Wolf, before you get too excited with your ratings, don't take the credit for it. You were in the way too much of the time and wouldn't let the participants get down to it. They were the show and were actually making some points in bewteen you trying to steer things in a direction neither they nor we were ready to leave. So if you need more time than giving them one minute to answer, maybe have fewer journalists attending. And stay out of it!

What do you plan to do; Autism in this country has reached epidemic proportion?

Please ask canidates that in light of this debate background, why do they not fully commit to enforcing our immigration laws to provide more jobs for present citizens. Has the black employment rate changed in 25 years? Has the illegal immigrant employment rate changed in the last 25 years? The answer probably defines what ones position should be on illegal immigration.
Thank you

Please ask Barack Obama if he is distressed that the Clintons are running against him as one might expect the Republicans to run against him. How can one effectively respond to Nixon-era dirty tricks campaigns?

Please ask the candidates the following:

1. What's are their plans to bring peace between Israel and Palestine?
2. What will they do to improve the image and credibility of America that has been tarnished under the current administration?

Best Wishes

This is a question concerning the very basis and integrity of our government and our society. How can America be a nation of laws when it's government refuses to enforce the Immigration Laws signed by President Reagan in 1986 and President Clinton in 1996?

Most of the candidates especially Mr. McCain and Mrs. Clinton believe our immigration laws signed by President Reagan in 1986 and President Clinton in 1996 should be ignored and the lawbreakers should be rewarded for their crimes. Is this what they would have America stand for in the 21st century? The trivialization of immigration laws already on the books? A country where the Government picks and chooses what laws are enforced, while mandating that the American taxpayer foot the bill at the state and local level for the Federal Governments continued failure to enforce the laws on the books? This goes to the issue of law and fairness.

I would ask Ms. Clinton about her experience. Specifically, what role did she play in governing as first lady of the nation and first lady of Arkansas. With no technical responsibilities in these fields how does this qualify as experience. Also, if she did partake in governing, how does she support her role in pre 9/11 events. The Taliban was a notoriously repressive group of women, and yet during Mr. Clinton's presidency we continued to do business deals with them until our embassy was bombed. How much are we supposed to hold her accountable for actions during Mr. Clinton's presidency if she is counting these years as experience.

I am a mother of a child with Autism, I want to know where they stand on this issue and what they plan to do to insure that Children with Autism and Autism spectrum disorders are getting the intervention that they need. Some child that are being DX are waiting for Early Intervention services for two years. Will services be covered or will Medicaid be cut. At a rate of 1 in 150 I should hope that someone has some kind of a plan.

Mental health disorders have become one of the largest health issues in our country. Not only is there a significant lack of services available, especially for children, but medical insurance provides covers only the bare minimum. For all candidates, how would you provide better mental health care into the health care system.

Currently, 1 in 150 kids has been diagnosed as being on the "Autism Spectrum" — it is a national issue that affects all races, ethnicities, and classes.

I would be interested in learning if any of the candidates have first-hand experience with autism, including having a friend with an autistic child or a relative, or working/volunteering/babsitting experience with autistic children.

Also, since many parents have been able to "recover" their children from the grips of autism through biomedical intervention, I believe that there is a way that autism could be prevented and treated, and I would like to know how the candidates would fund autism research (if in fact they would).

Thank you,
Tori in Virginia

My son was recently diagnosed with autism. Until now I never knew that insurance companies in Illinois do not have to cover any care related to autism. And very few insurance companies offer these much needed services without being mandated to.

With the quickly increasing rate of autism there are going to be thousands of children unable to get the therapies needed to insure their ability to function as adults.

Are you willing to make laws mandating these services be covered by insurance companies?

Wolf, I would like to ask the candidates how they intend to turn around our failing educational system. Would they leave the "No Child Left Behind" policy in place or scrape it and develop a new plan? Please give specifics.

A series of unfortunate events has left you stranded, presumably for life, on a deserted island with one of the other two candidates on the stage. Which of the other candidates would you choose to be stranded with, and why?

Autism is an epidemic that affects not only afflicted but also their families and their communities. In the 70's the incidence is 1/ 10,000 and now it is 1/150. The Federal law provides protection and rights according to the IDEA Act but does not provide for any funding. For most parts the individual states have to finance the costs which means underfunding and lack of the much needed help for the students and their families. If you were elected, how would you remedy this problem?

To all candidates. Would you set up an agency like NASA that's main goal is to find a new source of energy? If yes, when.

What has happened to the separation of church and state? Why are so many decisions being religiously based nowadays?

Wolf, you should ask Hillary Clinton what she specifically means by saying that "No woman is illegal." That statement is powerful. At the very least I see it is as a pledge by Senator Clinton that if she is elected she is going to seek amnesty for all illegal aliens in our country, expand legal immigration to reunite all members of the extended families of those illegal aliens, and increase the numbers of other foreign workers legally entering America to work even further. Yet this statement could have even broader applicability if Senator Clinton subscribes to the philosophy that nations and borders are arbitrary constructs and that citizens of nations can not decide who can and can not reside in that country. 'No woman is illegal' would then mean the United States can not tell any foreign woman she can not live here. Only she can make that decision.

I think the American voters deserves a clear explanation of the views and programs each of the democratic candidates has on the subject of illegal immigration and immigration reform.

Roger Kuhlman
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Please ask Hillary: If elected President, what role will Bill play in the White House? Will he be as active as you were when he was President?

How will you challenge insurance carriers in such a way as to return health care to a system whose democratic goals help all citizens achieve and maintain health and not a profit driven commodity . What is the legislatures role ? Why not a government health care system for everyone without health insurance ?

FOR all the Candidates-both parties: How is space development and exploration contributory to the US and world, and what is your position for current and future funding, and for what purposes? (Note to Wolf Blitzer: This question is unfiltered and non-partisen to find out how much our candidates understand how space programs have contributed to our economy and the American standard of living)

Are any of the candidates intending to get rid of NAFTA?

Re: NCLB – I would like to know if any of the candidates are going to get rid of NCLB, and if not, WHY not? Also, for those who are going to keep it, yet "overhaul" it, where are you going to get the funding, how much will you allocate? How will you fund the schools?

Re: The arts in education: The unfunded mandate NCLB is KILLING public schools, taking money and forcing teachers to teach to the tests, and schools are cutting arts programs left and right. It has been proven over and over that the arts are more than beneficial to a child's education. What will you do to restore the arts programs – whether or not you keep or get rid of NCLB? Kids need to learn to think – and arts programs help them do this!!!

Re: Special Education: I would like to know how you plan to help the schools with funding for special education needs? They will continue to fight the parents as long as they cannot get the money elsewhere; our school is rural and does not have the tax base to support the huge influx of special needs children that have entered in the last 8-10 years.

Re: Autism: I have a 16 year old son with autism who might be able to go to college, yet cannot (due to the nature of his autism) take SAT-type testing. He has straight As in school with no adaptations. I would like to know how you propose he get into a 4-year college (we are rural and do not have a community college near us, and he cannot drive). It would be nice if he use his mind in a job that pays enough to support himself, and be a contributing member of society, instead of ending up living in a cardboard box.

Re: Autism services for adults: I would like to hear details about plans you have for services, housing, health care, etc. for adults on the spectrum. Many of us have no one to care for our children after we are gone, so this is important.

!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!

They want to be president of this country, right.

Ask them to tell you what disability is striking one out of every 150 births in this country today (predominantly males)?

It's AUTISM Wolf !!!!!!!!!

WHY IS THIS EPIDEMIC BEING IGNORED?????

What do they propose to stop the spread/continuation and help those already affected?

!!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!!!!AUTISM!!!!!!!

On this day of reflections on equality I would ask a question about education. Specifically ,how do we address the inequality of public education afforded to children who live in areas of poverty. As a public school teacher, I am against public funding of charter schools because I feel we need to fix our current educational system

A Question to all candidates:
The US is in need of a plan to reduce our dependence on oil. Prior administrations talk about the same approaches of conservation, ethanol solar,etc. These are good but minimal solutions. Space related technologies such as space solar energy can provide a significant impact on the problem. Will any of the candidates treat the energy problem by pursuing tecnological solutions like space solar power?

I hope this issue below gets addressed:

The question of how to handle Iraq is no longer as simple as 'Pro-war' or 'Anti-war'. How votes were cast, or would have been cast, in 2003 will not pursade me to vote one way or the other. What is each candidate's solution to ending the Iraqi conflict in such a way that will not leave the region vulnerable to terrorist encampments or our country to future terrorist attack?

How will your NASA space policy differ from the Bush space policy?

What steps would you take to help individuals with Autism. Today, 1 in every 150 child is being diagnosed, and the numbers are still rising. These children are our future and the future for them is not promising without intervention from all levels of government.

Senator Clinton: On the cover of the Jan. 21 issue of Newsweek you were quoted as having said, "I found my own voice". I can understand publicly supporting your husband's positions while he was President however, as a seven-year United States Senator shouldn't you have been speaking with your "own voice" long ago?

The diagnosis of Autism in this country has reached epidemic proportion. Parents are faced with a multitude of treatment options. However, paying for treatment for an individual with Autism is quite costly and insurance companies are discriminating against individuals with Autism by denying coverage. As President, what are you planning to do to address ending this discrimination and getting families living with Autism the help they need and deserve?

To all candidates: Where do you stand on autism I see a few candidates have a couple of sentences in the autobiography. Please tell us what you plan to do with the insurance companies to get our kids the therapy we need. My husband and I are a middle class family and we can't afford the therapy that our daughter needs. Will you designate money to this cause?

Name one thing, that, as a candidate for president of the United States of America, you would NOT do to get the nomination of your party.

