46 Comments

1. Anthony (Los Angeles):

Excellent choices for interviews! I really like this service from PJM.

Since Claudia has spent so much time reporting on the UN’s myriad failures, I’d like to see each man asked what he sees as the UN’s role in the world, its relation to the United States, does he think it can be reformed, and is it even worth saving?

Jan 1, 2008 - 8:40 pm 2. Dr. T:

As countries move from totalitarian or authoritarian regimes to more free governments, their societies may need to build from scratch legal, economic, governmental and civil society structures to support the rule of law and effective, consensual government.
Clearly just having elections does not create the deep structures of democracy that are needed.
How could the US develop the international aid infrastructure to encourage this?

Jan 1, 2008 - 9:35 pm 3. Lem:

Is there anything specific president (fill in the blank) would ask congress or via Exec order add or take away from the patriot act?

Would president (fitb) keep Gitmo open for business?
(please try to get a Yes or No)

Would president (fitb) be willing to waterboard? (PLEASE TRY TO GET A Yes or No)

Jan 1, 2008 - 9:43 pm 4. Michael J. Totten:

I’d like to know if the next president (whether it’s McCain or Giuliani or Clinton to whoever) might be interested in building a military base in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Kurds keep begging us do to this. It seems like a no-brainer to me after the political difficulties in using bases in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, but it isn’t happening.

Jan 2, 2008 - 12:25 am 5. David Thomson:

Why aren’t the candidates being asked about Rachel Ehrenfeld’s predicament? This most important issue is virtually ignored on the campaign trail. I would bet that few voters in either Iowa or New Hampshire are even aware of this threat to our First Amendment rights.

Jan 2, 2008 - 4:20 am 6. Webutante:

Ask about McCain Feingold eight years later, especially to McCain.

I like Michael Totten’s question too.

Jan 2, 2008 - 6:52 am 7. AlanC:

ROGER AND CLAUDIA, PLEASE LISTEN TO ANTHONY IN LA!!!!!

The role of the UN vis a vis the US is absolutely critical and should be followed up.

Additionally I would ask about the candidates feelings regarding the EU and ITS role in the UN. Why shouldn’t UK and France consolidate into one UNSC seat and have the fifth seat go to Japan?

Jan 2, 2008 - 7:52 am 8. MikeD:

I’m with Anthony in LA and AlanC. What do each of your interviewees think of the UN and would they support the US abandoning this failed institution. Then you could hit illegal immigration again and ask what specifically each would do to enforce/strengthen the border and existing laws.

Jan 2, 2008 - 8:12 am 9. Lem:

“a (US) military base in Iraqi Kurdistan”

If we don’t mind Turkey descending into a Palestinian style chaos, sure.

The Kurds want a piece of Iraq and a piece of Turkey for a greater Kurdistan.

I don’t think we want to get in the middle of that one.

Jan 2, 2008 - 8:25 am 10. Wellspring:

I ought to be able to think of my own question, but Michael Totten’s is the best I’ve heard and it hasn’t been asked a million times already.

With Edwards promising to cut and run no matter what if he’s elected, even with things going well now, what happens to the Kurds who we will (once again) totally abandon? For that matter, how do we get liberals on board with the war on terror?

Jan 2, 2008 - 8:27 am 11. Webutante:

Oops, didn’t read the instructions adequately….besides Totten’s question and the UN one, I would ask each of them what he thinks is his strong suit in the War on Terror, what distinguishes himself from all other opponents. Then hold each’s feet to the fire in defining himself, and not the other.

Jan 2, 2008 - 9:29 am 12. ron2112:

Greetings and salutations from beautiful, snow-covered New Hampshire! Okay, here’s my question…

“What is your position on the legal status of marijuana, and how do you reconcile that position with your position on the legal status of alcohol, given their relative dangers and/or benefits?”

The purpose of the question, of course, is to produce one of four responses:

1) Candidate endorses legalization (unlikely).

2) Candidate endorses alcohol prohibition (way unlikely).

3) Candidate exposes ignorance of the science by suggesting marijuana is a greater health risk than alcohol.

4) Candidate exposes hypocrisy by admitting marijuana is the lesser health risk, but insisting the legal status of the two substances remain unchanged.

