I want to see an 8 hour debate between our presidential candidates.
Wouldn’t that be something?
Let me explain. I have always been a little frustrated as I watch candidates debate. There just isn’t enough time to get into the topics at hand. Everyone is trying to get the perfect soundbite in that will give them some traction in the media. There is very little real discussion. There are a lot of reasons for this but it leaves me very unsatisfied. So I propose a day long forum. It can be shown live on various media while also being videotaped for future viewing. The video should not be edited – it should be viewed raw so everyone who watches can see the body language, the interaction between the candidates, the interaction between the candidates and their staff, etc.
Each hour is scheduled for a different topic and that topic is discussed the entire hour. This gives the candidate the ability to deep dive into the subject matter – at least much more than a regular debate. For example, one hour can be devoted to healthcare, another to education, another to foreign policy, another to immigration…you get the idea. Let’s pick 7 topics to discuss over the day and we let the discussion flow naturally or as naturally as it can be considering the candidates are still going to try to steer to their strengths. Of course we will have some sort of facilitator in the room to make sure the discussion stays on the hourly topic.
I say 7 topics because we would have to schedule breaks and lunches into the 8 hours. I also suggest that the candidates can have 1 to 2 staffers in the room with them for each topic. The staffers do not discuss the topics but can help with the organization of information and help the candidate with whatever they may need to help emphasize their position.
Now some would say who would watch such a thing. I would! But naturally it would be tough to devote 8 hours of a day to view it. This is why we video the discussion and put it out on the many different forms of media for folks to watch at their leisure. Ideally CSPAN or something like them would broadcast the discussion live for those who would want and have time to view it or for those who want to “pop” in and see what is going on.
So…what do you think? And do you think any candidate would willingly do such a thing. It would/could be eye opening for us, the voter but would put a lot of pressure on the candidate to really know their stuff. I don’t think you can fake or pretend your way through 8 hours.
It would be fascinating
MattMunnell.com 