To: Senator Clinton . 50 million Americans are without healthcare as you know. When you were the first lady you wanted universal health care, then went silent for 7 years. Some say the lobbyists paid many senators in Washington money to keep quiet. Is this true? Did you drop it because Washington lobbyists are that powerful?
I would like to know how Senator Obama feels as well.
Senator Edwards, I have heard you on this matter, and as a small business owner I cannot afford to pay for my employees to have health care. Making it mandatory just closes small business.

One reason for the President's initiative to go back to the Moon and on to Mars was to excite students and to encourage them to study in the areas of science, engineering and technical subjects. All of the Democratic candidates, if they have said anything at all about space exploration, have said they would curtail or defer President Bush's Vision. How will you encourage the students ? What should they strive for ?

I would like to hear every candidates plan of how they plan to reduce the 5 yr gap of the shuttles successor, especially Obama's plan to delay the Constellation program another couple of years. What are their committments to NASA and the support of science and engineering. Also ask of how they think the media portrays the space program these days. The only time that the media gets interested when there is only a catastrophe or when NASA is under somekind of investigation.

it's hard to run a country with 51%. it's even harder if you're the minority in congress. what make you, the candidates, think you can get you're programs approved. will you compromise. will you work with the other party. what can be done to improve the approval rating for Congress? the presidency? the government?

There's talk of needing a financial stimulus to help our economy avoid recession. one way, give taxpayers a rebate. another mentioned, tax relief for businesses. I wonder: whenever we hear of bridge collapes, we talk of infrastructure. many schools are in need of repair or replacement. we still have a national problem of the homeless. housing starts are low. Many jobs have been lost to other countries, especially ,manufacturing. why not take a page from the past and put the dollars into public works, whether roads,schools, housing. this might add more people to active payrolls rather than relying on unemployment or welfare AND would have a long term benefit to the country. I don't know about other people, but if i get a rebate, I'll use it to 1) reduce debt and 2) spend some for something for my house or a vacation.while that may help the economy with my spending, the result seems to me to just add to our deficit. You're thoughts?

Wolf,

I haven't heard any discussion from the Democrats about balancing the budget. Could you please ask each of the candidates their specific plan to balance the budget. How long will it take? What programs they will cut? I want specifics. Thanks

This question is for all candidates – Cancer is the number one killer of Americans. If you are elected President, will you re-declare the war on cancer that President Nixon declared and will you apppoint a cabinet-level cancer czar or Presidential commission to proactively address quality cancer care for the more than 10.5 million Americans currently living with cancer? Please provise a specific thought other than simply increasing NIH funding.

A question for Senator Clinton.
You have been running on the record of your husbands administration.That administration implemented welfare reform and NAFTA.One punished single moms the other destroyed many blue collar workers.
Why should low and moderate income people support you with a record like this?

Wolf,
As you know Hillary keeps touting her 35 years of experience. As she must be near 70, ask her what she did with the other 35. Also, really get into this whole experience thing. I don't consider her serving tea in the Arkansas Governors Mansion or the Peoples White House as a great resume. What do we really know except that she was such a polarizing figure she screwed up her attempt at creating a universal health care system. If as she implies, she ran the White House ask her why they don't open the publicly funded Bill Clinton Library and let us see some documents.

who do you think is at foult the people ar the goverment for all the foreigen cars and goods in our country?i blame the people some,i allways buy american cars to help the automakers here,what will the candidates do for the companys in the USA? thank you john from ohio

Subj: So-called 'energy crisis'. Plz have the gumption to confront this issue. On May 9, 2001, a National Press Club conference was held by Dr. Stephen Greer with 20 military, intelligence, government, corporate and scientific witnesses testifying about energy technology (ambient zero-point energy) that our gov't has known about for decades. These 20 are representative of over 400 witnesses willing and ready to testify, under oath, to Congress about this free energy.

Plz visit disclosureproject.org or videogoogle.com/disclosure project to view in its entirety. Forget, at least for now, about the UFO segment of it, that can come later, but the fact we are withholding this amazing energy from the world is horrific. And candidates are talking about more nuclear energy facilities or 'studying' ($$) alternative energy solutions. Meanwhile oil is $100/barrel and the truth is we never had to be dependent on oil at all. One asks, why did this conference get buried and barely got a mention? Think we all know the answer to that. Well, let's all wake up and demand, at the very least, that the government release Tesla's patents. I know this is sticky and dark, but if I'm going to vote for a candidate, he or she must be willing to reveal this truth. Stop global warming in a heartbeat.

This technology is breathtaking and reminds me of a segment I saw on a little hospital in Africa operating with one electrical outlet, while just down the road was a 5-star hotel with all the amenities. Senseless. So the point is, there is NO energy crisis, it is a joke on humanity. Who will step forward???
.

Do the candidates support the President's Vision for Space Exploration? Will they increase funding of NASA’s Constellation program to respectable levels worthy of the 21st century and ensure manned missions to the Moon and Mars remain the focus of the vision?

I would ask all the candidates where they stand on NASA. To what extent would their administrations commit funding? Is there a place for space exploration in your larger vision for America? For some this may not matter, but for many it is crucial. I hope someone will ask this question.

I would like you to ask the candidates whether they support a SINGLE PAYER universal healthcare system.

I believe that when people say they want change, they mean "It's time to move on and reclaim America's bright future". Electing Mrs. Clinton is a step backward, not forward. We're done with the Bushes, and we're done with the Clintons. America needs to move on. Mr. Obama, Mr. Edwards, and Mr. Kucinich, what do you think America looks like in the year 2028, just a generation from now, and what do we need to do to get there?

President Kennedy inspired this nation to explore new frontiers, including the Moon. This, in turn, inspired several generations of kids in their math and science education. The last American to walk on the moon lifted his foot from the lunar soil more than 35 years ago. Today, NASA does amazing things for less than 1% of the Federal budget. But people have not left low Earth orbit, and NASA does a poor job of articulating what it is doing with the Space Stattion. Has America abandoned the bright, shiny future (for all Americans) we envisioned when Neil Armstrong first set foot on the Moon, nearly 40 years ago, or will we reclaim this future, under your administration?

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Millions more have been displaced, and countless women and girls are being subjected to abhorrent sexual and other brutal violence. Should the U.S. be more involved in this this crisis than it is now? What would you do as president to help the people of Sudan?

Please state your position on the future of America's leadership in space, stating explicitly your views related to support and funding for NASA's current Space Transportation, Aeronautics, Exploration, and Science programs, including your views on the retirement of the Space Shuttle Program.

What will you do to promote the NASA COTS program as it fosters companies like SpaceX to shift the low level cost burden away from NASA and onto the private spaceflight market?

If elected, would you appoint Jim Cramer as Chairman of the Federal Reserve?

Wolf,

Would you please ask the candidates if they support the President's Vision for Space Exploration? Will they continue to fund NASA’s Constellation program to include manned missions to the Moon and Mars?

According to the National Academy of Sciences, the United States is falling behind a number of other countries in the education of students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. The result is a severe challenge to US leadership in a technological global economy. During the past fifty years one of the leading sources of incentive and inspiration for students to pursue those disciplines has been the civil space programs of the US, including human spaceflight programs, managed principally by NASA. All of NASA's programs are currently receiving, in total, less than seven tenths of one percent of the federal budget, and many important and exciting science and exploration projects are being under-funded or eliminated because there is little or no growth in NASA's budget. As President, how would you increase NASA's ability to once again be a leading inspiration to young students to excel in the scientific and technical sectors? Would you support growing NASA's budget to just 1 percent of the federal budget? Is that a worthwhile investment in our nation's future?

For either Barak Obama or Hillary Clinton:

Many in our nation recognize and appreciate the important role that government plays in serving as a sponsor of scientific research and technology development, particularly with NASA and the civil space program. Contrary to Republican doctrine, however, the national budget is not limitless, and activities such as this must be balanced against health care, education and other national priorities. As President, would you continue to support this Administration's goal for NASA of returning U.S. astronauts to the Moon or would you pare it back in favor of other goals, such as development of renewable energy and new medical technologies?

I would like to know how any of the Presidential Candidates will return America to a Goverment of the People, By the people and for the People

If elected, will you continue to support NASA in it's implementation of the Vision for Space Exploration (S.1281, NASA Authorization Act of 2005). If not, what would you do differently, and why?

As president, would what would you do to correct our so called, "fair trade policies"? Trade means you buy or barter for goods you cannot produce. Somehow, this administration interperted "fair trade" as The US will send your country the manufacturing jobs for an American based corporation, so that business can pay lower wages. Then we'll import that product back to the United States, with the name of the American business to sell to the citizens of USA.

Wouldn't really only be FAIR if no more than half of the manufacturing for any American company ever left the country?

Of course that business should be able to make a profit, but is that profit only possible by taking jobs away from Americans?

The savings companies like Mattel have made using these UNFAIR programs has earned huge profits for the corporate officers, but the savings is certainly not passed on to US consumers (respo9nsible for 80% of sales for Mattel toys), in the way of lower prices, but their product produced outside of the United States is not only defective, but dangerous to the health of our children.

Let's make "fair trade" deals for product that CANNOT be made in America, and not for product that wasnot only made here but kept Americans employed. Let's have policies that produce a majority of items on the shelves of stores in the United States bearing labels that proudly say, 'MADE IN THE USA".

Can anything be done to prevent Angelo Mozilo, the founder of Countrywide Financial Corp., from receiving up to $115 million in severance-related pay if his troubled company is acquired by Bank of America? Does he deserve to be rewarded for the damage his company has done to America's economy? Wouldn't that be like rewarding the illegal aliens for breaking our laws?

Will these new "reverse mortgages" be the next scam aimed at the elderly, middle class citizens. Has anyone in Congress checked to make sure this offer will not be as harmful as the Sub-Prime Mortgages written by Countrywide?

