Didn't debates once involve speaking for more than 2 minutes at a time?

[Recursion]

I mean, didn't Lincoln and Douglas each get 45 minutes in the affirmative or negative and then a 15 minute rebuttal each?

That's why I can't watch these idiotic debates; they infuriate me too much. I much prefer to see a candidate give a speech where they can actually work out an argument for more than 3 minutes.

[PADemD]

1. Wolf Blitzer kept asking for 30-second answers (sound bites).

It was very annoying.

[rug]

2. Lincoln and Douglas were on dial-up.

[MADem]

4. Best answer...nt

[Thothmes]

6. Lincoln & Douglas debates

were real intellectual accomplishments. They elevated Lincoln from an obscure Illinois lawyer to the Republican Presidential nomination. Look at the level of intellectual exercise in the current political debates.

[deacon]

3. The time is needed for the pundits to ask the questions and hopefully steer the answers for the

other pundits in the "post game show" to have enough to spin. Watching the media choose a candidate...not fun but ugly.

[sam sarrha]

5. face it they dont want us saying anything..

[ThomWV]

7. Yep, and there was a time when you also had to answer the question asked, as did your opponent

That was then, this is now.