More

Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributors
Tim Young

GET UPDATES FROM Tim Young
 

My Suggestions to Make the Republican Debates More Interesting

Posted: 01/16/12 10:00 PM ET

It's hard to believe that there have been twenty-two, yes TWENTY-TWO (22) Republican presidential debates already and at least another 10 on the horizon before there is finally just one candidate to face off against President Obama in the 2012 general election.

Due to supply (lots) and demand (none) for these debates, the value of this traditional form of political conversation has diminished similar to the College Bowl Series. This year there were so many sponsor named bowls that it seemed that there was a couple every day for three weeks.

This got me thinking. If Republicans would have less debates, but made them more gimmicky and fun for America to watch, we'd all actually pay attention. Everything should be entertaining yet informative, from the moderators, to the sets and topics. Whoever leads the polls immediately after each debate should be awarded the trophy that is associated with it.

And the best part is, by the end, there will only be one candidate left remaining/standing.

Below you will find my fantasy suggestions for what could have been the 2011-2012 Republican Debate Series:

Debate 1: The BP Environmental Debate
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Month: June 2011
Topic: The Environment
Moderator: Ellen Degeneres
Trophy: The Crystal Oil Drum

Debate 2: The Solyndra Sunshine Debate
Location: Fremont, California
Month: August 2011
Moderator: Arnold Schwarzenegger (no reason other than I want to hear his voice)
Topic: The Government Budget
Trophy: 3' X 5' Solyndra Solar Panel (we have to do something with them)

Debate 3: The Current TV Truth Debate
Topic: The Candidates Personal Scandals
Location: San Francisco, CA
Month: October 2011
Moderator: Keith Olbermann
Trophy: A Current Pennant as well as a promise by Keith to not pick on them in segment one of his next broadcast.

Debate 4: The Ben & Jerry's 99% Debate
Topic: Job Creation and Economic Disparity
Location: Zuccotti Park, NYC Outdoors regardless weather conditions
Month: December 2011
Moderator(s): The unified General Assembly mic checking all at once
Trophy: The Golden Tent

Debate 5: The EIB Studios Home Field Advantage Debate
Topic: How conservative the candidate are.
Location: Palm Beach, Florida
Month: Beginning - January 2012
Moderator: Rush Limbaugh
Trophy: The Golden Microphone

Debate 6: The Univision All-Español Debate
Topic: Immigration (but all questions and answers MUST be in Spanish regardless candidate fluency in the language)
Location: Houston, Texas
Month: End - January 2012
Moderator: Sabado Gigante's Don Francisco
Trophy: A Ford Fiesta (that's not a joke, watch the show.)

Final "Debate": The WWE Elimination Chamber.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Month: February 2012
Topic: This really isn't a debate, but rather is a 6 person steel cage match where 6 candidates enter and only 1 walks out. The concept is pretty self explanatory, but if you need more information, just watch the first 34 seconds of this video:

 

Follow Tim Young on Twitter: www.twitter.com/timrunshismouth

It's hard to believe that there have been twenty-two, yes TWENTY-TWO (22) Republican presidential debates already and at least another 10 on the horizon before there is finally just one candidate to f...
It's hard to believe that there have been twenty-two, yes TWENTY-TWO (22) Republican presidential debates already and at least another 10 on the horizon before there is finally just one candidate to f...
 
 
  • Comments
  • 57
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2  Next ›  Last »  (2 total)
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
ConfuciusSay-
Aglets: their purpose is sinister.
09:32 PM on 01/18/2012
This is the Republican Primary! And we don't have even ONE gun related event??? I want to see the Big Game Hunter whose last name sounds like Money show us that he knows how to shoot. A pistol duel at noon should suffice!

Next, we should have a Bible Thumping match, where the candidates engage in one boxing round with a Bible.

Next, the candidates ought to each show how they can take a punch, from Chuck Norris.

