When it really comes down to it, we got no one to blame but ourselves for letting things get as bad as they have. It is time the people take control over the process, not to mention the Republic.
"League of Women Voters Yanks Support of Debate: 'Manipulations' by Campaigns Blamed"
Washington Post, Oct. 4, 1988; A15; By Lloyd Grove Sponsors of 1976, 1980, and 1984 presidential debates, the League of Women Voters, in 1988 the League of Women Voters decided not to sponsor the second presidential debate. The LWV considered itself to be an objective third party in the negotiating of debate formats. According to the article, "the League's board of trustees voted during the weekend to pull out of the Los Angeles debate because the Bush and Dukakis camp refused to renegotiate the terms of their agreement - the result of weeks of arduous talks - with League representatives." The LWV's withdrawal opened the door for the Commission on Presidential Debates, which has sponsored the presidential debates ever since.
http://www.museum.tv/debateweb/html/history/1988/headlines.htmThe League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates ... because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Women_Voters