Should the Debates Go Moderator-less?

By Chris Ariens 

“Fight night.” That’s what you’re seeing in the papers, on the TVs and over the Twitters as a description of last night’s GOP debate in Las Vegas. After all the bickering about hiring illegal immigrants, health care reform measures and tax plans, candidate Newt Gingrich was the voice of reason. At the close of the debate — even after moderator Anderson Cooper had already called time (“Your campaigns are telling us we have to end”) — the Georgia congressman-turned-professor challenged the TV debate format. Gingrich:

“Let me point out a second that maximizing bickering is probably not the road to the White House. And the technique you use maximizes going back and forth over and over again …. As the nominee, I will challenge Obama to meet the Lincoln-Douglas standard of seven three-hour debates. No moderator, only a timekeeper.”

Cooper then got in the last word: “We’d love to host those on CNN.” So we’re asking you…

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