What is wrong with taking some stiffness out of the debate format? Who says it is decreed from on high that the Presidential debates have to be held with the two candidates standing stiffly behind podiums? What is wrong with the friendliness of a Larry King format? And why dismiss the challenging and probing Tim Russert? What has Al Gore got to lose if he were to appear in a looser setting?

Looking back to 1988, I can remember my efforts to debate Pat Moynihan in our race for the Senate. Pat Moynihan was nowhere to be found with the media casually going along with his hide-and-seek antics. The knowledgeable political insider would ask, "Why should he debate when he is so far ahead in the polls." Of course no one thought about fairness or even the flow of cash into the coffers of the certain winner.

Not being dismayed, I visited each of Pat Moynihan's offices in New York and Washington in a symbolic effort to get the great "icon" to meet me in early debates. Being rejected at every turn, the debates were finally held one week before the elections - timed by Senator Moynihan to remove any likelihood of a post debate bounce for me in the closing days of the campaign. I have to honestly admit that it would have taken the gravity of the Moon to get the bounce I would have needed to come even with Pat Moynihan. But, you know, there was a principle involved - the same kind of principle which says that George Bush has the right to select one or more debate formats which he might like. How about a compromise? Have one debate dictated by the debates commission and one by each of the candidates? That would seem fair and keep stiffness out of the format of at least one of the debates.

Debates are not the be-all for a campaign. Ronald Reagan was not quick on his feet. Yet, he decisively won each of his races for president. On the other hand the Kennedy-Nixon debates in 1960 were probably decisive in John F. Kennedy's victory. If information is what the voters want, believe me it is out there. The websites for both George W. Bush (www.georgewbush.com) and Al Gore (www.algore2000.com) contain all the facts you could ever need about the positions each candidate has taken on a wide range of issues. Please take the time to check the websites out before any debate. The debate should not be about the debates. It should be about the issues.