Does this say more about Fox News or the Republican slate of candidates for 2012?
“It’s slated to be the kickoff event of the 2012 Republican primary season. But as a scheduled May 5 debate hosted by Fox News and the South Carolina Republican Party rapidly nears, it’s unclear whether any major presidential candidates will actually be there.”
Actually, it’s unclear whether any candidates at all will actually be there. So far, not a single candidate has confirmed their intention to participate. The debate is scheduled for next Thursday, May 5, with a deadline for confirmation on May 3. That leaves just three business days to comply with a long list of requirements for participation. Fox is stoically insisting that the show will go on.
To be fair, this isn’t the first GOP primary debate that was scuttled this season for lack of candidates. An NBC/Politico debate at the Reagan Library was set for May 2, but that one was postponed until September.
The GOP field is conspicuously hesitant to make a commitment to running. Most haven’t even formed exploratory committees. And of course, some, like Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, are delaying any statement in order to continue collecting paychecks from Fox News. So, in effect, Fox is keeping candidates out of the race by keeping them on the payroll. That’s an unprecedented intrusion into the political process by a media entity.
If Fox News is lucky they might get Buddy Roemer and Rick Santorum to show up. That should provide a stimulating and valuable forum for curious Republican voters. Otherwise it may be up to whoever they get to moderate the debate to fill an hour with right-wing propaganda – in other words, just like any other hour on Fox News.
Stay Classy, FOX. Stay Classy!
what, Trump isn’t taking the stage alone? His enormous ego alone would fill over into the seats.
He’s not running, he’s got to announce formally before he can accept. But he won’t announce, he’s not going to run, it’s a stunt to get apprentice ratings and/or to make a book deal or two. He wouldn’t get past vetting, he’s done too much illegal shit.
Trump’s “birther” nonsense helps keep the inquiries away from his business dealings over the years. For Trump to have been in business as long as he has he must have a closet full of bones.
I think it would be great if NBC would wait until Trumpster Dumpster “decides” not to run and then issues a public statement, come on say it with me—–“Donald, you’re fired”. Probably not going to happen but would be hilarious and deserved.
I sure hope the American people come to their senses and see the GOP for what they are–money/power grabbing opportunists whose anti-American agenda is not going to fix our problems, nor is it designed to.
The GOP plans to run a 2012 stealth campaign for it’s Christian fundamentalist candidates:
Right Wing Watch [VIDEO]: RNC Wants To Protect GOP Presidential Hopefuls From “Lefties In The Mainstream Media”
“Tom Minnery, the head of Focus on the Family’s political arm CitizenLink, was recently named to the Republican National Committee’s Committee on Presidential Debates. Minnery, who said he was picked by the RNC as ‘someone who represents social conservatives,’ will join other prominent conservative leaders like Dick Armey of FreedomWorks, Al Cardenas of the American Conservative Union, and former RNC chair Mike Duncan. While speaking to Stuart Shepard, Minnery explained why the committee was created: ‘they thought, why should we expose our candidates to the lefties in the mainstream media who will ask questions designed to put a wedge between each of the candidates and embarrass them, make them look a little bit less than presidential, given the bias of the media?'”
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rnc-wants-protect-gop-presidential-hopefuls-lefties-mainstream-media
fox will come up with a fake excuse to cancel the debate. How can the repubs claim that President Obama is going to be a one termer when they can’t even show up at a debate with phony fox.
I’m thinking that fox will use the excuse of paying respects to ground zero and wiggle out of hosting a debate with some folks that no one knows and they don’t have a chance of winning. Where is alan keyes? Even he’s bailing. Christine O’donnell they need you.