Why do we even need debates anymore? This stuff has become ceremonial stuff the public doesn’t care about. The public gets its information from podcasts and other online venues.
Debates reek of academy awards nonsense where people in power treat these events like a social function. They gather together to be seen and heard. The political class garbage where they impress each other with their wit; commenting on the performance of candidates.
That is a field of battle populated by the public’s enemies. They have the means to manipulate words and to craft a media blitz to *try* to manipulate the public.
Better to starve that media-political industry by not debating in that environment. Don’t wage war on the enemies prepared battlefield.
*IF* there are swing voters anymore... go to where they get their information, which to me seems to be more likely online areas.
And corporate media news desks. But some otherwise sensible people buy it.
"Look how purty that desk is! And they talk so smooth!"