After wasting an hour plus fighting in comments and on Twitter, I recognized utter futility. DNC wrongly surrendered our selection process to corporate media, fundraising totals, and assorted pollsters. Important voices get lost, voters drift away, and Republicans/Putin continue to destroy country.
I expect our candidates to disagree and throw “sharp elbows.” But overcrowded stages lead to scramble for best soundbite rather than real substance. Gotcha questions from a media complicit in Republican/Putin takeover lead us nowhere. Yes, MSNBC’s debate was an exception but the women reporters ran it like League of Women Voters (I.e. professionally).
Let’s spend money on multiple debates each month with smaller numbers of candidates at each (maybe six). Don’t apply the current selection criteria. Draw names to determine who attends each. Sit them at round table and devote fifteen minutes to a topic (National Security, Healthcare, Gun Violence, Race Relations.) Ask open ended questions and let candidates debate with each other.
Do them around country but favor upcoming primary states. Invite the public and take final questions from them. Focus on how national issues affect local areas (Midwest flooding, assorted plant closures, police relations with community). Yes, it will cost money and break media contracts. But American Voters matter more.
Please add better suggestions in comments. I am making this up as I go along.