Debate Wrap-Up

Over at the Prospect, Matt Yglesias notes that -- rather than trying to spin it into a win -- several Bush supporters are just admitting that their guy bombed.

THE DEFENSE TAKES A PASS. You can judge the awfulness of Bush's performance last night by the lameness of what his defenders have to say. NRO's Jay Nordlinger, after pleading with his readers not to "kill the messenger," just up and admits that Bush lost. His colleagues are less forthcoming, but Janice Crouse concedes that "Bush blew an opportunity." John Pitney pleads that Bush doesn't look as bad if you read the transcript (I hear he came off even worse on the radio, though) instead of watching the videotape. This is probably right, but guess what: It was a televised event. And "better" still leaves a lot of room for improvement.