When did they cease to do real debate in Congress?

[StateBoiler]

If you ever watch a session of the House or Senate today, you'll see the debate between the 2 sides is they each get an allotted amount of time and legislators give a prepared speech. The two sides just talk past one another. There's no acknowledgement of anyone that spoke before to what that individual said, and unless it's just never used, you are never allowed to ask a preceding individual a question to either support or poke a hole in the legislator's argument.

[Antonio the Sixth]

There are multiple aspects to this. One is the development of party discipline (something that began earlier than we might assume, with the reform of House rules in the late 19th century) meaning that party members have less of a motivation to try to convince people on the other side. Another is the shift from printed media to radio and then television, meaning that Congresspeople's audience is the general electorate rather than just their house's floor. It was a gradual process, but it was already complete by the 1970s when Mayhew wrote his influential book on Congress.

[StateBoiler]

There are multiple aspects to this. One is the development of party discipline (something that began earlier than we might assume, with the reform of House rules in the late 19th century) meaning that party members have less of a motivation to try to convince people on the other side. Another is the shift from printed media to radio and then television, meaning that Congresspeople's audience is the general electorate rather than just their house's floor. It was a gradual process, but it was already complete by the 1970s when Mayhew wrote his influential book on Congress.

It's not so much try to convince people on the other side in my opinion, but to convince other people through pointing out holes in one person's argument, or forcing him or her to defend his point of view on record.

[Lincoln Republican]

When Trump threatened Republican law makers to lie, cheat, and steal, just as long as the Democrats don't find out about the shady and crooked dealings of the Trump family. 

[StateBoiler]

When Trump threatened Republican law makers to lie, cheat, and steal, just as long as the Democrats don't find out about the shady and crooked dealings of the Trump family. 

This has been going on before Trump sought the Reform Party nomination for president in 2000.

[RINO Tom]

When Trump threatened Republican law makers to lie, cheat, and steal, just as long as the Democrats don't find out about the shady and crooked dealings of the Trump family. 

This has been going on before Trump sought the Reform Party nomination for president in 2000.

Lol, seriously.  What a dumb response.