Now the Paul Bearers Have Something to Be Mad About

The Paul Bearers were in a frenzy last week following reports that their Savior had been cut from a Fox News debate which had actually been cancelled three weeks earlier because it would conflict with an ABC News debate on the same day. Fox has decided to go ahead with a meeting of the candidates in Fox's election bus, but has declined to invite all of the candidates. Fox is not alone in trimming the candidate roster:

NEW YORK (AP) — ABC and Fox News Channel are narrowing the field of presidential candidates invited to debates this weekend just before the New Hampshire primary, in Fox’s case infuriating supporters of Republican Rep. Ron Paul.

Fox News says it has limited space in its studio, which leaves Rep. Ron Paul out of a weekend debate. The roster of participants for ABC’s back-to-back, prime-time Republican and Democratic debates Saturday in New Hampshire will be determined after results of Thursday’s Iowa caucus become clear.

Fox, meanwhile, has invited five GOP candidates to a forum with Chris Wallace scheduled for its mobile studio in New Hampshire on Sunday. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee received invites, leaving Paul of Texas and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California on the sidelines.

The network said it had limited space in its studio — a souped-up bus — and that it invited candidates who had received double-digit support in recent polls.

In a nationwide poll conducted December 14-20 by The Associated Press and Yahoo, Thompson had the support of 11 percent of GOP voters and Paul was at 3 percent.

The Paul Bearers will have a legitimate gripe if their guy finishes in the top 5 in Iowa, and if that happens, Fox might even squeeze another chair into the bus. However, it's up to the Paul Bearers now if they want their guy in future debates. They can't just wave signs on the street corner anymore - they've got to go vote and get their fellow Paulians to join them.