Jan 2, 2008 - 10:19 am 13. Lost Dutchman:

How about a question about soft or non-violent jihad right here in America? American-Muslim groups like CAIR and others with questionable affiliations and motivations use our laws and tolerances to promote their ideals and influence our government and society. I haven’t heard that topic brought up at any debate.

Jan 2, 2008 - 10:21 am 14. AFinch:

I’d certainly ask about McCain/ Feingold. I’d also ask a three part question:
a)Do you believe the claims that waterboarding yielded information that stopped terrorist attacks, in one case in as little as 35 seconds?
b)If you don’t believe it, why not?
c)Assuming you do believe it, do you feel waterboarding should be legal and available to interrogators?

Jan 2, 2008 - 10:23 am 15. samaBlog:

Please ask about the DMCA and Sonny Bono copyright acts. None of the presidential candidates have been asked about these, and they are of great interest to bloggers and other online types.

Thanks.

Jan 2, 2008 - 10:29 am 16. Korla Pundit:

Mr. Giuliani and Senator McCain,

What remains at the site of the World Trade Center is a local, state and national disgrace. The fact that we have yet to rebuild the World Trade Center, and can’t even roll up our sleeves enough to build a fitting monument to those lost, is a message to the world that we no longer have the resolve it takes to get the big jobs done.

What are your thoughts on using this opportunity to show the world that we will not cower at threats from murderers and despots, and we will not simply rebuild whatever they destroy, but build it larger and better (and of course bring them to justice as well)?

The plans we’ve seen so far are on track to send the opposite message.

As President, will you have the leadership and determination to inspire Americans to reject the mundane and the mediocre, and accept nothing short of greatness?

Jan 2, 2008 - 10:29 am 17. clarice:

Given the ridiculous legal constraints on our ar med forces, is it even possible to fight a war? Should we make it absolutely impossible by signing on to the international criminal court?

Jan 2, 2008 - 10:35 am 18. spikethedog:

Don’t plead thin-blooded to us, Roger.
We KNOW you went to college in NH.
And that was before that Global Warming thing kicked in. *
Wear a hat!
As a suggestion you can buy one with the original Indian logo

http://dartreview.com/store/

And would you please ask the candidates how they feel about the WGA strike?
(Love to hear that answer….)

*Windchill tonight in Boston will be -6.
Wear two hats.

-PAL, Dart. ‘66

Jan 2, 2008 - 10:44 am 19. armour995:

Given the crash and burn suffered by the recent legislative proposal on illegal immigration strongly supported by Senator McCain, what are your policy positions / plans relative to illegal immigration, including potential spillover to terrorism issues, importantly as compared and contrasted versus Fred Thompson’s policy declaration?

Jan 2, 2008 - 10:48 am 20. Peterike:

Events during the Bush administration have clearly shown that the entrenced bureaucracies in the State Department and, especially, the CIA, have been strongly opposed to the President’s conduct of the war on terror. Elements in the CIA, in particular, have aggressively worked to undermine the Commander in Chief. Unfortunately, the Bush administration has done little to address this shameful situation.

As President, what would you do to return these organizations to their original purpose as an arm of the administration rather than an opponent?

(I would hope each candidate’s response includes the phrase “house cleaning”).

Jan 2, 2008 - 10:55 am 21. JE:

In your lexicon, Senator McCain, waterboarding is unequivocally torture, even when used sparingly and only against individuals who do not belong to any recognized army. Therefore, how come you do not condemn the deliberate killing of hundreds of thousands of German and Japanese civilians by American bombers during the Second World War? If waterboarding 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is somehow a stain on our image, then, applying your line of thought, what does Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Tokyo, and Dresden say about our nation?

Thank you.

Jan 2, 2008 - 11:03 am 22. lplimac:

What would the candidates reactions be if after being elected Iran announced that they would be restarting their nuclear program and concentrating on producing weapons grade plutonium? To follow up on an answer that mentions sanctions, is there a case where the candidate would consider military options?

Jan 2, 2008 - 11:10 am 23. Godzilla:

Ask Giuliani what he plans to do to solve the illegal immigration problem.