What, if anything, would you change about NASA?

Would you support a significant gasoline tax or tariff increase? This would clearly increase energy independence, while reducing road congestion, pollution, road wear-and-tear, and support for oil-based dictatorships. However, taxes are a drag on the economy, and hurt the taxpayer. To offset the disadvantages of a gas tax or tariff increase, and to make the increase politically palatable in the first place, would you fund a tax cut with the new revenue? Alternately, would you reduce the deficit, or increase spending?

Methanol and ethanol fuels show promise in delivering energy independence. However, car manufacturers have little incentive to deploy flex-fuel cars capable of running either gasoline or 85% ethanol because, even though the feature is fairly easy to implement, only a small proportion of gas stations have ethanol pumps, so consumers don't demand that feature. On the other hand, gas stations have little incentive to deploy ethanol pumps because only a few million cars, a small fraction of the U.S. fleet, support 85% ethanol. The situation is even worse for methanol.

With few ethanol and methanol gas pumps and cars, there is little incentive to perform research and development needed to produce methanol and ethanol at industrial scales. Currently only ethanol from corn is making even a moderate contribution.

How would you address this situation? Would you mandate that gas vehicles sold in the U.S. also support 85% ethanol, or both 85% ethanol and 85% methanol? Would you give gas stations more incentives to install ethanol and methanol pumps?

There's 1.5 million people already diagnosed with Autism in America. I would like to know specifically what your plans are to put programs in the community and help them get housing, support services, and jobs, let alone fund research to find treatments and prevention?

The Department of Defense used a public innovation prize competition called the DARPA Urban Challenge to develop computer-controlled cars. NASA uses a similar strategy to solve aviation and space problems with its Centennial Challenges program. The prize approach has also been used successfully in the private sphere with competitions like the one that resulted in the famous Spirit of St. Louis flight and Burt Rutan's X PRIZE suborbital rocket flight. Innovation prizes, while not a magic cure, have been shown to be productive and cost-effective compared to big government contracts and grants when applied and managed appropriately to solve certain types of difficult problems requiring innovation.

Do you support expanding the innovation prize model in government to solve difficult problems related to national security, energy, environment, space, health, science, and aviation problems?

For the candidates:

China, India, Japan and Russia all seem to be preparing to expand human exploration into the Solar System. What will you do to see that the USA does not get left behind in that endeavor?

NASA plans to retire the aging Space Shuttle in 2010, and it hopes to have its new Orion system to get astronauts to the Space Station ready by 2015 or soon after that. Do you support strengthening NASA's COTS program to encourage U.S companies to quickly develop commercial space transportation systems to help NASA supply and perhaps crew the Space Station while NASA's Orion is being developed? What other well-understood jobs would you like NASA to transfer to private industry so it can concentrate on cutting-edge research and exploration?

To all Democratic candidates:

In 2006, the IRS's National Taxpayer Advocate's report highlighted the Alternative Minimum Tax as the single most serious problem with our tax code. A growing percentage of the middle class is paying higher taxes each year as a result of the AMT, and the AMT punishes taxpayers for having children or living in a high-tax state.

As President, what legislation, if any, would you propose to congress to address what many American’s feel is unfair and overly burdensome taxation as a result of the AMT?

What is your position on increasing funding for NASA in general, and particularly for the Fundamental Aeronautics and Aviation Safety, which in a time of increased concern about the safety of commercial flight has been cut to under $600 million this year.

How much money will you give to NASA each year to send men to Mars and the Moon?

With the economy the worst it's been in years, the housing market dead, an unwinable war going on, the threat of terrorism always present, bird flu on the way, and food and oil prices going through the roof, it seems that there is only one bright spot left… America's space program. The prospect of going back to the moon to utilize its vast resources and then spread our wings on to Mars is about all we have to look forward to. Let us not forget that our space program is responsible for almost every modern convenience and medical apparatus we have including computers, the Internet, cell phones, GPS receivers, and thousands more. Toying with or cutting back funding to NASA seems an exercise in futility anyway considering the minute percentage of the total Federal budget currently allocated. I would like to know where the candidates stand on space exploration, NASA and its funding and the new Constellation program.

Would you support and promote a ten-year, U. S. government-mandated program, with hard technical goals (similar to Project Apollo and The Manhattan Project), and real tax incentives (for United States-based industry which meets the goals) which would:

1) ELIMINATE all need for foreign energy importation in ten years (by 2019)?

2) REQUIRE fusion power breakthrough for generating domestic electrical power in ten years (by 2019)?

3) REQUIRE development, maturing, and production operation of Gulf Stream current power generation (by 2019?)

4) REQUIRE solar power and wind farm development, maturing, and production operation in U. S. areas most appropriate for such renewable energy creation (by 2019)?

5) REQUIRE all land-based, personal automobile / light truck transportation on Federally-funded highways to use high-efficiency, hybrid power plants with ratings of 100+ miles to the gallon (by 2019)?

These issues represent fundamental concerns I have about strategy for the U.S. in the 21st century to remain a first-world nation.

In my opinon, if all goals listed were met, and our country was able to be energy independent, terrorism would cease (foreign oil imports fund terrorism), our economy would certainly grow (elimination of obsolete technologies would make us a net exporter of technology), and with the U.S. offering these technologies to other emerging countries and societies, would easily promote free-enterprise and democracy on a world-wide scale.

The party nominee for the general presidential election who announces that he will sponsor and enact this plan, once in the White House, will receive my vote.

for all candidates re the US Space Program

what would be your highest priority for NASA:

completing and using the International space station

or

executing a human and robotic exploration program for our solar system

Senator Obama has recently revised his space policy proposal, presumably in response to criticism over his original plan to delay the Constellation Program for at least five years. However, there are still several questions left open that concern me and other space exploration advocates.

What exactly does the Senator intend to do with the capability that a fully functional Orion and ISS will provide? If Senator Obama does believe in a different path than the current plan to build a lunar research outpost, what does he think NASA should be doing?

Senator Obama's campaign is founded on the message of combining a vision for the future and change for the better. Ultimately, I would like to know: What is Sen. Obama's vision for our pursuit of the highest frontier?

For all the candidates:

You have all assured the American people that you acknowledge the value that space research has contributed to our society, and some of you have put forth your intended space policies. Sadly, they seem rather tepid and noncommital.

Regardless of its source and if sufficiently funded, the Vision for Space Exploration offers the potential of tapping vast resources and developing sophisticated technologies that can help us address many of the challenges we face today such as energy independence, our impact on the environment, and even medical ailments through supporting biological research.

In your administration, would you push hard for continuing and even strengthening the VSE by allocating more of each federal dollar (current funding for VSE is less than half a penny; Apollo peaked at about 4 cents) in all of your submitted budget recommendations?

Both Democrats and Republicans are united on lowering taxes and increasing spending resulting in a huge deficit and future bankruptcies of Medicaid and social security. How about some straight talk about hard decisions our republic will have to make to survive?

Obama and Clinton have made statements related to NASA. Both statements talked about earth science, astronomy, etc, but failed to put forth an underlying principle of space exploration. Obama mentioned cutting the new rocket and crew capsule, Clinton left lunar missions out of her manned space comments, so I have no idea if they really support the USA going farther and farther out. So ask one of the following to get an idea of how they balance NASAs perceived missions to study Earth, study space, and to take humans permanently to the moon and Mars. Or do they think it is a complete waste to ever go.

If you could send $10 billion back in time to the Apollo program for 5 more manned moon flights, would you do it? Other than anti-Soviet effects in the Cold War context, what do you think were the main benefits of the Apollo program and were they worth the money? Does a manned lunar program make sense now? What would be the benefit, and what percent of the budget would it 'deserve'?

Suppose for a minute that we continue for decades with the space station as the only manned spaceflight activity, and China lands on the moon and builds a long term outpost there in 2028. Suppose this election were taking place in that year, what would be your stump speech in response to this development? What would be your policy proposal for our space program then? Will it ever matter if humans walk on Mars? Why? If so, what should be accomplished there to make it worthwhile?

For all Democratic candidates:

Do you support and will you fully fund and implement NASA's plan to establish a Manned Lunar Base within the next decade?

The US space program has and should continue to benefit this country by driving the development of new technology which improves our economic security and national defense. It also inspires our young people to become future leaders in the areas of science,and technology.

In recent years, the NASA funding level has not adequately supported the goals and objectives of the agency. The lack of adequate funding has delayed the development of a new space transport vehicle and forced the agancy to use the antiquated and high risk space shuttle or pay the Russians to deliver crew/supplies to the space station. NASA's announcement to return to the moon has created a lot of excitement within and outside of the US, but funding levels have delayed a lunar mission to the 2018 time frame (or later). The recent announcements of a manned lunar mission from China and India indicate that the US will eventually lose its lead in the area of space exploration if a change in the NASA funding level is not realized. A loss in space technology leadership will also negatively impact US economic security and national defense.

Please ask the candidates what their position is on funding NASA for the development of the shuttle replacement spacecraft, launch vehicle and manned lunar missions.

In terms of our typically developing children, our public schools systems cannot even compete globally with other countries,…how do you plan to even address the special education needs in public school when our typically developing children aren't even coming out competitive?

Do you support and will you fully fund and implement NASA's plan to establish a Manned Lunar Base within the next decade?

To all the candiates running, How can any of you support abortion when down deep you know it is wrong.
Did it ever cross your mind. What would Jesus do ?

To each of the candidates
The two Texas Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting a Mexican drug runner in the backside while on duty ,
Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean are in prison, as narcotic traffickers and human smugglers laugh at law enforcement for they are not prosecute -instead will prosecute officers who do their job and keep that poison off our streets and out of our schools, parks, and neighborhoods, Would any of you give them a full pardon? Thank you

I have 5 problems with the current pay methods for members of Congress.

