December 4th Fox Debate Cancelled
The Republican Party and Fox News have decided to appease Mitt Romney who decided not to attend, and instead of letting the debate go on, they canceled it.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1107/FoxIowa_GO...
Fox/Iowa GOP debate off, Romney blamed
The Iowa Republican Party announced today that the debate they had planned in concert with Fox is now off. It was to be December 4th.
The press release issued by the party said it had been cancelled due to unspecified "candidate scheduling conflicts."
But in a statement at the bottom of the release, Iowa GOP executive director Chuck Laudner appears to pin the blame on just one.
"It is too bad that a candidate wouldn't want to take advantage of this kind of debate with representation from all 99 Iowa counties in the audience, let alone the fact FOX News Channel has had the most viewers of any debate," Laudner said.
Per some unhappy Iowa Republican sources, that candidate is Mitt Romney. The state party had been waiting to hear on both Romney and Rudy Giuliani (with either assumedly waiting on the other). When they got word that the poll-leader in the state wouldn't attend, they decided to pull the plug altogether.
Asked about the decision not to take part, Romney's campaign provided the letter they sent to Fox declining to participate.
In it, Romney counsel and adviser Ben Ginsberg notes that they have already taken part in three Fox debates and that there are "a plethora of other debates in Iowa."
The Republicans took part in an ABC debate in Des Moines in August and will almost certainly participate in a Des Moines Register/Iowa Public Televison forum leading up to the caucuses.
But this was to be the state party's own event -- and on what amounts to the GOP's station of record.
Romney and the other leading candidates are, of course, in a difficult spot. They want to limit the number of debates they're particpating in, but that inevitably means offending some.
Iowans guard their first-in-the-nation perogatives fiercely and don't take kindly when they're not accorded the respect (some would say obeisance) they demand. And this is at least the third back-of-the-hand they've gotten this year.
Perhaps most seriously, Romney was the only top tier (at the time) candidate to take part in the Ames Straw Poll -- an event the state party relies heavily on for fundraising. Then, Romney, Giuliani and McCain all skipped the party's Reagan Dinner earlier this month. This especially stung after all the Democratic hopefuls, along with 9,000 activists and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, jammed into a large arena last weekend in Des Moines for their state party's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.
UPDATE: The Iowa GOP really is bitter. They're now naming names.
Their political director just sent out the below to county chairs and state central committee members:
From: Craig Robinson
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 2:29 PM
To: 'Craig Robinson'
Subject: FOX News - RPI Debate Cancelled
Dear Friends, Because of Mitt Romney’s unwillingness to participate, the upcoming Republican Party of Iowa/FOX News Channel Presidential Debate on December 4th has been cancelled.
We are very disappointed that Iowa Republicans will not have the same opportunity as Republicans in New Hampshire, Florida and South Carolina had earlier this year with their FOX News Debates.
The Republican Party of Iowa decided to partner with FOX News Channel because of their willingness to broadcast a live prime-time debate, with a large audience comprised of activist and caucus goers from all of Iowa’s 99 counties. We were also working with FOX News on a remote broadcast from one of Iowa’s 1784 precincts, featuring caucus goers from that precinct.
It was our hope to use a nationally-broadcast debate on FOX News and FOX News Radio to showcase Iowa’s unique caucus system at a time when the most people would be paying attention to the Presidential race in the days leading up to January 3rd.
You will be able to watch the Republican Presidential Candidates debate on TV before the January 3rd Caucuses at the following other debates: Sunday, December 9, 2007 – 7:00 p.m. EST: Univision Television Wednesday, December 12, 2007 – 1:00 p.m. CST: Des Moines Register Debate, moderated by Carolyn Washburn and broadcast by Iowa Public Television.
Again, we are disappointed that this debate has been cancelled. We know that hundreds of you have requested tickets and made plans to attend. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience
Iowa Gop/Fox debate
By not showing up and cancelling the debate, gives Romney a slight chance to win the debate.
