Do the Presidential Candidates Have Time for Ten Questions?
By bluegal Sunday Dec 09, 2007 9:10pm
...for decades, presidential campaigns have been the exclusive province of a small bevy of ad makers and strategists who profited from the illusion that they, and only they, could foresee the electorate’s every reaction to everything. The results of that period are now in: a marked decline in voter participation, an uptick in cynicism toward public service and a heap of critical policy challenges that have gone unaddressed.
The print edition continues this thought:
So you're running for president? That's terrific. As you know, the New York Times Editorial Board is involved in a project along with the nonpartisan group techPresident to use the Internet to expand voter participation in the 2008 presidential campaign. In the last two months, citizens posted video questions aimed directly at all the candidates. Then they voted to select the best questions (see www.10questions.com). And now the candidates have begun posting their video answers. We hope those candidates who haven't responded can find time before Dec. 15 to take this opportunity to a) listen to citizens asking unmoderated questions and b) speak directly to those citizens. To join in, please visit techPresident.com or 10Questions.com.
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Very insightful. Let's not forget, however, Obama's complete disrespect for Americans about a month ago. Obama diggs on Americans Hillary as well when she wouldn't answer questions we were all wanting to hear. Hillary
I think Edwards is the only logical choice in this regard.
Thoughts anyone?
Question #1: Will you do the opposite of what George Bush would do on everything?
'If you were a candy bar, what kind would you be?'
'Do you have the hots for another candidate? Who?'
'Do you take your pants off one leg at a time?'
'If you don't make it as president, what will you do?'
For Obama...How come you think you don't have to show up to vote?
You were elected as a senator to pass bills that benefit the American People. But you have missed more votes than any other senator except Tim Johnson who was seriously ill. So why would we want a person as president who was absent most of the time. We have had one of those on vacation most of his tenture, bush.
Question:
Given that outsourcing cannot reasonably be claimed to create jobs in America or contribute to the public commons, are you willing to support a tax on corporations that outsource?
To Hillary:
'Do your pants have the zipper in the front?'
To Rudy Giuliani:
'Will you take direction from your religious leaders if you are president, and if not,
how will you say 'No' to La Cosa Nostra?'
How can you all look at your selves in the mirror?
To Huckabee:
Do you get down on your knees when you pray to 'god' to make you president?
And are your knees close together or in a 'wide stance'?
To all:
'If you weren't a hypocritical crook, what would you be?'
Do you ALL agree, 'It's all about the money?'.
I wonder if they have a patch to cure Rudy's new wife smell addiction
Did anybody notice Hukabee's dodging #9?? Sometimes un-answers speak louder.
A question that would determine whether Huckabee is sane enough to be President:
Mr. Huckabee, consider the following scenario. You are president and you are alone in the oval office. God appears to you and commands you to nuke Saudi Arabia. No, you can't ask why. It is his will. Do you obey?
If you will not raise taxes or reduce the Federal Govt. to a size that can be drown in a bathtub, how will you lower the Federal Debt? What income group or age group will be forced to pay for the huge tax break given to some of the wealthiest people in the history of the world?
mr huckabee some one hits you on your head with a bone from a brontasarus and its stamped five million bc, will you be stunned more from the concushion or the fact the bone is five million yrs old?
I went over and looked at those top 10 questions and frankly, they aren't the most important questions at all. In fact, I'm not sure the answers to some of them would make a bit of difference in any of our lives. I was disappointed.
Ali @ 17:
I thought moct of them were relevant. The question on Marijuana was not too important for me or the question about spending in gov. What I really would like to know is how are they going to fix what bush and reagan f**ked up
Huckabee is the only one with the guts to answer directly so far.
I'm conflicted. Do I cheer that someone got the ball rolling or do I make fun of him because I happen to disagree with his views?
What is your best argument for impeaching the current President?
I think it's time we forget about Bush. Obviously the guy is unimpeachable, and after 7 years he has not had to own up to anything he has done. I think that we should forget about him (for now, when he is out of office they should nail his ass to the wall).
Since the American people can STILL make a difference depending on who we vote for in the next election, I think it is HERE where we still have a chance at fixing the mess this country is in.
In the spirit of this endeavour, I hope that all progressive blogs will do their duty and be as critical, as honest, and as forthright with the democratic candidates as they are with the GOP candidates. It is only by being honest and critical of ALL candidates can we ever hope to make a change. By simply ignoring all the bad things the democrats have done for the sole reason that you do not want to look like you are supporting those you hate is the cheapest, dirtiest, and most irresponsible thing anyone in the news or blogosphere can do.
I will make the first attempt at this, I hope more people will follow.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-earmarks10dec10,1,6...
Hillary Clinton is not innocent. She is not "good". She is evil to the core just like 99% of the rest of the candidates. She is corrupted. Now before the lions come of the den to attack this just think what would you say if this story were to be about a GOP member. Would your judgment be unbiased? Be honest.
