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Hack the Debates!
Well, not exactly. But I did get this email recently from a friend with connections:
The next GOP debate is January 28th, hosted by Fox News. I’ve been asked by a friend at Fox for suggestions for questions that have not been asked a GOP debate yet.
Possible topics:
Foreign policy: Russia, Iran, China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, North Korea. Trying to ask non-terrorism specific questions.
Domestic policy: Federalism, Fiscal Policy, Taxes, Obamacare, Jobs, Federal Spending, Entitlements, Size of Government
Any suggestions I can pass on most welcome and appreciated.
So, Ricochet? Any specific questions? Help a brother out.
Published in General
What would be your approach to the Saudis, Jordan and the Emirates to attract their participation in your strategy to oppose [Islamic State/ Da Esh/ I.S./ISIS]?
How would you keep this approach from alienating the Turks? How would you keep this approach from alienating the Iraqi government in Bagdad? How would you keep this approach from alienating the Kurds?
Great idea. I have a question for Trump…what did you offer Sarah Palin for the endorsement?
No seriously (well that was sort of serious), I’d like more answers on rebuilding middle-class jobs: especially white-collar tech jobs that have been impacted by lower cost off-shore offerings and production jobs that have been impacted off-shore and now, robot-replaced jobs.
How are we going to get people working again and not just part-time?
Obama has recently begun the process of “normalizing” relations with the Castro regime. What will you do to either stop this process or how do you expect to be able to use it to force necessary change in the regimes policies and attitudes.
Would you be willing to redraw the borders of Syria and Iraq in order to create one or more nations from their territory as part of a solution to the ongoing conflicts in those two nations?
Where do you expect Vladimir Putin to strike next?
Do you support the moves by the Armed services to increase the role of women in combat?
Knowing that Colorado is a purple state, what is your position on Colorado’s legalized recreational marijuana law and how does it fit with your view of Federalism? Ask anyone but Chris Christie. We know where he stands and he won’t win Colorado.
Under what circumstances do you believe a president requires either a Declaration of War or AUMF from Congress?
Questions about positions on regulation, economic freedom and freedom of contract. How does the candidate intend to make his case for opportunity while the Democrats are promising all sorts of things? How can a case be made for economic growth over taking and redistributing? The candidates might want to address the ethical considerations as well as the affects upon society and human behavior which are deleterious to a strong, caring society.
Some of you have said that you would require tech companies to provide the government with back door access to their encryption services, so we can better monitor terrorists. Given both the Sony and OPM hacks, do you believe the gains in anti-terrorism will outweigh the loss in security?
Assuming that you are a believer in small government, Which agency would you defund on your first day in office?
What is the purpose of the 4th Amendment? To what extent does it apply to digital material?
There are a great number of Americans who are socially liberal but fiscally conservative. The Democrats are socially liberal but fiscally profligate. Many Republicans are socially conservative and fiscally profligate, and many others are socially and fiscally conservative. Except for Rand Paul (who has fallen back in the polls despite his appeal to young persons), why aren’t Republicans seeking the socially liberal, fiscally conservative voters/
I can’t for the life of me think of any question I want asked that will any way tell me anything about any of them that I don’t already know.
Maybe: blue pill or red pill?
Or: Why do you hate Mexican women?
What’s your plan for the first 90 days in office?
1. Who’s on your short list for appointment to the NLRB? What change to the Taft-Hartley Act, which created the current structure and responsibilities of the NLRB, will you make?
2. The EPA’s Inspector General has just white-washed the EPA on its handling of proposed copper and gold mine near Alaska’s Bristol Bay. As you know, Inspectors General are allegedly independent inspectors since they work for the boss of the agency or Department they’re charged with inspecting. What specific steps will you take to ensure that Inspectors General truly are independent of the agency or Department they’re charged with inspecting?
Eric Hines
How about, “What will you do to reassure Israel that we will continue to stand by and support them, now that we’re giving back millions to the Iranians?”
I have a question! Quit havin’ so many debates! That is my question.
Maybe it’s too early in the process but I am interested in what kinds of people these candidates would surround themselves if elected. What qualities will they look for in their advisors? Any thoughts on crucial Cabinent posts? This is the sort of information that says a lot about a candidate’s priorities and judgement.
Mr. Trump, will the casino on the Mexico side of The Wall take dollars as well as pesos?
What are your criteria for Supreme Court nominees?
When it is time to make adjustments to big entitlement programs, whose ideas have the greatest appeal for you? Where are you going for the best thinking on resolving the looming financial crisis? Have you heard sound ideas that would still provide a secure safety net for America’s most vulnerable persons?
Why is our corporate tax rate the highest in the OECD? Why would our corporate tax rate be higher than more “progressive” countries like France?
If taxes don’t incentivize behavior, why do people work less when they make more for doing less?
