ABC cuts 3 from presidential debates (Ron Paul in; Duncan Hunter out)

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 4 January 2008 | David Bauder

[Publius Valerius]

Because so few people have apparently read the article, here are the rules for inclusion in the ABC debate:

"Candidates had to meet at least one of three criteria: place first through fourth in Iowa, poll 5 percent or higher in one of the last four major New Hampshire surveys, or poll 5 percent or higher in one of the last four major national surveys."

Paul and Giuliani get in because they meet one (or more) of the criteria. Hunter doesn't, so he's out. It's not subjective.

[Tatze]

Did they cut Hillary! with her lousy showing as well?

There is just a bit of difference between 29% and 1%. I don't necessarily agree with arbitrary cut off percentages, but at least be honest about it.

[GeorgiaDawg]

I agree with Rush (and see his point)....he basically said today that conservatives are griping that Guiliani, Huckabee, McCrazy, etc aren’t conservative enough...yet we’re not supporting (dollar-wise) or voting for Thompson or Hunter.

We can’t have it both ways...

[Badeye]

Doubt it. If you want to distract somebody working for Ron Paul, all you have to do is point at the sky and scream ‘Look! A UFO!’

(chuckle)

[CounterCounterCulture]

Ron Paul met the criteria that was set.

[Badeye]

Yep. ABC and low standards is redundent, no denying it.

[CounterCounterCulture]

It was inevitable. Best conservative, but the least electable.

Wasn't inevitable. The people had the opportunity over the past several months to choose a quality conservative, which conservatives were allegedly clamoring for, but they let the media dictate to them through talking heads and manipulative polls who was "electable" and who was not, so the people settle for less. It's the people's loss and the people have nobody to blame but themselves.

[Tarpon]

Rootie got less votes than Paul, shouldn’t he be cut? 3% seems like a non-starter to me.

[pollywog]

The way that Duncan Hunter has been tossed out, not only from the media but from Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, says that something about this man is SO RIGHT that all the wrongs in this country are afraid of him. I want him to be our next president. He has integity!!For the life of me, why Rush and Sean have not given Duncan more of a chance makes me believe that Sean and Rush are right there with the MSM....I hope that if he doesn’t get the nomination for Republican ticket that he will run independently!! I will vote Independent if that be the case!! Do I hear a second????????

[CounterCounterCulture]

Iowa was just one criterion. There were other criteria to garner entry into this debate.

[pollywog]

Me Too. He will be my write in!!!

[Kevmo]

I gather you mean Wyoming.

If he wins it, he’ll have more delegates going into New Hampshire than Fred. Fred seems to have gotten some folks in NH pissed at him for ignoring them while he announced on Jay Leno.

I’ll stop supporting Hunter when he no longer asks for my support. He’s the best conservative in the race.

[WildcatClan]

What? You mean the same Fred Thompson who the media is supposedly ignoring because they fear him for some reason? He got a full hour? Is that the same man who got an interview exclusive with he and his family? The same man who all you heard about was he and his potential run for the presidency?

It would love to have the media ignore my candidate if that is what counts as being ignored these days. It isn’t like my candidate got to say 2 words at these so-called debates anyway, so I ain’t sweatin’ it. I am not going to boycott the debates either. It’s fun watching Moderates and Liberals fight over which is the most conservative. Especially, now that it has become evident that a conservative is not what the GOP electorate wants. Remember act conservative, just don’t be conservative. You know what the “lesser of two evils” crowd always says; ‘Half of nothing is better than something’. :)

[CounterCounterCulture]

Second.

But I don’t expect him to run as an independent.

[barryg]

Neither Thompson nor Hunter have the attractive, sunny personality of a Ronald Reagan.

[Revelation 911]

ping

[pollywog]

I wonder how “ sunny a personality” Abraham Lincoln and George Washington had? We are not Hollywood! We are electing a LEADER!!!!!

[barryg]

You have a point, but there was no such thing as television in the 1800s.

I thought you knew that.

[Nephi]

I can’t believe Fox wouldn’t even mention Paul’s number last night. I had to switch over to CSPAN to find out how he did. I guess they show that Paul trounced Rudy.

Greta and Shep had Tancredo on Fox for the Iowa caucuses coverage. They nearly blew a gasket when he said, “McCain was the big winner last night and that isn’t good.”

[rb22982]

Except for Iraq and maybe drugs, I don’t think you’ll find any position that Ron Paul isn’t conservative on. All the problems conservatives have with the LP (besides drugs), Ron Paul is with conservatives including immigration, abortion, etc. Ron Paul would make a terrible CinC but he’s a great conservative vote on most issues especially when it comes to spending.