Should the members of Congress decide when they should receive a raise and how much that raise should be? No one else in this country has that right. That decision is made by our employers, (which in the case of Congress would be the citizens of this country).

Why are members of Congress exempt on paying Social Security taxes? Shouldn't they be taxed like every other American?

Should the members of Congress continue to be paid if they are not re-elected? Why should Congress continue to be paid when other employer in the country continues to pay employees when they leave their job?

Why should Americans continue to pay any member of Congress who has been convicted crime? Again, no other American continues to receive payroll benefits since they would no longer be performing their job duties.

Do you think if the members of Congress were paid on an hourly basis that they would be in session not only more than 3 days a week, (a total of 156 of the 365 days in the year), that they could actually address the concerns and needs of the citizens who elected them?

Finally, Senators and Representatives work for US, so as the employer of Congress, the citizens of America should be making these decisions, not our employees!

For all Democratic candidates:

Like most Americans, I'm worried about the economy, high unemployment and why so many jobs continue to be sent overseas, national security because of our open borders, the rise in violent crimes, the amount of foreign oil used in the US daily, being able to assist the poor with heating costs, standards of education with overcrowded classrooms, the rise of identity theft with the delay action on the “No Match” letters, our ever increasing welfare costs, health care coverage and why so many hospitals are being forced to close.

Congress and the current administration are directly responsible for all the jobs sent out of the country by greedy corporations because of our so called “fair trade bills, but all of the other issues tie back to illegal aliens. So please explain to the citizens of America why you feel the need to do anything other than telling this group, who have been a huge drain on our taxes for years that they must leave to their own country with all of their family, apply for citizenship, and not return to the United States until they receive their documentation to do so? We tried amnesty when Reagan was President and it only encouraged people to continue entering our country illegally.

And yes Hillary, when men, women, or children cross our borders illegally, they are, each and every one, ILLEGAL!

I would ask the candidates whether they planned to restore reasonable balance to NASA's activities, particularly whether they would undo the gutting of aeronautics research that began under Clinton and accelerated under Bush.

Would any of you support increasing the NASA budget to 1 percent of the total federal budget in order to hasten the development of the Ares/Orion vehicles and meet our pressing space science needs?

There are emails and blog posts flooding the Internet about Obama’s background. There are many scared people here in South Carolina that are worried that our next president might be Muslim and will take his oath of office on the Koran. One of the founding principles of this country is the freedom of religion. It is important that we all are tolerant of other individuals and their religions or lack there of. His religious affiliation does not bother me as long as he was not a part of radical Islam (which he doesn’t seem to be). The other night in the NBC debate, he professed his Christianity and took his oath on the Holy Bible.

What bothers me and MOST of the people with whom I talk about these issues is the third of the rumors in the emails. This rumor is the one that Mr. Obama will not pledge his allegiance. In the debate, he quickly stated that he says the Pledge of Allegiance. There are, however, pictures of him without his hand over his heart during the National Anthem and articles about his views of the Pledge of Allegiance. I would like a full explanation of his views of the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem. After all, a person aspiring to attain the highest job in this country should ABSOLUTELY not hesitate to pledge allegiance to the country and its flag (a symbol of the country and not an idol of the country), nor should the person ignore the cultural gestures during the national anthem.

To all candidates:

As President, what if any changes would you try to make to the Alternative Minimum Tax? Do you consider this tax to be fair considering that those of us living in states with higher state taxes and higher property taxes (as a result of higher average home prices), like California, are more likely to be affected by the AMT and therefore more likely to pay higher federal taxes?

my question would be to Barack:

He is the only candidate who is not for universal healthcare, i would like to know what he would do for people like me who have a serious illness (lupus), because i went through a period where i was uninsured, insurance will not cover any illness i have that relates to this disease because it is a "preexisting condition". his plan of making healthcare more affordable makes no difference to me because i can afford healthcare, but that healthcare would not help me when i needed it to.

To all candidates: As President, what if any changes would you try to make to the Alternative Minimum Tax.

Why should Bill Clinton's vote be worth 20,000 times more than the average American?

On behalf of the people, please ask this question,

Today Bill Clinton made a comment in Nevada that this was a "one man, one vote country". Why then is his own (superdelegate) vote worth 20,000 of our votes??

I've been working hard to get this information to the front lines… but to no avail. Bill Clinton's comment to you today is begging for a response from an average voter like me.

Most Americans don't realize that political insiders (like Bill Clinton.. most politicians) control a whopping 40% of the delegates that are needed to win the democratic nomination.

Although Obama and Edwards have made a great step by refusing lobbyist money in the election, none of them have addressed this issue.

Please help put a spot light on this issue.

Thanks,
Andy Woerner
Kailua-Kona

Mrs. Clinton,

Can you please clear up for all of your supporters how you are not going to be influenced by all of the lobbyist who give you money. I do not believe you have ever answered that question. Please Please Please Wolf ask her this question! We deserve an answer!

Would like to know if anyone of them ,will right a wrong ,by planning on setting the two border patrol agents free from prison ?

I have been disabled for fifteen years with, first, a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and now Chronic Lyme Disease.

Research into both these illnesses is given devastatingly inadequate funding by the government, despite the fact that over a million people in our nation are disabled by these illnesses.

Studies have shown that finding a cure for these disabling conditions would be far less expensive than is the current cost to our national economy of allowing these disabled people to remain unable to work.

After President Bush's recent veto, lawmakers voted to allow research funding for the Center for Disease Control and NIH to fall BELOW inflation.

I would love to know what the candidates plan to do about funding for research at the CDC and NIH, especially for chronic, neglected conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Lyme Disease.

I would like to ask all of the candidates the following:

You are all running on strong opinions and plans on helping improve our environment by using alternative energy sources. Some of you have one or more large homes. How have you made your homes more energy efficient?

My question, Why am I taxed on my refund?

I just received a1099-G for my refund I received from my 2006 taxes, I guess to remind me to add this total to my gross income for 2007.
But I could of not overpaid and I would of come out ahead. I could of put it in a saving account, but instead I wanted to stimulate the economy and I spent it, all of it.
What if i underpaid taxes and could of just written a check to the govt. But instead I ovepaid and now I have a refund and thank you for the reminder by sending me a 1099.

Wolf, I'd really like you to ask Hillary Clinton a very important question. She has touted her 35 years of "experience" and has attempted to dwarf Obama's experience in the state legislature of Illinois. I would like you to ask her if she thinks Obama's experience at the state level in the legislature and as a community organizer is not important enough, then why was her husband's experience as a Governor (obviously at the state level) any different?

Thanks Wolf

Wolf

Please ask the three leading candidates Clinton, Obama, and Edwards, in that order what they will do to secure our borders and deal with the 12 to 20 millon
illegal aliens now in this country.

Mart

For all candidates:

I would like to know whether you have concluded that autism is a purely genetic disorder and whether you think that the US government should continue to ignore the role of environmental factors and vaccines as possible causes of autism?

Thank you.

two questions:

1.) autisim and other developmental disabilities are occurring at alarming rates in this country. what is/ do you have a plan to help those children and adults who are in need of services in the school, assistance with employment and other services to live independently? right now, adults with disabilities are seeing alarming cuts in services that not only impact their lives, but the lives of their families as well.

2.) change is a word being thrown around alot lately. what kind of change are you talking about and can it be done without further amending the constituion?

Wolf,

On last nights debate, Barack was asked if he is a Muslim. We all know that the answer is no, he is a Christian.

The CORRECT questions is were you ever a Muslim.

The truthful answer to this question points to integrity, and, lets not forget our present relations with the Middle East. Radical Islamists would consider him an Apostate, and execute him, if he converted. Given this radical belief, what does this say about him becoming President of the US? Can you see the implications?

So, rather than ask him if he is Muslim, I hope somebody has the nerve to ask him if he is a converted Muslim – big difference.

FOR HILLARY

It seems that your comment concerning Dr. King drew lots of fire. You responded by stating that Dr. King was one of the persons that you really admire. You indicated that the difference between he and Senator Obama was that he organized marches, went to jail and made speeches. If he had lived and run for president would you have voted for him and do you think he would have made a good president?

I would ask them what they intend to do about the autism epidemic in this country. I would ask them if they would pass a law forbidding the use of mercury and other known toxins in vaccines. I would ask them if they would make it the governments responsibility to check that this is done. (Right now the pharmaceutical companies are on the honor system to check their own vaccine batches that they claim are mercury free to make sure the mercury was really processed out of it!) I would also ask which candidates have accepted money for their campaigns from pharmaceutical companies.

Given that none of the candidates has ever been President of the country, and given that even having been a president doesn't necessarily mean that one will be a good president in a different time requiring a different leadership – for instance George Bush first term experience hasn't necessarily made him a great President in his second term – what does "experience" mean in these campaigns? Don't such leadership qualities as judgement, temparament, bringing people together, inspiring people for a common purpose are more important for the presidency?

To Hillary Clinton: Mitt Romney has put the plight of the state of Michigan on the national scene with promises to help if he is elected. Out unemployment rate is 7.4% and our small businesses are drowning as well is the auto industry.
What would you do, as president, to understand the urgency of this states depressed economy and give us the federal help that we need.

Judy Stage
Brooklyn/ MI

Ask all of them, if (heaven forbid) their life were to end tomorrow, name one thing for which they would want to be remembered.

For all the candidates:

Our money supply is measured by M1 and M2. M3 is no longer being used. Would you continue this Bush Administration policy? Specifically, what do you think the M3 would have told us if it had not been terminated?

What would you do to more fairly measure inflation since it now is being manipulated to reflect a lower number than if the real cost of fuel and food were included?

