Hey all you S.C. Dems - make Colbert your write-in candidate!

What a crock of crap, Colbert deserves just as much of a chance as anyone else in this country. Our two-party system is a joke

It's not over yet.

WRITE HIM IN, SOUTH CAROLINA!!

That's your Democratic party. A party of exclusion.

So much for that "anyone can run for president" malarkey.

NO DEEP-POCKETS, NO CANDIDACY!

Viability seems to be a rather vaguely-defined term, if Gravel, Kucinich, et al. are included while Colbert is not.

Despite being both a democrat and a fan of Stephen Colbert, I am glad the SC DNC declined to allow him onto the ballot. We do a good enough job of making the political process in this country a joke. Vowing to crush Georgia if elected….cmon! Make the punchlines…dont be one!!

Dear citizens of South Carolina,

Due to the decision by State Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler and friends we the people of these United States of America have decided that your state no longer meets the requirement of being part of the union. We therefore request you pack up and join with the government of Mexico!

Who do you think you are! How dare you require a standard of national viability!

Kucinich and Gravel meet the standard of national viability? Really?

Sigh.

All I have to say is that if given the choice between Hillary and Roody (currently the two front runners) I'm doing a write-in vote of Colbert!

This guy needs to go away. This is not time for people playing games. That's what is wrong with Hollywood…everything is about acting to them.

Whose afraid of the BIG BAD WOLF??

Wow. C'mon Dems, he would have really encouraged young people to pay attention to politics. Oh well.

To be fair, Colbert would only be taking votes away from another potential winner. For example, I would hate Stephen Colbert forever if he kept, say, Barack Obama from winning South Carolina and it was that win that kept him from beating Clinton for the nomination.

If he's not going to run for president, then he shouldn't be allowed to run at all.

NOT COOL! I wanted Colbert to be our next president…I am sad now.

Joke's over. I love Colbert, but seriously, it's time to get back to making sure every American votes wisely for a qualified candidate (yeah, right!).

Sad, Sad day. I would have voted for him. He reminds me of Robin Williams Character in Man of the Year. Colbert was not dry, didn't shy away from topics, and was ready to slap Clinton and her cheerleader husband back to Arkansas. It is a shame, he would have brought some humor into a boring presidential race. I am sick of hear about "big balls" Clinton and "soon to come out of the closet" Obama. And realistically we are going to lose again to "big oil" republicans.

This is bull. Colbert your more than welcome to run in Michigan.

Cheap shot, Dems! Too bad the Repubs didn't do the same to W in 2000.

This is good news for any person with half a brain. Colbert was going to most likely split the votes away from Ron Paul.

Fine, I'll just write him in when my state has its primary

Viability?! Colbert polled better than Gravel, Kucinich, and Richardson in South Carolina!

To Tim from Madison, WI

Couldn't agree more than Gravel and Kucinich have no place on the ballot. After countless debates I still have next to no idea who Mike Gravel is or what he stands for. As for Kucinich, I wish a UFO would just abduct him already. Didn't Perot pull that back in '92?

My "Democratic" party of inclusion? Do you happen to know why he didn't register as a Republican? It was because the GOP filing fee was 15 times the Democratic one.

But I guess anyone can drive through a gated GOP community, as long as the car is nice enough, you are white, and a security guard opens the gate. Puuh-leease.

Seems like the Dems are pretty humorless themselves, but they fairly applied the criteria based upon Colbert's own statements.

GOOD.

I think they were afraid Colbert would actually win. I think he should run as an independant.

Colbert in '08!!!!!!

You'll always be President in my heart, Stephen. Call me.

This is lunacy! Why can't Colbert run as a Democrat? His idea's are just as viable as the rest of the Democratic candidates. Colbert is also about as genuine as John Edwards and as truthful as Billary. A real Colbert run would be great for this country.

Expect a massive write-in campaign the likes of which we have never seen.

And just 5 days ago Tim Russert showed a NATIONAL poll on Meet the Press with Colbert polling 5th, ahead of most of The Pack of Democrats who also have no "national viability". Maybe if he won South Carolina we could draft a movement to take his candidacy Nationwide??? In my humble opinion he offers a lot more truthiness than most candidates, either Democrat or Republican.

