Colbert is amazing. He probably got more younger americans thinking about the election than anyone else. Could this be the entire point? Colbert and Jon Stewart should be awarded for brining issues to the ears and minds young Americans and helping to bring down the old and boring stigma

Spoil sports...the establishment does not like the bright light that Colbert's lampooning shines on them.

Interesting that the dems wont let him run. Guess they are chicken he would steal votes from Hillary. The repubs were asked about it and said all he had to do was pay the fee to get on the ticket. Seems like the dems have this gotcha rule that if they dont like you they can not put you on the ballot. Since Colbert was polling higher than some of the bozos the dems let in their debates how can they justify not putting him on the ballot?

Cobert (a true half-wit) is simply a low-brow, cheap version of Jon Stewart (a true wit). He appeals to those with the same third-grade mentality that like the buffoon Conan O'Brien, who NBC wants to replace Leno in 2009. Colbert and O'Brien - and especially Couric - reflect the continual, and now accelerating, dumbing-down of television, in particular, and US society, in general. Many are not amused.

Laugh all you want, but Steven Colbert would have taken away real Democratic votes. If you thought Ralph Nadar knew how to spoil an election, Steven Colbert would have been spoiler-in-chief for Hillary or Obama or Edwards. It's not funny if it really affects the election in a chaotic way.

How dare South Carolina deny a citizen of the U.S. the right to run for president of the United States. That is unconstitutional!

The Gods have spoken - no to Georgia peaches! The peaches are not sweeter than S. Carolina.

I had no idea it cost that much to apply for to be president. I really had no idea you there was a fee to candidates at all. $35,000. As of the 2000 census, the per capita income was only $24,000. So your average South Carolinian can't afford to run for the GOP in his own state. I think that is a story that should be told. Maybe Colbert was trying to point out this inequity in a round about way?

That is too bad they rejected him -- where did Paulsen or Nadar sign on when they ran -- Anyhue, Steven already stated on his show this week that the GOP was too expensive and he would only seek to be on the democratic ballot.

Politicians have no sense of humor

For those here suggesting that Colbert would have taken away votes from mainstream candidates if allowed to run as a Democrat, your understanding of the U.S. presidential election process appears lacking...

Remember, we have an overwhelmingly two party system where a presidential candidate from each of the two major parties is nominated to run against one another. Colbert is not running as an Independent, ala Nader. Nor was he running to get real votes. The idea that Colbert would be taking significant votes away from Clinton, Obama, Edwards, etc, is absurd. What, as a write-in candidate in the general election?

Remember, he's a comedian, a brilliant satirist. He's lampooning the system in its entirety and how people relate to it.

Oh, what the hell. I'm so sick of all the candidates I think I'd vote for Colbert.

So much for democracy.

I thought he should run as an independant anyway...and just because his name isn't on the ballot doesn't mean that people can't vote for him as a write-in candidate, and not just in South Carolina.

Hey Alex H, you go after Colbert for 3rd grade humor? He provides perhaps the most intellectully stimulating satire this country has seen. I get the feeling your 'intellect' comes from the classy FoxNews...from the people who brought you "BigFoot" yesterday on their main page..ALL DAY.

Stephen Colbert is what Jon Stewart was and has surpassed that. Colbert is what he is supposed to be; a "TV personality" with obnoxious sarcasm and a light-hearted arrogance that attracts a large fan base. As for O'Brien, his ability to make fun of himself, as well as his sarcasm, has put him in line to replace Jay Leno (quite an honor). This is not dumbing-down of TV. This is entertainment and people who don't take it for what it is end up with their Hanes in a wad and not enjoying what is their for them to enjoy. Obviously, all politics aside.

Colbert is brilliantly funny but has no business running for President. Many here make the point that he would have garnered more votes than some of the candidates -- that is probably true but it would have been the votes, not of individuals who care about our country and our place in the world, but who think it is all some giggly, high school joke, the political equivalent of toilet papering a neighbor's yard. Most informed Americans are quite happy that these individuals, whose political knowledge is derived solely from comedy shows, remain apathetic and don't vote.

Mike Gravel is a viable candidate.

The only reason he's not made out to be is because corporate media doesn't want to make him look like a mainstream candidate.

But when it comes down to it, the majority of Americans agree with Gravel on the issues.

End the WAR NOW VOTE GRAVEL!

Perhaps they were afraid he'd win.

Stephen should come get on the ballot in FLORIDA...we need a candidate who's not afraid to take on Georgia!

Dennis Kucinich, who claims to have seen UFO's, is on the ballot--but the guy who leads Kucinich by 5 points head to head isn’t?
The party’s executive council voted 14 to 3 to refuse Colbert’s application for a spot on the ballot.
“The general sense of the council was that he wasn’t a serious candidate and that was why he wasn’t selected to be on the ballot,” said Joe Werner, the party’s director.

And Dennis "never mind that Syrian nuclear facility" Kucinich is considered a “serious” candidate?? Now that’s good comedy!