If half the country pays no net income taxes, and of the half that does, the top half pays 97% of all income taxes collected, how could that be changed to be even more “progressive”?
Why does Congress spend money on cowboy poetry festivals? Why would that be considered a valuable and reasonable expense made on behalf of someone else’s labor?
Why do politicians talk a good game on cutting the budget and boosting economy, but the federal budget goes up annually, like clockwork?
How did we manage to virtually double the nation’s debt in less than 8 years? Were we not working hard enough on increasing our debt for the last 200+?
Why are Congressional re-election rates so high?
What are the last three lies that you’ve told and to whom specifically?
What is the single most significant obstacle standing in the way of African American progress today?
How will your administration seek to improve the lives of African Americans, particularly those residing in our inner cities?
How and when did you decide to become a Republican?
The price of oil is dropping to lows not seen since the 90’s, are you worried about the viability of American oil production? Will you consider taking steps to protect domestic oil production? If so what steps?
Who is a greater Geopolitical threat, China or Russia?
Are you willing to allow Assad to remain in power in Syria in order to forge a temporary alliance with Russia to destroy ISIS?
Is it too late to destroy ISIS?
Will you use the newly acquired bully pulpit to pressure Congress to abide by Obamacare just like their constituents?
Don’t ask them that!
I think this is a pretty good list.
Constitutional Affirmation:
1) Will you take the oath with complete candor?
2) Will you obey, protect and defend only the laws of this “Republic” that are in conformance with the US Constitution i.e. “preserve, protect, and defend” or look to change it by going around it? (i.e. would you trade liberty for security?)
3) What is the highest Constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government?
4) What provision of the Constitution allows the general government to be involved in private enterprise?
5) What does the word “militia” in the constitution mean?
6) How would you treat laws, such as gun control, the Patriot Act – now called the Freedom Act – which affect the 2nd and 4th Amendments?
7) What constitutional provision specifically guarantees the people protection against the imposition of a police state or “Martial law” in this country?
8) This country’s monetary, debt, and banking systems have slipped into a state of chronic potential crisis, which threatens a nationwide collapse, will you support those States that adopted alternative gold and silver currencies pursuant to their reserved constitutional duty in Article I, Section 10, Clause 1?
9) Do you agree that civil asset forfeitures and IRS claims of “structuring” are Unconstitutional without due process of law as clearly required by the 14th amendment and elsewhere? If so, would you immediately sign an “Executive Order” ending such extortions?
Economic Policy:
10) Please identify some of the economists and philosophers whom you have drawn and relied upon to develop your guiding economic and political principles; and which economists and philosophers do you reject?
11) Would you be in favor of replacing the present income tax with a flat (income) tax or a flat (fair) tax on consumption and ending the IRS?
12) According to surveys a majority of Americans want to cut the federal deficit, yet 58% do not want cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. How would you propose to cut the deficit and limit the size of the federal government in this environment?
13) What expenditures would you ask Congress to actually cut (not simply reducing the rate of increase) from the federal budget to significantly lower the deficit as soon as possible? What Agencies and Departments (e.g. Dept. of Energy, Education) would you fight to eliminate?
14) Our country has $200 Trillion in purported unfunded liabilities. Under what Article[s] and Section[s] of the Constitution are these liabilities purportedly legal? And if legal how and when will they be funded?
Foreign Policy:
15) Do you agree with Agenda 21? And should the United States leave or otherwise limit its participation in the United Nations?
16) Will you adhere to the strict Constitutional provisions for going to war (which last occurred on December 8, 1941) or continue the “Police” action method? Thereby, how would you proceed to deal with ISIS?
Current Law:
17) What legal, social and economic problems does illegal immigration create for this country?
18) If elected, will you initiate an investigation and report to the public why and for what purpose the DHS purchased 1.5 billion 40 caliber “hollow point” bullets – outlawed internationally by the Hague Convention – which it purportedly distributed to nearly all government agencies?
19) With the major banks larger than ever, if one of them fails, according to “Dodd Frank”, will they be bailed out?
20) Do you agree that the Trade Bills are “Commerce [contracts] with foreign Nations”? If so, are Trade Bills, which Congress gives fast track authority to the President to negotiate in “secret”, constitutional?
21) In your opinion, are Edward Snowden and the other six whistleblowers (who exposed to reporters the Secret NSA spying program, and based on the judgment of the courts that the Government acted “illegally” in disregarding the 4th amendment of the Constitution) traitors or patriots?
There is a precedent for federal intervention in times of economic turmoil dating back to the Great Depression and more recent examples in banking and the auto industry. Many cities and towns are facing bankruptcy across the country but there exists a mechanism in Chapter 9 to allow for debt restructuring. The recent debt crisis in Puerto Rico foreshadows the potential insolvency of states due to debts and unfunded liabilities. What is the role of the federal government in providing financial assistance for insolvent states… or would your administration bail out California or New York?