All Second Tier candidate supporters:

[murbley40]

There is a petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Equal-Time-for-Candida... .

The plan is for the petition to be forwarded to CNN before the debate. Let's all let them know that we wish to hear from other than the "anointed 3". Please go over and sign.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Great idea! nt

[Stop Cornyn]

2. Frankly, I'd like a real "debate" (not a Q&A) which is impossible with 8 candidates. I wish they'd

break the field into 2 groups of 4 and have two real debates instead of yet another gameshow-style Q&A with all 8 candidates.

[murbley40]

3. K&R

[Captain Hilts]

5. The hub and spoke format stinks and is unfair to all candidates - and viewers. nt

[Truth2Tell]

17. I'd prefer a Survivor style format myself

It would be more useful than what we have.

[napi21]

4. DONE! I hope this gets enough publicity to make a difference!

I'm going to send this link to a lot of my friends on both sides. I know the next debate is a Dem one, but if I remember right, there's a Pub one at the end of the month too.

[riqster]

6. Done! nt

[tritsofme]

7. At the very latest, after Iowa, the 2nd and 3rd tier candidates should be excluded

Completely from the televised debates to allow the actual to have substantive debates between themselves.

[demommom]

8. Kicking for fairness

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

15. Hmmmm. Maybe we should just exclude all but the top ONE....

...since we're being arbitrary and cavalier about open debate in democracy.

[tritsofme]

16. No reason to be arbitrary.

Just like in general election presidential debates, when its game time and your campaign does not poll at some predetermined level in an average of polls, that candidate should be excluded.

The just for fun candidates are fine now, but they need to leave the stage soon.

[AnarchoFreeThinker]

21. just because you say so?

Liberal=free and open debate, not just free and equal debate among the popular kids.
I want the whole country to hear what they all say.

[tritsofme]

23. I agree, to a point.

The just for fun candidates can use up the airtime throughout the summer and fall, but once votes are being cast and its painfully clear they have no legitimate shot at the nomination, its time to take your ball and go home.

[Ron Green]

9. "Anointed 3?" It seems to me more like an anointed 2, or maybe

one.

[pmorlan1]

10. You are so right!

I agree there is no annointed three. The corporate media focuses almost exclusively on Hilliary and then occasionally Obama to complete their narrative. Every now and then they will cover Edwards and the other candidates. The amount of coverage of the candidates is in no way proportional to the amount of support each candidate registers in polls. It is disgraceful and I for one am sick of it. I'm tired of the corporate media picking our nominees and I wish voters would stop falling for it.

[murbley40]

11. Ok, However many, please sign the petition.

We can not keep complaining about this and then when we have a chance to perhaps be heard, get bogged down in whether we individually think in terms of anointed 3or 2 or 2 dozen. The important thing here is to let CNN know before the next debate, which is almost upon us,that we(the voting public) have something to say regarding the unfair way they are conducting business in regard to debates and our candidates,and therefore unfairly controlling the information we get on all the candidates from the debates. PLEASE GO OVER AND SIGN THE PETITION>

[youthere]

12. K & R

[Renew Deal]

13. What's going on now?

CNN wants a debate with the top 3 only?

[murbley40]

18. No.

No the petition is asking for equal time for all candidates and not just the "frontrunners"

[murbley40]

28. kick

[kenfrequed]

19. Sigh

That would be an entirely useless debate.

[murbley40]

14. kick

[Myrina]

20. done

[bigwillq]

22. Done

[murbley40]

24. kick

[cobalt1999]

25. They have to draw a line somewhere...

There are over 100 "official" candidates for president out there. Do you think CNN should give equal time to Bob down the street who has just announced his candidacy?

No way everyone gets equal time, so the have to have a cutoff somewhere. Excluding those who have no realistic chance is the best they can do right now (although 3 is too little).

[murbley40]

26. kICK

[demommom]

27. Kicking for "2nd and third tier" candidates!!

Please sign the pettition.