Gov. Gary Johnson - Clearly a bigger person

A bigger person than...  who?

Your humble insanely pissed off blogger, that's who.

So, I saw on Memeorandum that CNN had announced their debate line-up.  I was pretty excited. I've made no secret of that fact that I'm a fan of Gary Johnson, and I felt he didn't have an opportunity to say enough at the First in the South debate.

I was hoping that maybe he'd get a chance to be in a more... what's the word?... traditional debate.  You know. The kind where candidates aren't told to raise their hand to signify an answer (Never mind nuance or extenuating factors on the topic at hand. Yes or no, raise your hand! Nonsense.). Better yet, the kind of debate where aspirants to the highest office in the land aren't asked Miss Universe questions.

"Um... like... if you were on a reality show, what would it be? OK. Now, if you were a car, what kind of gas mileage might we expect?"

(Idiocy. Whoever came up with that reality show question is too vapid to be involved in political discourse. Go join a Jersey Shore chat room or the Octomom fan club or something.)

So. You might imagine I was beyond disappointed to see that Johnson wasn't included.

Disappointment gave way to fury, however, as I realized that that sanctimonious prig Rick Santorum is on the ticket. (NEWSFLASH - While the fundies may be all for a Santorum theocracy, there aren't enough of them to get him elected.) Also on the dais will be Newt Gingrich... because Newt and the media keep telling us he's a viable candidate.  (NEWSFLASH 2 - People outside the incestuous beltway gang hate this guy. Right, left and middle.)  Most of the rest of them I understand.

Are there any announced candidates besides Johnson who aren't invited?

Anyway, moments ago Johnson sent out a statement. Once again (and probably for every damn one I get) I'm posting the whole thing:

“I respect the right of CNN and the other sponsors of the June 13 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary debate to apply their own criteria and invite who they choose.  It is, however, unfortunate that a significant segment of the Republican Party, and more importantly, millions of independent voters who might be Republican voters, will not have a voice on the stage in Manchester.

What will be missing is the voice of those who hold an undiluted view of individual liberty – those who believe that individual rights extend to women who face choices about abortion,  Americans who happen to be gay, and those who don’t place other asterisks on freedom.

Likewise, there will be no voice for the growing number of Americans who see the hypocrisy and failure of drug laws that condone alcohol at White House Dinners while incarcerating millions of Americans, including our kids, who choose to smoke pot.

I wish the participants in the debate well.  And I sympathize with the millions of Americans whose beliefs will not be on display in Manchester on June 13.

I look forward to participating in the July 10 debate in Las Vegas, sponsored by Americans for Tax Reform and the Daily Caller."

Johnson can "respect the right of CNN and the other sponsors" if he likes. I don't respect anything about it.  In fact, I call bullshit.

I am sick to death of having to hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two suck-fests. I've grown weary of having the media and political establishment tell me who is "electable". I hate that a major media (pffft) outlet would ignore the candidate with the single most impressive track record.

And CNN can cram their "criteria". They invited Trump, fergawdsake. (Who already took his ball and went home, may I remind you. He's proven he doesn't have the stuff.) They invited Palin, who isn't even a damn candidate! Ditto Guiliani and Huckabee.

But they'll ignore Johnson, who had the guts to declare months ago while most of the others were still playing "will-I-won't-I-exploratory-someone-beg-me-cuz-that's-what-my-ego-requires" foolishness.

I'm disgusted.

And at the same time, I back Gary Johnson MORE STRONGLY THAN EVER.

The CNN debate may be the first one I'll ever skip.


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Related: TELL CNN TO LET JOHNSON DEBATE!