Here we go again! - HUNTER EXCLUDED !!!

South Carolina Republican Party WebSite ^

[counterpunch]

First, let me say you presume much to think Hunter’s supporters will march lock-step with him in support of Huckabee - if that’s ever the case. Hunter’s supporters will make up their own minds INDEPENDANTLY of what direction any candidate’s bow-out would take.

No, I don't assume Hunter's supporters will automatically support Huckabee if and when Hunter drops out and endorses him. The first question is to Hunter supporters if they will.

But you are talking about voters in the primaries, not delegates at the convention. This is pretty advanced stuff I'm talking about here. The actual nuts and bolts of how the nominee is going to be chosen, because it's not as simple or straight forward as it seems. I assume if Hunter hasn't dropped out yet he isn't going to. He's taking it all the way to the convention. You Hunter supporters are voting for convention delegates in support of Hunter. And this is where it makes a difference. When Hunter cashes in his delegates and endorses someone else, his delegates vote for that person. You might not — if Hunter drops out before you have a chance to vote — but any delegates Hunter wins will. That means the delegates your vote and might help award to Hunter will go to Mike Huckabee, which will then go to John McCain. These are actual votes cast for the nominee at the convention. Now of course if you say "well my vote isn't going to win Duncan Hunter any actual delegates" then you have to ask yourself what's the point, and perhaps start thinking about supporting the best candidate who might actually win a delegate because of it.
 

[SunStar]

This is getting old. If he’s on the ballot, he deserves to be heard at the debates.

Ok... Do you think John Cox should be there too? What about Alan Keyes? Who gets to decide?

[counterpunch]

First, let me say you presume much to think Hunter’s supporters will march lock-step with him in support of Huckabee - if that’s ever the case. Hunter’s supporters will make up their own minds INDEPENDANTLY of what direction any candidate’s bow-out would take.

No, I don't assume Hunter's supporters will automatically support Huckabee if and when Hunter drops out and endorses him. The first question is to Hunter supporters if they will.

But you are talking about voters in the primaries, not delegates at the convention. This is pretty advanced stuff I'm talking about here. The actual nuts and bolts of how the nominee is going to be chosen, because it's not as simple or straight forward as it seems. I assume if Hunter hasn't dropped out yet he isn't going to. He's taking it all the way to the convention. You Hunter supporters are voting for convention delegates in support of Hunter. And this is where it makes a difference. When Hunter cashes in his delegates and endorses someone else, his delegates vote for that person. You might not — if Hunter drops out before you have a chance to vote — but any delegates Hunter wins will vote for whoever Hunter endorses. That means the delegates your vote might help award to Hunter will go to Mike Huckabee, which will then go to John McCain. These are actual votes cast for the nominee at the convention. Now of course if you say "well my vote isn't going to win Duncan Hunter any actual delegates" then you have to ask yourself what's the point, and perhaps start thinking about supporting the best candidate who might actually win a delegate because of it.
 

[AmericanHunter]

“Who gets to decide?”

That’s the whole point. We should be the ones who decide - with our votes in November.

[Eastbound]

"You hae to cut down the field, to give those with a viable chance a opportunity to explain their views and positions."

No problem. Extend the debate time. On something as important as who should sit in the oval office for the next four years, why not? All you have to do to justify that is to take a look at what has happened to our country even during the last 20 years. Downhill all the way, and still descending regardless of who sits in the president's chair.

Gun control laws just keep stacking up. Children still being beheaded and ripped apart before birth. Financial support for candidates at the most crucial time of the campaign has been seriously restricted. The country continues to move towards one world government. Demographics shifting so rapidly that it's impossible to locate the 'old neighborhood' anymore. Enemies of our Republic abounding and seeking to drive us all into the sea.

And wussupt with the cost of gasoline and propane these days? It's worse than doubling IRS taxes. And wussup with the concept of the ownership of private property. A thing of the past that just floated out the door along with our Constitution which has been converted from a solid to a liquid.

I see every reason to extend the debate time as long as it has to be extended in order for every possible candidate to have a voice and an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the future of our country even if they won't get elected.

Debates should be a two or three-day affair. What's the rush?

[Badeye]

‘Debates should be a two or three-day affair. What’s the rush?’

Most of us aren’t retired, waiting around for Oprah to come on....(chuckle)

[Calpernia]

New development:

Fox News Is Skewing Early GOP Primaries

[Calpernia]

>>>Would ya say the same about Ron Paul?

I would. Yes.

[Calpernia]

>>>As I recall (and you can correct me if I am wrong), the candidates must have garnered a minimum % of votes in the NH Primary to be invited on. And Hunter didn’t.

Wouldn’t admitted busing in of out of state voters nullify that qualification?

**That prompted Clinton to thank the out-of-staters for spreading the word. She started to say she was impressed by the numbers of people who have come on their own from New York and was interrupted by wild cheers. No way to be sure if the applause came from New Hampshire voters or New Yorkers. Clinton added that yesterday she saw a bunch of people from Arkansas.** from the Wash. Times

http://video1.washingtontimes.com/bellantoni/2008/01/clinton_recruits_outofstaters.html
Clinton recruits out-of-staters to pack rally

[Eastbound]

I had evenings in mind. Or weekends. I don't think any debate would be able to compete with the soaps or Opry. Even have a marathon debate from Friday 6 p.m. until Monday 6 a.m. Until the last man (or woman) is standing. We need to vett the candidates before they elected -- not after.

No rock left unturned, no word left unspoken, no sin left uncovered.

[Badeye]

I dno’t think you’d get much more of an audience then is already being realized to be honest. I understand what you want, and in a perfect world it would be best, no denying it.

Alas, its not a perfect world.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

If Hunter’s out, so am I.

[theDentist]

Wouldn’t admitted busing in of out of state voters nullify that qualification?

No.

But then again, I'm not FOX News. That's a question for them. Personally, I'd like to see him on, but it's whitting time....

[Calpernia]

It would be better TV than the current reality shows.

[Eastbound]

But I don’t think just doubling the debate time is asking too much, even from the Opry crowd. That would still leave room for all candidates.

[Calpernia]

If the decision was based on the NH Primaries, why wouldn’t admitted fraud omit that qualification?

[Badeye]

I wouldn’t know, I’ve never watched a so called ‘reality show’ beyond the NFL....(chuckle)

But I have no doubt you are correct. At least I’d be interested in checking it out.

[Calpernia]

::laughs back:: Football is about as real as interests me too.

But I would watch it.

I think the soap opra and Oprah audiences vs political news audiences are an entirely different market reach and aren’t comparable.

[Badeye]

I think the soap opra and Oprah audiences vs political news audiences are an entirely different market reach and aren’t comparable.

THANK GOD.

[theDentist]

I'd guess it's because they cannot isolate the fraudulent votes from valid ones with certainty, nor can you determine which candidates had what volume of such votes. For all we know every fraudulent vote was cast for Hillary, or for Hunter. So tey likely decided to stick to the original rules for the profferred invitations.

And no, I haven't a copy of the list of rules they are using to extend invitations to candidates. I'm just guessing.