Jan 2, 2008 - 11:19 am 24. Stoptaxes:

ROGER AND CLAUDIA,

Please ask both the following:

1. When will you close the Borders and finish building the fence?

2. Will you grant Amnesty to millions of Illegal Aliens?

3. Senator Thompson has proposed a two tiered Flat Tax. Governor Huckabee supports the FairTax. How would you reform the tax code and could you get the legislation through Congress without Earmarks?

Thanks.

Jan 2, 2008 - 11:53 am 25. motionview:

Please ask Sen McCain if he is willing to admit he was wrong and is now willing to denounce Campaign Finance Reform as state regulation of political speech. It’s OK to be wrong sometimes, it’s just not OK to not admit it. (We’ll take care of his wrong-headedness on immigration amnesty in the House.)

Jan 2, 2008 - 11:54 am 26. QuickRob:

I agree with Ron above about the Marijuana legalization issue. Sadly, I doubt it will be mentioned throughout this entire campaign season. It’s a hot potato with scant good to come out of a candidate bringing it up.

So here’s my question:

Dear candidate,
What is your position on the I.C.C. (International Criminal Court) and it’s implications for US sovereignty?

I think the answer to this question will let the candidate detail somewhat their disapproval of the U.N. and a reluctance to tether the US to controversial international agreements without coming right out and saying “the UN sucks”.

Jan 2, 2008 - 11:56 am 27. rrsafety:

I urge you to ask pointed immigration questions of John McCain.

I have met many Republicans who would be in favor of McCain EXCEPT that his instincts on immigration (mass legalization of illegals) demonstrates such horrifically bad judgment. And there is something about the way he panders to the MSM that makes me wonder if he will betray his “newly found commitment” to border security if he becomes President in exchange for some love from the NYTimes.

The best thing you could do with McCain is to illicit detailed answers from him regarding:
- border security
- interior enforcement
- legalization schemes

And question him further about the likelihood of him selling out these positions after an election.

Good luck.

Jan 2, 2008 - 12:22 pm 28. Joshte:

Question for McCain.
The reason for the McCain-Feingold campagin finance reform is that money corrupts the democratic process.
Senator you have been in congress for 25 years.
In that time you have never turned anybody in to the attorney general or an ethics committe for soliciting a bribe, taking a bribe or offering a bribe.
If there is so much corruption how come in the 25 years you have been in congress you have never turned anybody in?

Jan 2, 2008 - 12:32 pm 29. trainer:

All good questions.

I’d be interested in seeing a question on the 2nd Amendment…do they view it as a collective or an individual right, and are they willing to support it. Would they sign anti-gun legislation coming out of the congress?

Jan 2, 2008 - 12:45 pm 30. Gregory Koster:

Dear Mr. Simon: Here’s one for you;

What does it say about Army personnel policies when far too many midlevel officers (captains, majors, lieutenant colonels) are leaving the Army now? Pay and perks do not seem to be the principal cause for the dpeartures. Rather, there’s a perception among the departees that there’s “the Army way” to reaching flag rank, and no one else need apply. See, e.g the case of H.R. McMaster, one of the sharper lieutenant colonels in the Army who has been passed over twice for promotion, and seems destined to finish as a lieutenant colonel. You could phrase the question this way:

“How bad is the officer retention policy when General Petraeus is hauled home in the middle of the surge to attend an Army promotion board? It’s as if George Marshall cabled Dwight Eisenhower to come home in July 1944 so the Korean war generals could be selected.”

Here’s an article by Charles Moskos that will inform you quick on this topic:

http://www.fpri.org/enotes/20050407.military.moskos.newconceptioncitizensoldier.html

Sincerely yours,
Gregory Koster

Jan 2, 2008 - 1:06 pm 31. C.T.:

Question for the Candidates: Are you prepared to take on Saudi Arabia’s ideology and their money machine?

The State Department has long been under the sway of Saudi dollars, and now the Pentagon has been breached.

“Pro-Muslim officials at the Pentagon are putting political pressure on one of the U.S. military’s most important specialists on Islamist extremism, according to defense officials.

Stephen Coughlin, a specialist on Islamic law on the Joint Staff, met recently with Hasham Islam, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England’s close aide.

