# Suggestions to improve the presidental debates **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 7, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812 "2016-10-07T00:35:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/1 "2016-10-07T00:35:17Z")
[ol] [li] **Moderator:** Samuel L. Jackson[/li][li]Wired chairs - Every time they go off topic to attack their opponent on a different subject - _ZZZZZTTT_[/li][li]_(It’s not a list w/o 3 items)_[/li][/ol] Your suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/2 "2016-10-07T00:39:36Z")
When a candidate has his 2 minutes to answer a question, turn the other candidates mike off. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/3 "2016-10-07T01:06:02Z")
I favor shock collars myself. They should also be used when the speaker goes over their allotted time. Each time the shock device is used, the next shock will be higher. If the agreed upon punishments do not work, several very large and physically talented individuals will remove the offending candidate to the penalty box, where they will remain for 10 minutes without any sound - in or out - while their opponent waxes eloquent, unopposed. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/4 "2016-10-07T01:28:25Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > When a candidate has his 2 minutes to answer a question, turn the other candidates mike off. Use the [Cone of Silence,](http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/sites/healthcare-informatics.com/files/archive/www.healthcare-informatics.com/Media/BlogMembers/cone-of-silence_0.jpg) and turn each side on alternately for two minutes at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/5 "2016-10-07T06:01:22Z")
One word, Thunderdome. ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/6 "2016-10-07T14:04:39Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > turn the other candidates mike off. This ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/7 "2016-10-07T15:50:48Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > When a candidate has his 2 minutes to answer a question, turn the other candidates mike off. A two minute timer for the person whose turn it is to speak. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/8 "2016-10-07T16:08:41Z")
They did a great thing during a Canadian debate; one of the questions was “Tell the country something positive about (other candidate.)” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/9 "2016-10-07T16:25:29Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Use the [Cone of Silence,](http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/sites/healthcare-informatics.com/files/archive/www.healthcare-informatics.com/Media/BlogMembers/cone-of-silence_0.jpg) and turn each side on alternately for two minutes at a time. That thing _never_ works, Max! ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/10 "2016-10-07T16:29:25Z")
Slingshots and marbles. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/11 "2016-10-07T16:42:41Z")
On a more serious side: I would love to see at least one debate require that all statements be about yourself and your own policies only. In a rebuttal you can 1) describe how your policy would be better/different than the one just stated or 2) ask questions about how the opponent’s policy would be implemented. (So an acceptable rebuttal might be “Well, my tax plan would save people $10,000 not just $5,000. But I ask you, wouldn’t people pay more under your plan if they have three kids and make $60,000 a year?”) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/12 "2016-10-07T16:52:18Z")
Make Peter Sagal from _Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me_ the moderator, and test the candidates’ general knowledge by having them do a round of ‘Lightning Fill in the Blank’. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/13 "2016-10-07T17:01:46Z")
I’d like, just once, for the moderator to say “Answer the question I asked you, dammit!” OK, they can skip the dammit if they must… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/14 "2016-10-07T17:18:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That thing _never_ works, Max! Come again, Chief? ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/15 "2016-10-07T19:49:39Z")
No moderator. Put them each on a stool in a locked room, with lights and camera. End the debate when they both fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/16 "2016-10-07T19:59:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That thing _never_ works, Max! Exactly. You wouldn’t be able to hear _either_ candidate.😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/17 "2016-10-07T20:02:37Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Exactly. You wouldn’t be able to hear _either_ candidate.😃 Pantomime! ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/18 "2016-10-07T20:11:44Z")
Get better candidates ! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/19 "2016-10-07T21:11:13Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Pantomime! Four letters…sounds like-“hit”? ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812/20 "2016-10-07T22:27:50Z")
Instead of a debate, switch to something more like a presentation-style format, and have them go back-to-back, then respond to the other person’s presentation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-to-improve-the-presidental-debates/767812.md?page=2)