EDITOR'S NOTE: Are FOX News and the Iowa Neocons sending a warning shot across Ron Paul's bow? Given the visceral hatred FOX News has for Ron Paul, and given how the following requirements came out on the same day Ron Paul's online campaign raised over 4 million dollars bodes ill for a Ron Paul appearence on December 4th.

The Republican Party of Iowa announced today that it will hold its presidential debate at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines.  The event, to be held the evening of December 4, 2007, will be the first debate in Iowa to be televised by FOX News Channel this election season, as well as the first debate sponsored by the Republican Party of Iowa.  

Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Ray Hoffmann said, "With the caucuses less than a month away, our December 4 debate will be very telling to Iowans and the nation.  We are thrilled to be having this event in central Iowa, and right in downtown Des Moines which will be the epicenter on caucus night." 

The debate will be limited to those candidates who have satisfied the following criteria:

1.  Announced a formal campaign for President: and

2.  Filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission; and

3.  Met all U.S. constitutional requirements; and

4.  Garnered at least 5% of the national electorate as determined by an average of the most recent national telephone polls of registered voters conducted by non-partisan public opinion polling organizations leading up to the registration deadline as determined by Fox News Channel and the Republican Party of Iowa or garnered an average of at least 5% in the most recent polls of Iowa voters conducted by the American Research Group and the Des Moines Register.

Source