Hell No

If there is one thing I hate, it is debates where the opposing candidates are sitting at a table. It doesn't give you a sense of their podium presence, it makes things too friendly and non-confrontational, and it is visually boring.

Just compare the Obama-Clinton debates where they were standing to the ones where they were sitting at a table. No comparison. No sparks flew at the table debates. The same goes for those terrible VP debates between Cheney and Lieberman in 2000, and Cheney and Edwards in 2004.

Plus, with Obama standing at 6'1" and McCain at 5'9", podium debates would give Democrats a definite advantage this time around.

For that reason, I hope the Obama campaign shoots down this horrible idea:

Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama would sit at a table at two of three presidential debates this fall, according to a formal proposal unveiled Thursday, which, perhaps unintentionally, would neutralize Obama’s height advantage.

The Commission on Presidential Debates proposed the less formal, more conversational talk-show format for two of three 90-minute debates it's seeking this fall. The third debate would be a town hall-style session in which the candidates would be free to get up from high stools and walk around the stage.

The two presumptive nominees haven't yet responded to the commission's proposal.

Sorry, but this isn't the Late Show with David Letterman. This isn't the View. Give us a goddamn real debate with podiums. I don't want to see John McCain and Barack Obama sitting next to each other at a table, patting each other on the back, talking about how much they agree.

I want a real old school debate. I want sparks flying. It was bad enough that Dick Cheney got to sit down at his lame debates; please don't do it with the presidential candidates too.