Breaking News: Nevada Court says MSNBC can bar Kucinich

The Nevada Supreme Court has just ruled that MSNBC is within its rights to bar Rep. Dennis Kucinich from participating in the nationally-televised Democratic presidential debate in a few minutes.

The court decision, issued minutes ago, reverses a District Court order from yesterday that required the network to include Kucinich as a qualified candidate. MSNBC had originally invited the Cleveland congressman, but then rescinded that invitation last week.

Kucinich's lawyers had argued that a contract thus existed and MSNBC was breaking it by un-inviting him.

However, today's Supreme Court decision ruled that no such binding contract existed and the district court "manifestly abused its discretion" in making that interpretation.

The results are the debate will continue this evening at 6 p.m. Pacific with just the top three Democratic candidates--Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[akminstral]

Let's have a little reality check here folks. NBC did this to increase the amount of time shared by the real contenders in this race. Like it or not, it doesn't make sense to distract voters from this important decision by including folks who have no chance of getting to double digits nationally, like Kucinich and Ron Paul, despite the fact that they hold differentiated and principled views.

[Eli]

This country is falling into fascism more and more each day. How many more years before we have our version of the French Revolution?

[Tom]

Only bit of Respect I have left for NBC is Olbermann's Broadcast.

[PatB]

I am heart sick about this. I am through with the Democratic Party. I will never have a good feeling about them again as they are a disgrace to America. I will not vote for any of the others after I vote for Dennis in the Primary.

[Rod Miller]

From the posts here, it looks like Denny has his crybaby minions out in force. Kucinich behaves like the person who was invited to a wedding. When the people in charge find him to be an unstable, rejected suitor, they dis-invite him to avoiid a 'scene' fearing he will disrupt the ceremony when it gets to "why these two persons should not be joined together". THAT is all Denny would need to start spouting off! Geeesh ... some people! All the prime time players and guests have a RIGHT to NOT be harassed. Especially, by one who if he had any class at all would have bowed out long ago.

[Wilms]

I'm from Scotland and was/am enthused to see that Dennis Kucinich is a potential next president for the United States. Here is someone who really talks the talk and walks the walk. I'm astounded to hear that the candidates are not given equal opportunity to express their intentions, values, thoughts and be heard by the general public. When did everything become so calculated? The media have a responsibility to serve the best interests of the public in all ways, not to dominate and dictate.

[Jeff Robinson]

Commercial radio charges for every minute of airtime since de-regulation in 1996. Why wouldn't television do the same? We certainly see enough info-mercials. Programming has become the advertising. Unannounced, paid, advertising. It's payola in radio. What do we call it in Television? The DNC is paying, they just won't pay for Kucinich because he is against Media Consolidation and for Media Reform.

One wonders what McLuhan would have to say about all this.

The question here is "Who are the gatekeepers and why?"

The trend is scarey. With this level of corruption in media and politics, why would anyone act accountable if it is not necessary to do so? Bush and Cheney have brought the country to new lows with no ramifications. What will the next president do? At this point, with this happening in Las Vegas, both parties are the same.

[Brad Johnson, Seattle, Washington]

Please tell all of your friends, regardless of ideology, to visit the website below if they don't believe democracy is in peril. View the Kucinich campaign weekly update, January 14th edition of David v Goliath. Click on the video with Anne Marie Howard. Scroll over to about the 2 minute 30 second mark. Play for about 2 minutes to see what the corporate media is doing to a US Congressman. Our fourth estate, designed to monitor and check the three branches, is a self-serving, for-profit and-greed monopoly with a neo-con agenda, espousing an ideology. How dangerous for Americans! Germany, 1930's: Fascism. America, 2000 and counting: Deja-vu. And they said it couldn't happen here...and nobody said or did anything. Speak out! Act!

http://mailcenter3.comcast.net/wmc/v/wm/478DA3D40003B7470000651422155517249D06010D0105?cmd=List&sid=c0

[Karen Douglas]

How disgusting that NBC excluded Rep Kuchinch from tonight's debate. What are you afraid of? On the same general subject, I note that former Sen Edwards has been notably exculded fromn news reports. Are you afraid of John Edwards too? Please NBC - do I need to totally abandon you in order to get 'real' information elsewhere? My husband and I have worked hard and managed to accumulate enough savings that we should be republicans!!:-) We, and those like us, will NEVER tune in to NBC, MSNBC, again.

[trajan]

My thoughts are focused on the 3 candidates who went on with this sham of a debate knowing that Dennis Kucinich was excluded. Clinton, Obama and Edwards are all cowards and not worthy to be President of the US. Not one of them had the integrity to stand up for what is right. This whole campaign process is turning out to be a sham so far. I do not like the smell of any of it. The mainstream media has wayy too much control and influence over what we see or hear of the candidates and that seems like a rotten deal being presented to the American people. We The People need a 3rd party candidate now more than ever. Where in the hell is Al GORE?

