IF THE REPUBLICANS COULDN’T DISCUSS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND IRAQ…WILL THE DEMS BE DENIED THE CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT JUDGMENT, EXPERIENCE AND CREDIBILITY???

For the first time in the 2008 presidential primary, yesterday, GOP presidential contender, Alan Keyes was on the stage with all the other GOP candidates. But today, at the democratic debate, there will be two fewer at the podiums. Mike Gravel and Dennis Kuchinich are not allowed to participate! What gives?

1. Candidates must have filed an FEC Form F-2 Statement of Candidacy with the Federal Election Commission, and

2. Candidates must have publicly announced an intention to run for the nomination of the Republican or the Democratic Party for President of the United States, and

3. Candidates must have had a campaign office inside the State of Iowa as of October 1, 2007, and

4. Candidates must have employed at least one paid campaign staff representative to perform full-time campaign duties in the State of Iowa on behalf of the candidate since at least October 1, 2007, and

5. Candidates must have had at least a 1% support showing in the Des Moines Register October, 2007 Iowa Poll.

A Des Moines Register insider says Alan Keyes told them before the Oct 1st qualification deadline he had a staffer and office.

The Iowa republican party which tracks candidate organization meticulously says it has no record of Keyes having had any campaign headquarters or staff at all this year.

The Keye’s web page says his campaign headquarters is in Utah. There is no contact info for anyone in any other state.

The phone number goes to an answering machine and provides no other information

As for choice of moderator Register officials say it is a long tradition that the papers’ managing editor do the job.

Cedar Rapids, IA — Rudy Giuliani said he found Wednesday’s GOP debate “unsatisfying” because it left out some of the “biggest issues” facing the country.

“One of the things that I found unsatisfying about the debate today was that it cut off discussing Iraq and illegal immigration. They are two of the biggest issues that face us,” Giuliani told a town hall forum at Coe College Wednesday evening. He discussed his reaction in response to a student’s question about the origins of terrorism.

He was then asked for further comment by another forum attendee. Referring to the moderator of today’s Iowa Public Radio/Des Moines Register debate, Carolyn Washburn, he added, “I think she did a good job of asking the questions she asked. But I think it was a mistake to leave out terrorism, Iraq, Iran and immigration.”

In response to a question posed by Des Moines Register Editor Carolyn Washburn asking for a “show of hands,” on who believes global warming is a serious issue.

Fred Thompson refused to raise his hand, instead asking for 60 seconds. It caused laughter in the crowd and the press room. The candidates won, each getting 30 seconds to talk about climate change

The debate’s non-confrontational format thus far–asking the same questions of all the candidates– is allowing all of the contenders to go back to their regular stump speeches. Good for the candidates and their message but snoozer for the media thus far…