To Mike in Cleveland Ohio; How is it you believe our two party system should allow anybody to run for President(our nation's highest position)? Even though, there is still a selection process for applicants at McDonald's… Now I know why your state was responsible in selecting George Bush for a second term. Your mentality in Ohio says it all. Try reading about the facts once in a while.

While this is a shame, I can't wait to see how this plays out on his show tonight.

I could understand the viability argument a lot more if they had also rejected Kucinich and Gravel, who at this point are as much of a joke in the race as Colbert.

Way to be a buzzkill, South Carolina Democratic party!

Neill C.:

cost to appear on Democratic party ballot in SC: $2,000.

cost to appear on Republican party ballot in SC: $38,000.

The more important point, though, is that if there is a "party of inclusion" in this country, it's certainly not either of the two that control and therefore win our elections.

Back in the day, most candidates would only run in a few states to test their viability. In the past, some presidents didn't even campaign in early primary states. Bill Clinton skipped the Iowa Caucass, as did JFK. So I don't buy the national viability test.

#1 - It's Democratic, not Democrat. "Democratic bid." Secondly, it's our party. We get to decide who is nationally viable. Kucinich and Gravel have at least tried to reach out to a national base. Colbert said he'd run in SC. That's not viable for President of the United States.

I am a Democrat and a Colbert fan; I also had the experience of living in South Carolina for two years. South Carolina was right in keeping Colbert off the ticket; it's about time they did something that the rest of the country won't laugh at them for and then place them at the bottom of some national education poll.

Maybe they have enough comedians on the ballot?

So what they think Steven Colbert is the only JOKE on the ballot, or do they think that he is the only JOKE that knows he is Joking.

Thats is your local Democratic Party for ye, So SC write Stephen Colbert in and i'm sure he'll be funnier than Dubya

We got Bush as president - the cruelist joke of all, and Colbert can't have fun with the system?!!

Funny, the "system" had fun with Valerie Plame, and that was alright?!

It would have been interesting to see how's Colbert's conservative views fared on the Democratic ticket. Unfortunately we'll never get to see.

Say it ain't so!
But Mike Gravel made the cut? Thank goodness. There is still SOME justice in the world.

South Carolina voters should write-in Colbert… in both primaries!-

Wow, that's the most ridiculous thing I've read. I guess they don't want him to steal votes from Obama and Clinton. Because seriously, if on that ballot, he would have finished in the top 2. Yeah, for American politics! Another great shining example! I will be writing him in in Ohio.

If only he had claimed to smoke Marlboros,back the tobacco lobby and go to Nascar races,he would have made it!

just another case of the man keeping people down. does he get his money back that he paid for the paperwork he filed?

On behalf of Dems in South Carolina, I apologize for the action of our Executive Committee to keep Colbert's name off of the ballot. It would have been much less of a story for him to be on the ballot and get 0.01% of the votes.

In a related story, Strom Thurmond has decided not to run for re-election in 2008.

Honestly, it seems that by denying Colbert the chance to run, the SC Dem Party pretty much made his point for him.

Oh, cmon Neill from AL. You're not really going to claim that THIS makes the Dems an exclusionary party?! I can only guess by the phrase "your democratic party" that you really are serious.

While I've loved this entire Colbert nacho-cheesy campaign, I think the Dems have every right to exclude someone who really isn't trying to win the presidency. I wish the fun could have gone on a bit longer (and maybe it will aiming for that write-in vote).

Thankfully someone has made some sense in this appalling situation. Why do we need some narcissistic, egocentric idiot running for president when the political system here is already a joke? He may be a funny guy but this is all about boosting his ego by attracting more attention to himself and not caring about serious issues in this country.

With all due respect to Steven Colbert, I never understood why he was trying to run in just one state and in both primaries. I guess he can get the write-in votes if people want to be funny.

When will all of you people get it? Stephen Colbert isn't really a Democrat. He's in opposition to the Democratic Party while pretending to be on the ticket; in an effort to splinter the Democrating voting power in S.C. Elected Democratic officials aren't falling for that B.S. Neither should anyone else…..

