2012 burned just a few too many people just a bit too badly. Byron York:
…the party fully intends to change its debate structure. The reason goes beyond Republicans’ belief that holding 20-plus debates, as in 2011-2012, provides too much opportunity for gaffes and intra-party bloodletting. It also stems from GOP dissatisfaction with debates in which the moderators don’t seem to understand the premises of modern conservatism and engage in hostile or clueless questioning — or out-of-the-blue provocations like former Clinton operative George Stephanopoulos’ queries about contraception at a 2012 debate in New Hampshire.
Just what the RNC will do is not yet clear. But it is serious. Look for real change to occur before Republican presidential candidates meet again.
I should note, by the way, that this has to be a dynamic process. We’re going to have to go in and check the system every four years.
Any former DNC strategist should be immediately disqualified from moderating.
The two debates I liked best were Huckabee’s, which featured state attorneys general, and the AEI-Heritage(?) debate. Both featured very good, serious questions