Guest, the questions - and answers - were circumscribed because the two men could not choose their subjects. As Jim Lehrer, the moderator, said at the beginning of the debate: "The umbrella topic is foreign policy and homeland security, but the specific subjects were chosen by me, the questions were composed by me, the candidates have not been told what they are, nor has anyone else."

That would also explain the fact that they reminded you of what you have seen on the Jim Lehrer shos.