The analogy is strained, yes, but I contend that lying is not against the rules of the debate. It’s very inadvisable, but it’s not illegal nor a miscarriage of justice. I do think this function does exist in a debate, but it belongs with us the voting public and not with Mr. Holt in this instance. I want a moderator…

You’re probably right. I’m not incredibly in touch with how the media frames discussions. I keep coming back to the thought that, if I were one of the candidates, I would want the opportunity for the rejoinder a la the “You’re no Jack Kennedy” statement from many moons ago. If I have to compete with Lester Holt as…

I know this isn’t a courtroom but there’s some parallels to what you’re asking and what a former co-worker of mine had to avoid doing as he was on a jury a while ago.

If I were in Hillary’s shoes and he started down that route, I think I would start by saying exactly “None of those things are true. At this point, that sham of a for-profit university is closed and President Obama is looking forward to some time off after two terms serving this nation as President. If you want to…

But he hasn’t done it in a debate with her yet - just the other clowns that the GOP threw up around this clown!

I know, I know. I already hate the next president.

I don’t think it takes that tool out of their toolbelt like you think it does. Any candidate willing to wildly spout falsehoods, as you have built in your straw argument (not denigrating your point, just wanting to state that it hasn’t happened yet so is suppositional), may put so many out there that neither a…

Yeah - I’m pretty conservative and they’re both so full of bullplop that their eyes are turning brown. Let them lie to each other and themselves all night. BUT - If anyone opines to that fact other than the one with (R) or (D) after their name during the debate, that person has done us all a disservice.

I agree that each candidate has to be ready to call ‘BS’ on each other as needed. Neither candidate should have anyone able to save their butt as they try to call each other to the carpet.

Lying is not against the rules in a debate, unfortunately. So your analogy doesn’t quite hold up. It’s certainly not advisable but it’s not against any specific rule. This isn’t a courtroom, it’s a stage.

I agree things need to be fact checked, but not in the moment. We need to let these candidates lie and then skewer them all at an after-action report similar to what you’re describing.

Except the only neutral parties are not American citizens. You have to let these sides argue over fouls. If this was being moderated by Reince Priebus (or however the hell you spell his name), would you be asking the moderator to step in at any time with ‘fact checking’? Regardless of your politics you need to…

No - it’s the American public’s job to decide which they believe. It is the moderators job to ask the questions, keep time, and allow for the flow of the event. He or she is the Emcee not the Referee. We are the Referees.

I think you’re wrong, Albert. I think you let these people go and tell whatever lies they feel like uttering. I also think the whole thing should be on split-screen the whole time so that I can see how each of these people react to each other.

I think they’re right and you’re wrong for this reason alone:
As President you will have people lie directly to your face - political opponents, leaders of other nations, yes-men, etc. I need to see how you will react to this. I don’t want to see a journalist, or moderator, or protester in the audience wreck the…

+4 claps and fountain dancing to you sir.

+1 Chip Carey

To be completely honest, I was totally involved as well. We designed and printed our own invitations. I helped with making centerpieces choosing the cake, colors, DJ, first dance, ceremonial music, all that. This was also in a pre-Pintrest world so while we didn’t do things plainly, they were definitely simpler…

Yeah - I wish we had done the same. Been married 11 years now and I found out on that day that all the planning didn’t really enhance as much about the day as she intended. My advice for couples planning a wedding now is:

Also - absolutely eff Goodell for his schtick.