These Are the Rules of the CNN Presidential Debate

Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org to politics @lemmy.world – 162 points – These Are the Rules of the CNN Presidential Debate
time.com

The article is short, so worth the read, but here's the TL;DR:

  1. Commercial Breaks
  2. No Opening Statements
  3. Muted microphones, no notes
  4. No Live Audience
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From the article:

However, campaign staff will be prohibited from interacting with their respective candidates during these intermissions, denying them the opportunity for strategic consultations or to touch up the candidates’ appearance.

And that's what I get for not reading the article all the way

But are they allowed to roll out some recliners for a quick grandpa nap?

They are both obviously old, so a couple sitting down breaks in the debate seems legitimately reasonable.

I'm in my 40s, and while I could stand and talk for 90 minutes, it would be pretty uncomfortable and my back would be aching a bit by the end. I don't think I could do it at 80.

lol that would be hilarious actually, I can picture it in my head. As the commercial break ends the camera fades to black then the stage slowly fades in. Both candidates are passed out in their chairs drooling all over. An infomercial for dentures blares from an unseen TV. As the TV is turned off both of them jolt awake and hobble slowly back to their podiums.

Teams need to come out like pit crews. They wheel the recliners in super fast, make sure they're both dressed in their Grandpa Joe PJs (Willy Wonka, no relation).