New Hampshire Republicans ask Fox, RNC to change debate criteria

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

A group of prominent New Hampshire Republicans has written an open letter to Fox News and the Republican National Committee, urging them to reconsider the criteria for the Republican primary debates on the network.

...snip...

Under the criteria for the first Fox debate on Aug. 6 in Cleveland, candidates must place "in the top 10 of an average of the five most recent national polls, as recognized by Fox News leading up to August 4th at 5 PM/ET," in order to get a spot on stage. More than 10 candidates could be on stage, depending on ties in polling.

But the group of New Hampshire Republicans say that the criteria is “unnecessarily narrow” for the first debate, and risks leaving out “potentially viable candidates based on unreliable national polling.”

“Any metric used to select the top ten candidates based on public polling this early in the nominating process would make it impossible to ensure fairness. Indeed, the margin between the tenth candidate and those that don’t qualify will almost certainly be statistically insignificant,” the letter states.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2015/06/nh-republicans-ask-fox-rnc-to-change-debate-criteria-208568.html?hp=lc1_4

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I think have the solution: Jai alai.

Have all the candidates attend, but randomly pick two to start. Let them respond to a question, have the audience vote, and send the "loser" to the back of the line while the next contender comes on stage.

[Renew Deal]

1. They need to be more inginuitive about the debates.

Internet streamed debates with no TV.
2 or more nights
Draw straws and see who you end up against.

[daleanime]

2. Unfortunately, your suggestion is too good for Faux....

it runs the risk of turning a clown car into an interesting accident.

[Arkana]

3. Nah. Make it WWE Cage Match style.

Last one standing is the nominee.

[Proud Public Servant]

4. The solution is obviously

A series of 1-on-1 debates structured like a March Madness bracket.

[Volaris]

13. I would make it double-elimination, just to be fair.

(and to make sure every Clown gets the opportunity to argue with every other clown, because FUN!)

What would be really fun, would be to have the transcript of the whole thing re-written into Tea-Bagese (mis-spellings and all) and then have a cadre of awesome people do an audio recording..

OBAMA!!!
REGAN!!!
BENZAGI!!
GARBLE-GARBLEdroolsonself!!!!

[SoapBox]

5. When I saw your solution, I misread as

Jail.

[malthaussen]

6. I'd suggest mud wrestling...

... but we'd have to ensure they wore suits to the debates. I have no desire to see Chris Christie stripped to his undershorts.

-- Mal

[blackspade]

8. My eyes!!!!

[Android3.14]

7. I like your thinking

"Have all the candidates attend, but randomly pick two to start. Let them respond to a question, have the audience vote, and send the "loser" to the back of the line while the next contender comes on stage."

[muntrv]

9. What would that be? Use small words?

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. So Fox is running the Republican Party, eh?

"the five most recent national polls, as recognized by Fox News "

[dembotoz]

20. Yes they r and we should b screaming about it

Seems they do not want rand Paul and Santorim

Fix seems already in

[Javaman]

11. Some of the things that were suggested to be allowed...

1) grunts and heaving breathing will be allowed as a viable answer

2) "and stuff" will be allowed as a viable answer

3) "things to do" will be allowed as a viable answer

4) "who cares" will be allowed as a viable answer

5) "just because" will be allowed as a viable answer

6) "because the Jesus" will be allowed as a viable answer

(feel free to add your own)

[xocet]

15. How about, "Whoops!" n/t

[Javaman]

16. LOL the obvious one!

you are good.

[xocet]

19. Your list was inspiring! n/t

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

22. Crap, I didn't see yours before I posted.

But I do believe it was an oops, not a whoops.

[xocet]

26. "Oops" it is....You are correct. What can I say? Oops!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

21. 7) OOPS!!

[erronis]

24. The devil made me do it.

But now I've taken Jesus back into my heart.

And I hope to reconcile with my wonderful ex-wife and to talk to my children again. I'm looking for all you wonderful christian people to help me with my legal costs that include the blackmail from my earlier exploits.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

29. But he seems like such a nice (albeit insane) man!

[kairos12]

12. Clowns popping from the bus no matter the format.

[brooklynite]

14. Okay, here's another idea...

...each candidate starts 100 miles away with no aides, $20 in cash, 10 campaign bumper stickers and a 5 minute charge on their blackberry. First 10 to make it to the debate site win.

[SoapBox]

18. Ooo! Last minute change...$20 in Food Stamps!

Good Luck on that.

[xocet]

17. How about putting them on a desert island with a limited supply of essentials -i.e., food, etc....

but with whatever weapon they would choose. Tell them that the food should last a while and that a boat will be back in two months.

Put some drones overhead to film the results.

It could lead to some interesting internet memes:

"I really would have thought that Perry could have taken Jindal..."

"Rubio did not even see Bush's Chang coming..."

etc.

[erronis]

25. The whole Island of Flies could feast on a crispie for quite a while.

[cosmicone]

23. I say project them out of a circus canon

The ones who land on their feet in the net get to debate.

This is how clowns would decide it anyway!

[truthisfreedom]

27. Put them all up on stage.

Total comedy.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

30. With John Stewart and Bill O'Reilly as moderators. Talk about comedy gold!

[Vinca]

28. For once I'm in agreement with the NH Republicans.

Put each and every fool on the stage and let them go at it. Maybe they could spice it up with a pool of Jell-O in the center of the stage where they could all dunk Cruz.