For Clinton:

I think the experience question is a good one, though her high negatives are also something that Democrats have anxiety about. I'd ask:

"Given that you have held elected office for a shorter period of time than Sen Obama, did not, according to the NTY, hold a security clearance, did not attend meetings of the National Security Council, and was not given a copy of the president's daily intelligence briefing, and have comparable professional experience to Sen Obama (teaching, advocacy, law practice), how do you explain the claim that you are the more experienced candidate?"

Either that or:

"It has been suggested by numerous 'Red State' Democrats that Sen Obama would be far more electable in their states than you would be, owing in no small part to your divisiveness and relative lack of support among non-Democrats. Assuming you win the Democratic nomination, how would you overcome the high negative opinion rating you have in virtually all polls?"

For Obama, questions about judgement might be good:

"Given that one of your hallmark calling cards is your good judgement, how do you explain the poor judgement you have apparently shown in your dealings with Tony Rezko?"

i would like to ask Hillary what experience did Bill clinton had in forgien policy before he became president, i remember he was only the gov. of Arkansas and he did not have to dell with anything unless it contain the state of ark. and he became president. he was a outside comming to washington.

Wolf a question for all the candidates: which candidates are against NAFTA and what would they do about this trade agreement that continues to steal jobs from the american worker?
Wolf keep up the great work you all the others do on CNN to make it the best political coverage on tv !

Wolf,

Can you please ask Senator Clinton about her beliefs on voter suppression because what she often states is opposite of what her campaign employs. In several instances in the first three states this issue of voter suppression has come to the fore front: in Iowa, there was the attempt to stop college students from coming early to caucus; in New Hampshire, there were reports where her campaign, in the three largest cities, attempted and in some instances succeeded in stopping Senator Obama's get-out-the-vote operation; and in Nevada there was the lawsuit filed against the Culinary Workers Union by the teachers union of which there are Clinton backers on board. This basically amounts to the disenfranchisment of voters and particularly voters of color in Nevada. Clearly these are three instances where Senator Clinton has attempted to suppress the supporters of Senator Obama and the reasoning for this question is to determine whether Senator Clinton will own up to these charges.

Thanks,
Kevin

As part of your universal health care plans, do you plan on putting a cap on the salaries of the executives of HMO's? Also, will there be fixed rates for how much can be charged for services? Do you think that regulation of the insurance and medical industry could be enough to bring down costs and provide services to more people, such as not allowing insurance companies to charge based on previous medical history, charging more to individuals as opposed to group plans, rescinding individuals after an illness, and the practice of doctors and hospital charging grossly more to the uninsured?

50% of all bankruptcies in this country are a result of medical illnesses. Even people who play by the rules, work hard, save, spend their money wisely, and have health insurance are only a diagnosis away from losing all that they have due to not being able to work and/or by incurring expenses that aren't covered under their insurance plans. As president, what would you do to ensure that all americans are not a diagnosis away from bankrupcy or losing all that they have, such as increasing disability and/or unemployment benefits?

Is there any way that the federal gov't can subsidize teacher's salaries to encourage teachers to keep teaching? People need education. Whether they are soldiers or CEOs.

I would ask Hillary if she will be using the same formula for getting the budget balanced as President Clinton used in the 90's. It was so successful we would really like to see a repeat.

Earlier, Mauve said (2nd to comment on here) "I would ask Obama why he thinks doubling the minimum wage and pegging it to the inflation rate would have on the value of money for middle class Americans and why uneducated people deserve the economic prosperity the educated people have worked so hard to earn. And if we are going to turn busboys, janitors, and laundry ladies into middle class people what impact would that have on the ever declining level of motivation for Americand teenagers to work hard in high school"

ASK OBAMA, how do u deal with self-righteous, pious, class-minded, close-minded people like this that are the established Republicans smoking cigars in back rooms making decisions in the good-old-boy-network, looking down on people who work hard with their hands? How will you lessen their powerful stranglehold on the economy and the political arena which continues to suck huge profit margins to the greedy rich and gives so little to the actual WORKERS of this country (lousy rate of pay – minimum wage or thereabouts, 1 week of vacation or less, no health benefits) ? (Case in point, how is it possible for someone making $12K a year to buy a starter home for $279K ?) Can you get these people ever to understand that janitors are valued members of this society, necessary for the economy, and deserving of prosperity as well?

Two things.

1. PLEASE DON'T AIR BILL CLINTON RIGHT BEFORE A CAUCUS , PRIMARY OR DEBATE. It is unfair to Obama or any other candidate that can't respond directly to his outrageous comments. So just stop it. I saw enough of Bill when he was president and it appears he is running agin but then I think we all know the answer to that. Enough already.

2. MAKE HILARY HONOR HER TIME RESTRAINTS. She won't shut up. She also didn't get the same tough questions as the others.

Hi Wolf,

Thank you for letting us share our questions.

1) Why, in a nation where abortion is such a hot issue and every American wishes that no woman or girl should ever get one, where poverty exists and many people don’t have affordable access to prescription drugs, does Viagra get much more federal funding and coverage than birth control? All federal health plans cover Viagra while only 19% of federal health plans cover contraceptives; in addition to preventing conception, many women need the pill for medical problems such as endometriosis and dysmenorrhea. In 2005 after it came to light that sex offenders were receiving Viagra through Medicaid and the ensuing public outcry, the House passed a bill and publicly stated that ED drugs would no longer be paid for by the federal government. Yet in 2006, in a budget bill aimed at renewing and extending Bush’s tax cuts, a provision to pay for ED drugs was snuck back into the budget bill at a cost of $90 million, all the while cutting funding for Medicaid, child support enforcement, contraceptive coverage, and the Student Loan Program. As President, what will you do to ensure that a situation such as this never happens again, get rid of wasteful spending, and make it so that earmarks are more transparent for the American people?

2) With regard to the current mortgage crisis – According to the law, no one is allowed to get out of a contract just because they realized after the fact that they made a bad deal, so why should the American people have to pay for the bad decisions of lenders and borrowers? It’s not the American people’s fault that these lenders and borrowers were irresponsible and that these borrowers had ruined their own credit ratings by not paying their bills and spending more money than they take in. I wish I could buy a house, but I can’t since I cannot afford one. So why should I now have to pay for someone else to own a house? What do you think is the fairest solution to the current mortgage crisis and can I plan on the government bailing me out in the future when I make bad decisions?

3) With regard to Senator Obama’s wanting to substantially increase the minimum wage – most economists are against a minimum wage; they agree that raising the minimum wage only benefits teenagers, encourages them to drop out of school, does little to get people out of poverty, creates a black market where workers are paid off the books, creates unemployment among unskilled workers, discourages people from continuing their education, and causes inflation and lowers the value of money, in essence voiding the increase in the minimum wage and hurting all workers by decreasing the value of their money. Economists also believe in incentives; that without incentives, people will fail to do what is best for them. Raising the minimum wage takes away the incentive to stay in school, work hard, and attain a higher level of education. If people can make a living wage by working at McDonalds, there will no motivation and probably a shortage of people to fill needed jobs such as technology, engineering, science, health care, and education. How will the benefits of an increased in minimum wage outweigh these ill-effects and can you explain to me why it is that all of the people I know who live below the poverty line still manage to have cell-phones, smoke cigarettes and use other substances, have 1000-channel cable television, and continue to have one baby after another?

4) My family has been in business for 30 years. As small business owners, we contribute to the community where we have our businesses, provide jobs, as well as tax revenue. I believe that small businesses and entrepreneurship are vital to our economy yet small business owners continue to struggle and most small business fail within five years; as president, is there anything that you think should be done to help and encourage small business ownership?

5) What are your plans for energy independence and how will you support research and the wide-scale implementation of clean, renewal energy? In addition, what should be done about improving and protecting the country’s infrastructure, mainly its power grid?

6) For Senator Obama – all of the candidates have plans for things that they wish to accomplish in office and things that they want to change, so what’s different about your change?

To Senator Obama:

You’ve admitted to drug use in the past, which shows some pretty poor decision making on your part.

Why should the American people overlook this, and how can we trust that you’ll exercise better judgment if you become President?

I would like to ask all of them, do they think there is any problem that the government can not solve, if so, what is it.

Q: Senator Clinton: Would you immediately close tax loopholes for American companies and corporations, doing business outside of the United States, like Halliburtin, Blackwater, and many more, who are making billions but are using tax loopholes to not pay their fair share of taxes or any taxes at all? Please be specific about when you would close the tax loopholes.

Q: Senator Obama: You said you would bring our troops home from Iraq, immediately. How and what would you do with Blackwater who continues to provide Americans as well as foreign mercenaries now fighting in Iraq? Would you also demand legislation to control the actions of Blackwater in war zones?

Q: John Edwards: I recently saw Michael Moore's "Sicko" and as a Registered Nurse, I have seen insurance companies abuses first hand. Specifically when and how will you make sure America will have a nationalized health care system for all that is as successful as Sweden's, France's, England's and Canada's nationalized health care?

Q: Senator Clinton: You talk about your contribution to education. Will you provide free college, as other countries do, to ensure that all Americans are able to get an education regardless of their social and economic status? Be specific about a plan for free college if you have one.

Q: Senator Obama: We've heard a lot of rhetoric and have seen little or no action regarding resolution of the Israeli and Palestine conflict. What kind of benchmarks would you give both Israel and Palestine to restore a lasting peace? Would you withhold our tax dollars to Israel and Palestine until they met specific benchmarks that would ensure lasting peace in that region?

Q: Senator John Edwards: I want a law making it a criminal offense if paper receipts were not given to electronic voters to help eliminate voter fraud and mistakes . Will you give Americans your word that any and all electronic voting machines will legally have a paper receipt? How and when will you do so? Please be specific.

