Lahrer didn't strike me as condescending — I thought he was earnest in trying to get the candidates to engage one another — to get away from 2-minute canned answers.
I don't need them to engage according to the moderator's dictates. I need them to state their positions and bash their opponent's.
Media people are always trying to achieve a kumbaya-fest. I liked that McCain hardly looked at Obama and treated him like a young upstart.
It may not work in the other debates but I found it refreshing in this one and I was glad he ignored Lehrer's numerous promptings.