Rick Perry Bungeeing His Way to Zero, But CNN Letting Him Debate Anyway

CNN decided Wednesday to let Rick Perry into its upcoming Republican debate in South Carolina January 19, despite the fact that he technically doesn't qualify for it, since his polling average is not that much higher than the average of people who aren't even in the race anymore. "Oh but he's fun!," they cry, and this isn't so shocking from the network that tries to please everybody by pleasing no one.

“He has met the criteria," a CNN spokesperson told Talking Points Memo, and when TPM followed up asking what exact criteria that was, they didn't not "immediately," and may not ever, receive clarification. CNN's eligibility requirements for the debate are pretty clear-cut, and Perry just doesn't make them.

Since it will be awhile until we can experience the anti-anxiety and comedic power of Perry's performance, TPM also has this delightful slideshowof "things that are less steep than Rick Perry's drop in the polls." Specifically, the roofs of historic buildings, with Perry "posing" in front of those buildings, looking like the confused paper doll that he so often appears to be. [TPM]