Finally, a BBQ cook off judged by celebrity Republican actors would round out
photo
surfandshop
"What we think, we become."
07:40 PM on 01/18/2012
These suggested debate forums are superb. Make it so!
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Tim Young
Comedian and Writer
01:39 AM on 01/21/2012
If I could, I would.
photo
surfandshop
"What we think, we become."
07:37 PM on 01/18/2012
This is darwinism at it's best...survival of the fittest!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
orcinous
Obama has made things better.
11:07 AM on 01/18/2012
How about just not watching, works for me and I am not bored.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Tim Young
Comedian and Writer
01:53 PM on 01/18/2012
Shhhh dont tell anyone. I dont watch either.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Paperless Tiger
03:58 PM on 01/17/2012
After the "King of Bain" controversy, I imagine a lot of conservative leaders are feeling a bit over-exposed, and they've still got a ways to go. Their next production could be a remake of "A Bridge Too Far."
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Bret Alan Cebulla
Aime-Toi
03:49 PM on 01/17/2012
Should be a bonus round, whoever can use the most buzz words in a sentence wins a door prize.

Examples:

Birth certificate
Solyndra
Socialist
Trillions and trillions
Welfare
Man and a Woman
Balanced Budget
Job creators
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Tim Young
Comedian and Writer
06:17 PM on 01/17/2012
A lightning round! YES!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ReadMyLipstick1
It can't be that hard.
03:48 PM on 01/17/2012
I have seen and heard enough of these guys within the past few weeks to last a lifetime. What more can they possibly say and/or come up with that they will use during the actual campaign? By then, we're all going to be mass-exiting this country ........ enough is enough already!!!
03:44 PM on 01/17/2012
apparently sending the former NPR (not possibly racist) Juan Williams into Old South territory to moderate a debate lit some sparks.
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
tacevad
American SS Card Carrying Socialist
01:48 PM on 01/17/2012
Even calling them debates is debatable. Republican wannabee exhibition tour would be slightly more truthful.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ReadMyLipstick1
It can't be that hard.
03:46 PM on 01/17/2012
That's great!!! I call the republican wannabees "contestants"!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
offred
A biocitizen is 3/5 of a corporate citizen
12:25 PM on 01/17/2012
I'd like to add a swimsuit segment and an evening wear segment.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Tim Young
Comedian and Writer
01:34 PM on 01/17/2012
Me too!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
carmillivanilli
Hellooooooo, Cleveland!
03:37 PM on 01/17/2012
What about the talent segment? I'd love to see some tap-dancing, or oboe-playing, or perhaps even a rhythmic gymnastics routine.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
offred
A biocitizen is 3/5 of a corporate citizen
05:53 PM on 01/17/2012
I'd love to see Newt Gingrich with a flaming baton.
11:00 AM on 01/17/2012
Of course there are no Democratic debates, they are stuck in the Obama groove. I'd love to see him in a debate over the 'accomplishments' of his administration and what he actually believes in and how his actions have matched that professed agenda. That would be a major commedy event.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Tim Young
Comedian and Writer
06:19 PM on 01/17/2012
You generally never challenge the incumbent if you're in the same party, but I think the general election debates will be fun to watch.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Robert Frank
My last name is FRANK so thats what I am..
10:57 AM on 01/17/2012
to REALLY make it more interesting (not that is the least bit now) have the nominees duke it out with some brass knuckles...now THAT would be fun to watch AND they would be so black and blue they wouldn't be able to talk for awhile....YAHOO !!!!
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Tim Young
Comedian and Writer
06:19 PM on 01/17/2012
Skip right to the Elimination Chamber.
10:41 AM on 01/17/2012
But seriously folks, eliminate the audience which makes the debates bad reality shows and put the candidates at a round table for some sessions and pair them off in other sessions and make them "debate" an issue [that is, taking opposing sides regardless of their positions] so that we could see whether any of them know how to think.
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
tacevad
American SS Card Carrying Socialist
01:49 PM on 01/17/2012
don't we already know the answer to that ?;)
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
carmillivanilli
Hellooooooo, Cleveland!
03:37 PM on 01/17/2012
Aww, c'mon, Zack. That makes waaaay too much sense.
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Tim Young
Comedian and Writer
06:20 PM on 01/17/2012
Exactly Carmillivanilli, logic has no place here.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
10:33 AM on 01/17/2012
Glad this was labeled "comedy" They have finally found a worth successor to Lee Camp
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Tim Young
Comedian and Writer
06:21 PM on 01/17/2012
Is that a good thing? If it is, thanks! Unless "they" are "the man".... I don't want to work for "the man."
photo
Soulsurfer
Solar Electrician,Longtime Surfin'Fool
09:32 AM on 01/17/2012
I'm betting the posters below can come up with better suggestions than those.............................
photo
HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Tim Young
Comedian and Writer
06:22 PM on 01/17/2012
I'm liking the lightning round suggestion above.