# Who would be the best moderator for Presidential debates? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 4, 2012, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686 "2012-10-04T13:48:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/41 "2012-10-04T21:42:46Z")
Jeff Bridges as The Dude. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/42 "2012-10-04T22:06:31Z")
Jeffery Jones as Principle Ed Rooney ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/43 "2012-10-04T22:27:20Z")
> [@Anduril](#): > > It’s the moderator - that’s why Obama lost. Meh. Dude, nobody is saying that except for you. I’ve heard from _both_ sides of the aisle that they were unhappy with the moderating last night, not just Democrats. I think it would be incredibly ballsy if both sides agreed to let Jon Stewart moderate a debate. As others have said, he pretty equally calls bullshit on both sides-- increasingly so on the Obama campaign. I think Obama has enough reasons not to agree as Romney would, honestly. ---
**Author:** ![Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eugene_of_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/44 "2012-10-04T23:02:57Z")
George Noory from Coast to Coast AM deals with loons on a nightly basis and he does so with an elegant grace. But yeah the timed microphones with a BIG viewable clock. Stage lights start flashing at 5 seconds, etc. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/45 "2012-10-04T23:05:25Z")
How about dual-moderators, Jon Stewart and Bill O’Reilly. After each question’s answer by both candidates, the two of them cut the bullshit and stop the spin. Other than that, Shodan’s idea of having a timed microphone that just cuts off after 2 minutes is pretty damn brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/46 "2012-10-04T23:18:00Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > How about dual-moderators, Jon Stewart and Bill O’Reilly. After each question’s answer by both candidates, the two of them cut the bullshit and stop the spin. I actually think something like this would be a great idea, minus the editorializing after. I mean, short things like, “But Mr. Obama, you know that is not factually the case. . .” would be fine, but long winded things would be a no go. Except instead of Stewart, I think someone like Maddow would fit better opposed to O’Reilly, even if Papa Bear and Jon have a better personal rapport. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/47 "2012-10-04T23:29:55Z")
I, too, like the idea of microphones on automatic timers. They’d be completely impartial, and so long as both candidates were informed of the time limits, there’d be no basis for anyone to declare them unfair. **Anduril** , does it help to point out that Obama went more over his time than Romney did, and the moderator allowed that? One could make the case based on that that Romney would have done even better, with a better moderator. ---
**Author:** ![Anduril](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/48 "2012-10-05T00:48:05Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Dude, nobody is saying that except for you. I’ve heard from _both_ sides of the aisle that they were unhappy with the moderating last night, not just Democrats. > > I think it would be incredibly ballsy if both sides agreed to let Jon Stewart moderate a debate. As others have said, he pretty equally calls bullshit on both sides-- increasingly so on the Obama campaign. I think Obama has enough reasons not to agree as Romney would, honestly. A whole lot more Democrats are complaining about the moderator. That despite the fact that Obama got more talk time. Excuses, excuses. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/49 "2012-10-05T00:53:03Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Jeff Bridges as The Dude. Or Walter Sobchak. I’d seriously pay a good deal of money to see both of those two moderating. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/50 "2012-10-05T01:07:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I, too, like the idea of microphones on automatic timers. They’d be completely impartial, and so long as both candidates were informed of the time limits, there’d be no basis for anyone to declare them unfair. You’d have to be sure the timekeeper wasn’t Sparty Bob from Michigan State. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/51 "2012-10-05T01:13:00Z")
I don’t get the love for Maddow honestly. She’s more intellectually dishonest than anyone at Fox News, imho. She would be almost as bad of a choice of moderator as Sean Hannity. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/52 "2012-10-05T01:29:20Z")