The officials said Mr. Islam, a Muslim who is leading efforts for the Defense Department’s outreach to Muslim groups, sought to convince Mr. Coughlin to take a softer line on Islam and Islamic law elements that promote extremism.”

“Mr. England has been a leading advocate of what critics in the Pentagon say is a misguided attempt to reach out to the wrong Muslims, regardless of their views, in an effort to counter Muslim extremism.

That approach has kept military and civilian officials from conducting much-needed assessments of how Muslim extremists are waging war because doing so would involving analysis of Muslim religious tenets, a politically taboo subject area.”

Scroll down to “Muslim Pressure.”
http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071228/NATION04/918099949/1008&template=nextpage

Saudi Arabia has spread its supremacist, Wahabbi ideology through U.S. mosques and madrassas. Thanks to Saudi funding, Middle East Studies programs in our universities no longer deal in reality. Islamic history is whitewashed and criticism self-censored.

Saudi funding supports Islamist front groups like CAIR, as well as MPAC, ISNA, ICNA, MAS, MSA.

Prince Alwaleed, whose $10 million Mayor Giuliani returned, is currently funding CAIR’s $50 million, 5 year plan to improve Islam’s image in the U.S. We know they operate through intimidation and the courts to squelch any criticism.

We have libel tourism in Britain affecting American writers like Rachel Ehrenfeld, civil rights complaints in Canada attempting to silence Mark Steyn and MacLean’s, and corporate shakedowns to silence radio hosts like Graham and Savage.

Will anyone address these issues, particularly the Islamist invasion of the Pentagon?

Thank you, Mr. Simon.

Jan 2, 2008 - 1:22 pm 32. Lost Dutchman:

C.T., I agree the issues you bring up are crucial and should be addressed by candidates for President. It’s all part of non-violent Jihad. It’s very insidious and is generally overlooked by the MSM.

Jan 2, 2008 - 2:22 pm 33. Dorthey:

I would like John McCain to talk about his stance towards water boarding. Basically, if it is beneath American to water board someone for information when our national security is at stake, because it is to degrading, then how will he use nuclear weapons when we need them? Isn’t being blown to bits with a nuclear bomb at least as degrading as being water boarded?

Jan 2, 2008 - 2:27 pm 34. Cecil Turner:

For McCain:

As you are aware, lawful combatants who follow the rules of war (for example, wear uniforms, and aim only at military objectives) are entitled to POW treatment when captured. Unlawful combatants, who hide amongst the populace and blow up civilan targets to spread terror, are subject to detention, but are not entitled to treatment accorded to POWs.

What specific treatment do you view as appropriate for unlawful combatants? Are they to be accorded status tribunals, habeas corpus, and other privileges not even allowed POWs? Or should their treatment be somewhat less considerate than for POWs, in order to discourage war crimes?

Follow-up:

In cases such as that of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a notorious war criminal involved in planning the mass-murder of September 11th, what is the most interrogation measure you would support? And would you support more severe methods in training (e.g., SERE) of US servicmen, who are routinely water-boarded? If so, why?

Jan 2, 2008 - 3:23 pm 35. Paul A'Barge:

What is it about the First Amendment that you don’t like?

Jan 2, 2008 - 3:30 pm 36. Phil Bowermaster:

Ask them both whether they support Robert Zubrin’s flex-fuel proposal as a way of getting us off foreign oil. Zubrin was featured on the most recent Glenn and Helen show:

http://instapundit.com/archives2/013576.php

along with another prominent podcast:

http://www.blog.speculist.com/archives/001577.html

Apparently a member of McCain’s staff has contacted Glenn susbequently to say that McCain is a supporter of flex-fuels. But will he sign off on a proposal to make them mandatory? And where does Rudy stand?

Jan 2, 2008 - 3:52 pm 37. NoMoreBlatherDotCom:

Here’s one for Rudy. For McCain, this is a bit out of date but a question on it placed in the past tense could still be asked: youtube.com/watch?v=H-SgYPrunPY

And, here’s one for McCain that’s probably a bit too strong for this site to consider asking: tinyurl.com/2cjo3y

Jan 2, 2008 - 3:56 pm 38. Barrett:

Roger,

I take your instructions to mean questions focused upon the War on Terror.