[NM]

This is a travesty and the logic is flawed. New Hampshire and Iowa make up about 2% of the electoral votes in this country. Yet the whims of THAT 2% is able to exclude Kucinich because HE got 2%?

I'm from California and I just voted absentee for Kucinich. Thanks for making this decision easy.

[Peter Rush]

Adding more injury to the severe injury to the body politic, the public and the Constitution represented by the NV Supremes decision, NBC made more of a farce out of this so-called "debate" than in any previous one, IMHO. The entire first 35 minute segment, until the first break, was NOTHING BUT idiotic "spin" questions, will Clinton fire her campaign head in SC, does Obama regret his comment about Hillary being "likeable," does Edwards feel awkward opposing the first black and the first woman, etc. NOT ONE IOTA OF SUBSTANCE. The second segment had a few questions on the economy, but even they were anemic and poorly focused, starting with one about concern for which foreign interests are bailing out our banks. The final segment was much less relevant even than the second segment.

This was not a political debate. It was "debatainment," the format of a debate turned by the dreadful moderators, who should be fired on the spot, into reality TV, trying to put the candidates on the spot about worthless issues and see how they respond in real time, kind of like "what was your most embarrassing moment on the campaign trail," no, wait, they asked a variant of that question, 'what is your greatest weakness," which all three candidates handled by describing something positive about themselves.

I frankly doubt the candidates appreciated the way it went, but none of them had the gumption to call the moderators on the carpet for their worthless questions. All three candidates claim to be opposed to the corporate interests--drug companies, health insurance companies, oil companies--running Washington. How about the corporate media interests determining who our next president will be, and denying the public the ability to fairly judge among the candidates. The exclusions of Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich lead the list of the travesties this particular corporate behemoth, arguably the most important of them all, has committed. Where is the opposition from the debate podium to THIS corporate enemy of the people?

[Event Audio]

Join the club. My candidate is Mike Gravel, and he has been excluded from the beginning. Oh yes, as part of the disappearing middle-clss, we haven't had comcast for over a year. So I have not heard one word of any debates. Guess I'll just eenie-meenie-miney-moe.

[Melanie]

Wow, MSNBC taking a page out of FOX NEWS's book. Wish I could say I was surprised.

[Arizona Patriot]

MSNBC sucks. I will now be boycotting them. Actually, I am going to turn off my cable and put the TV in a closet. The only candidates that make sense are banned from debates. The candidates that are corporate whores get free plugs on every network. Wake up, American sheeple! Its time to take our country back from these pathetic ......... Vote for freedom in 2008. Vote for Ron Paul!!!!!

[Nels]

Was there anyone on the MSNBC stage afraid of the Kucinich sponsored recount in New Hampshire? After all, what is the probability that the percentage of machine counted ballots could be the exact opposite of the hand counted ballots? Hand counted for Obama, machine counted for Clinton.

[Mareen]

NBC / MSNBC used to be my favorite news network. Not anymore!
By deciding who I want to hear in the debates took away from my FIRST AMENDMENT. Goodbye!

[Don Parks]

Prediction: NO elections in 2008

Here is how it will come about:

1. Time magazine, December 17, 2007. Page 46 "The Fort Dix Conspiracy"

+

2. e-book, www.farviewu.biz Was AIDS a terrorist act?

+

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthrax_attacks

+

4. Number of envelopes received in Presidential candidates offices with white powder (sugar?);
One group had brown powder (ant killer?) with note "Don't Bug Me"

=

NO elections in 2008

Have the American political parties set up event 4 to keep themselves in power? They know,
based on event 3, that the person(s) who send these envelopes cannot be traced. Further,
they estimate that once they get this "mailing" going thousands of un-happy Americans will
join the crowd and the mailings will get completely out of hand.

The politicians have not been talking about the REAL problems facing America today.
Look at web site www.saps08.net to see what the issues really are.

Furthermore, I predict that the U.S., under the leadership of Bush, will solve the immigrant
problem by taking over Mexico and making it a U.S. territory. This will probably happen in
late 2008.

Bumper stickers:

Confused State of America
2008 Vote for this HONEST
Politician ______________

In Washington: If is smacks of
morality or common sense its a
matter of religion!

For President in '08
__ None of the above.

[JAM]

MSNBC, NBC & GE should be banned from ALL of our households! How can they justify excluding Kucinich for low results in Iowa & New Hampshire, then turn around and include several Replubicans who didn't even participate in Iowa & New Hampfhire such as the single most divisive ex-Mayor in New York's history. The same one that against ALL advice positioned our emergency response compound at one of the most high value targets in the city. The same man who marrried his cousin, publicly cheated on his wife and whose own children despise him.

[Moxley Mahkba]

This was a travesty...Truly disgusting.

The reason for this was so transparent and had nothing at all to do with how the candidates finished in Iowa...

