Uh-oh, Someone left an microphone open and now Dennis "Department of Peace" Kucinich is mad:
"This is a serious matter and I'm calling him on it," Kucinich, an Ohio congressman, said in a telephone interview Friday. "Whispering, trying to rig an election, then denying what's going on and making excuses. It all reflects a consistent lack of integrity."
Kucinich's comments came after Edwards and Hillary Rodham Clinton were overheard Thursday discussing the possibility of limiting the number of participants in future presidential forums.
Now usually the top dog wants to include the extras to keep the opposition from coalescing around any one single candidate. Hillary's either completely comfortable in her position as the very top dog, or she too is bothered by the time and energy wasted by the one percenters, or she was just being diplomatic.
Either way, I'm torn. I like the idea of having the second and third tier candidates getting a chance to break out, and debates are a part of that, but when you have up to 11 or 12 on the Republican side, it's definitely getting too unwieldy. Is fund-raising ability a good separator? Polling? Either are fraught with problems. Or can we just use common sense and say that those candidates who don't have a snowball's chance in h*** of becoming president don't get to play. I'm looking at you, Kucinich and Gravel.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. Socialists will attempt to silence the opposition any way they can. I don't think that Dennis the Menace is much of a threat, but he at least has a right to be wrong, at least that's what one conservative thinks.
joem at 7:30PM on Jul 13th 2007
2. Yo Nix, yu mentioned the losers Gravel and Kucinich, what about Ron Paul. Don't leave out that 0.0006 percenter.
Scott at 10:51PM on Jul 13th 2007
3. To be honest, Clinton and Edwards are right. It is a complete distraction from people actually getting a good feel for the candidates. There are those who simply won't be the nominee. This race is between Clinton, Obama, & Edwards and i would like to see a debate between the 3. 8 dems and 10, maybe 11 or more, republicans are too much for a debate. Its sad to say but kucinich, gravel, even Dodd, Biden, & Richardson have no chance of being the nominee. I don't think Clinton & Edwards were in a conspiracy theory to get the other out the race, as some GOP pundits(see Tucker Carlson) are saying, but rather were just saying what alot of people feel anyway, that we want to get to know the candidates, and we simplay cannot do that with so many people in the field. And also to be honest, i think that shows confidence on both parts to want more time for themselves, they believe they have the right message for america and want to be able to share it.
Patrick at 11:09PM on Jul 13th 2007
4. Someday live 'net' polling will step up to the plate on questions such as this. Vote from your home computer after the first debate to see who is invited to the second. I know it puts a little pressure on the candidates, but POTUS is a pressure job.
With the right safeguards, the government could use the 'net' to poll the citizenry on various issues and get fast opinion results. It would help the politicians see how their message is being received. It might lead us to be more of a true democracy.
I don't think we should try it with the current global Internet; not secure enough. We will need a safe "Citizen's Net' to do this.
Steve Bonomo at 11:17PM on Jul 13th 2007
5. Patrick: "There are those who simply won't be the nominee."
Of course they're not going to be nominees. The system is biased against them. I say let them speak. Let EVERY candidate speak, from every party. Our system favors the elite too much.
David MacKenzie at 12:59AM on Jul 14th 2007
6. Net polling will not be reliable, do I hear "Sanjaya" anyone? It is way to easy for the voting to be rigged. As an example, why do you think there is no paper trail on many of the nations voting machines? It makes it easier to make the results whatever they want...
John at 12:59PM on Jul 14th 2007
7. Hillary's mouth content should not surprise anyone, thia is the way she is, self serving no matter what or who she slams, The woman isn't fit to run this country. imagine the same situtation with foreign leaders??? She is out for recognition for herself only. She goes with the wind on decisions, talking out both sides of her mouth, doesn't take a stand for anything only when for the moment it suits her. I am glad some of her remarks came to light, think of what she keeps covered.The terroists are counting on her to win. Edwards, well what can anyone say about this panty waist. His wife has to call station and stick up for him making him look even more that he has to run to someone, can't defend himself. His wife made a fool of herself. His campaign on poverty, does he know the meaning of the word. How dare the two of them judge what not them, but the american people have a right to hear.
Jane at 2:07PM on Jul 14th 2007
8. VOTING FOR A DEMOCRAT IS GAY
DON'T BE GAY.
joesixpack at 2:26PM on Jul 14th 2007
9. What we are watching is a "No Limit Hold Em" poker game. Let me help you understand why Edwards wants things to get more serious. Billary is holding "Big Slick" in the Woman's vote and her ace the former President. That had looks great, but it all depends on the flop to determine the best hand. Iowa and Nevada could give Billary a shock. Obama has a suited Queen and one angry Jack. Two strong spades could give him a flush or a straight ticket to power. He's in the pot and he can afford to gamble. Edwards has a weak pair of eights. He and Elizabeth are an attractive pair, but they show signs of weakness and confusion. The only way he can win is to hit another 8 on the flop. America seems to be betting against them as a long shot. Ann Coulter, Al Sharpton, the NAACP and Fox all seem to be stacking the deck. Kucinich is making a bully bluff. You'd be crazy to follow him. Biden has a Jack and a three. His top card just isn't good enough. Gravel has a two and a six not suited. Huge gamble, but he thinks he has a chance. Dodd looks ready to fold. His eyebrows are a natural tell showing weakness. Finally, Richardson looks too eager. He could go all in with nothing. That's my honest analysis. The game is just getting started. Edwards and Clinton are ready to play poker. Kucinich doesn't have the guts "To Poke Her."
Cecil Jones at 5:42PM on Jul 14th 2007
10. ^what an....umm...interesting analysis.
Patrick at 7:16PM on Jul 14th 2007
11. How 'bout we open up the election to a few MORE people? I for one would love to see someone from outside the two current major political power centers (Republican/Deomcrat)in the White House. Theoretically the U.S. is a multi-party system. Currently we have a de facto two-party system. Not enough choices, not enough accurate represetation of the vast variety of people in the U.S. Bi-partisan should become tri-partisan, or maybe quad-partisan...
jaredhill at 9:31PM on Jul 14th 2007
12. It makes me very suspicious that Edwards and Clinton are afraid of allowing competing candidates to voice their opinions. What does this tell us about how they would run America if they were elected President???
matt at 9:03AM on Jul 15th 2007
13. ^i don't believe that they don't want others to voice their opinion, i just think they want more time to voice their own opinions. With 8 candidates, it is hard to get a sense of what each individual stands for. I think that shows leadership to want to get more time. A lot of candidates think the opposite because the less time they get the less detailed their answers have to become.
Patrick at 12:04PM on Jul 15th 2007
14. Why don't all you liberals cause a backlash and just vote for Joe Biden? He's a known plagerist, and makes racist comments about dot heads owning all the 7/11's in Delaware. I mean the guy has bared his sole. Not so with Osama Bin-Obama, Hillary the cuckolded woman, or the $400 haircut Edwards. How could anyone vote for any of these three?
Thomas Hill at 12:46PM on Jul 15th 2007
15. I had the pleasure of hearing Charlie Rose interviewing the newly elected French President who clearly, intelligently, addressed his views on the direction he wished to take France...a man with foresight, class and character. People of the United States are yearning for such a candidate..an experienced, creditable person. It's sad and unfortunate that this USA has such pathetic, power-hungry, inept presidential wanna-be's in both parties.
Jack White at 2:10PM on Jul 15th 2007