Presidential TV Debates Get Off to a Lame Start

 The TV debate of presidential candidates on Thursday evening gave each of the five candidates 18 minutes of airtime to explain their policy goals. Although they squared off over key issues like national security, the economy, deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery from the U.S. and others, the debate failed to deliver a full picture of their views. It was a reminder of how futile such exercises often are and bodes ill for the remaining four debates.