Iowa Gop/Fox debate
By not showing up and cancelling the debate, gives Romney a slight chance to win the debate.
NathanHale below is right...
this was a simple tactical decision by the GOP's resident flip-flopper, Romney, to defend his position as the current leader in the Iowa polls. Anybody who saw or heard the Dems' flip-flopper, Hillary, and her convoluted answer to a simple question about driver's licenses for illegals knows that if you were advising Romney, you'd do the same thing. For such slimy people like the current leaders in both parties, any debate question is a potential disaster that can cost you dearly.
For Romney, avoiding the unpredictable nature of debates and focusing on well-rehearsed soundbites is the correct strategy to try and protect the lead. As far as Dr. Paul goes, again, NathanHale is right. Had he been excluded, it would have been a bad thing. Forget trying to stage a replacement debate or any gimmicky move like that. Focus on continuing to build poll numbers with traditional campaigning so that being excluded in future debates is not a possibilty. This is the right move for the Paul campaign.
Is it Really Because of Romney?
Or is it because they've received so much grief about Ron Paul that they've decided not to have it at all, rather than either being forced to admit him as a participant or having to endure all kinds of adverse publicity over excluding him?
Either way, I think the people of Iowa are going to get suspicious, and either way, I think we win.
Paleoconservative
Neither
..it was cancelled to protect Judiani...their glory-boy, who has deep relations with FAUX....exampled in Regan's suit against the parent company. Mitt was the fall guy, and this further fractionalization of the GOP is good for Ron Paul.
Fox
I think this is great news. It gives more evidence that Fox News is just a tool and not a top tier news media orgnanization.
Fox News is losing it's credibility, they've managed to cut their own throats. Good riddence....
I would like to see Ron Paul
I would like to see Ron Paul do a tentative booking on that building for that night on Dec. 4th. Leaving it open in the event that the debate is back on.
He could invite other candidates to join if they wish. Dems, Reps, Inds, Etc.
I think there would be an interest.
Then if the debate is on again and they try to have it somewhere else, well, they can't. Ron Paul has the building reserved for them.
Probably a pricey building though.
I am sure, however, that the good man Ron Paul knows what to do.
ciao
Go Ron Paul!
none are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.
This cancellation had
This cancellation had nothing to do with Ron Paul. In fact, it HELPS Ron Paul. Mitt bailed because he's leading in Iowa - he wants as little attention as possible paid to the race between now and the caucus. Debates, to the contrary, bring attention. And with Huckabee in a close second, attention to the race could cost Mitt his lead.
Now, this helps Ron Paul. Remember the qualifier for this debate: 5% average nationally or in Iowa. Ron Paul's polls are growing rapidly, but he's not there yet. Fox could easily cut him out. So not have the debate helps Paul as he doesn't get cut out.
If Rommey didn't want attention
he picked a fine way to avoid it. All this has gotten him is quite a bit of negative attention in Iowa.
After all, this national debate meant a lot to Republican Iowaians . It was their time to shine in the national spotlight. And Rommey took all that away.
Anyone ever consider that this is what
the Iowa GOP and Fox are waiting for. To have Ron Paul book a venue and advertise it. Then they turnaround and say the debate is on again.
What then, does Ron Paul back out of an event he is sponsoring or does he skip the debate?
Just asking. Although, I don't think they are smart enough to dream up something like this, you must admit it would be one way of getting Ron Paul out of the debate or have him look bad if he backed out of his own event.
Mitt is smart
1. Mitt has a lead in Iowa, that is why Rudy bailed on the Iowa Straw Poll
2. Huckabee is creeping up on him in Iowa, that is who he is afraid of in Iowa
3. Mitt is a smart slime ball.
Ghouliani just didnt have a thing to wear
The so-called front runners wont risk being cut to shreds by a more intelligent and articulate statesman like Ron Paul. They are going to sit back and let the media hatchet-men try to work on Dr. Pauls image. The newspaper and TV lackeys are coming out of the woodwork. Not being able to find any fault in him they are resorting to fabrications and sensational claims. The reterick will soon become comical as the hacks must use their limited imaginations to concoct hit pieces demanded by the globalists in their desperation. The corporate fascists are squirming like worms on a hot griddle,,,I love it !!!!!
