What is a political debate? It is a way for different oppositions to state their
standpoint with the aim of transforming the listener or reader to their viewpoint. There are various types of conundrums depending on the occasion. You will have public events when it requires an important electoral decision such as the presidential selection. You could have local discussions when it involves a seat in The legislature. The winner of the debate will be dictated by a voting poll or in some cases a judge. Discussions are extremely common in all democracies, not just the USA, as part of the process used to choose the government.
You will also have the informal talks between folks who have different political views. The standard of this kind of political debate depends on the skill and knowledge levels of the members. A lot of people are convinced so strongly that their viewpoint is the only one; they lack the ability to listen to the arguments put by the opposing side. This often results in a heated discussion as opposed to an educated talk. This is especially true of online political forums which are not able to keep an eye on the activity on the website properly. Being online means that you can be anonymous which may give rise to people venting extreme viewpoints. They might not get the chance to discuss these views in real life so choose to use the forums. Even if the individual's views are not extreme, the debate can quickly result in a quarrel as text is so usually misinterpreted. How often have you got an email and responded as you presumed it meant something other than the intended message?
Everybody is entitled to their opinion. That is just about the great advantages of residing in a democracy. The freedom of speech must not be taken away from anyone but when involved in a political debate, it is always best to mind your manners as well.