What a bunch of idiots thinking this was legitimate. Let's not make the process more of a joke than it already is. He's got his own tv show and he can have a mock election or whatever else he wants to do. But leave the real political process up to the big boys, not the infants. I just lost a lot of respect for Colbert. Doubt I will continue watching his tv show.

The democrats just made a joke out of themselves from a joke. That is just completely sad. Stephen Colbert should run as an Independent, suits him better.

What a giant loser the S.C. Democratic Party is. Right now I'm hating Joe Werner almost as much as I hate our vice president. I hope Colbert wins as a write-in and stick it up their anus.

What a crock! Mike Gravel is viable, but Colbert isn't? Colbert was out-polling several of these supposed candidates already! Hey kids, you can be President too…provided you have enough money and can meet easily manipulated, exclusionary guidelines.

I hope Colbert announces his run as an independent candidate tonight.

I did the Matrix on the people running. Very few of them matched my views. So I am going to write in Colbert. This whole process is a joke and I am fed up.

This is absurd. The ability to get your name on a ballot should be an incredibly easy one. There shouldn't be any "board" or "group" that decides which names can and cannot be on a ballot.

Colbert should submit his name nationwide now and actively run and actually steal votes from other candidates.

The stuffyness of the old boys club in politics is sickening, as it seems clear that if they could see beyond his satire, they would see how he is more along the lines of what the Democratic party was before Bill Clinton was co-opted. However, it is too bad that the overwhelming support for Colbert is over-looked, as he would be the only real Candidate who wouldn't keel over to the ruling corporations. National viability seems to mean viability for the Democratic (and obviously Republican party's) boss, the purchasers of the campaign, the ones whose funds place them in office. It's too bad that the Fresh breath of American politics - the honorable Stephen Colbert- was stomped out by the one dimensional party of the Democratics. Run as an independant Colbert, we all love ya.

I'd love to see him run as an Independent. A joke he may be, but I'd rather see a candidate that's dishonest to make people laugh than one who's dishonest to make people rich. I wouldn't expect him to win, but he could continue Perot's trend of making third-party candidacy nationally viable, and hopefully continue Perot's other trend of pulling independents' support from the Republicans. (National polling, bizarrely, indicates that in a three-way race between Clinton, Giuliani, and Colbert, Colbert would reach about 12% of the vote, most of it coming from Giuliani.)

I agree with the decision. Colbert did say it was a joke.

Booooooo! Write-in!

Colbert to change the one dimensional, two party system of American Politics. Start as an independant, then go to on to form your own party Colbert- The National Party of Truthiness seems to be a good fit.

Oh NO! Now no one's going to steal the young vote from… well, nobody.

Colbert '08! Until someone finally decides to stop spouting their dribble and listen to the people. Politicians have to stop being politicians and actually be the representatitives of the American people.

A sad day for the concept of Democracy.
Thank goodness for the independent ticket or write-in.
He ranked much higher as an independent than as a Democrat anyways.

Dems, don't write him in. Let the Republicans do that.

Remember: Rasmussen did a poll of a three-way Hillary-Giuliani-Colbert and found Colbert in double-digits nationally! Link.

WRITE HIM IN!!! Make a difference!

I really don't understand all this outrage about Colbert's candidacy. Is it a joke? Certainly. Does it hurt anyone? Certainly not. South Carolina is unlikely to make-or-break any candidate (coming after Iowa, NH, etc, and before Super Tuesday), and polling suggests Colbert would draw most support from unlikely-voters and independents anyway, not the primary-voting Democratic base. As for making a joke out of the US political process, the horse is out of the barn on that one, guys. What could be funnier than touting "one man, one vote" democracy while sticking to the anti-democratic Electoral College, anyway?

This would make perfect sense to me if Mike Gravel hadn't made the ticket. Gravel's run is a much bigger joke than Colbert's. The man is SENILE.

Absolutly disgusting that he would not be allowed to run…

Our government is a joke and that is the point he was trying prove. He is smarter than any of the democrats up for election because he understands the ridiculousness behind the whole process. I agree with people's reservations about his claims that it is all a joke, but he has more credibility than these people. (Once again, the people have a say in this democratic nation we live in!)

