Newt Gingrich got it right when he laid out a plan for the 2008 presidential debates. Instead of the stilted Q&A's we get from network anchors--where the only question at the end of the "debate" is "who gaffed?"--Gingrich wants candidates in front of the people for true debate.

Let's stop treating our candidates like children who need a list of rules. Without a 4000-page rule book, we might find out which candidate behaves like a gentleman (or gentle woman), and who can put together a flowing argument on a subject.

But we don't need to stop there. Today we face a host of issues that deserve debate: Illegal Immigration, Global Warming, Iraq and more.

Why can't we--in the name of common sense--allow the two sides to genuinely debate these issues?

Oh sure, we get five minutes between commercials where we have two invited guests and two hosts carry on with each other, but there is no debate. Instead we get a lot of action and no one dares to answer the question asked by the other side.

For instance, if Al Gore is so sure Global Warming is fact and the debate is "over," why can't he humor us for an hour and talk about the topic with a well-spoken scientist or perhaps Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK). With nothing but a moderator to keep both from taking too much time, Fox News would have a bonanza of ratings (as if it doesn't already) if they gave an hour a week to this--or other--key issues.

When it comes to Iraq, I'd love to watch John Murtha (D-IL) sweat it out against any one of a dozen Republicans.

By creating true platforms for reasoned debates, we would find out quickly who is dependant on sound bites and who can truly make a case.

We would see which spokespersons are forced to fall back on name-calling and cheap one-liners, and which ones can stand tall on the facts.

Reasoned debates favor conservatives, but also force conservatives to go beyond rhetoric. For liberals, a debate of more than five minutes is scary indeed. Some liberals--and this would be fun--would refuse to go on air for an hour.

So what about it, Fox News? Why not give us an hour a week to watch a true debate? We'll give you the other four nights for Hannity & Colmes and more. But once a week, let's see the real thing.