Penalizing candidates who interrupt, and other changes coming to the Democratic debates

[Indygram]

Another big change is that candidates who interrupt "consistently" will be penalized and have time taken away from them, though CNN did not specify how it defines the level of interruption that would trigger the penalty nor much time would be deducted.

In Miami, NBC News moderator Chuck Todd was widely criticized for having the candidates give one-word answers or just raise their hands in response to complex policy issues. CNN announced there will be no such "down-the-line questions."

Here's a rundown of some of the other rules:

-Each candidate gets 60 seconds to answers a moderator's question and 30 seconds for responses or rebuttals if attacked by another
candidate.

-Colored lights will be used to show the candidates how much time they have, with yellow indicating 15 seconds, flashing red indicating
5 seconds and solid red meaning their time is up.

- Questions asked by the moderators will appear at the bottom of viewers' screens.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/07/10/democratic-debate-detroit-cnn-new-rules/1691178001/

[hlthe2b]

1. Questions asked by the moderators will appear at the bottom of viewers' screens--good

I think controlling the interrupting via penalties is going to be tough, but it does need to be addressed.

Beyond that, just having Chuck Todd NOT THERE has to be a tremendous improvement.

[left-of-center2012]

8. "just having Chuck Todd NOT THERE has to be a tremendous improvement"

Add Rachel to that, IMHO

[Zoonart]

2. College Bowl

[Green Line]

3. I hope it works

Kirsten Gillibrand and Bill de Blasio drove me nuts in the last debates.

[Mach1miles]

4. Each candidate should get a score at the end of the evening.

Let’s see who can play by the rules.

[The Mouth]

5. Love it

there is *NEVER* an excuse to interrupt another person during their allotted time.

Personally I think it should result in immediate ejection from that debate, denial of participation in all subsequent debates, denial of any stage time at the convention, and withdrawal of any and all DNC funding.

[dalton99a]

6. No more Chuck Todd running his mouth and pulling his dirty tricks

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Good. There were far too many interruptions in the last debates,

and the moderators didn't seem able to control them. The colored light system is a good idea. A lot of appellate courts use colored lights on the lawyers' lecterns to alert the lawyers during their oral arguments that their time is about to expire - you are expected to shut up immediately as soon as the red light comes on. I hope the moderators use and enforce a rule like that. The absence of Chuck Todd will also be a notable improvement.

[highplainsdem]

9. Good idea.

[silentEcho]

10. Chuck Todd came in fourth with the amount of time he talked, right behind Warren.

I would like to see that addressed.

[Shrek]

11. I wonder if they could disable the microphones other than the candidate currently being questioned

That might work better than a penalty . . . why interrupt if you know you can't be heard?

[Gothmog]

12. K&R