Update: No doubt about it: Obama won the debate

The political assessment of the show:
 
A condescending, patronizing, old man insulted a younger, smarter, more knowledgeable candidate whose respectful nature and command of the issues saw Obama stand his ground and become the change candidate surpassing the commander-in-chief barrier many causal voters have been waiting for.

McCain used the terms doesn’t “understand” repeatedly, but the facts aside, McCain came across as ungraceful and arrogant, even a bitter man seeing his self-perpetuating myth dissipate.
 
We’ll see if this assessment is reflected empirically in the coming days.

Update II: GOP Scuttles Bailout Talks as Disbelieving Dems and Bush Keep Pressure on

Update: Dems Have Enough Votes for Bailout Measure to Pass

Rep. Barney Frank told a group of reporters outside the House chamber, "It's the longest Hail Mary pass in the history of either football or Marys," reacting to John McCain's announcement that he is suspending his campaign and calling for a postponement of Friday's debate to participate in negotiations on the bail-out bill.

Bob Cesca says, "Expecting a workable solution to this economic meltdown from a man as knee-jerk, dishonest and incomprehensible as John McCain would be an exercise in national self-destruction."

Even the GOP line that this shows-McCain's-a-maverick, committed-to-solving-problems-as-a-great-leader must be drawing smiles among GOP politicos not enamored of the old bastard.