Fuck you CNN.

[cthulu2016]

re: CNN deciding to include Perry in the CNN South Carolina debate despite meeting none of the published criteria for inclusion.

Arbitrary inclusion is the same as arbitrary exclusion. You are making an arbitrary decision based on your perception of how you think the Republican primary race should go.

This is like when NBA refs "pocket the whistle" at the end of games so that they don't decide the outcome. Failing to call fouls IS deciding the outcome, just without leaving fingerprints.

There is nothing "fair" about it. Is it "fair" to arbitraily decide that all the candiates who met the published citeria ought to have less time?

And letting a man who has the demonstrated electoral seriousness of Vermin Supreme into your debate against your own rules is no different from saying that Romney cannot be in the debate despite meeting all the criteria. Arbitrary is arbitrary.

Just go out of business already.

[alp227]

1. Will Perry speak out against this instance of affirmative action?

Buddy Roemer or Fred Karger would never get such a handout like this.

More info about qualifications: http://www.businessinsider.com/perry-might-not-qualify-for-cnns-south-carolina-debate-2012-1

[MjolnirTime]

2. They are desperate to help Romney. Gingrich is coming back in SC.

[BootinUp]

3. Sure ok, but why do you care

if they go outa business or if Perry is in the debate or not?

[cthulu2016]

6. Media outlets set themselves up as fair-brokers in US elections.

When they discard even the pretense of that it is worth a hearty "fuck you"

They have an ethical obligation to even-handed neutrality. They seldom manifest that, but this is an instance where their impartiality is testable without any shades of interpretation -- there were published rules promulgated by CNN and known to all parties.

(I don't care whether Perry is in or out in the abstract. I don't even know for sure who gains or loses from that.)

[BootinUp]

8. I agree of course. Check out the Daily Show, todays I think

It ends forever any illusion in my mind that CNN is a serious news organization.

[MFrohike]

4. True

I will admit to enjoying Perry in the debates, though. He sometimes has a good line, like vulture capitalism, and it's fun to watch him sound smart when he's clearly read up on a given subject right before the debate. He's kind of like Will Ferrell in Old School.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. I was with you until you knocked Vermin Supreme.

Serious or not

[cthulu2016]

7. The post can be read as a call to exclude Perry...

...or to include Vermin Supreme. I'm cool with either choice.

But I think the Ver-man is running as a Democrat.

[NashvilleLefty]

9. Dude, it's the Republican campaign

so all logic is thrown completely out the window to begin with.

My hope is that Mitt actually wins the nom. In response, the TEA Party and Evangelicals split off and create a 3rd party. This 3rd party siphons off votes and allows Democratic candidates to win.

We have seen this happen before, and some people are trying to see it again on the Progressive side.

There are lots of Leftists who vote against their own interests. They will vote for Nader or whoever trying to "send a message" to Dems when the message they get is "we need more campaign support, and we can forget these Greenies even though we are on their side".

Bam! There it is. If you want REAL change that LASTS, then you have to be patient. Temporary change happens quickly, and is over just as fast. REAL change takes time, but it lasts. I learned that when I was a kid.

If you want to throw your vote away, that's your choice. But then it's my choice to say ARE YOU F*CKING NUTS!

[Bluenorthwest]

14. Lasting change occurs any way it wants. Quick and lasting changes include: love at

first sight, death, getting fired....so many things which make long lasting changes, which most people agree often happen instantly and without warning.
Other change is slow, usually in order to not upset the status quo, not due to a need for a slow pace.
My district, in 08 went for the President stronger than most areas that went for him. Huge support, my precinct in the 90% range. Part of how that was accomplished included making the Greens part of our team. 'Green Dogs' they were called.
I saw Mrs Obama, during a campaign stop here in Eugene come into an ice cream shop filled with people. One person was wearing a Green Party tee-shirt. The gracious Mrs Obama walked directly to that person upon seeing the shirt, smiling and offering her hand. That day, with that gesture, she won hundreds of supporters for our candidate. She reached out to the people you are sneering at. She was doing the right thing, the thing that wins. I prefer the First Lady's style and methods in this regard to those touted in your post. We'd like those Greens to come with us this time too. They did last time, lots of them, not just on election day, they were a working part of how we won delegates for the man who is now our President.
I myself come from an arts career,and few of the people I know are mainstream in any way. I know zero GOP types. None. So historically, 2004, 2000, and prior to that, the people I can win for Democrats come from the Green end of things. 2000 was a full press to get them off the Nader wagon. 2008, they strolled onto our side without the press, with smiles and open hands.
I guess you want 2000 again? I sure don't.
Where do you reside? How did 2010 go there? We elected Democrats, defeated Tea Crazy. We don't do that without our Greens and those to the left of the DNC. We need them. We like them. We do not think only of the Presidential election, we also like to elect Democrats to Congress, and to our State positions. We need all the non right wingers to come with us.
How'd 2010 go for you?

[bhikkhu]

10. Its a TV show. Its about ratings and advertising, of course

...and expecting anything better isn't very realistic. My own "fuck cnn" moment was 10 years ago, over how they covered the run-up to the Iraq war - which is to say they proved themselves lying toadies. I haven't watched them since.

[Quantess]

11. They suck! Remember when they had a Glenn Beck show for 2 hours each weekday evening?

on CNN "Headline News".

[JCMach1]

12. They should include Roemer then...

[cthulu2016]

17. You know...

it occurs to me that the real criterion of sriousness here is whether CNN ever said the candidate was important. Since they doubtless gushed over how Perry would be the next president during his 15-minutes he must be a serious candidate.

[JCMach1]

18. Precisely... Gravel had the same problem on our side in 2008...

[KharmaTrain]

13. These Aren't Debates...Its Political Reality TV...

I thought the numerous debates the Democratic candidates in 2008 was too much...the more they talked the more holes all of them dug for themselves and this year's rushpublican clown car demolition derby really proves it...but in this case I don't mind.

As other posters have noted, these debates are more for the networks who sponsor them than for the candidates. They've turned this nomination process into a reality show...where personalities trump real issues and its evolved into throwing chairs. Each candidate has had their moment in the sun and each time the light is turned on the stench rises. No one really likes any of these loser and everyone hates Mittens and this is what makes good teevee. Chicken Noodle Nuze wants these guys to end up pulling hair and calling their mother's name. The more contentious, the higher the ratings...and that's the real numbers that matter.

The real winner of all these debates is President Obama as these debates have turned from the absurd to the sublime and provided tons of oppo research material that is sure to come back to haunt whatever douchenozzle who wins the nomination. As far as CNN...this once proud network continues its slide into being to news what MTV is to music.

[lonestarnot]

15. meh, entertainment value.

[AlbertCat]

16. CNN deciding to include Perry in the CNN South Carolina debate ...

... despite meeting none of the published criteria for inclusion.

"It's for the sitcom-comedy value!" said a spokesman. "You just can't write this shit!"