The negative commentary certainly reveals the popular addiction to "news" comprised of sound-bites and quips. I watched the debate intently and was delighted first by Lehrer's quote from Eisenhower tying economy to national security, then by his well-focused questions. They gave Obama and McCain the opportunity to address the questions in depth and to demonstrate the qualities of their thinking. In order to appropriately cover the range of topics mentioned in complaints, the show would have had to be much longer, or nothing but quips and sound bites. There is plenty of time ahead for more questions. The mode exercised in this debate is exactly what is needed to help us to be "an informed electorate". It is about time! Seabury Lyon Bethel, Maine