A number of things could use some clarification. According to this article
the debate participation criteria (ABC/WMUR) were established just last week. Duncan Hunter’s plans to ignore Iowa were probably made months ago. They are also using polls, but it’s hard to get recognized unless you appeal to KOOKS (L. Ron Paul), or use identity politics (The Huckster).
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. The New Hampshire Republican Party and/or the RNC either do not have rules or chooses not to enforce them for debate participation. My guess is that they don’t have any rules. The only rule that might work is taking delegates away from candidates. Some of you may have better ideas. Most candidates, left to there own, would look at this as an opportunity for more face time and less competition. I’m not familiar with the details of Campaign Finance Reform, but Rush did say it would make the media more powerful, and it has.
On another thread, Duncan Hunter told us not to complain and work harder. I emailed a couple of complaints anyhow. If there is a consensus that we should continue to complain despite Mr. Hunter’s instructions, I’ll re-post the information and we can all raise hell. Dennis Kucinich filed a complaint with the FCC and I’m sure we could too. We can also place letters in the WMUR license renewal file. In my opinion, the ABC / WMUR debate is more important because of audience size. We could also make noise at Fox News.
At this point, I don’t know if Duncan Hunter underestimated the campaign landscape or is a brilliant strategist and tactician. Time will tell. I pray that it is the latter.
The GOP has drifted to the left because the leader of the party, President Bush, like his father before him is not a conservative. The only way to fix this is to raise a new crop of conservatives to get control of the GOP. That’s something that should interest Fredheads and all of FR. Third parties haven’t worked in the past and I don’t think that’s the answer now.
If you are a conservative party that believes in conservative principals why would you have your early primary contests in a relatively liberal state that allows independents to vote in your primary? A State party controlled debate is another good idea from this thread. Fixing campaign finance should be a high priority. I’m sure there are many other good ideas that Freepers can generate. The fact that conservatives are getting the shaft is not only money and media but also the party itself.
You make some good points. But fighting the east coast RINOS and MSM types is a little like fighting Jason or Michael Meyers. No matter how many times you kick them in the teeth and expose their agenda, they keep coming back to life, more resistent to conservatism each time.
“I’m not familiar with the details of Campaign Finance Reform, but Rush did say it would make the media more powerful, and it has.”
Campaign Finance Reform took away some of our free speech. I’m not a backer of Newt Gingrich, but Campaign Finance Reform was why he didn’t run.
And here’s where I complained to ABC:
And here’s where I complained to Fox News:
Fox News: Phone: (212) 301-3000
also, yourcomments@foxnews.com
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.