I admit I didn't watch the Democratic primary debates in full because I can't stand hearing fellow Democrats snipe at one another, but I did think that the qualify of the moderators was not universally good - think George and Brit. The presidential and vice presidential debates are another story. The moderator of the presidential debates is more important. S/he needs to be neutral but have enough gravitas to control the situation. Who would you pick
The presidential debates and format have been announced by the Commission on Presidential Debates website. The plan is for:
First debate - September 26,2008 at Oxford, Mississippi - domestic policies
Second debate - Vice Presidental debate - October 2, 2008 at St. Louis, Missouri - domestic and foreign policies
Third debate - October 7, 2008 at Nashville, Tennessee - a Town Hall format with issues raised by audience members (and apparently with Internet participants as well).
Fourth debate - October 15, 2008 at Hempstead, New York - foreign policies.
Per Deborah White's article at about.com
article
In all but the Town Hall format debate on October 7, 2007 [sic], the candidates will be seated at a table with the moderator....Each of those debates will be divided into 8 ten-minute issue segments; the moderator will introduce each segment with an issue on which candidate will comment, after which the moderator will facilitate further discussion on the issue, including direct exchange between the candidates, for the balance of the segment.
So, with this awesome responsibility,