I think talk shows should establish rules of decorum, no screaming, no talking over people, instead

[peacebird]

demand a polite give and take, enforced by a mute switch the host controls which can shut down any guest who attempts to talk over another.
Let the guests know in advance that all will have their say but none may rudely interrupt or shout over another.

I think it would be priceless to see their furious MUTED screams. And if no one could hear them, just *see* them making fools of themselves silently... I think we could win a return to civil discussion, where folks can politely agree to disagree sometimes, and maybe start finding common ground again.

And that could lead us back to dealing in good faith once more. Compromise would stop being seen as a four letter word.

[TexasTowelie]

1. In other words, goodbye to the Faux nightly schedule.

[raccoon]

2. ITA, but I don't think it'll happen. I think there are people who like that kind of crap. nt

[We People]

3. If they violate their agreement (and we know they will), then cut their mics

No threatening of it like Billo does, just follow through and cut them off. That's how it should be done. After the commercial break, they're gone.

Getting sick of these righty verbal hogs!

[reformist2]

4. This is why public broadcasting is so important. The screaming is all for ratings.

I've had people tell me they watch these shouting-match shows for the entertainment value, that politics is a "sport" to them.

[brewens]

5. Crossfire tried that once and it didn't go well. They didn't stick with it long. It seems

the audience didn't like the calm, well mannered discussion. I don't think the hosts liked it very well either. That was a really good show. I don't know if you could do that one again. There are so many people now that can't stand hearing both sides. FOX "News" would never try it or at least an attempt ot put on a fair one. No other cable chanels could put one on and draw enough conservative viewers to make it go. They would all just stick to what they want to hear from FOX.

[Flashmann]

6. polite give and take

That,alone,would exclude damn near every thuglicon.........

[asjr]

7. You must have watched UP with Chris Hayes

this a.m. A young blonde woman who had been an employee of Condaliza Rice was on and loudly blamed Obama for everything that has gone wrong and yelled so loudly I thought maybe she should have distributed earplugs before she started her rant.

[Atman]

8. Unrealistic, recipe for GOP control.

The only person I've seen use the mute is Bill O'Reilly. He just cuts people off when they disagree. The entire point of the GOP "filibuster" strategy on talk shows is to just keep talking while your opponent politely waits for you to end your thought. If you never stop talking, and the other person never interrupts or tries to stop the filibuster, the GOP will dominate every discussion. It's what they've been trained to do.

Also, this simple isn't the way "conversation" works. In a back-and-forth debate, one person might make an outrageous statement which, if no immediately countered, will be lost or buried by the time it is the person's "turn" to speak.

I would prefer to give some rules of civility -- if you lie to me and attempt to talk over me, you will asked to be quiet, then never invited back. John Fund and Boris Epshtyn on Bill Maher's show Friday are perfect examples. Anyone who has seen Fund knows that this is how he works. Why was he even invited on? Otoh, the bookers know these type of guests make for more "exciting" tv on shows like Maher's, while UP with Chris Hayes is almost always polite and civil. Even Condi's speech writer this morning, while kind of rude by the standards of UP, wasn't nearly as bad as Fund and his ilk, and she did eventually shut up (unlike Fund).

[kentuck]

9. Do like Chris...

Send them off and bring someone else in to take their place.

[peacebird]

11. That is also a great way to handle it!

[brooklynite]

10. How about, if you don't like the format of a show, watch something else...