A number of years ago there were some pretty smart debates. I wasn't old enough to watch the Kennedy / Nixon debates, then there were no debates for a long time. When Carter debated with Ford there was nothing debated but policy. Also the moderators behaved like moderators.

In the primaries this year often the “moderators” just took over the show and treated like a press conference. It was attack questions toward one candidate. There was little to debate. It was an interrogation.

I think the audience factor is somewhat of a drawback, but it would seem a tiny bizarre to not have one.

Debating is really a standardized thing. Even though it varies in terms of how many subjects will be debated in what time limit. The basic premise is that the moderator will ask one question to one candidate. It should be a question pertinent to both candidates. The candidates taking turns going first.

A bad example would be to ask Hillary about what she was thinking when she said she was “pinned down by gunfire”. The problem with the question is that it that it makes no sense to ask that question to Obama. That is a press conference question.

Real debates also start with a question that is narrow enough to be addressed briefly, but open-ended, such as “should we or should we not set a timetable for Iraq withdrawal?”

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Town hall style, definitely. Let them ask each other questions, point out flaws in each other's plans, and let the other try to explain them. That’s real.

In 2004 the debates were soo terrible, no questions or comments directed at the other, so many rules, this is for the POTUS people — let it all out!

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I think that ordinary people should question them. We know the media will be so IN THE TANK for Obama that it won't be fair. Pick some average Citizens who say they’re undecided and let them ask the questions. Just like a town hall meeting.
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No teleprompters. No canned questions. No canned answers. Let Swift CHange Obama “uh” and “er” his way through without help.
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As long as McCain is part of the process I will take it seriously. Maybe Barry will fall into a black hole in Europe and then we won't have to worry about those damn teleprompters anymore.

JUST VOTE MCCAIN !!!

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As long as the moderators are balanced and objective I'll take it seriously.
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It doesn't appear that there will be any. Barongo wants to be chancellor of germany.
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No audience and have Hannity and Colmes ask the questions. I think that would be very fair.
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let ron paul join in…thatd be entertainment, two men trying to win votes and one man trying to make our country better, love to see that
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let me ask the questions…with out any advance to the candidates……
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Put a fact checker out there with a buzzer in hand.. Stop them in the middle of their bogus points.. BUZZZZ!!