Talking about celebrities and politics, negative ads and the "low road" benefits no one; it seeks to discourage voters confidence in the system and, in the long run, depress voter turn out. It sparks anger on both sides, perpetuating the partisan divide and helping maintain the status quo. With that in mind, I got to thinking about the substantive questions that I want John McCain to answer; questions that would force McCain to make policy statements that would redirect the media cycle.
Although CW wisdom says that McCain is open to all questions and has actually been asked some tough ones, the reality is that his answers to an even marginally well thought question have provided some of the best examples in this entire campaign of the disaster that would be a McCain presidency, and the horrific risk involved in electing him.
So I've started a list of questions on a broad range of topics that Senator McCain should be forced to answer. Feel free to add questions in the comments and I'll put some of them in.
Foreign Policy
- What specifically would you do differently from this administration to capture or kill Osama bin Laden?
- How do you plan to work with the Pakistani and Afghan governments to secure the border of Afghanistan and decrease tensions between these two important allies?
- Beyond adding two brigades, what is your plan for future NATO operations in Afghanistan?
- Define victory in Iraq.
- Do you plan to maintain the Bush Defense Department and Department of State or would you make major changes in the leadership?
- You've said that troop reductions in Iraq would be predicated on conditions on the ground; on exactly which conditions would this decision be made and what measure would you use to judge satisfactory progress?
- How do you plan to pursue peace between Israel and the Palestinians?
- Do you have any non-military plans or ideas to force Iran to end its nuclear weapons program?
- How will your administration help Lebanon's tenuous democracy?
- Would you be willing to pursue direct diplomacy with Syria?
- What, if any, plans do you have in or for Darfur?
- What is your vision of future US/Russian relations?
- How high a priority is pursuing better and more open relations with the Chinese?
- Can you think of any US action that you would at least explore that could help the people of Zimbabwe?
- A relatively bright spot in Bush's foreign policy has been its funding of AIDS prevention and treatment in Africa, what would be your policy in this regard?
- Which, if any, foreign policy issues do you think you could pursue through diplomacy within the United Nations?
Trade Policy (I don't know know enough about this, unfortunately)
- You've said you're for current and further free trade deals with foreign nations; during your presidency, which nations would you pursue such treaties with?
- How would your economic policy help stop the decline of the US dollar?
- Would you increase funding to the FDA and other agencies in order to better test imported food and other products for contaminants? Is this currently included in your budget estimates?
Education
- Would you increase, decrease or maintain at current levels funding for the Department of Education?
- How do you plan to reverse the increasing education gap between the US and our economic partners and competitors?
- Are you in favor of funding increased early childhood education? Is this currently included in your budget estimates?
- What is your policy towards federal research funding of universities?
- Regardless of what you think the federal government's role should be in the questions, do you think children should be taught Intelligent Design in school?
Energy
- What are your plans to build the necessary energy infrastructure to achieve your goal of decreasing US dependence on foreign oil and promote renewable energy technology? Is funding for infrastructure development included in your current budget estimates?
- Within your renewable energy goals, which technologies do you think show the most promise, and what specifically do you know about how they work and what part they could play in your plan's success?
- What are the specific reasons for current or future subsidies to oil companies?
- What would be your policy with regard to nuclear waste disposal?
- With impending dramatic increases in home heating costs this winter, do you have any plans to provide Americans with economic relief?
Environment
- Is it your opinion that the federal government's official policy should be that global warming is real and a threat, and, as such, should be a priority of your government?
- Do you have plans to pursue an international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? What would you envision the framework of such a treaty would include?
- Do you believe that FEMA has been sufficiently reformed since its response to Hurricane Katrina? How would FEMA work better under your presidency than it has over the past four years?
- President Bush has listed the fewest species ever on the endangered species list, while ignoring government scientists in the process; would you continue his policy towards America protecting endangered species?
Social Issues
- As president, would you make a desire to overturn Roe v. Wade be prerequisite for consideration as a Supreme Court justice nomination?
- What is your policy towards equal pay? Why do you think women currently get paid less in the work place for the same work?
- You've said you don't believe in a quota system of affirmative action; is there any affirmative action policy that you would pursue as president?
- Do you believe English should be the official language of the United States?
- Regardless of the federal government's role in the matter, is there any gun control that you would support?
Military
- How will you work to decrease the number of suicides of US soldiers and veterans?
- Do you believe the current Veterans Administration is living up to our nation's duty to support all of our veterans' mental and physical health needs?
- You've said that you would have used more troops for the invasion and reconstruction of Iraq; as president, what level of troops would you have sent to Iraq for the past five years?
- Prior to 9/11, one of the priorities of the Defense Department was transforming America's military for the 21st century; would this be a goal of your administration's Department of Defense and in what areas do you see substantial changes in the structure, technology, combat readiness, and force projection of our future military?
- As president, would you work to close Guantanamo Bay's detention facility?
Economy
- How much impact do you believe the federal government has or can have on the US economy?
- Do you believe that more regulation is necessary within the credit and banking industry? If so, which specific regulations would your administration pursue to ensure more transparent and effective business practices?
- Do you believe Alan Greenspan was a successful Federal Reserve chairman in his final two years?
- If the economy worsens further, would you be in favor of another round of stimulus checks for lower and middle class Americans?
- In which sectors of the US economy do you see the potential to bring the economy out recession, real or potential?
- Are you in favor of government intervention to save failing banks? If so, would you differentiate between small banks and large ones when deciding on whether to grant government assistance?
- Is there any general economic theory that you guides your policy views?
Health Care (don't know enough here either)
- What percentage of income do you believe middle class Americans should pay for health care?
- Where do you see potential for decreasing health care costs and increasing the neediest Americans' access to health care?
The McCain Campaign
- Has there been any change in your policy towards employing lobbyists within your campaign?
- In what, if any, way is your campaign working to increase turnout in the 2008 election?
- Do you believe the management of your campaign provides any indications on how you would run the White House?
Open Government
- Are there any aspects of the Bush administration that you would have the Justice Department investigate as president?
- As president, would you allow high ranking members of your administration testify before Congress when asked?
- Which, if any, specific policies would your administration pursue towards greater transparency within the Executive Branch?
- Would you use executive signing statements to alter the meaning and impact of legislation?
- Would you maintain the majority of Bush administration political appointees within the federal government?