Roger Ebert suggested in a tweet today that, “Actually, one of the best presidential debate moderators would be David Letterman, who is quick, smart, and interrupts bullshit.” ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/53 "2012-10-05T02:20:32Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > …Or else just attach the microphones to a timer. Two minutes are up - the microphone shuts off. I’ve actually seen this done on a very popular Spanish political debate show, “59 seconds”…recently cancelled due to Gov cuts. Not only did they shut off the mike when the 59 seconds were up, but the darn thing slid down into the table. Funny as shit too, as some tried to get a last word in while moving their heads down towards the disappearing mike. Couldn’t find a proper clip, but [**this video**](http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/59-segundos/59-segundos-gran-protagonista-59-micro/650709/) shows how they work. It’d certainly add entertainment to the debates. ETA: This [**old promo**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGPsuXUohUY) shows them in action. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/54 "2012-10-05T04:59:14Z")
Mills Lane! (Before the stroke, that is). "I want a good clean debate! No personal insults, no ducking questions, and no talking after the bell. “Now let’s get it on!” ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/55 "2012-10-05T05:24:37Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Dude, nobody is saying that except for you. I’ve heard from _both_ sides of the aisle that they were unhappy with the moderating last night, not just Democrats. > > I think it would be incredibly ballsy if both sides agreed to let Jon Stewart moderate a debate. As others have said, he pretty equally calls bullshit on both sides-- increasingly so on the Obama campaign. I think Obama has enough reasons not to agree as Romney would, honestly. Both sides of the aisle also said Obama lost. I nominate Steven Wright. By the time the first question is asked the time would have run out. Everyone gets back to important shit like how to survive the impending zombie attack. Zakaria would also be good. But seriously, we need to work on this zombie shit. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/56 "2012-10-05T05:36:40Z")
A panel of 4, chosen by the League of Women Voters. Look gang, the 2 parties chose Lehrer because he was one of the few people acceptable to both sides. The Presidential Commission on Debating or whatever they call it doesn’t want a tough moderator. The 2 parties fired the League of Women Voters for a reason. Now admittedly, it’s sort of weird that both sides don’t want an outside group to control the process. But they actually do have some shared interests: political hacks in both groups don’t want their bosses looking badly, at least not in a way that can be traced back to something falling under the hacks’ responsibility. Like choosing a malleable moderator for example. History: [Presidential Debates Under the League of Women Voters - League of Women Voters Debate | HowStuffWorks](http://people.howstuffworks.com/debate3.htm) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/57 "2012-10-05T11:29:46Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > You’d have to be sure the timekeeper wasn’t Sparty Bob from Michigan State. Come on, that timekeeping was _completely_ above board and my Spartans won that game fair and square. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/58 "2012-10-05T11:57:29Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I don’t get the love for Maddow honestly. She’s more intellectually dishonest than anyone at Fox News, imho. Got a cite? I remember one of the FactChecker websites rated her as pretty factual in her claims. > [@cmyk](#): > > Or Walter Sobchak. OVER THE TIME. MARK IT ZERO. Personally, I’d like Laura Ingraham for the right, Amy Goodman for the left and Mike Ray (Notre Dame university professor, moderated one of Hitchen’s and D’Souza’s debates) as a centrist in a panel. Stewart, Hislop, Paxman, would all be decent too. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/59 "2012-10-05T12:00:40Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > I don’t get the love for Maddow honestly. She’s more intellectually dishonest than anyone at Fox News, imho. > > She would be almost as bad of a choice of moderator as Sean Hannity. Try watching her show for a week. She and her staff are meticulous researchers and every word she says can be backed up. On the rare occasion where she makes a mistake, she owns up to it. Well researched, entertaining, liberal, and cute as a button. What’s not to love? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686/60 "2012-10-05T12:29:52Z")
> [@Anduril](#): > > A whole lot more Democrats are complaining about the moderator. That despite the fact that Obama got more talk time. Excuses, excuses. Dude. RTF thread. No one is saying that Obama lost because of the moderator. The problems with the moderator are a different issue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-would-be-the-best-moderator-for-presidential-debates/636686.md?page=4)