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Add Another Podium To The Stage (Alan Keyes will be debating in Iowa)
Captain's Quarters ^ | Nov. 21, 2007 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 11/21/2007 8:03:13 AM PST by jdm

The next Republican debate in Iowa promises something new, different, and controversial -- Alan Keyes. The Des Moines Register decided that the one thing these debates lacked are fringe candidates with microscopic constituencies and invited Keyes to attend the December 12th afternoon affair:

Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes has accepted an invitation to participate in the last scheduled — and in some ways most important — Republican debate before the Jan. 3 first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucus.

The Des Moines Register's Republican Presidential Debate is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Dec. 12 at Iowa Public Television's Maytag Auditorium in Johnston, Iowa.

At last report, all major Republican candidates except former NY mayor Rudy Giuliani have also accepted the invitation to participate.

The Des Moines Register has a reputation for putting on fair and informative events. Their debates have become an Iowa tradition that reporters and editors from across the nation take seriously.

This should prove entertaining, if nothing else. Keyes may be the best orator in American politics today. He has consummate speaking skills, reminiscent of 19th-century style politicians who didn't use PR firms and spokespeople to "message" the electorate. Keyes manages to speak expertly on his own behalf.

However, the message and the candidate being the same may not benefit Keyes to any great extent. He has already referred to two of his colleagues on the podium as "devils" (Romney and Giuliani) at the CLC event in October. While Republicans will have sympathy for the thrust of his message -- as they do with Ron Paul -- Keye's over-the-top extremist bent will not have many thankful for his presence in a nationally-televised debate.

Most of us hoped that the debates would slowly narrow down to the top four or five candidates, perhaps even smaller than that. The inclusion of so many candidates on the stage only forces the quiz-show nature of the so-called debates to be even more superficial and prone to "gotcha" moments. Adding Keyes rather than subtracting several other candidates will make this debate in the final hours of the pre-primary campaign even more useless in determining which candidate to support.


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; ia2008; iowa; keyes
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1 posted on 11/21/2007 8:03:14 AM PST by jdm
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To: jdm

He’s a great speaker.

And probably the worst politician still in business.


2 posted on 11/21/2007 8:06:41 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: Balding_Eagle
Alan is the best orator of our age. His presentation, passion, and ability to communicate his ideas are magnificent.

My fear with him at the debates is how he possibly can marginalize the undecideds to the Dims with is rhetoric.

3 posted on 11/21/2007 8:13:06 AM PST by Pistolshot (Never argue with stupid people, they just bring you down to their level and beat you with experience)
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To: Pistolshot

*his rhetoric.


4 posted on 11/21/2007 8:13:41 AM PST by Pistolshot (Never argue with stupid people, they just bring you down to their level and beat you with experience)
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To: jdm
I didn't even know Keyes was running.

As long as they're inviting him, how about another fringe candidate, like John Cox?

5 posted on 11/21/2007 8:15:59 AM PST by shekkian
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To: jdm

What a total joke!!!


6 posted on 11/21/2007 8:16:25 AM PST by jws3sticks (Hillary can take a very long walk on a very short pier, anytime, and the sooner the better!)
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To: jdm
fringe candidates with microscopic constituencies

Alan Keyes is polling ahead of Duncan Hunter in Iowa, and ahead of Hunter, Tancredo and Ron Paul in Florida.

He's on the ballot in more than ten states now, with more coming in every week.

In the last contested Republican primary, he came in third behind Bush and McCain.

In the last contested Iowa presidential caucus, he came in third as well.

You may not like it, but he deserves to be on the stage.

And, the people of Iowa, and of the country at large, deserve to hear what he has to say.

7 posted on 11/21/2007 8:33:23 AM PST by EternalVigilance (Our God-given rights, and those of our posterity, are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!)
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To: Pistolshot
I Hereby formally announce my candidacy for the Republican Nomination. Now let me in the debate. I have two people voting for me (my mom and my wife (I hope)) therefor I have a right to debate.
8 posted on 11/21/2007 8:36:18 AM PST by AngryCapitalist (www.theangrycapitalist.blogspot.com)
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To: AngryCapitolist

Dr. Keyes met the criteria for inclusion in the debate. Live with it.


9 posted on 11/21/2007 8:37:30 AM PST by EternalVigilance (Our God-given rights, and those of our posterity, are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!)
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To: jdm

Keyes deserves to be in the debate. If you’re on the ballot, you should be in the debate. It’s that simple.

That said, I’m still not voting for him.


10 posted on 11/21/2007 8:41:38 AM PST by VirginiaConstitutionalist (Scary thought: Half of all people are dumber than the average person.)
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To: EternalVigilance
Alan Keyes is polling ahead of Duncan Hunter in Iowa, and ahead of Hunter, Tancredo and Ron Paul in Florida.

Every one of them should be deleted from the event.

11 posted on 11/21/2007 8:43:06 AM PST by Petronski (Reject the liberal troika: romney, giuliani, mccain)
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To: jdm

You’ve got to be kidding.


12 posted on 11/21/2007 8:44:24 AM PST by Huck (Soylent Green is People.)
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To: jdm

Good grief.


13 posted on 11/21/2007 8:45:00 AM PST by Constitution Day (Everything was fine until membership lost its privileges)
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To: jdm

Why in the hell are they adding a podium?


14 posted on 11/21/2007 8:47:49 AM PST by mimaw
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To: Petronski
Every one of them should be deleted from the event.

Why? Because you say so?

The people of Iowa, and the country, to make an informed decision in 2008, deserve to hear all voices, all points of view.

15 posted on 11/21/2007 8:56:10 AM PST by EternalVigilance (Our God-given rights, and those of our posterity, are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!)
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To: VirginiaConstitutionalist
Keyes deserves to be in the debate. If you’re on the ballot, you should be in the debate. It’s that simple.

Yep.

That said, I’m still not voting for him.

I am.

16 posted on 11/21/2007 8:57:20 AM PST by EternalVigilance (Our God-given rights, and those of our posterity, are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!)
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To: EternalVigilance
Why? Because you say so?

Because none of them are ever going to be POTUS. Keyes sure as hell never will.

17 posted on 11/21/2007 8:59:43 AM PST by Petronski (Reject the liberal troika: romney, giuliani, mccain)
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To: Petronski

That’s up to the voters, not you.


18 posted on 11/21/2007 9:00:16 AM PST by EternalVigilance (Our God-given rights, and those of our posterity, are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!)
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To: EternalVigilance

Of course it’s not up to me. You’re never going to find sufficient voters dumb enough to vote for Alan Keyes as President. Not going to happen.


19 posted on 11/21/2007 9:01:22 AM PST by Petronski (Reject the liberal troika: romney, giuliani, mccain)
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To: Petronski

Then why are you trying to play gatekeeper?


20 posted on 11/21/2007 9:02:34 AM PST by EternalVigilance (Our God-given rights, and those of our posterity, are not open to debate, negotiation or compromise!)
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