The first presidential debate was disastrous, in terms of outlining positions and helping voters make a rational decision. Rather than the candidates or the moderator, blame falls on the debate commission that set up the format. In making so much of the session “open discussion,” the commission ended up predictably allowing President Trump to rant, to interrupt, to babble. Like a child sticking his fingers in his ears, yelling “LALALALA,” he managed to ensure that precious little actual policy was addressed. He didn’t outline any real nuts-and-bolts policy. He then repeatedly interrupted Joe Biden when the latter attempted to do so. The result was 90 minutes of chaos.

I think the only format that could work with Trump is the old game show format of sound-proof booths, with microphones that automatically turn off when a candidate’s two minutes have elapsed.

It’s a shame that we have a president with so little self-control that he makes this necessary, but if we want debates to be meaningful, there is no other choice.

Howard Schmitt

Green Tree

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)