As a Democrat, I don't want somebody to take away votes from "real" candidates, be they Democrat or Republican. Perot might have been a fringe candidate, but at least he took it seriously. Colbert running would be like when Kinky Friedman ran for governor of Texas. Idiots voted for him, and we got stuck with Rick Perry again.

Well, at least the democrats won't have to worry about upsetting their buddies and suck-ups Colbert and John Stewart. I'm sure they'll make some lame joke at the democrats' expense before turning thier full satire on the President and GOP candidates.

I'm suprised the democrats turned on one of their biggest supporters, though. What's next, cancelling appearances on the Daily Show?

cost to appear on Democratic party ballot in SC: $2,000.

cost to appear on Republican party ballot in SC: $38,000.

cost to appear as a write in: free.
cost to see who tallies up Colbert: PRICELESS.

not cool

National viability?? Colbert lacks national viability? How about Dennis Kucinich? Mike Grvavel, who is he?? Maybe the Dems need to come up with a more viable solution all together. Quite honestly, neither of the latter have a chance. If they fear mockery of their party, they need to get ALL new candidates. They are taking a gigantic risk. In fact, the only way I see them losing is by bringing the candidates they have now, popular and otherwise. I'm all for seizing opportunity, but don't blow it. We could have four maybe eight years of Rudy G. Democracy is in trouble.

He SHOULD SUE in good ol american fashion. WRITE HIM IN SC DEMS.

He paid the $$$ He should be on the ballot. Pretty simple.

Why the hell do they have to pay $20,000 for each candidate going on the ballot? More and more our gov't shows that money, not the American people, makes the world go 'round.

You know why they don't want him running? They don't want him WINNING and beating out anyone who is more popular.

Colbert is a viable candidate. I would vote for him.

The South Carolina Democrats lack a sense of humor. They remind me of Republicans.

Thank you South Carolina! At last Texas is not the state with the dumbest politics. I have been so embarrassed by Bush, Tom Delay, Halliburton, the Jack Abramoff Indian Casino Scandal, etc. but finally I can sit back and laugh at another state.

Anybody know how the process of formally running as an independent in South Carolina works?

That's your Democratic party. A party of exclusion.

Posted By Neill C., Montgomery, Al : November 1, 2007 3:30 pm

That 35 grand the GOP wanted up front doesn't make them seem very inclusive, Neill. In fact, that much dough just to get on the ballot keeps out all but the well-heeled candidates that the GOP seems to love.

At least when Pat Paulson used to run, he ran under the banner of his own party - the STAG party….

It's too bad the SC dems didn't see that the Colbert glass as half-full. He has a creative and ultra-hip way to get into the race, and perhaps traditional party people don't get it.
Give him a chance SC dem party! Nobody cares about any of the traditional candidates, Republican or Democrat. Stephen is a person who could energize and get this country back on track! John Best
State College, PA

I agree it was a joke, but the real reason they wanted him off the ballot was they were scared he might actually do well

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A "Tip of the Hat" to the 13 SC Dems and the party's Executive Council; with one stellar vote, you've managed to make yourselves the real joke; you're right up there with my state's legislature!
Re comment that "That's what is wrong with Hollywood…everything is about acting to them." THAT'S why Colbert AND Stewart are on the EAST COAST.

what a childish move.

Colbert for President of the United States! He would be the best canidate for the office and also a true American hero! God bless America! God bless Stephen Colbert! America loves you Stephen Colbert!

Way to go SC Dems…

I'm sad to admit I am a Democrat today.

I'll be writing in Colbert for my primary, and the national election.

Was looking foward to the Doritos Campaign Bus…

Thank you Democrats for making some sense. This guy would have made a joke of our political system.

Write him in.. It would make the voting more interesting.

Kucinich is a long shot? Hmmmm am I reading the national polls incorrectly? Last I saw, he was 4th nationally, 2nd in a California straw poll and 1st in the DFA poll….Can't the media get this right?

Anyone remember Pat Paulson from "Laugh In"? His candidacies were hilarious. I love the fact that Colbert is mocking our rapidly degenerating political discourse. I'm not so sure he should actually be filing as a candidate, however.
http://www.newsprism.com

Write him in ! Write him in!

I like how Republicans rail against the Demcorats for not allowing Colbert on the ballot, yet not a single one of them stepped up and offered him the $38,000 to appear on the Republican ballot.