Ron Paul is the man
I hope Ron camps in Iowa for a week and uses this opportunity to show the voters that he will listen to them and answer them. Endless rallys in Iowa and make a PR event of it.
Watch Romney closely
As the dollar falls, as the credit crisis spins out of control at a faster and faster rate, as runs on Money Market Funds begin and the Government attempts to hold the pieces together through panicky actions, like the raid Wednesday on the Liberty Dollar, the ones who are going to suffer the most are the lobbyists, the lawyers, and the venture capitalists who made their funny money in the financial arena.
These are the principal contributors to the campaigns of all "top tier" top down, "here are your choices, here's who you've got to vote for" candidates being presented to the people.
Romney's fortune comes from this arena. Edwards 16 million was tied up in an insolvent hedge fund a month ago.
Notice that Romney isn't telling you why he can't get to Iowa.
Visit www.opensecrets.org to find out who owns which candidates. I foresee that those major contributors are going down. There's an increasing probability that if they even exist by Super Tuesday they will be unable to do much candidate purchasing.
No more Easter Bunnies for the kids who need monopoly money to buy votes. In fact, by General Election time it's possible that no sane voter anywhere will be willing to sell his vote for promises of ever more green toilet paper.
Expect sea change.
This is only the beginning.
FreeOregon
Demrat debates last night
Kucinich was in top form last night when he called Edwards out on a trade deal with China. "a trial atty should know better." ha ha
Canada Loves Ron Paul
Canada Loves Ron Paul
LOL FOX gets it handed to them
Serves the GOP right for colluding with FOX. Wonder how much they are paying FOX to smear Paul and promote Julie-Annie?
I hate FOX with a passion. I hate the GOP politburo even more. This is great news. We won't have a FOX audience booing Ron Paul. Well done, Romney!
Plano TX
FOX's Rupert Murdoch hosts fundraiser for Hillary
Rupert Murdoch is hosting a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton. It could not be more obvious where FAUX News' true allegiance is - certainly esplains why Sean Inshannity so l-o-v-e-s Rudy Julie who's platform is identical to Hillary's. This report is from a CBS website:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/09/politics/main16006...
If you are not OUTRAGED, you're not paying attention!
If you are not OUTRAGED, you're not paying attention!
That would be refreshing.......
to have an even handed debate format without the goofball clowns that have been hosting them, with their appointed agendas and biases. Would it be so hard to have a "fair" debate? A high school debate coach could have organized a better effort than CNN did last night. Wolf was a joke, and EVERYBODY's saying so on TV. Ron Paul does extremely well when allowed to speak. He's an gentleman, not used to "in your face" rudeness. I'd just as soon see him side step shows like O'Rielly, Beck and Hannity. I like his style of visiting the colleges.....there's a lot of energy around these campuses.
alan laney
Our own debate
Its time we set up our own debate. I like that same date, Dec. 5th.
It will be hosted by TechPresident.com and HDNet
Techpresident would be in charge of promoting the event
HDNet would host it on their cable/satellite network
(hopefully, they will have it online also)
The host would be Dan Rather (he has his own news show on HDNet)
2 Debate Ideas
1. Event all the candidates and who ever confirms then we should allow them to debate. Even if its just Ron and Huckabee (actually I think this would be best since they are the ones a lot of undecided republicans are looking to).
2. HAVE THE FIRST (i don't know if its the first) REPUBLICAN vs. DEMOCRAT debate
This would be BIG! It wouldn't be hard to advertise at all. Everyone would want to watch this!! Most likely to confirm.
Republican
Ron Paul
Mike Huckabee
Tom Tencrado
Duncan Hunter
Democrat
Chris Dodd
Dennis K.
Mike Gravel
Joe Biden
We can set it up tournament style where the republicans face each other first and the dems do the same until the finals where the winning Republican and Dem debate for the final win.