Q: Senator Clinton: Will you repeal the Medicare Drug Prescription Bill that was written by the drug companies and gives them obscene profits at taxpayers expense? How and when would you repeal it? if not, why?

Q: Senator Obama: How would you make sure that our Department of Justice protects all Americans and not just those in one political party? Be specific.

Q: John Edwards: What are your first three priorities as President and how will you accomplish them?

Thank You

Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Edwards,

Sen. Obama has stated that he will speak out forcefully against any of his supporters who in engage in negative politics. Are you willing to make that same pledge?

Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Edwards,

Sen. Obama has stated that he will speak out forcefully against any of his supporters who in engage in negative politics. Are you willing to make that same pledge?

Which sitting governor of a US state do you admire most and given that you all are in the Senate, would you feel compelled to choose a goverrnor as a running mate?

Nikolas Sarkozy is in Saudi Arabia seeking deals to help the Saudis develop a nuclear program. As the country with the world's biggest oil reserves, why should we not ask the question, " why do Saudi's need a nuclear program?"

We are concerned that in Pakistan there will be leakage of nuclear materials, technologies and know-how.

Given that a) 15 of 19 hijackers in 9-11 attackes were educated Saudis and

b) We have an ally in Israel nearby

Would you oppose France, US or any country transferring nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia?

Nikolas Sarkozy is in Saudi Arabia seeking deals to help the Saudis develop a nuclear program. As the country with the world's biggest , why should we not ask the question, " why do Saudi's need a nuclear program?"

We are concerned that in Pakistan there will be leakage of nuclear materials, technologies and know-how.

Given that a) 15 of 19 hijackers in 9-11 attackes were educated Saudis and

b) We have an ally in Israel nearby

Would you oppose France, US or any country transferring nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia?

Wolf should ask the panel this question:

Which American's President's wife (excluding Hillary) do they admire the most , and would she have made a great preseident?

President George W. Bush has advocated an extreme view of a "unitary executive," resulting in substantial expansion of presidential power. What is your view on the proper balance between the executive and legislative branches? How do you plan to implement that view? What limits should there be, for example, on presidential control over the operation of the Department of Justice?

In the past year, the Department of Veterans Affair has attempted to increas its staff to cope with the large influx of claims as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am one of the fortunate new hires.

Every single day, I get a chance to serve the veterans of this country. However, this job has a double edge. While we do so much good for so many, the laws are outdated and sometimes inconsistent. I have heard from several candidates on both sides mention the need for reform regarding service to our veterans. What would each of you do to push Congress into making the necessary legislative changes to ensure these veterans receive what they have earned?

A question for each of the candidates:

If you were elected to office, in your first six (6) months in that office would you do to alleviate the following problems. Remember, these are your first steps and please be specific.

1). The negative economic impact on the Middle Class due to the impending Recession.

2). Housing Market crisis.

3). Diplomacy with Iran.

Note to moderator: If the responses become vague please interrupt and request more clarification.

All of the democratic candidates have made a pitch for universal healthcare in some form or another. How would they defend the arguement that healthcare was much better before the government mandates of HMO's in the seventies and that further intervention by the FEDERAL government would make it worse? In addition, how would they maintain freedom of choice? Currently, on Medicare and Medicade your treatment options are limited to only government approved methods. Would the move to universal healthcare undermine our medical freedom?

Bush and Cheney are suspected of crimes against humanity. I do not expect them to be brought up on charges before the election. After the election, and if the democrats have a 2/3rds majority in Congress, there is a good chance charges will go forward. If they face charges and are found guilty would you be inclined to "pardon" them? (This question is for all candidates)

What will you do to honor the US commitment to the Millennium Development Goals to halve extreme poverty and treatable diseases like AIDS by 2015? And do you consider the issue of extreme stupid poverty to be one of national security?

If you could end one thing in the world, cancer or racism, which one would it be and why?

My question:

There is another war in America, the “War on Drugs”, and the costs are significant. Many billions are spent each year in any attempt to control the supply of illegal drugs as well as to prosecute and incarcerate offenders. Are we currently winning THIS war and what policy changes in relation to the war on drugs would you make as President?

What about NAFTA?????????????????????????

To any candidate: Will the United States return to the majority rule concept during your administration or will pandering to special interest groups remain status quo?

I would like to ask this question.

To all the candidates
Since gaining independence in 1956, Sudan has been in war ever since including three military coups attributed to discontentment by military towards civilian's administration, given the conflexity of Sudan conflicts, as president what would you do to make sure that the provisions in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in January 9, 2005 are fully implicated and if need be fully enforced before another military coup?

Clinton, Obama, Edwards:

You have now been President of the United States for 100 days? What have you accomplished?

This question should be directed to Senator Obama,

Senator I have heard your speeches over the past several weeks and would like to know What is it you are actually proposing to do for the United States of America. With all the "air" time you have and I don't claim to have heard all your speeches I have only heard what is wrong with our current policies and that we need to change but I have never heard you say "what" you intend to do. I find you to be a pretty good motivational speaker and nothing more. No question and answer forum unless it is a scheduled debate leaving me to believe you are not capable of speaking off the cuff.

I know there are many domestic issues that need to be faced here on the home front, but I am worried that there is little discussion in regards to education, scientific research and technological progress in the US. Where do the canidates stand on supporting such organizations as NASA ? Remote sensing, satellite communications, and space exploration have benefited all of us, yet we are in danger of losing the needed support from the government. The news is filled with disaster and heartache, why should we not focus on supporting a source of national pride?

After the primary, if you win, would you respect the Democratic National Convention's choice of your vice-presidential running mate or would you instead want to select your own, without a vote of the delegates?
If you would prefer to pass over those who have been prominent in the presidential primaries, how would you provide for voter input or party delegation ratification of your choice or candidates?

I want a clear answer to a simple and very likely situation: If you are faced with the binary choice of either: (1) letting Iran obtain nuclear weapons; OR (2) ordering a military strike, which option would you choose?

I'm tired of hearing all the posturing and rhetoric on Iran without the candidates taking a position on this simple question. I don't want to hear, "I will work through diplomacy to prevent it." Of course that's everyone's first choice and is just avoiding the question. The American people have a right to know which of these two options each candidate would choose, since it's very likely that this situation WILL present itself during the next administration.

Thanks as always.

We all know why you think you are the best candidate and why your opponent is not…what i want to know is what you think is the best thing your opponents will offer this country if he or she becomes the President of the US.

Please ask about Autism because one in 150 children has it.
Here's my question:
Since children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (e.g. Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder [PDD], Asperger's Syndrome) are not one treatment fits all, will you support funding for the treatment course of the parent's choosing (e.g. Son-Rise Program, Floor Time, ABA, Equine Therapy, etc. and/or Bio-Medical Interventions) that the parent(s) determines is the most effective for their individual child?

I would ask Senator Clinton how she can keep stressing her "35 years of experience" when 35 years ago (1973) she was still in law school! Is she trying to pass off life-experience as government experience? In fact, Obama's 11 years in elective office (US Senate and Illinois State Senate) exceed Clinton's seven. Does being married to the president make you qualified to be president?

As a woman, a man of color and a white male; how would each of you change or leave in place the curent affirmative action and other equal opportunity laws?

Wolf. Great job as always. I'm an independent voter and I place high value on economic issues. The key question I have relates to tax policy. First, the FACTS: in 2002 (the year before the "Bush tax cuts"), total federal tax receipts were $2.0 Trillion. In 2004 (the year after the cuts), total federal tax receipts hit an *all time record* of over $2.2T and have continued to escalate to $2.8T in 2006 – a FORTY PERCENT increase in federal tax revenue since the cuts took effect. I'd like you to present this fact to the candidates.

In light of this fact, my question is, "Why would you want to reverse a policy that has resulted in 40% HIGHER tax revenue since it was enacted, and nearly 30% higher tax revenue than the previous all-time high even before the dot-com bubble burst??"

As an independent voter who supports many of the Democrats policies on other issues, and whose vote in the fall is legitimately up for grabs, the positions of all three candidates on this issue seems totally ignorant to me. Many voters like me need an answer to this point, and it has never been clearly addressed in the previous debates.

(data is available from the US dept. of commerce here: http://www.bea.gov/bea/dn/nipaweb/TableView.asp#Mid).

Thanks a lot.

Candidates: Do you feel the Federal deficit has a direct impact on the health of the US economy? What will you do to immediately improve the US economy?

The American public has grown tired of corruption by its leaders. We have experienced corrpution and lying by public officials of both parties at all levels of government, from the White House to the statehouse to local office holders. And, quite frankly, we're sick of it. It has undermined our trust in government and the politicians who wish to be our leaders. As president, what would you do to restore the citizens' trust in our government and to create an ethical standard by which you, your family members, and members of your administration would be measured and required to live up to?

I have two questions for all the candidates.

Question 1: What will you do to stop the huge disparity gap with the incarceration rate between minorities and whites in our country?

Question 2: What will you do to improve the average hourly income for an African Americans in our country?

Wolf,

Please ask Mrs. Clinton what is 'false' about hoping for more from our government.

Thank you.

Question for Hillary Clinton: You have stated in the past that you consider
yourself a "progressive" in the vein of the progressives of the early 20th century. Seeing that two of the most significant things the progressives brought America; the income tax and prohibition were less than desirable and a complete disaster, respectively. What specifically, do you point to as positives from this political movement?

Who among you would not just speak in favor of, but actually set up a website for the purposes of having a direct line of communication with american individuals?Why isn't there a website for the american people to speak directly to the white house? Presidential contenders claim to care about the american people, our families, our jobs, and individual concerns. The response to this request for debate questions is a small example of how many citizens desire the opportunity to speak to our leaders, really be heard by them.

