I would be all for one debate a week if they would have REAL debates

[Hippo_Tron]

The current debate format is a joke. The moderator asks a question, Candidate A gives a scripted answer, Candidate B gives a scripted rebuttal and they move on. And yes Hillary comes off better than Obama in this format but it doesn't mean that they are really forced to debate the issues. As Jed Bartlet put it "It's really just a joint press conference, the candidates don't need to even be in the same room."

The way I see it, Clinton wants free air time in a format that greatly benefits her. Frankly I think that format does absolutely nothing to advance political dialogue.

So here's what I propose. Have a real debate where everything is on the table and the candidates get to go back and forth and ask each other questions. This would force candidates to actually answer questions instead of just reading their scripted statements. I'm fully aware that Obama may not do so well in this format but I'm okay with that. If Clinton does indeed win debates like this, then it will really mean something.

[tekisui]

1. And NONE on FOX!

[Hippo_Tron]

2. Amen to that

[TheDeathadder]

11. The Dems have to face Fox sooner or later

[tekisui]

12. Fuck FOX. Make it later.

[TheDeathadder]

15. well it's fine

to debate now vs later and I see you reason, I just hope we don't try the strategy of avoid Fox completely like in 2004.

[ursi]

3. no faux

[Hippo_Tron]

4. Shameless self-kick

[gateley]

5. Me, too "if they would have a REAL debate". nt

[foxer]

19. Like when the League of Women Voters put them on?

[MADem]

6. Well, the last one was pretty good! nt

[Hippo_Tron]

7. It really wasn't

They both gave their positions on the issues, and that's fine but it's not a debate. On contentious issues like health care, Hillary was never forced to actually say how she would enforce mandates. Obama was never forced to say how much more his health care plan would cost when healthy people aren't mandated to pay into the system.

Both candidates will be stronger when they can answer questions like this. But with the current "debate" format, they will never actually have to do that.

[MADem]

16. They aren't going to revisit old ground. More debates would be better debates.

I don't know what will satisfy some people. The first debates, with way too many people on the stage, now those sucked.

This last one was good. YMV.

[Hippo_Tron]

17. They would be better debates if they changed the rules

[MADem]

18. Sure, mix it up! nt

[ElsewheresDaughter]

8. I'm sure that that is Clinton's intention...and that's what they will be "DEBATES"

[Hippo_Tron]

9. Has she called for a change in the debate format?

Because I haven't heard that.

[Hippo_Tron]

10. kick

[Jack Bone]

13. Yes, as long as there's no "Diamonds or Pearls" questions

[Hippo_Tron]

14. If the candidates are stupid enough to waste a question on something like that they are welcome to

[Bread and Circus]

20. agree