local politician will be coming to my political science class on Thursday

[notadmblnd]

She's a republican candidate for U. S. House of Representatives. I'd like to ask her a question about her position on this. But I'm worried that this question makes sense.

In light of Attorney General Gonzales testimony to the Senate Judiciary committee this past Tuesday where he testified that there was no declaration of war, only authorization to use military force. Does this change your view on whether the president, under the "War Powers Act", has the authority to engage in the operation of surveillance programs of the American people?

Does this make sense? Do you think it will be viewed as a trick question? Do I need to reword it? Should I be able to explain the correct answer to the question? Anyone, please feel free to critique and provide input. Stop me if I'm going to look like a fool if I ask this in class.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I think it is a darned good question

just as it stands, but don't expect her to give you a straight answer. I remember in '76 when I got a chance to ask Democratic presidential candidates a question-it dealt with working with congress. The candidate who replied said condescendingly that Democrats always could get along with Democrats. I wondered what party he was a member of, and if he knew the political history of his party! But it was an easy way for him to slide by the question. The fellow lost the nomination to Jimmy Carter, who, if memory serves, had problems with the Democratic Congress.....

[notadmblnd]

3. I expect a stammer from her, but I do think her answer should be no.

I always get hung up on articulating what I want to say, and the more I think about it, the less confident I become. Thanks for the input.

[blm]

2. It's appropriate. I have long requested news reporters to dare ask GOP

candidates this question:

Why should any voter entrust the future health of their children and grandchildren and the wellbeing of the planet to any lawmaker who believes in and through the policies they vote for seek to encourage an End Times scenario where most of the earth is left to devastation, suffering and death?

[notadmblnd]

4. I don't think anyone would answer that,

but it would be great to pose it to a candidate who is known to be a religious nut bag. I can see the head exploding now.

[Sir Jeffrey]

5. This might be too easy to dodge...

I assume you want to have a "gotcha" moment with this politician, right?

All she has to do is say "I didn't see Gonzales' testimony so I can't comment on that specific point."

Then she'll either give a generic "I support the terrorist surveillance program..." for all the typical reasons you hear on the MSM...or she'll just move on.

Try asking a broader question that she can't dodge.

"Do you support the president when he claims that he can bypass federal law by authorizing secret domestic wiretaps on US citizens without obtaining a warrant? If so, would you be willing to afford a democratic president, like Hillary Clinton, those same powers?"

As a side note, I've always wanted to ask a politcian this question:

"Less than 10 percent of the suspects held in Guantanamo Bay have been charged with anything. Some of these guys were taken into custody by the US Govt when they were 14 years old. DO you support changing the status of any of these individuals, either charging them with crimes and affording them the due process of law that our soldiers fight and die for, or closing the facility entirely and returning these individuals to their homes?"

[notadmblnd]

6. both are excellent questions, thank you.

nt

[notadmblnd]

7. yeah, I do kind of want a gotcha moment

so how is this?

Do you support the president when he claims that under the "War Powers Act", that he has the authority to implement secret domestic monitoring programs of American citizens? If so, would you be willing to afford a democratic president, like Hillary Clinton, those same powers?

And also, are you aware that Attorney General Gonzales this past Tuesday stated in testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee when questioned by Senator Feinstein, that there was no declaration of war, only authorization to us military force?


Does knowing this change your views?

I don't know if I'll get to ask 3 questions but I'm going to try to get the first two in.

[Sir Jeffrey]

8. Yeah, I like the way you worded the first one...

but I think after you ask the first one you probably won't get the chance for a follow up.

Be aware that you might be losing your "A" by doing this. I did something similar in undergrad and it cost me an award, internship, and an "A" in a class I know I aced.

Let us know how it goes if you decide to do it.

[notadmblnd]

9. I think if I've blown my A, it happened today when

I turned in my opinion paper on another issue (won't know for sure till tomorrow). Hopefully the sheeple in class (yes, there appears to be many of them) will continue their current practice of not participating in the discussion, and they'll have no choice but to call on me.

[Sir Jeffrey]

10. If you have a prof who is worth a shit...

they will at least respect you for speaking up in class. Lead the discussion once a week. Challenge your fellow classmates on specific points. Watch their heads explode when you hit them with facts. Good profs love it when students argue.

As a side note, I heard all kinds of BS about how liberal colleges are today. I got to school and couldn't believe how conservative everyone was. I didn't necessarily expect 10,000 Che Guevara's, but I felt like the only socialist on campus. I can't tell you how many times I sat in upper level poli sci classes dumbstruck over the number of freeper-types. As you know, it is kind of hard to have a serious policy discussion with Seniors who think the Earth is 6000 years old.

[notadmblnd]

11. I know what you mean about the conservatives

but to tell you honestly, the political discussions in my english comp class have been more lively than the discussions in poli sci. Imagine my surprise.