Bush’s affected Texas accent mysteriously disappeared. He scowled less. But he still stumbled his way out of answering the questions and into short pre-scripted speeches about whole other topics, speeches laced with code words appealing to the fundamentalists and the Limbaugh listeners. The figurehead of the neocon revolution was reduced to cheap jibes about Ted Kennedy, non-Fox news media, and big government.

Meanwhile, Kerry just got smoother and slicker. Not quite Clinton smooth, but closer. His answers weren’t always well-delivered (or ones with which I’d agree). But he did answer everything, lucidly.

Meanwhile, some ad-industry vets have compiled a short Quicktime video entitled The Ten Year Difference, comparing Bush’s performance in the first debate to his (far more effective) performance while running for Texas governor a decade before.