Just another way for corporate America to frame the debate. Why only 10 questions for instance? I think we have a lot more problems going for us than stopping at 10 questions.
Why are the questions ranked? Is one topic more important than the other? Will there be a 'BCS' series of the top 10 questions? Will the top 10 be broadcast on Letterman?
Who decides the top 10? Why do they get to do it?
Hell, I've asked 7 questions about the top 10 already.
Again, our national debate is framed for us in the pretty packaging of "public service" - bah, humbug.
10 measly questions for such an important job, cheesy. Makes me lose respect for the whole system.
tyree @ 16:
lulz rofflemow!
Question to Mayor Giuliani:
Giuliani with Peter Jennings of ABC: "We were in a building in which we were trapped for about 15 minutes ... we set up headquarters at 75 Barclay street ... which was right there ... we were operating out of there when we were told that the World Trade Center was going to collapse in 10 or 15 minutes....."
WHO TOLD YOU THIS, SIR??
Problems with the site
1) Not able to post comments (like I am doing now). Why, exactly, do people believe a question was not answered, and give use the chance to post links to prove or disprove each statement that is made.
2) Do not allow users 'dis' (thumbs down) a question. In an election you are not aloud to vote down a candidate. Why allow someone to cancel your vote.
3) Provide transcripts for both q and a, we all have a lot riding on this election and it is important that we clarify exactly what is said.
I like the idea of this, but I think the most important questions are asked.
1. What will you do to help fix our health care system. Do you support universal health care, as the other 39 industrialized countries have?
2. What do you intend to do on the situation in Iraq?
3. How do you intend to deal with Iran?
4. Do you support the restoration to the right of habeas corpus?
5. Do you believe in the use of torture? Do you think water boarding is torture?
6. Will you appoint an Attorney General that will make decisions on the basis of the law rather than political agenda?
7. Do you think warrantless wiretaps are good for America?
8. Do you think the United States should abide by the law of the Geneva Convention?
9. Will you work to restore our constitutional rights?
10. What is your energy policy. Do you have a plan to lower our carbon footprint, while providing a long term plan for cheaper renewable energy?
Give me 20 and I can include 11. Do you support Campaign Finance Reform?, 12. Should we Raise the Social Security contribution ceiling to help save it?, 13. Do you think Bush and Cheney have committed impeachable offenses? 14. How would you handle the immigration issue. 15. Do you support NAFTA? 16. Do you believe in the separation of church and state? 17. Do you think the country is safer now because we invaded Iraq? What would you do to insure US security? 18. Do you think it is good for America to let a few individuals own all of the media outlets in America, therefore enabling them to push political agendas to the public? 19. Should we remove federal marijuana laws and allow states to individually determine legality of it's medical use? 20. Would you return to a tax system where the rich are again paying their fair share?
Those are the 20 questions I would like to see answered by all the candidates. Dennis Kucinich has an answer to all of them, and I am confident that if you could compare his answers with the answers of the other candidates that he would be the clear choice as our next president. The problem is number 18 above....the media outlets will not let him get his message out. and number 11 - he doesn't accept money that attaches strings that go against his principles. Please join me in the struggle to save America.
Dennis Kucinich 08
My Question…
Health care costs are out of control in this country and Americans pay twice as much as any other nation on earth for health care, but the care is not twice as good statistically as the other countries. Over 400,000 American families go bankrupt every year due to a medical crisis in the family and 75% of them had health Insurance.
These health care costs are projected to double in the next ten years and premiums and co-pays are increasing at an alarming rate. Right now 47 millions aren't covered by health insurance now and with costs spiraling out of control many more will not be able to afford coverage in the future.
Now in 1993 the House, Senate and White House were controlled by the Democrats. Two Bills were introduced... Universal Health Care and NAFTA...
The Lobbyist for the Pharmaceutical and Insurance industries bought off those corporatist Democrats and Universal Health Care that Americans desperately needed went down in flames and NAFTA, which sent millions of jobs overseas and Americans didn't need was passed.
So my question for the candidates is how much money have you taken from those same lobbyist who killed health care reform in 1993?
Here’s the answer for the two top Democrats:
So who is in bed with the lobbyist from the Insurance companies and Big Pharma this year? There they are folks... Clinton is #1 and Obama is #2
Health Services/HMOs: Money to Congress in 2007
#1. Clinton, Hillary (D) $246,480
#2. Obama, Barack (D) $175,093
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=H03&recipdetail=M&...
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products: Money to Congress in 2007
#1. Clinton, Hillary (D) $274,436
#2. Obama, Barack (D) $266,384
http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.asp?Ind=H04&cycle=2008&rec...
If you want Universal Health Care and real health care reform... If you want things to change in the beltway and have your voice heard over the big money interests...
You won't get it by swapping a crowd of Republican corporatists for a new crowd of Democratic Corporatists!
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