Goddard: Run GOP Debates Like ‘American Idol’

Posted by | May 26, 2015 12:00 | Filed under: Opinion Politics

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Taegan Goddard has an idea about how to deal with so many candidates.

Imagine if the debates were like American Idol, with candidates “performing” their answers to questions before a panel of “judges” — and ultimately the votes of television viewers across the country. At the end of each round, the poorest performing candidates would be “voted off” and wouldn’t move to the next round.

Viewership of the debates would surge as Americans discussed with their friends and colleagues what happened on the “show” the previous night. And as more viewers voted to keep their favorite candidates around, more people would have a vested interest in the ultimate winner.

Just as the winners of American Idol often go on to became famous singers who sell out their concerts and sell many albums, the winner of the GOP presidential debate would have a ready-made constituency for the general election.

Some might think it’s unseemly to treat a presidential campaign like a game show. But our politics have been evolving this way for more than 200 years. Our earliest presidents thought it unseemly to even campaign at all. They never left their homes.

The Republican Party has its strongest field of candidates in years. There is no fair way to pick those who would be allowed on the debate stage. Even with as few as 10 candidates, the debates will seem like a game show.

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Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.

13 responses to Goddard: Run GOP Debates Like ‘American Idol’

  1. ExPFCWintergreen May 26th, 2015 at 12:26

    From the Dictionary of Modern American Punditese: Pathos. noun. 1. A quality that evokes pity or sadness, e.g., “the Republican Party has its strongest field of candidates in years.”

  2. Suzanne McFly May 26th, 2015 at 12:51

    How can a person compete on a talent show when they have no talent?

  3. anothertoothpick May 26th, 2015 at 13:31

    Would this debate include cream pies in the face and dunce caps?

  4. Bunya May 26th, 2015 at 14:26

    I’m sure it would be more entertaining than what C-SPAN puts out.

  5. robert May 26th, 2015 at 15:35

    a comical look at how the gop debates should be run like the NCAA tournament

    http://politicalmurder.com/2015/05/07/lets-run-gop-debates-like-ncaa-tournament/

  6. jasperjava May 26th, 2015 at 16:30

    “The Republican Party has its strongest field of candidates in years.”

    Mr. Goddard is confusing quantity with quality.
    None of these clowns have any chance to beat Hillary Clinton.

  7. jasperjava May 26th, 2015 at 16:35

    Probably the best game show model should be “The Weakest Link”.

  8. Chris May 26th, 2015 at 19:16

    I have a better idea: release the candidates into the Coliseum. Then the lions.

    I must give Mr. Goddard credit. He does know the mentality of the GOP electorate.

    “Sure, let’s treat selecting the Leader of the Free World for the next eight years as trivially as we can.”

    • Larry Schmitt May 27th, 2015 at 14:06

      What do you have against lions? Not enough Pepto in the world to handle that case of indigestion.

      • Chris May 27th, 2015 at 14:43

        Not necessary for them to be digested. Just dismembered.

  9. eyelashviper May 27th, 2015 at 12:18

    Bring back the Gong Show…the sound would resonate continually, until the last gasping moronic goper candidate is dragged from the stage.

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