Pat Buchanan was the most outspoken of those on MSNBC. He told the panel that the debate was like a boxing match where one fighter - in this case the president - "delivers a knockout punch in the first round."

"I never saw Kerry regain his footing," Buchanan added.

"The president felt confident ... he felt he was winning."

"The president was strong and tough ... he looked like he came to fight, and he did it in a presidential way."

"It is impossible for me to say other than that the president defeated John Kerry handily - he [Kerry] was repetitive and used the same lines as in the last debate."

The president let Kerry talk about taxes over and over, and "it played to the president," he said.

Buchanan also thought that Kerry was deliberately trying to goad President Bush into losing his temper by "moving within eight feet or so" of him and leaning in toward Bush.

Chris Matthews agreed, and was impressed that Bush restrained himself and didn't "take the bait."

Tom Brokaw said it was "the most useful debate I've seen in a long, long time."

Tim Russert added, "I loved the questions, they came from the heart," and said the "candidates didn't try to warp their answers."

Russert said that Bush was definitely "more energetic" this time around, and thinks people are interested in the election and will watch the next debate in great numbers.