10 mins. for the quarter finals = 40 mins
10 mins for the semi finals = 20 mins
15 mins for the finals = 30 mins
1:30 mins total (this is just an example)
Voters should be able to text message or vote threw the internet
(Can only vote once, make HACK PROOF so we don't hear any crying afterwards)
Questions should be acquired from http://www.10questions.com/ (a site that is part of techpresident.com)
I wish they would allow for questions to be voted on like digg.com so the most important questions are at the top.
Don't EMAIL MARK CUBAN
He responded already to me with the following
--------------------------
if you can get written commitments from these candidates, and show us how much money you will spend to promote it, we would take a close look.
We would not accept internet only promotion, or email only. IT would take
a significant traditional media investment
-------------------------
How can we get this started? ideas?
HDNet and techpresident's email string
copy and paste this
mcuban@hd.net,wnelson@hd.net,dobrien@hd.net, dfarley@hd.net, techpres@personaldemocracy.com
What I'd like to see
Presidential Candidate Jeopardy. Have a Jeopardy championship where each candidate gets to participate, regardless of party or polling numbers. Then take as many episodes as necessary to whittle it down to the top 3. Don't let it continue to only 1 though -- let the people decide who is best of the top 3. The topics would be oriented towards civics, current events and history.
Nice Debate Show Idea
I like this idea also!! This could be number 3 on my list of Debate formats.
Our own debate (contacts)
These are the contacts for HDNet and TechPresident
Please email them our idea. Hopefully they will like it and contact the candidates.
HDNET Contacts
Chairman and President: Mark Cuban mcuban@hd.net
Executive Producer - Dan Rather Reports: Wayne Nelson wnelson@hd.net
Executive Producer - News and Documentaries: Dennis O'Brien dobrien@hd.net
Managing Producer - Promotions: Dan Farley dfarley@hd.net
Tech Presidents Contacts
techpres@personaldemocracy.com
http://techpresident.com/node/8#suggest
917.359.2426
This may help in Iowa
Mitt may slip in the Iowa polls because of this move. All he did was take national time away from the others. Iowans may take notice and RP may garner more national coverage by placing higher there. Mitt slapped more than the other candidates in the face with this blunder,he turned his back on an entire state thats so critical early on. RP may whant to do a "Town Hall" type tour there with out the distraction of the others.
yep this calls for a rally
RP should get with another network... say MSNBC and get Tucker or CNN and get Caferty to moderate a debate with out Mitt in IOWA.
A rally on the site of the debate would be awsome.
REAL REASON FOR THE CANCELLATION OF THE 12/4 DEBATE
They saw that Ron Paul met the criteria, had well over 5% of the vote, and Paul would be attendance, Knowing that Paul would attend, they knew Ron Paul would win. SO? They cancelled the Dec 4 Iowa debate. This is hilarious. These guys are scared shitless of Ron Paul.
LOL
The dissing of the Iowa GOP by the so called top tier is now complete. First it was McCain and Giuliani who didn't show for their Straw Poll. Now they have Mitt backing out of their GOP/Fox nationally televised debate.
Their importance at being first is slowly being eroded by these no shows.
How embarrassing for the Iowa GOP and what a slap in the face.
Guess Mitt feels he has Iowa locked up, so doesn't need to give them anymore of his attention.
they deserve it
The Iowa GOP deserves this treatment if they treat the media anointed with so much weight. Maybe they will learn to treat all the candidates with respect now.
They DON'T deserve it
The debate shouldn't be cancelled, it should go on.
If they cancelled because Mitt isn't going then they are nothing but spineless jellyfish. What would the Iowa GOP do if they were put up to a REAL challenge like a direct attack on America from a foreign Country?
Would they give up so easily?
I think that members of the Iowa GOP are upset that the debate was cancelled and the call was up to only a few at the head. I am picturing a great debate right now going on NOT cancel the debate. I have faith that not ALL Republicans in the establishment are neocon supporting phonies.