This is the Cato Daily Podcast for Monday, September 30th, 2024.

I'm Caleb Brown.

Imagine two adult rational candidates for president who are more than happy to play by presidential

debate rules.

Now imagine our current presidential debate process.

Ahead of tomorrow's vice presidential debate, Cato's Eric Smith suggests a few changes to debate

formats that might make debates of better use of viewers' time.

I can remember, and this is how old I am, Eric,

I can remember watching on television where I was the remote control.

I don't know if you're old enough to have been the remote control. I don't know if you're old enough

to have been the remote control for your parents

changing the channel on the TV.

When I was the remote control for the television

in my home, I can remember listening to Dan Quayle or watching Dan Quayle and Lloyd Benson debate and

I remember my dad getting really excited about Lloyd Benson saying,

you're no Jack Kennedy.

And, you know, that was, you know, you sort of, in a lot of presidential debates the zinger seems to be the thing

Yeah, and it's always it's always been profoundly disappointing to me

That the zinger is the thing that makes you more or less

successful in someone's eye I suppose not mine but but the singer wins the debate somehow.

And so, but it seems like it's gotten so much worse since 1988.

Yes, yes, yes.

...