Wolf,

I realize you will have to be careful about what you ask Obama since this is the Black caucus, but I would like to know why he sat out so many votes in the Senate and if he thinks that was a responsible thing to do.

Also, maybe this time someone could make him explain his lobbyist connection without letting him change the subject, which is what Charlie Gibson allowed him to do when he tried to avoid answering a question.

All of the candidates should be questioned about illegal immigration without letting them wander into the territory of lecturing about how legal immigration helped build this country. I would like to know what their plan is to stop it and how that plan would be implemented. If it has to do with an ID card and getting at the back of the line, I'd like to know how they will force these people to get an ID card since they admit they can't even find them for deportation. Since the Republican's all seem to disagree on what the definition of amnesty is I would like to know what he candidate's definition of amnesty is.

I would like to know from all of the Democratic candidates how they plan on bringing this country together when they have done everything they can do to highlight the differences that will tear it apart.

There are a lot of questions I can think of that truly matter, but most people would say they are not meaty enough for a presidential debate. But in all seriousness, I would like to ask about the metric system. The United States of America is almost the last country in the world to not adopt the metric system. I recall in the 70's there was a push for the USA to switch to metric, but then it was quietly dropped.

In the interest of international commerce, why doesn't the United States adopt the metric system? It is also valuable for safety. Once a plane coming from Canada to the U.S. ran out of fuel; the fueler used liters (metric) while the pilots thought they were using gallons (even though Canada, like nearly every country in the world now, is metric).

I would like to ask the candidates: DO YOU CONSIDER INTERNATIONAL UNIFORMITY IN MEASUREMENTS A VALUABLE TOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE AND SAFETY? AND, WOULD YOU MAKE ANY EFFORT TO HAVE THE U.S. ADOPT THE METRIC SYSTEM?

Wolf,

Ask each candidate this:

How will you minimize or eliminate the impact of special interest groups and lobbist on government?

To all Candidates: Wolf can you please get all the candidates to comment on the current situation in Kenya and what the US should be doing. The following are some suggested questions to ask:

1. It troubles me that in Africa most conflicts are often inaccurately depicted as just "tribal conflicts." For instance, I have been following the post-election violence in Kenya, and was wondering if you can you give a more accurate description of the current political and humanitarian situation there instead of just "tribal conflict", and what role the US should be playing?

2. I have been discouraged that the African continent has not been included in most foreign policy discussions. For instance, regarding the current post-election crisis in Kenya can you comment on what specifically you would do as President to promote peace, truth and justice in Kenya?

3. One of the fronts on the "war on terror" that is most often ignored is in eastern Africa, particularly in Kenya and Somalia. For instance, a year ago the Union of Islamic Courts managed to establish a relative atmoshpere of peace in southern Somalia, before then being invaded and overthrown by Ethiopia. Did you support this invasion of Somalia, which included US air strikes, as part of the "war on terror" and why?

4. It often troubles me that violence against women often goes underreported in this country and abroad. In the context of foreign policy, for instance, I have been very concerned about the current humanitarian crisis in Kenya, in which women have been targeted and nearly 300,000 people, mostly women and children, have been displaced following post-election violence. What specifically would you do as President to address the situation in Kenya and the violence being committed against women?

5. Most of you have commented publicly on the situation following the horrendous assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan and the travesty that it represents for democracy and stability in that country. However, I am curious why most of you have not commented publicly on the similar situation in Kenya and the travesty of the manipulated election results and the instigated violence by political leaders in that country? Can you comment on this?

MUST READ for BARACK OBAMA!!!!!!!!

#1Throughout your campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire you mentioned again and again that you are the premier change candidate. You haved compared yourself time and again with John F. Kennedy, whom served as a U.S. House Representative from 1947-1953 and then as a U.S. Senator from 1953-1961, giving him 14 years of experience before his run at the presidency. With only three years experience as a U.S. Senator, what makes you think you can provide America with the change we TRULY need?

#2 Is experience not a prerequisite for creating real change?

One of things that could help medicare is to put everyone on it. In fact everyone should have just what the old folks in this country have for healthcare (you don't hear them complaining … medicare with a private gap policy to take care of the things that medicare does not. These gap policies are less expensive then the full ones offered now. With a huge pool it should help lower the costs for everyone. Healthcare should not be a profit making industry. It is a well known fact that medicare is far more efficient then private health insurance … 3 percent of costs go to administrative costs vs. 12 to 15 percent for the private insurers. The car industry as well as other manufacturers' would have the healthcare monkey off their backs so that they can compete evenly with those countries that cover their workers with a single payer system.

I want each of the candidates to answer what is wrong with having everyone on the same healthcare program as our old folks … medicare plus a private 'gap' policy?

OBAMA-

It's one thing to hope for change, it's another to pay for gas to get to work.

How do you plan on decreasing our dependency on the Middle East and lowering fuel costs?

What is your specific plan and how long will it take?

As a former AmeriCorps member, I have been disappointed that every year the funds for this wonderful program have been decreased. I know Sen. Clinton has stated she wants to increase the educational award that members get when completed. But does she also want to expand the program back to the size from when her husband was president?

How many candidates are there from the Democratic Party?

Does the Constitutionally guaranteed Freedom of the Press mean that the media should be making news by deciding which candidates we should hear about or simply reporting it and let us hear from each candidate equally and making our own decisions?

How much do big business and big donors affect each of the remaining 5 major candidates decisions on what they would do as president?

Mr Blitzer,

Thank you for the opportunity to ask the candidates a question on where they stand on the issues. I am 36 years old and I am concerned where this country is heading economically and socially. I have not made up my mind on who I would vote for on the Feb.5 CA primary but why should someone vote for any of these candidates when all they talk about is change but there are no details for change. I commend the candidates like Edwards and Clinton who have offered various plans and have been slammed for it but at least they have offered a plan.

My questions to the candidates is they talk about changing the way things get done in Washington especially with various lobbyist . The candidates talk about being free from them and not having them in their administration. Would any of the candidates have the resolve to ban lobbyists from being involved in the political process and if not why? As an individual I feel no one is there for me who is lobbying for me and my needs? Why do various corporations and organiztions who have big money and powerful lobbyist get to present their needs over the people of this country. I feel that the only time politicians are concerned of the needs of the people are during election years when they need the "people's" vote to get back to Washington. Thank you from a worried citizen of this country who feels used by the political process.

Wolf – please stay away from asking questions that serve to create animosity between candidates.
We'd really like to have questions about the issues – not "he said, she said" questions. Those are truly a gigantic waste of everyone's time.

OK, I can't help myself.

Do you think the current system of how we conduct primary elections is adequate? If not, what are your thoughts on regional primaries where the primary dates are rotated every election cycle? As someone who lives in the State of Michigan, I feel terribly slighted by the Democratic Party for prohibiting our state's delegation from sitting at the convention, and I know I'm not the only one in that boat (Michigan, after all, is THE state in the union that is currently in a recession). I know that it is important to connect somehow with the voters, but in this age of technology where conference calls and electronic "town hall" meetings are the norm, it seems to me that the candidates can reach a relatively wide audience without having to pile-on the frequent flyer miles; do you agree or disagree?

I'm done for now. I promise.

I have looked up the 'working' experience in government of both Obama and Hilary. What I have found is that counting Senator Obama's Experience as a State Senator in IL and his work in the U.S. Senate he actually has more working governmental experience than Senator Clinton. Have said that I would like to know about the claim of 35 years of experience from Senator Clinton. It should be said I do not feel that being First Lady of the State of Arkansas or the U.S. counts beyond that I would like her to elaborate.

Alright, one more:

Is invading and occupying a foreign country under false pretenses considered an impeachable offense? Seems to me that invading and occupying Iraq has done more to hurt this country's national security than any one individual currently detained at Guantanamo Bay.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HILLARY, FOR 8 YEARS IN THE WHITE HOUSE U COULD NEVER EFFECT YOUR SO CALL CHANGE BY EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA?, WHY NOW,CARITY BEGINS AT HOME THEY SAY. I THINK IF YOU PREACH CHANGE THEN LETS STICK TO CHANGE.STEP ASIDE AND GIVE OBAMA, OR EDWARDS A CHANCE.THIS IS CHANGE.NOT YOU OR YOUR HUSBAND AGAIN. NIGERIA

This question is for all candidates. I find it interesting that not one of the candidates have voiced their views on scientific research or science policy. With the issues surrounding global warming and stem cell research becoming hot topics in recent years, you'd think at least one of the candidates would have at least a paragraph on their website about whether or not they are interested in seeing forward movement on critical issues in scientific research. Recently, some voters have begun to push for a presidential science debate. What are your views regarding scientific research and would you be willing to participate in a science debate to express those views in depth?

Since the relationships between the U.S. and other countries has been so tarnished over the past 7 years due to our unilateralism and the policy of preemptive military action, what will you do as president to repair those relationships? Do you believe in the policy of preemptive military action, and if so, what situations would justify its implementation?

Believe me, I have many more questions – the current administration seems to be in need of a time-out or a whuppin' (depends on how you were raised) – but I'll spare you and ask just one of the more important questions to me. And thank you for this opportunity.

I am hoping to hear the candidates address a largely ignored but often maligned group of women in our country — the stay-at-home moms.

Many women today are postponing marriage and motherhood until well into their thirties and even forties. More babies are being born to mothers between the ages of 35 and 45 than ever before.

Many of these late-in-life-moms of young children are college educated and have worked for many years at a variety of professional and non-professional jobs.

Those who choose to stay at home to raise their young children through their entry into school at age five or beyond do so a at a great financial and professional price.

They lose their salaries, their salary increases, certain retirement benefits, and, as a result, future social security benefits.