At least he was given a chance with the Democrats.

"Hello pot? This is kettle calling. Am I getting through?"

People saying that Colbert was a viable candidate are joking, right? He could be polling 100%, but if he says he's not going to run in any state other than S.C., that's not viable. Come on.

its all about the money factor to win the president of the United states thats sad.

After reading how many of you who would actually vote for Colbert, I'm no longer surprised why this country is so screwed-up. The criteria for chosing a President is more than a popularity contest. Americans need to get serious about our leadership. Grow up!

Good thing Colbert is not allowed in. He is not a nationwide candidate, and is not running as a person, but as a character. Gravel and Kucinich are both running nationwide campaigns, unlike Colbert. Kucinich, also, last election received the second highest amount of delegates for Dems (after Kerry).

Yes, apparently he is not a good enough Cackler.

I don't think Steven would make a good president, but he should be able to run since he appears to have a lot of support. I really wanted to see this play out…

He should not be running. He does not know how many counties are in IA.

Tony P. Newark, California

Comparing the selection process of the president to the selection process of a McDonalds employee are two very different things. Here are the differences:

1) Potential McD employees don't have to shell out $2500 in order to apply for work, I would think this is obvious.

2) The age limit for POTUS is 35, plus you have to be an US citizen by birth.

3) You insult the integrity of the McD employee by saying that their job is similar to the POTUS.

I'm sure there may be a few other requirements, but my point was plain and simple: all Americans should be afforded to right to run for president. No one should have to pay some "handling fee" or an "initiation fee" for joining a political party ballot. Though I do see a valid point for a minimum number of signatures, I don't think that is an unreasonable requirement.

I take offense with the assumption that I helped elected Bush into office. Tony, you make a lot of assumptions without asking any questions. The truth is that I’ve NEVER voted for a republican and I don’t foresee a time when I will any time soon. If you really are a Democrat, like you appear to be, then I’m surprised you would resort to baseless attacks without knowing the truth.

I always try my very best to post the truth on these forums (minus the political spin), and to accuse me of anything but the truth is a challenge to my character that I will not allow without a debate.

Colbert is on TV daily talking about issues of the united states … How much more visibility do you need? WRITE HIM IN!

I would like to list the presidential candidates as they best would fit in the presidential administration as Department Heads, Secretaries; regardless of party affiliation, but as I do not know the Candidates well enough to suggest such: I will omit.

This is the purpose of the State Separate Electoral College, a limited number of people who can become informed as to who the candidates are.

For Mr. Colbert to be a write-in candidate it is required that he still be listed as a candidate for a serious acceptance after the fact of election; the fact that a Presidential ballot should be hand written is beside the fact. A separate party title is not required for an independent’s status.

Mr. Colbert should gain a high profile job which is not accounted as entertainment; the recent Wrist Strong Campaign as a campaigning representative philanthropist is just a start.

The popular vote does not matter and polls represent little; the Electoral College. Endorsements matter only in party and in events of a required tie breaking.

The Party is polled and only represents a Nomination; if Mr. Colbert is serious for the Presidency he only needs a regular appearance on the affiliate Jon Stewart show to suggest what he would do as President, or have a segment in which a ‘guest’ ask him on his own.

I'm no fan of the democratic party, but you can't reasonably expect them to take this crap seriously. If you want him on the ballot, you can drive down to SC and canvass for the 10,000 signatures.

Yeah write in Steven Colbert on the ballot for the primaries.

I am still writing him in on the presidential ballot

This guy needs to go away. This is not time for people playing games. That's what is wrong with Hollywood…everything is about acting to them.
Posted By Tony, Alexandria, Va : November 1, 2007 3:38 pm

You're aware that Colbert has nothing to do with Hollywood, of course.

Does anyone else feel weird that other people are telling us who we can vote for?

I hate you guys, please let him run, or else…i hate you guys

What's with that picture of Colbert, CNN? He looks like someone just ran over his dog or something. Cheer up Steve! America still loves you.

