Why was the second (and final) presidential debate so much more satisfying than the train wreck that took place the first time the candidates jousted?
Kudos have been handed to the debate’s moderator, although changes to the structure of the event (specifically the decision to turn off the microphone of the person who was not speaking) limited the candidates’ ability to interrupt or talk over each other. This left them in a position where they were forced to deliberate, rather than shout each other down or perform the kind of antics that left most audiences for debate #1 bewildered or angry.
Deliberation is where critical thinking and democratic politics meet…