Bush, Kerry, but not Nader, Invited to Debates

FoxNews ^

[Happy2BMe]

The Commission on Presidential Debates asked President Bush (search) and Democratic Sen. John Kerry (search) to meet for their first debate next week. The commission also invited Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John Edwards to a single debate on Oct. 5.

Invitations were based on nonpartisan selection criteria adopted last year: that participants be constitutionally eligible for election; that their names appear on enough state ballots to have a mathematical chance of winning enough electoral votes for election; and that they receive at least 15 percent in an average of five national polls to show support for election.

[Happy2BMe]

"In a statement, the commission said no other candidates besides Bush and Kerry met all the criteria."

[Happy2BMe]

Presidential debates - ping.

[Steel Wolf]

This is an outrage! Mr. Nader needs more national level coverage to help peel off votes from, er, to have his views heard by the underrepresented far left wing.

[ErnBatavia]

I'll bet Pat Buchanan is seething...

[jebanks]

That's right ...
I agree.

[Torie]

The polls show that Nader isn't really helping Bush at all. He is a waste of time.

[duk]

.......and that they receive at least 15 percent in an average of five national polls to show support for election........

Why does a low "polling" trump a candidate from a debate, if he is constitutional elligable, and is registered in enough states to win the election?

[Smartass]

NADER NOT INVITED...It's a DemoRat plot.
This is outrageous.   How else can there be a fair election?

[Happy2BMe]

"How else can there be a fair election?"

Why don't we ask Dan Rather?

[Steel Wolf]

The polls show that Nader isn't really helping Bush at all. He is a waste of time.

(diabolical plotting voice) Yesss, and since he's not helping Bush, it could't hurt to have him at the debates. That's what we'll tell them. Yesss....

[dc-zoo]

They should put Kerry in an echo chamber and let him debate himself.

[steplock]

DNC / RNC
Partners in subversive activities
Partners in stifling Freedom of Speech
Partners in lining their own pockets and to HELL with Americans

Partners in total COWARDICE - they are afraid of NADER - they were afraid of PEROT - they are NOT afraid of YOU!

YOU had best be afraid of THEM!

[steplock]

"The polls show that Nader isn't really helping Bush at all. He is a waste of time."

So you say that Americans FREEDOM of choice is totally irrelavant? A waste of time?

This country is all but gone as a nation of free thinking, self reliant, moral people - it's a shame - R. I. P.

[alcuin]

I take this as a personal insult to Flipper.
AND ALL AIR-HEADS!!!

[Happy2BMe]

Commission on Presidential Debates Provides Update on Debate Planning

Commission on Presidential Debates Provides Update on Debate Planning

September 21, 2004 The Commission on Presidential Debates ("the Commission") is pleased that the Bush and Kerry campaigns have committed to the series of three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate, including the locations, dates, times, moderators and 90-minute lengths, as proposed by the Commission. The first presidential debate will be held at the University of Miami on September 30, 2004. Invitations to candidates to participate in the debates will be extended based on the application of the Commission's Non-Partisan Candidate Selection Criteria, adopted in September 2003. As planned, those Criteria will be applied on September 24, 2004 to determine candidate participation in the September 30, 2004 presidential debate and the October 5, 2004 vice presidential debate. After the application of its Criteria, the Commission will be pleased to finalize with the invited candidates debate ground rules and other technical matters. The Commission will be guided by its goal of providing the American people with informative debates in which the candidates address the critical issues facing the country. In the meantime, the Commission is proceeding with the preparations for each of the scheduled debates. The full schedule of debates is as follows: First presidential debate: University of Miami Coral Gables, FL Thursday, September 30 Jim Lehrer Anchor and Executive Editor, The NewsHour, PBS Vice presidential debate: Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH Tuesday, October 5 Gwen Ifill Senior Correspondent, The NewsHour, and Moderator, Washington Week, PBS Second presidential debate: Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO Friday, October 8 Charles Gibson Co-Anchor, ABC News Good Morning America Third presidential debate: Arizona State University Tempe, AZ Wednesday, October 13 Bob Schieffer CBS News Chief Washington Correspondent, and Moderator, Face the Nation Each debate shall begin at 9:00 p.m. EDT.

[Torie]

I am sure you have a point. I just don't know what it is. My point was that Bush relying on the Nader card is unwise, because Nader isn't going to help Bush, because the polls show the margin is about the same, sometimes even more pro Bush, with him excluded. What's yours?

[Smartass]

Thanks for the schedule happy...

[newheart]

With all due respect, the Dems were not afraid of Perot in any way whatsoever. He ran to insure Bill Clinton's election.

But you are correct about Nader. They are deathly afraid of anyone who might siphon votes from the anti-Bush.

[deport]

Why don't the other candidates/parties get together and conduct their own debate[s] as they see fit to do so under any rules they chose to implement?...... Nothing says they can't or that they must be included in these..... unless you want to mandate by some fiat that they be included

[etradervic]

Why don't we ask Dan Rather?

Bob Schieffer of CBS Face the Nation of Liberals will be the moderator for the Oct 13th debate. There is not much difference between DNC Dan and Bush Bashing Bob. Under the circumstances, CBS should not be participating.