CNN/Tea Party Debate - Same 8 as NBC/Reagan Debate

[Likely Voter]

CNN has announced the guest list for their GOP debate on Sept 12th and it is the same 8 that will appear at next week's MSNBC debate: Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum and Jon Huntsman. (CNN also invited Palin and Guilliani, Palin has declined Rudy hasnt responded so in theory if he announces he is in he could be there too)

The criteria:

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So even though CNN's own latest poll has Gary Johnson with 2% and John Huntsman and Rick Santorum with 1%, Johnson is not invited.

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[Paul Kemp]

Ridiculous.

[argentarius]

CNN don't seem to trust their own polling. Shocking stuff.

[Meeker]

No Thad McCotter?!?!

[Tender Branson]

– A person must have received an average of at least 2.00% in at least three national polls released between July 1 and July 31 that were conducted by the following: ABC, AP, Bloomberg, CBS, CNN, FOX, Gallup, Los Angeles Times, Marist, McClatchy, NBC, Newsweek, Pew, Quinnipiac, Reuters, USA Today and Time.

-OR-

– A person must have received an average of at least 2.00 % in at least three national polls released between August 1 and August 31 that were conducted by the following: ABC, AP, Bloomberg, CBS, CNN, FOX, Gallup, Los Angeles Times, Marist, McClatchy, NBC, Newsweek, Pew, Quinnipiac, Reuters, USA Today and Time.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/01/criteria-for-the-tea-party-republican-debate

I´m going to check that now.

[The_Texas_Libertarian]

I don't know much about Johnson other than he was Governor of New Mexico.  Does he have some leanings that permanently disqualify him as a potential GOP nomination such as admitting global warming/climate change, evolution, stance on women's rights, or some other social issue?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I don't know much about Johnson other than he was Governor of New Mexico.  Does he have some leanings that permanently disqualify him as a potential GOP nomination such as admitting global warming/climate change, evolution, stance on women's rights, or some other social issue?

Yes (pretty much what you said).

However, he's possibly the most genuine fiscal conservative in the race, and the only two-term governor besides Perry.

[Tender Branson]

No, Gary Johnson was at 2% only in 2 polls, not in 3 - like the CNN wants.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Good to see Huntsman being exemption playing into this decision again.

[argentarius]

No, Gary Johnson was at 2% only in 2 polls, not in 3 - like the CNN wants.

It's pretty hard to get 2% in a poll if you aren't included in it.

[Likely Voter]

After that first debate with Johnson and Paul talking about legalizing pot and Paul throwing in heroin on top, it appears that there is some kind of "1 Libertarian" quota for the GOP debates.

[Simfan34]

The Huntspiracy continues.

[TheGlobalizer]

I don't know much about Johnson other than he was Governor of New Mexico.  Does he have some leanings that permanently disqualify him as a potential GOP nomination such as admitting global warming/climate change, evolution, stance on women's rights, or some other social issue?

Supports legalizing marijuana
Pretty far to the left on immigration

ie., He's a libertarian, and an unapologetic one, unlike Ron Paul.

[argentarius]

I don't know much about Johnson other than he was Governor of New Mexico.  Does he have some leanings that permanently disqualify him as a potential GOP nomination such as admitting global warming/climate change, evolution, stance on women's rights, or some other social issue?

Supports legalizing marijuana
Pretty far to the left on immigration

ie., He's a libertarian, and an unapologetic one, unlike Ron Paul.

What do you mean by Ron Paul being an apologetic libertarian?

The fascinating thing is how the media gives attention to Huntsman because he believes in evolution and man-made climate change even though Gary holds those beliefs and more views which are even more controversial.

[Eraserhead]

Thank God they were able to figure out a convoluted way to keep Huntsman and get rid of Johnson again!

[TheGlobalizer]

I don't know much about Johnson other than he was Governor of New Mexico.  Does he have some leanings that permanently disqualify him as a potential GOP nomination such as admitting global warming/climate change, evolution, stance on women's rights, or some other social issue?

Supports legalizing marijuana
Pretty far to the left on immigration

ie., He's a libertarian, and an unapologetic one, unlike Ron Paul.

What do you mean by Ron Paul being an apologetic libertarian?

The fascinating thing is how the media gives attention to Huntsman because he believes in evolution and man-made climate change even though Gary holds those beliefs and more views which are even more controversial.

Ron has been playing down his libertarian views and playing up his so-con views all cycle.  It's not a cardinal sin or anything, and he's still better than, well, just about anyone; but Ron, to me, has crossed over from "libertarian" to "small government Republican".  Ask him about marijuana and he'll dither; ask him about immigration, and he'll sound like a Republican; ask him about gay marriage and he'll twist himself into knots to sound like a Republican-ish sort of thing.

The media gives attention to Huntsman because he's seen as having the bona fides to compete in a GOP primary.  Johnson is seen as more of an outlier, someone whose campaign needs to catch fire before he can be treated with credulity.

It's a shame, because while I like both guys, Johnson strikes me as the one who really could get a lot done and be a rather popular president nationally.  That said, he only gets the GOP base half of what it wants and doesn't respect GOP sacred cows, and that's the rub.  Huntsman strikes me as a "good governance Republican" and little more, but at least he's electable nationally and his positions are more often in line with my views than most Republicans.