'Idol' surprises

Startle Grams | Paul Bourgeois:

“I also was surprised to learn that more than 63 million votes were cast, and that, as host Ryan Seacrest pointed out, that's ‘more than any president in the history of our country has received.’ Maybe we need a radically different way to elect presidents. Can you just imagine idol judges rating presidential candidates after a debate?”

Ed Cognoski responds:

In 2004, I wondered why no one created a television reality show based on the Presidential primaries. Get 12 contenders, left, right, moderate, fringe, whatever, and have them debate each other, with viewers at home sending one home every week. Do it in time for the ultimate winner to have a chance to get on the real ballot as an independent candidate. Maybe someone will do it in 2008.