You did just fine, Jim.

I had no problem with you Jim... you did ok...

He was expected to be O's surrogate.

Just didn't work out that way.

So sad.....not.

My only problem with Jim is that I thought he was "leading the witness" when Obama got stuck a few times.

But I'd rather see a Lincoln/Douglas debate style. Unfortunately, politicians nowadays are not gentlemanly enough to engage each other that way.

Jim, face it. Your career is over because you could not save the pathetic Obama from himself. That was your job and you failed miserably.

The guy is a veteran pres debate moderator. We're tired of excuses

For the first time in my life, I was please with a debate. The candidates were able to slug it out without having to keep answers to a two minute maximum. Until last night, the debates always went the same way....the democrat would answer with some short hope and change crock and then level a dozen charges against the republican. The republican then had 2 minutes to answer the question and rebut all of the allegations.

Romney was having none of it. !!!

Lehrer steered the debate. He didn't moderate it.

Why is someone from the PBS leftist propaganda channel moderating the Presidential debate?

Why?

Look at the results, Lehrer must have done something right.

LOL!

Politico scolds him for not helping their man.

I for one was pleasantly surprised at how well Jim did his job in a non-partisan way.

Do not forget that in the 2000 debates Lehrer let Gore do as he please,roam around the stage and interrupt and in effect blow off all the debate rules. Of course Gore being Gore, Gore came off as a buffoon and lost the election as a result..These debates do matter.

Lehrer did it just right. He allowed maximum scope to the candidates to say their piece. Americans got a good look at how both men handled themselves in something resembling a real debate. He was a pleasant surprise as a moderator and an example for others to follow - though it is unlikely they will do so. They have to try to resuscitate Obama and keep him on life support until the election.

Disappointed Obama fans have to blame somebody, however. Pinning this one on Bush being too much of a stretch even for them, Lehrer was the best excuse they could come up with for their champion's bad, very bad night.

But they need not despair. All is not (yet) lost. Obama is just now hitting his stride as he carries on the debate all by himself. The real reason he did not live up to expectations is perfectly obvious: the presence and responses of Mitt Romney served to distract him. He does much better debating solo before a friendly audience with no one to interrupt or question him. He is actually a masterful debater when he is the only one speaking.

I agree this was the best debate in years. They actually debated and it came off just as conservatives have thought. Lehrer did fine, even though he couldnt help being sympathetic to Zippy's plight. bwhahaha

Jim did well...

Someone said today that the best moderator is one you don't remember.

Lehrer may be a many things but one thing he's not is stupid, when the left was in control of the media Lehrer probably could have gotten away with bias and there would have been nobody to call him on it, not any more and Jim knows that.

Funny...That's also the federal government's job!

Lehrer did what he was supposed to do as a moderator. The Dems are ticked because he didn't protect Obama. I wrote and thanked him for doing a great,job.

Watch Candy Crowley "fix it" next time.

Yes, Mr. Lehrer, you are correct. Note to all future debate moderators: See above comments by Mr. Lehrer.

Save yourselves, and stay out of the way. Your guy is beyond your help now. He's a la-hoooo-serr!

Good job, Jim. Very skillfully done. You went up a notch in my estimation. In a well run game, you don't notice the refs. Interesting how soon after the debate many shocked and desperate Leftoids tried to blame the ref, Jim Lehrer.

Jim Lehrer did great IMHO. The MSM castigating him today reveals why these moderators chosen from same basic little club of journalists. Candy Crowley will be loaded for bear.

Jim, I was actually amazed you did that...most Lib reporters would have freaked out as Mitt took Obie apart!

Exactly. Chris Matthews would have talked over the candidates and not allowed them to speak. Then told you who to go vote for.

"Your mission, JIm, should you decide to accept it, is to fall on the sword for our President. This message will self-destruct in 60 seconds."

Actually, pretty consistently, Lehrer kept asking Obama if he wanted to respond, after Mitt made Lehrer (who was trying to stop his response) let him respond again to the 2nd response Obama had already made on the topic! And he gave Obama more than 3 minutes of extra time on the clock to boot.

If his job was to stay out of the way, then why did he act as Barry's teleprompter?

I agree with the posters who said he tried to lead obama to the right answers and the extra four minutes for obama was not well done on Lehrer's part. However, he did not do as bad as all the other debate moderators have done for decades.

The extra 4 minutes was brilliant because it gave Obama more time to wander and ramble. Who cares who runs the debate - Obama can't touch Mitt in a debate setting.