It's fairly well established at this point that the debate tonight won't be anything like an actual debate. It's a joint press conference. The candidates aren't allowed to address each other specifically, nor respond to each others answers to the questions. Question. Response. Response. Next question. That's not a debate.

But I've been thinking about it, and there's another factor at play. Because of this set up, and the bizarre expectations game going on, there isn't really a way to win the debates. Each candidate will spout whatever they spout, talking beside each other but not to each other, and probably mostly talking to the people who are already voting for them. Neither candidate will score some brilliant point, or make some glowing statement, which wins the debate. However, one of the candidates will make a gaffe, or look too squirrelly, or sweat, or wear the wrong color socks. And that candidate will LOSE the debate.

No winners, only losers. Quite frankly, that's not really a fun game to play.