Posted on 01/04/2008 9:38:26 AM PST by CounterCounterCulture
NEW YORK—ABC News is eliminating Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter and Democrats Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel from its prime-time presidential debates Saturday night because they did not meet benchmarks for their support.
The Republican debate three days before the New Hampshire primary will include Iowa caucus winner Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. It starts at 7 p.m. EDT.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
If you are unable to follow the conversation, your best bet for not embarrassing yourself is to refrain from comment.
Yes. I call it courage-free conservatism. Count me out on that brand. Bleh.
“I think it’s more that they don’t have the guts to support a true conservative, because MSM tells them it’s not possible for a true conservative to win.”
Agreed, that is pretty much what I meant. Conservatism has been beaten up so much in the press that too many of defined conservatism down. Some say the country has changed and we have to face reality. I don’t buy it. Conservative principles are timeless but if we water them down, they are worthless.
Great post. Thanks.
the debate participation criteria (ABC/WMUR) were established just last week. Duncan Hunter’s plans to ignore Iowa were probably made months ago. .... The New Hampshire Republican Party is a co-sponsor of the ABC/WMUR debate and the Fox News forum. In one story, they talked about pulling their sponsorship, but that’s not much leverage.
***I think that is a lot of leverage. We are the GOP and the NH GOP party represents US in New Hampshire. If enough of us call the GOP in New Hampshire, they’ll get the message.
On another thread, Duncan Hunter told us not to complain and work harder.
***I think the point is that he doesn’t want us to whine. Complaining to the right people, the people whose JOB it is to do the right thing because they’re paid for it, whether in guvmint or bizness, is the the right thing to do. If enough of us direct our voice, we’ll be heard. But Hunter probably hates that grating sound of whiners. Complain to the right people, that’s part of the process. But NO WHINING — that’s my guess on what he wants.
That may be what happens. Liberal and moderate Republicans are destroying the party that Reagan built. I would prefer to organize and take back the party from the socialist wing of the party. The party may have to take a shellacing so we can prune all the dead wood(moderate/liberals). Then we can rebuild. It wouldn’t be pretty but I think it is necessary.
However, if that isn’t going to happen, I will be looking for a new conservative home as well. The Republican party as it is today can go to H...!
We’re finding out some interesting things about our fellow ‘conservatives’.
***I think what’s happened on Free Republic is that in the 2000 and 2004 elections, it got invaded by middle-of-the-road GOP republicans who like to call themselves conservative, but in reality they gulp when they read JimRob’s definition:
From the front page of Free Republic:
Statement by the founder of Free Republic
As a conservative site, Free Republic is pro-God, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Constitution, pro-Bill of Rights, pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-private property rights, pro-limited taxes, pro-capitalism, pro-national defense, pro-freedom, and-pro America. We oppose all forms of liberalism, socialism, fascism, pacifism, totalitarianism, anarchism, government enforced atheism, abortionism, feminism, homosexualism, racism, wacko environmentalism, judicial activism, etc. .... We are not connected to or funded by any political party, news agency, or any other entity. .... We aggressively defend our God-given and first amendment guaranteed rights to free speech, free press, free religion, and freedom of association, as well as our constitutional right to control the use and content of our own personal private property. Despite the wailing of the liberal trolls and other doom & gloom naysayers, we feel no compelling need to allow them a platform to promote their repugnant and obnoxious propaganda from our forum. Free Republic is not a liberal debating society. We are conservative activists dedicated to defending our rights, defending our constitution, defending our republic and defending our traditional American way of life.
This is NOT a GOP website, it says so right there, we have no affiliation with any party... That often catches republicans by surprise.
Why has there been so much emphasis lately on poll results rather than idealogy? Because of all those republicans that flocked to this site, it was the “place to be”.
What can be done about it? Do what we can for Duncan Hunter. Like Sun says, call a radio talk show. Send money to Hunter’s campaign. Send a 10cent donation to the GOP and say that the rest of the money went to a real conservative cause. Call the New Hampshire GOP.
When all the smoke clears, if Hunter doesn’t get the nomination, I have one more suggestion for all of us remaining conservative freepers. It would make sense for us to have an idealogy score, a set of questions with rankings of how important the issue is and how strongly a freeper agrees/disagrees with it. We could all put these results on our home pages, so that when another freeper is debating with us (or us with them) we could just go to their home page, check their score on that issue & others, and realize “Ohhh, this is a Ron Paul supporter” or “ohh, this guy is a small l libertarian” or “ohh, this guy is a Big F FISCAL Conservative and a small l social liberal.”
I am following the conversation perfectly, thank you. To suggest that Hunter's fate be hung upon the polls in two liberal states, states he didn't even campaign in, is just silly.
Hunter's campaign rises or falls in the South and the West. why should he bow out before those regions even utter a peep? Likewise, How can he be forced from the debates, sealing his fate, and smothering him before the Conservative states (where he will do well) are even paying attention?
I’m still fighting!
btw, Laura Ingraham mentioned intrade on her radio show yesterday, and said she would put a link to it on her website.
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The New Hampshire GOP withdrew its sponsorship of this debate.
According to this article, there were no delegates selected in Iowa. So that would mean that Hunter is EVEN with Thompson going into New Hampshire. Whaddya think?
First G.O.P. Delegate Goes to Romney (Romney, Hunter Leading in WY)
New York Times ^ | January 5, 2008 | MEAD GRUVER
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/us/politics/05cnd-wyoming.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1199563235-58hBRHoYXSVDHcyr25G/Fw&oref=slogin
“Wyoming chose the first 12 delegates of 2008 at 12 separate county conventions. Iowa Republicans, who have 40 delegates, conducted a straw poll but elected no convention delegates Thursday.”
So, that means that Romney has the most delegates, and Fred and Hunter are both tied at 2, going into New Hampshire. I see now that Hunter was wise not to campaign in Iowa, and where he did choose to campaign he drew even with the other conservative in the race. You get more bang for the buck with Hunter.
imho, the best thing about Hunter doing so well in Wyoming is that conservatives who like Hunter, will now have the guts to vote for him in other primary states.
Ah, but this is the same site that called McCain and his cohorts ‘traitors’! Yet who is being endorsed??!! Times they are a changin’.
Yes, but now Hunter has a delegate. This election they are going to extremes in that they are excluding a candidate like Hunter. I don’t recall them trying this prior. It’s a disgrace and there needs to be fallout from this. The other GOP candidates can take part of the blame for this because it is obvious they are in on it.
Not going to argue with that. I’m glad the NH GOP backed out of sponsoring the GOP debate there on Fox because of not allowing Hunter and Paul in.
your very welcome!
Iowa is first because the political parties made that decision.
If you really want to have a say in the rules of the party, you have to get involved. Start by joining the county committee and speak up there.
Oh, good, Ronnie is in. He’s always good for a laugh.
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