This was strictly about keeping out a man who is going to speak truth to power, answer questions honestly, and put forth a truly logical point of view that is uncompromised by outside influences.

In order to keep the other candidates from looking like obvious shills they had to block him.

Had they allowed Kucinich up there it would have exposed rational viewpoints, he would have discussed things that divert from the mindless drivel that the other corporatist DNC stars constantly regurgitate....basically, if you are GE (a defense contractor lets not forget) you don't want someone who is going to provide that much truth and freedom right up next to the controlled candidates spouting their usefless catchphrases and "staying on message" - it would have made it so obvious that Kucinich is for real and truly cares about the constitution, the middle class - and the future of this great nation; which is currently becoming an authoritarian fascist nightmare...

[SweetiePi]

This democracy is rotted through, Kucinich and Dr.Paul are being frozen out because they arent masters of double speak.

Its over, im never voting for the lesser of two evils because you end up with EVIL!

Hillary is UNACCEPTABLE!
Obama is nearly as flimsy as kerry
Edwards is linked arm in arm with globalists
Romney is a complete joke
Guliani needs to atone for what he did to our firefighters in NY
McCain is a total shill
Huckabee is a complete joke and a nutty pretend religious guy

Kucinich and Dr.Paul are the only choices

[mollybeepers]

Alright- where can I get a list of shiny plastic crap made in China --OR-- stuff I might actually want but will now do without. Who's got the list of MSNBC advertisers? I can't watch the station to find out without getting sick.

Shame on the other candidates for even participating. Election reform... after I'm elected the old way- with money.

[Tess]

As a Ron Paul supporter, I can honestly say I know the frustration that the Kucinich supporters are feeling. What can we do to stop this from happening? Well, do what the Ron Paul supporters have done, boycott, write letters to editors, and do not support NBC or Foxnews or any of these networks that blackout candidates. If you have stock in these corporations dump it now, don't wait, get them where it hurts the most, which is financially. These mega media war machines have already selected their candidates, it is up to each individual to do the research, and think for yourselves. Do not allow these networks to do this kind of junk without letting your thoughts on the matter go unheard, stop being sheep.

I am thankful for people in the media such as Andrew Malcolm who on occasion gives me the opportunity to voice my opinion, and thoughts. Kucinich, and Paul supporters do not give up. These two candidates are the only ones with integrity and principles running for President. The media does not want the voices of truth to be heard, instead they want the polished and fake politicians on stage to belch out more rhetoric and fake promises. No offense Obama fans, but he will be a pawn in Washington, as well as to the special interests groups/big corporations. Clinton has way too many strikes against her, she is corrupt, and the proof is easily attained with little research. I won't say much about Edwards, because I sort of like his southern appeal, but he is not Presidential material.

On the Republican side Ron Paul is Hope for our Country, and the only one on the Republican side that actually will use and follow our Constitution. Romney and McCain are just more big government spenders, war-mongering politicians. Huckabee does not represent the conservative, small government platform at all, he is all about RELIGION. Giuliani & Thompson just got thumped by Ron Paul in the Michigan Primary. It was nice to see Mr. 911 get beat by the true conservative, Ron Paul. "The Meek shall inherit the Earth", I think about that every time I see these big media war machines, and our current Administration stomp all over our Constitution, and I think "We The People, will have our Country back". Our time is now to vote with integrity, and not rely on the garbage we are fed by the media or our government.

Go Paul!, Go Kucinich! Go Constitution! Go We The People!
Thank you Mr. Malcolm for letting me have a voice.

[Don Parks]

Prediction: NO elections in 2008

Here is how it will come about:

1. Time magazine, December 17, 2007. Page 46 "The Fort Dix Conspiracy"

+

2. e-book, www.farviewu.biz Was AIDS a terrorist act?

+

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthrax_attacks

+

4. Number of envelopes received in Presidential candidates offices with white powder (sugar?);
One group had brown powder (ant killer?) with note "Don't Bug Me"

=

NO elections in 2008

Have the American political parties set up event 4 to keep themselves in power? They know,
based on event 3, that the person(s) who send these envelopes cannot be traced. Further,
they estimate that once they get this "mailing" going thousands of un-happy Americans will
join the crowd and the mailings will get completely out of hand.

The politicians have not been talking about the REAL problems facing America today.
Look at web site www.saps08.net to see what the issues really are.

Furthermore, I predict that the U.S., under the leadership of Bush, will solve the immigrant
problem by taking over Mexico and making it a U.S. territory. This will probably happen in
late 2008.

Bumper stickers:

Confused State of America
2008 Vote for this HONEST
Politician ______________

In Washington: If is smacks of
morality or common sense its a
matter of religion!

For President in '08
__ None of the above.

[Marilyn Griffith]

I decided to spend more money and upgrade my cable programming so that I could watch the debate on Tuesday night (01/15/2008). I feel cheeted. Dennis Kucinich is the only truthful candidate. I'm boycotting NBC and voting for Kucinich!