# Assuming the first debate happens, 15 questions from CSM **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 25, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185 "2008-09-25T18:07:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/1 "2008-09-25T18:07:26Z")
The Christian Science Monitor has put together [15 questions](http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0925/p08s01-comv.html) they like to see the candidates answer in the first debate. I love these questions. They are thoughtful and require real knowledge without being so nitpicky that the answers are meaningless. My particular favorite: > [@](#): > > 1. Twenty years ago, Islamic terrorism was a sleeper issue. Some people warned about it, but few paid much attention to it. Same thing for climate change. In your opinion, what is today’s sleeper issue? Are these good questions? What questions would you ask? How would you like these questions answered? ---
**Author:** ![Claptree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Claptree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claptree)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/2 "2008-09-25T20:56:02Z")
Good questions, indeed. In addition to their questions I would like a question about combating HIV/AIDS in Africa and something more specific regarding future energy production in India and China. ‘Would you be willing to offer technology for cleaner energy’, or something. I can’t really say what answers I’d like, so I’m not much help in the debate, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/3 "2008-09-25T21:00:55Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > How would you like these questions answered? Honestly. Without thinking about how the answer will affect their electability. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/4 "2008-09-25T21:08:03Z")
Those are some damn hard questions. I like to think I’m well versed on most of those policy issues, and I’d have trouble thinking of snappy answers to most of them. Hell, even if they were posted on the Internet I’d probably slink away, think for two days, and then post. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/5 "2008-09-25T21:38:03Z")
They’re great questions that the candidates will never answer. They have their prepared answers, and they’ll find a key word that prompts that response. Ask: > [@](#): > > 1. Twenty years ago, Islamic terrorism was a sleeper issue. Some people warned about it, but few paid much attention to it. Same thing for climate change. In your opinion, what is today’s sleeper issue? … and they’ll respond with their plans to fight Islamic terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/6 "2008-09-25T21:44:57Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > and they’ll respond with their plans to fight Islamic terrorism. I think you meant Islamic _sleeper_ cells 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/7 "2008-09-26T16:48:30Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. And why do you prefer a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gases when that approach has not worked in Europe – whereas a carbon tax in Sweden did help lower greenhouse-gas emissions? Doesn’t this beg the question as to whether or not carbon taxes are preferable to cap and trade? ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/8 "2008-09-26T16:51:25Z")
Mr. McCain, what cheap attention grabbing ploy do have up your sleeve for Monday? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/9 "2008-09-26T17:34:30Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Doesn’t this beg the question as to whether or not carbon taxes are preferable to cap and trade? Yes. Just like the question that assumes it is the job of the US President to “solve” the “Palestinian problem”, and the one that assumed it is the job of the President to reduce poverty in other countries. And I thought this one - > [@](#): > > Some experts contend that the US should address the security fears of Iran, Russia, North Korea, and China in order to prevent these countries from becoming threats to others. Do you agree with this approach? is another of those “gotcha” questions. If you ask for clarification, the press corps can claim that you don’t know foreign policy. And I know how I would like to hear this one answered - > [@](#): > > Name three things the United Nations does well. [quote=A Reasonable Candidate] [ul][li]Talk[_]Spend money[_]Hi, Opal![/ul][/li][/quote] Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/10 "2008-09-26T19:12:49Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Doesn’t this beg the question as to whether or not carbon taxes are preferable to cap and trade? “Begging the question” is not the same thing as “having a premise.” The premise of the question is that the candidate supports cap-and-trade instead of a carbon tax. In this case, the premise is correct: both do support cap-and-trade, although McCain is a little [foggy](http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/6/16/124515/466) on the meaning of the concept. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-the-first-debate-happens-15-questions-from-csm/465185/11 "2008-09-26T19:49:55Z")
“9. Is it possible to greatly reduce illegal immigration from Mexico by helping improve the quality of life in that country? How would you do that?” I like this one. Yes, it is obviously possible. But how would we do it? More importantly, if improving the quality of life in Mexico keeps good workers in Mexico instead of coming to the US, do we really want to do it? But then, I’m all for relaxing immigration standards. For someone who wasn’t, this could be an interesting question.