A fractious rollicking debate at the Venetian in Las Vegas tonight, sponsored by the Western Republican Leadership Conference and anchored by CNN's Anderson Cooper, who asked crisp questions and let the candidates go at each other. How did they do? Some first impressions.

New media, old media--all news gets to citizens through filters.

We should talk to our enemies on our own terms and not theirs, and with their captive peoples in mind.

Gradually lowering greenhouse gas emissions would be worthwhile were all states to join in the effort, but absent such strong, broad-based action, countries should explore other means of limiting harm from climate change.