

Early Impression: Cheney is speaking too fast, too many words tumbling out in the same monotone. Edwards has cadence and speaks understandably.

7:30 Edwards is totally on his game tonight. He is not giving a sliver to Cheney. He hasn't taken Cheney's bait when Cheney insultingly claims he's wrong on the facts.

7:45 Cheney gets nasty and snarly. Very unappealing.

8:00 Cheney passes up the chance to respond twice. On Israel, he says "Ill concede the point." On gay marriage, he thanks John Edwards for the kind words about his family and gay daughter and says he has nothing else to say. What's up with that? This is a debate, you don't get to refuse to answer.

8:15 Edwards repeatedly mentions John Kerry. Cheney has rarely mentioned Bush tonight. (8:19, Cheney finally mentions and praises Bush.)

Ooh, cheap shots by Cheney continue. Now, Cheney is touting that he has no further political aspirations. Once again, Edwards doesn't take the bait.

Kind of strange. As soon as Gwen Ifil said it was the last question, Cheney relaxed and got conversational for the first time all night. Like he made it through it.

And so it's over. Tonight's debate showed two fairly evenly matched candidates. It really underscores how awful and inadequate Bush was last week.

Cheney looked like he read his closing from a teleprompter and way way too fast. Can't remember a word. Edwards told a story, I can still see his father in front of a tv learning math, and I think middle class, John Edwards will protect the middle class.

Of course, I prefered Edwards.

Other random thoughts: