[The Pack Knight]

I'll add that the real problem is that the candidates and the parties should never have given control of the debates over to the networks to begin with.

Unfortunately, all the candidates were too tempted by the free airtime to consider the harm being done to our political process.

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

I’ll add that the real problem is that the candidates and the parties should never have given control of the debates over to the networks to begin with.

Unfortunately, all the candidates were too tempted by the free airtime to consider the harm being done to our political process.

Truly united we stand, divided we fall. If parties and candidates were to commit to the good of the USA rather than facetime as priority, and stand firm, the programs would have nothing to sell unless they went for, as the cable companies call it, the 'WHOLE BUNDLE.' But that's in a perfect world....

[Kevmo]

I’ll add that the real problem is that the candidates and the parties should never have given control of the debates over to the networks to begin with. Unfortunately, all the candidates were too tempted by the free airtime to consider the harm being done to our political process.
***Yup. If the candidates simply held their own debates, and published the feed, the networks could make their own decisions as to what to put up and what not to, and the party would control who gets into the debate.

[Zero Sum]

I'll add that the real problem is that the candidates and the parties should never have given control of the debates over to the networks to begin with.

I agree. These debates are to determine the party's candidate, so the party should set up the debates. They can then let the networks tape and televise them.