Rand Paul and Carly Fiorina are dropped from main stage Republican debate

[anigbrowl]

Source: NYT

The Republican debate stage will be noticeably smaller when the candidates gather in Charleston, S.C., on Thursday night for their first debate of the year.

On Monday, Fox Business Network, the host of the debate, announced on “Lou Dobbs Tonight” the qualifiers for the main stage, and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and Carly Fiorina — who have both been slipping in recent polls — did not make the cut.

[...]

Minutes before the announcement, Mr. Paul said in an interview with CNN that after being told he would not make the main debate, he informed the network that he would not participate in the undercard debate, reiterating a promise he had made last month.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/11/rand-paul-and-carly-fiorina-are-dropped-from-mainstage-republican-debate/?_r=0

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I'll miss Rand Paul a bit as he brings a more thoughtful perspective to several issues like foreign policy, but he was always more a conscience candidate for the GOP's isolationist wing than a credible contender. Can't say I'll miss Carly Fiorina, who has excellent debating skills but an adversarial relationship with facts.

[tabasco]

1. Your standards for "thoughtful perspective"

are a bit lower than mine.

[anigbrowl]

5. I force myself to look for the positive aspects in everyone

If I can't think of one straight away it's a clue that bias might be clouding my thinking. I don't necessarily need to like or agree with someone or something (such as a work of art) to observe strengths and weaknesses.

[tabasco]

13. I should've put a smilie with my post.

I wasn't trying to be an ass.

[anigbrowl]

14. No worries, I wasn't offended

My style is a bit out of step with the groupthink that sometimes prevails at DU. I have also been known to clap for the other team at baseball games should they make an especially good play

[Volaris]

18. I would agree with your assessment

Rand Paul understands the definition of 'Blowback', and thats commendable as hell coming from the (mostly) illiterate players on that stage...but total isolationism isnt quite the solution, either.

But if Rand understood the second part as well as the first, he would be running as a Liberal, instead of a libertarian.

[CTyankee]

2. two fewer shits spewing their hate and their "facts." ENOUGH!!!!

[global1]

3. How Did Jeb Make The Main Stage?.....nt

[Brother Buzz]

10. The men behind the curtain greased a couple of palms would be my guess

The fix is in, but it's going to a Herculean task.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

4. "adversarial relationship with facts"

That is just about the nicest way I've ever seen to say a person is a LIAR!!

[FSogol]

6. Fuck Rand Paul

[valerief]

7. Who's going to pick up the fetus slack? nt

[stopbush]

8. Fuck Rand Paul and fuck Carly Fiorina.

Glad both of them aren't getting traction, even among the knuckle-dragging Rs.

Fuck all the R candidates, for that matter.

[trillion]

20. I respectfully have to agree with you.

Especially on all the RW candidates.

[truthisfreedom]

9. Carly Fiornia has an adversarial relationship with facts! How succinct.

Love it.

[Reter]

11. A shame how they can make a sitting US Senator miss the main debate

He's also ahead of Kasich in every poll, and about tied with Bush and Christie, yet they are all in. Disgraceful.

[Marie Marie]

12. Oh Carly, I will miss your charm and warmth -

NOT! Your "fun with the facts" were entertaining. Buh-bye, you are definitely toast.

[trillion]

21. I couldn't stand her.

or Trump, Or, Christie, or any of them...

[Zambero]

15. Rand will be playing hooky

A confirmed no-show for Thursday's low-polling kindergarten kids' pre-debate.

[anigbrowl]

16. It'd be funny if his numbers went up as a result. This season anything can happen. nt

[L. Coyote]

17. The Seven Dwarfs: Post-Doc, Trumpy, Flappy, Creepy, Rashful, Sleezy, and Little Poppy.

[anigbrowl]

19. That's just begging to be turned into a DU landing page meme for Thursday! nt