In fact, by the time the presidential debates occur, most voters have made up their minds already and have divided themselves along partisan lines. So the debates are basically reduced to a sporting contest with people cheering on their guy and hoping the other guy commits a gaffe (kind of like what we do here on Free Republic with those live threads).
So that is my argument for doing away with presidential debates altogether.
Debates were important during an era where they were often the only opportunity a voter had to see and listen to the candidates (i.e. Lincoln/Douglas) but those days are long gone. In our mass-media age, we are already overexposed to the candidates before even the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.
It’s a shame that we’ve lost that, mainly because of bad formatting and moderator interference.
They don’t need a “ref” or “ump” standing between them but clearly a “homer” for on candidate.
Just use alternating hot mic format. No moderator. Mic is only hot on one side or other. First Q, 2 minute response, 2 minute reubuttal, then continue at 60 seconds and 31 seconds.
The viewer will get a very good understanding of their minds from that. Do they just stay on script, or are they agile? Can they riposte succinctly, with a countdown mic that will cut them off if they go over? Obama could NOT do this format, for example. His answers would have to be memorized, and the adversary could easily make this appear clumsy and pre-gurgitated.
Just some musings. It’ll never happen. American Pravda ABCNNBCBS love the current circus. And presstitutes like George “Birth Control” S or Candy “Yes he did say it!” Crowley, they would lose their chance to give a tactical ad to their Rat confederates.
The GOPe is just STUPID to go along with it. We are the bulls and the Matadors get to determine the rules? How is that good for us?