They both were oxygen-starved.

[Octafish]

When speaking in public after standing for extended periods, like in a lecture, I have been known to ramble or forget my train of thought.

A doctor pal told me it was due to oxygen deprivation, the air was going to my legs and jaw. The brain responds by shuffling O2 from the higher functions to the more basic functions.

This first debate was in the Mile High City. Both men revealed signs of oxygen deprivation. More than being "off," however, I believe the circumstances revealed their more basic nature.

In the case of ex-Gov Romney, he was, at heart, a bully.

President Obama showed he is basically a thoughtful person.

[Panasonic]

1. The easiest solution to altitude sickness

is which both were suffering from - keep yourself hydrated 100%. I've had to keep telling my in-laws to drink water - almost EVERY time they come to Denver.

[dkf]

2. I think I heard Romney was practicing there early.

He may have been better acclimated.

Moral of story...no more debates in Denver or wherever that was.

[arboretum]

3. Dear fake Jesus

Let my oxygen-starved candidate perform better than the other oxygen-starved candidate.

All thing being equal, Jesus, let my oxygen-starved candidate smash the other loser in an asphyxiated haze.

[On the Road]

4. You Could See There Was Something Wrong With Obama

When he told Jim Lehrer that he had five seconds left, and it took him 20-30 seconds to finish his thought.

[caraher]

7. You can't say much in 5 seconds.

Obama was just taking advantage of maintaining his hold on the floor. Romney did a LOT more of that, of course... I think he got the last word in almost every segment.

[On the Road]

9. I Realize That

but Obama hesitated a couple of times and seemed to have difficulty putting his thoughts into words. I noted it the time but didn't know what to attribute it to. Maybe the altitude was part of it.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

5. When I was 11, my family moved to Colorado

Going up to over a mile in altitude from barely above sea level affected my eyes. For about three days, I had pain behind both eyes and felt pressure. Also, I had trouble with light.

[polichick]

6. I've had altitude sickness and could hardly speak...

I felt so lightheaded and nauseated the first day. Could be the case here - if so, they did well just to participate.

[bleever]

8. I do believe that people under the influence, or under stress, show a more authentic

side in many cases.

Pared back to their instincts.

[CrispyQ]

10. Dennis Miller did a show in Aspen once & had an oxygen tank on stage.

"Get a fucking atmosphere!" he said before taking a big hit of O. I know no one here likes him, but it was funny.

[renate]

11. didn't Obama make a habit out of playing basketball before debates in 2008?

Or was that on election days in the primaries, as sort of a good-luck ritual?

I thought he did like to exercise to relieve stress. He may have been feeling crappy when he actually got to the debate, and he really did seem kind of spacey and slow and off his game. Unlike Romney and his train, though, he didn't make excuses.

[H2O Man]

12. I read a post

on DU:GD earlier, that noted that Bob Woodward suggested that President Obama was distracted .... likely by some pressing national security update he got shortly before the debate.

By no coincidence, about 12 minutes into the debate, I told the friends who were at my house for the debate the same thing.

[Enrique]

13. Mormons have an advantage at high elevations

the next one should be more of a fair fight.