[a fool in paradise]

Rigged debates are rigged elections.

Let each campaign nominate a list of moderators and like 2 teams of lawyers selecting a jury, eliminate names until there is some agreement.

[traderrob6]

“Let each campaign nominate a list of moderators and like 2 teams of lawyers selecting a jury, eliminate names until there is some agreement.”

Sounds like a plan.

Would love to know who compreises this so call “non-partisan” debate commission.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Give each a microphone, linked to a timer and the other microphone. Anybody can interrupt the other microphone, but when the limit for each person’s seconds are up, the microphone stays off.

Only ONE microphone works at a time.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

I've advocated that for a long time. Instead of believing in the myth of "unbiased" moderators, accept that people have biases, and let each side choose questioners.

That'll ensure both parties get asked tough questions.

[HotHunt]

".... Rigged debates are rigged elections...."

Partisan "debates" aren't debates at all.

They've just become opportunities for each side to spout their scripted talking points.

I like the idea of a topic being picked out of a hat and let each candidate go for it. A flip of the coin would determine who goes first.

Each topic would run 15-20 minutes total for the candidates to argue their position. A moderator would ensure both candidates had their fair share of the total time to present their side. Then go on to the next topic.

These would be real debates and would be more lively and interesting to the electorate watching.

Spread over 2-3 hours total length, 6 to 9 topics or issues could be addressed.

I think a format like this would make the debates must see events and would show the candidates ad libbing their points rather than having a script. People would see the candidates for who they really are rather than giving a prepared speech.

[erkelly]

There never will be agreement. Let the left choose one and the right choose one, and let each of them question the candidates equally.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Let each campaign nominate a list of moderators and like 2 teams of lawyers selecting a jury, eliminate names until there is some agreement.

A pretty good plan, but it still leaves the reality that any moderator talks down to the future POTUS. And that should not be acceptable to the American people.

I prefer that the “moderator” function be performed by a chess timer controlling whose mic is live when.