A Modest Proposal for Presidential Debates

Happily, there will be no debate between Senators Clinton and Obama in North Carolina. Their twenty-one previous confrontations have, above all, proven the vacuity of the debate form as developed in the television age.

We either need to get rid of debates altogether or radically change them. (In addition to reducing their number dramatically.)

I would suggest the following format for future head-to-head confrontations between two candidates:

First, get rid of anchors, moderators, or interlocutors of any kind.

Second, allow Candidate A to begin with a five-minute opening, followed by an opening of equal length by Candidate B.

Then, allow the candidates to alternate for five minutes apiece for the balance of an hour-and-a-half.

This format would afford the candidates the chance, for better or worse, to address the public directly. Longer form statements would reduce or mitigate the effect of those absurd sound bite moments.

Of course, CNN, MSNBC, and others wouldn’t much care for this format. They like to get their anchors in the thick of things. But I guarantee that we would learn a lot more about the candidates’ priorities and their ability to deal with the unexpected if debates were conducted in this way.

One other suggestion: No debates until at least January 1 of the presidential election year.

Okay, somebody wake me up.