Rethugs Running From Actual Debating

This weekend, representatives of the Rethuglican presidential candidates met in the absence of the Republican National Committee to map out a debate format that would virtually cut out the role of moderators in asking questions.  Clearly worried that future probing questions will unravel their candidates, the proposed format would allow for speeches to take up the vast majority of time, something that nutty doctor Ben "On Meds?" Carson has favored (On Meds? was a wallflower in the last debate, so no surprise he wants his own air time). The problem is the angry Rethug base will tire of speeches, and will want to see fireworks and cheap shots, especially if they involve taking down an "establishment" candidate.

Republican National Committee Chairstain and human / weasel hybrid Reince "Prepuce" Priebus appears to be desperate to keep the clown bus happy, even if it means losing whatever control he had over the debates. We noted last Saturday that a flustered Prepuce had dropped NBC from the debate schedule because their CNBC panel actually asked questions of the assembled loons. It should come as no surprise, though, that the right-wing Fux Channel and Fux Business will be allowed to broadcast whatever debates occur.  We don't want to make Roger "Jabba the Nut" Ailes unhappy now, do we?

BONUS:  Charles Blow tells us why the "gotcha" questions (i.e., tough questions) aren't the real problem for Republicans.

BONUS II:  Raw Story has some funny tweets on Republican debate "demands."