The War on Terror and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have mistakenly become synonomous.

First, do you agree that the Islamists have declared war on the United States? (This may sound redundant but it makes the case for every subsequent action.)

How does our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan shape your views going forward? What changes would you make if you were President?

What additional military, energy, immigration and intelligence strategies, among others, should be employed in protecting America and American interests?

If you are looking for other questions, here are a couple more.

With a $2.9 trillion budget, do you believe we have a revenue or spending problem?

Depending upon the answer, you get the follow-ups on raising taxes (what taxes, who pays, that the top 1% earn about 14% of all income and pay 35% of all individual income taxes while the bottom 60% earn 28% of all income and pay just 1% of all individual income taxes, etc.)
or what reductions in spending should be pursued.

There are lots of ways to organize these thoughts, but the subjects could keep you busy for at least a few days!

I look forward to seeing more.

PS Where is Buddy Larsen?

Jan 2, 2008 - 6:26 pm 39. jrutherford:

Questions for Giuliani and McCain

Do you think that it would you be a good idea to begin to refer to our government as a constitutional democracy? It is the Constitution that establishes a balance of powers and protects minority rights from simple majority rule.

In addition to the war on terror should we also be defining our primary moral value as equality understood as a respect for human dignity? Jefferson, Madison, Tocqueville, Lincoln, the women suffragettes, and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. all considered equality to be our primary moral value. A respect for human dignity and our common humanity is also a forward vision that at least has the capacity for accommodation in a pluralistic global community.

Jan 2, 2008 - 8:14 pm 40. Joshte:

Roger why do you limit the question to the war on terror when I never heard anyone extensively question him on his strong desire to gut the first amendment, which in the long run, a lot more important then the war on terror?

Jan 2, 2008 - 9:40 pm 41. Dan:

Roger, since you want to limit this to the GWoT (which some people above seem to have missed), let’s cut to the chase and ask about the war-ness of the GWoT.

Specifically, please ask both gentlemen:

1. How do you define “victory” in the WOT?
2. When do you think we can achieve “victory”.

As a follow-up question, you might ask them what they will require by way of sacrifice on the part of the American people to achieve victory. Specifics would be nice.

If the candidates try to leave the the time question open ended, or maybe even the definition of “victory” open ended, then I think it will be time to grill them on why the American people should follow them into vagueness. I for one am tired of the over-generalities and platitudes.

Jan 3, 2008 - 1:24 am 42. Roger:

For clarity, PJM chose to do interviews on the GWoT because we believe it the overriding subject and we wanted to go in depth. You only get so much time with the candidates – we’ve been fortunate here – and most interviews tend to jump around. We decided to stay in one place, go deep. The intention is not to trap the candidate, but to find out what he really thinks. That’s for the good questions.

See the Thompson interview linked above for comparison, if you haven’t.

Jan 3, 2008 - 4:04 am 43. SK:

We have used our National Guard and Reserve troops extensively with the WOT. I am sure you understand that many times the families are not only spread across several counties they often are spread across several states making it more difficult for the families to get support than families of full-time military. As President what would you do to make sure the families of National Guard and Reserve soldiers get the information and support they need? Do you have ideas for new programs to assist the families?

Jan 3, 2008 - 6:45 am 44. MarkD:

What, if anything, shoud we change about the war on drugs?

What, if anything, should be done about the Kelo decision and emminent domain?

What are the legitmate purposes of the Federal Government? What agencies and programs of the Federal government should be abolished, if any, and why?

What is the maximum amount of a person’s income that should be taken in taxes?

Jan 3, 2008 - 9:50 am 45. ikez78:

How would you deal with rogue elements within the State Dept and CIA that leak to the press and undermine your policies (ignoring/denying/suppressing evidence of Saddam/al Qaeda links such as found at http://www.regimeofterror.com)?

Jan 4, 2008 - 11:06 am 46. ikez78:

Peter,
Sorry I had almost the same questions as you do but it looks like McCain Feingold was repeated a few times as well, and immigration.

Jan 4, 2008 - 11:16 am

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