I say NO audiences at Presidential debates.

[Raven]

None, zero, zip, nada.

As someone who would like to educate themself about these candidates, I would like to hear them debate and discuss issues that are critical to my future and the future of this Country in a setting other than a mosh pit.

No audiences, a quiet set, serious questions.

I'll bet Obama would be more than happy with that.

[WI_DEM]

1. and I say drop the media and have real debates the way Lincoln & Douglas did it

and have the candidates question each other--Oh, they can have a time keeper so that nobody goes on and on.

[Raven]

5. An even better idea! n/t

[ChazII]

6. Excellent suggestion.

It would be terrific to see that style of debate.

[elleng]

2. OK with me.

Debate, discuss, serious issues.

[Atman]

3. A quiet room?

Then at least Romney might be able to discuss income disparity in America.

[NAO]

4. Gingrich was doing stand up and feeding off the audience

and Newt is already overfed, IMHO.

[Little Star]

7. Agree!

[Lionessa]

8. No way, it's been way too eye opening for moderate Republicans to see who is running their

primaries and determining their future. As much as I'm not happy with Obama, I'm thrilled with anything that will make a reasonable Republican jump ship. It was similar shit in 2000 that convinced me that any party that would have GWB as their candidate could do without me, and I've never voted Republican anything since.

[provis99]

9. I never understood,

what's the point of having an audience, and then telling them to shut up so we can pretend they're not there?

Just have debates Charlie Rose style, just two candidates in a studio with black backdrop.
That way, anybody who spends his time yelling or taking cheap shots just looks like an ass.

[xfundy]

10. It's like a laugh track on a tv show.

Others' reactions, even if faked as in a laugh track, encourage a response, whether, "Oh, that was funny," or "Oh, Gingrich is the most holy one blessed by Baby Jesus™!" as in the SC debate.

Unfortunately, many, if not most, humans look for some leader or group to guide us in decision making, whether something we may not even understand is funny (it must be, we laughed at it!) or even something akin to a "tribal" affiliation.

Sad. But people are manipulable.

[immoderate]

11. It's to mimic a Town Meeting.

Set dressing.

--imm