Since when do the RNC and the DNC get to pick and chose who gets on our voting ballots? A lot it seems in the past 40 years since they have hijacked our elections and bushwhacked our country. This whole mess reeks with fraud and vote tampering. Thank God I'm a life long independent or I would be royally mad. The nerve of that old hag and her evil cohorts to think they have a right to decide for us. Those contempt-able people were never elected to speak for anyone much less all of us. Just like their organ harvesting of prisoners, the FYI deprived fools in South Carolina will mot likely ever know how they are being violated with Uncle Fox running the sordid crap they call news around here. Yes, Mr. Colbert can and I hope he will run on the Independent ticket. If he does, he has my vote already and as soon as South Carolina outlaws preacher political persuasion in her churches so will most others. This is no longer a free country folks, so forget everything you were ever taught about democracy and equal opportunity, it does not exist in South Carolina. Which means it's time for another revolutionary war to regain our civil rights again.

This is dissapointing, Colbert would make a wonderfull. I have never heard of most these presidential candidates. I guess South Carolina is a PLUTOCRACY!! Just like the rest of the nation!

Kucinich and Gravel are certainly NOT viable, but they're on the ballot.

ELECTIONS ARE A SCAM!!!!

This was a mistake by South Carolina Democrats. Everyone knows this was partially a joke. But the joke was, you have to kowtow endlessly to even be allowed on a two-party system's ballot. You have to impress party bosses and play party politics to be the leader of America.

This is not democracy. This is a two party system.

The Democratic party walked right into the joke without knowing it. I will rethink voting for them this year (of course I will make my judgement on other criteria, but this is a massive failure of imagination by both parties).

This coming election is a very serious matter. America does not need a comedian making a mockery of this election…the stakes are too high this time around. We already have too many clowns seeking the nomination.

What the hell, South Carolina?

He was ahead of Kucinich, Gravel, and Dodd in polls. The last of which might I add, had less than 0% of the vote. The fact that someone like Colbert can pull ahead of them with a 2.3%-4% is amazing. That shows that he's doing something right, whether its for a joke or not. He should be the write-in candidate, at least for effort's sake.

Colert should mount a massive campiagn in South Caolina as a write in canidate and see if he can really muddy up their little panel.

CNN's subtitle to the picture at the top: "Colbert's presidential bid is likely over."

Says who???? Obviously he can be a write-in candidate. In every state. But I guess CNN would like to close the book on this guy so they can pander to Obama, Clinton, Guliani — the three middle-of-the-road stooges that don't take decisive positions on any issue and won't change anything in this country. The election has already been decided and it's loathsome to think how Americans are prodded to feel 'inspired' by the whole process.

Wake me up in four years.

Looks like a Republican Decoy of some sort. Went on shows defaming the political system under a democrat veil: With his comedian type of demeaner.

Wait… who are Gravel and that other guy?

Forget S.C., the Colbert Nation should write him in on every ballot for every election, primaries and the general election. Mickey Mouse usually gets quite a few votes, but this time everyone can write in Colbert.

They're just afraid that Colbert will win. Get out of the 1800's and embrace a breath of fresh air such as a man who is un-tainted by corrupt politics.

So much for a country of free elections and a party that included all. Im out what a waste, like the last 8 years wasn't enought to explane the problems. The free world is gone.

colbert gravel kucinich paul nader [conyers?] united for truth elicit fear smear blacklist.

honesty compassion intelligence guts…

Oh, this is ridiculous. I've read several comments stating how it's a good thing that Colbert wasn't allowed on the ballot because this is such a serious election. How funny.

Most people are sick of politics, many don't like the state our country is in, and for many it isn't even a topic for discussion. People are tired of the president and congress.

By making a mockery of the political system, not only was Stephen Colbert bringing attention to how idiotic the 'powers that be' can be, he was also making it humorous. When something is funny, people are willing to talk about it. When people talk, solutions are found.

Our political system is turning into a joke with or without the help of comedians. At least with a comedian running, more people would actually look up and pay attention.

All you South Caroline Residence out there, Make Stephen Colbert your write-in canididate! He may not have any expericance in politics, and I feel that our country needs a change, and some humor.

Stephen, can I call you Stephen? I don't care what those losers say…you're the winner in my book!

COME TO CANADA! we know how to treat you right

Aren't the primaries held to determine who the most viable candidate is?