When is our government/society going to reward this wonderful group of committed mothers for their generous work on behalf of their children, and the future generation of American citizens?

While the child tax credit is appreciated, it is hardly compensation for the expenses incurred by a family that chooses to have one parent remain at home.

Tax breaks are available to working parents who place their children in day care during their working hours.

When will the fed. government offer some tax break for families with one parent staying at home?

The feminist movement has opened many doors for women in terms of education and professional opportunities. But it is not supportive of women who CHOOSE to exit the work force for a time to rear their children. And the federal government has not given any incentive for women to give their time, talent, and love to raise bright, healthy, and happy children.

I am hoping to hear at least one candidate take up this cause with conviction. Because, many women today, older and younger, with college degrees or no degrees deeply value their decision to stay at home with their children and should be given due respect and reasonable support from the federal government for their contribution to our country's next generation.

I would like to know where the candidates stand on the use of nuclear energy as an alternative energy source

Sub-prime lending has bolstered our economy for the last six or seven years.
Hundreds of thousands of households spent and consumed at a higher rate than they otherwise would have because they had money which they borrowed against phantom home equity. Hundreds of thousands more Americans enjoyed the accoutrements of middle-class status – such as home ownership – even though they could not afford a down payment and were not sophisticated enough consumers to appreciate the perils of hybrid-ARM and other non-traditional mortgages.
Which candidates believe that the economy is experiencing a necessary correction, and that interfering with it is contrary to more sound principles of free market economics?

Ask Hillary why did she go from a republican to a democract.

Please ask the candidates how do they plan to strengthen the economy? The dollar is currently being out performed by other currencies including the Euro and the pound sterling. As the fed cuts interest rates it is devaluing the dollar. Do they have any Idea as to what they might be able to do to spur economic growth and put America on a path to a stronger economy?

For Hillary:

I hope I'm not too late to submit this question because I think it's an important one coming from the perspective of a young, black female.

Do you see a double-standard from black leaders who encourage black youth to aspire to anything (such as the presidency), yet don't support Obama's candidacy?

I would ask the candidates to specifically address what steps are necessary to improve the economy, and how long it would take to implement each of their plans. I want to know if, in general, it is good for the president to set the agenda for economic policy as Bill Clinton did and W has not done.

Wolf

I don't know why nobody is raising the issue, but leftists have taken control over most of South America. One reason is, of course, Bush foreign policy. In my judgement this will result in huge backlash against US interests in the near future in whole of South America. Can you please ask the candidates what they will do to reverse the trend?

Reagrds
Zia

To all the candidates:

Do you feel America has a security interest in responding to the emergency of AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa and other parts of world? If not, what are the reasons we should take action to end extreme poverty in the poorest countries?

The recent exchanges about race from the Obama and CLinton camps have been unproductive and divisive. However, these discussions have placed an explicit focus on race relations in the US. Though seriously flawed, it cannot be denied that No Child Left Behind directs the attention of states, districts, and schools on the achievement gap and other racial disparities in education. Other than increased funding, what are the candidates' specific proposals for decreasing the achievement gap and improving education in urban and rural areas?

Mr. Blitzer,
Two questions:
1) Please ask Obama and Hillary to outline in detail how they will bring the troops back from Iraq. As far as schedule of timelines and number of troops, supplies materials etc..
2) We need to get an outline in detail from Obama about how he plans on
fixing the health insurance fiasco in this country.

This is for all candidates: on topic of Illegal Immigration

Why would some one want to enter US legally, when doing so makes them wait for years of pain and no one seems to even do anything about it? Has anyone looked at the time it takes for people to become Permanent Resident? Educated people from India and China are prime examples. Why is Legal Immigration being made so painful. No wonder there are so many illegal immigrants. Since there is so much attention given to illegal immigrants, I am confident illegal immigrants can and will receive permanent residency before legal immigrants. Why can't US fix this irony?

Why when it comes to crises in Africa, USA is very reluctant to act. Genocide has been carried out in Rwanda and the powerful Nation in the world was watching. By the way, it was when Hillary’s husband was president. A terrible mistake he has admitted. OK. How about genocide that is being carried out in Darfur ? How about Kenya if the situation gets worse? When it comes to the Middle East, you react and act quickly. It you believe all man were created equal, why you left behind African continent. Is anyone going to change the American foreign policy that currently discriminates against Africa?

I would like to ask Obama why his prior admitted drug use should not be talked about in this campaign? And we are nto talking about occasional or experimental drug use. I am raising two kids of my own and how would I convince them against drug use, when kids will have a point that our president was a drug addict and still became a president!!!

Immigration question : to all candidates.

I am a legal immigrant working in US last 6 years. Its been almost 6 years since i have applied for my Green Card. Quesion: if you are planning for an amnesty for illegal immigrants, what would be your strategy for legal immigratns waiting in the line for more than 6 years ?

I want to know how can you unite us, because everybody said we are divided and we need somebody to unite us as one nation?

Tell us how you are going to do that so people will vote for the best not for the party?
Thank you

Would the candidates consider supporting the elimination of the electoral college system and replacing it with the popular vote which would ensure that each individual vote counted toward election?

I would like to know why the candidates keep saying that they would allow the 12 -20 million illegal immigrants to stay in this country, but they would have to go to the back of the line. All other people around the world who follow the law to immigrate must be in line in their home country. Why would they allow people who broke the law to be here get this special treatment. They should go home and wait in the real line like all others!

Questions for all candidates:

1) What, specifically, are your plans for making the United States non-dependent on other nations for our energy requirements?

2) Many Americans, especially those at or approaching retirement age, are concerned they will receive second-rate medical care, due to cost, inability of the healthcare system to accomodate demand, or both. What, specifically, will you do to address these concerns?

3) What aspect or aspects of immigration will you address first, if and when you take office as President?

4) It appears incontrovertible that the United States became embroiled in the conflict in Iraq due in large part to faulty intelligence gathering. Do you feel this is true? If so, and If elected, what will you do, specifically, to upgrade America's intelligence gathering capabilities?

Please ask Senator Obama why he has not helped his grandmother get out of poverty in Kenya. If he wants to uplift America and bring prosperity to many…one must ask why he has failed to do so for his own grandmother. This goes to the heart of his character and judgment . With the wealth that he has in America, he needs to explain why his grandmother still lives in poverty in Kenya.

Hi again would you please stop talking and accusing each other in every speech you do that's does not mean anything to anybody because people want to know what exactly your plans when you are in office?

Everyone on the stage tell us what are you going to promise the Americans people on your first year and would you do for them not to them like our president now?

This is what we need to know? Nobody is perfect in this world and everybody have done something wrong and still remember that moment so I think most of us in U.S don't care what you have done in the past.
all what we need to know what are you going to do in the future for them not to them.

Thank you

Here's a good question: What message does it send that it is illegal in the United States to kill an unborn bald eagle, but legal to kill an unborn person?

TO ALL CANDIDATES: For the years Republicans controlled Congress & the White House, they gave the banking industry a free hand to write its own rules. With virtually no oversight – or objections – from the Republican Congress, the extent to how far the banking industry would go in skewing the laws and rules in their own total favor, and against the consumer, is quite evident when you read the fine print on credit card offers. The Republicans had allowed the banks to do anything they wanted, for any reason they wanted and treated the consumer with nothing less than contempt. This same lack of oversight by the Republican Congress also paved the way into the current credit/mortgage crisis that's threatening today's economy. (Much as it did with the S & L crisis in the 80's)

Since it's obvious the industry as a whole is incapable of any kind of self-restraint or self-governance, what will you do to rectify this and rein in the banking industry's unfair business and predatory lending practices?

Wolf,

Seems that nobody is talking about the gross mis-use of part time workers by large corporations to avoid full time worker restrictions. Studies show that we rank very low when it comes to protecting workers from coorporate powers. What will the candidates do to stop specifically corporations from continuing to abuse this system?

Thanks
Mr. America

P.S. We have such low unemployment…many people have 2 jobs!

If Hillary is going to cite her time as First Lady as part of her extensive resume, I'd like to know how it is that she was so involved with all the positive aspects of the Clinton Administration, but conveniently not involved with anything negative. Another great example was on Russert on Sunday 1/15… didn't know anything about the pardons Bill gave, and had no knowledge that members of her immediate family had submitted pardon requests to the President. Come on – you can't have it both ways!

Given the amount of hungry people in our country, do you believe that turning food into fuel is a good idea?

Mr. Blitzer:

Please ask the candidates to describe with specificity how they plan on returning the Federal Government's financial profile from a budget deficit to a budget surplus, which is what Mr. Bush inherited upon entering into office.

Please keep up the good work… Go Jack and Lou… we appreciate your honest and sometimes pointed comments!

Mrs. Clinton,

Obama has stated that more than 185 million dollars has been spent by mortgage lender's lobbyist in Washington in order to continue their "destructive habits", question: How can you, a person who accepts money from lobbyist, regulate lobbyist?

To all the candidates:

If you raise the minimum wage, doesn't that put a heavy strain on the small business owner who may not be able to afford to pay their employees?

What will you do to help the small business owner now, since they are overwhelmed with forms and paperwork now?

Wolf – I second the call for an outline of Hillary's "35 years of experience".

As best I can tell, she has 7 years of ELECTED national experience, compared to Obama's 3 years in the US Senate and 8 years in the Illinois State Legislature, and Edwards' 6 years in the US Senate. It appears that Hillary is counting her time as Arkansas and US First Lady, and frankly, as a woman I'm offended that she would think standing on the sidelines in a non-elected position, courtesy of her husband, makes her more qualified than other candidates.

Would any of the candidates support making Election Day a national holiday to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to turnout to vote? Or, alternatively, would any candidate support moving Election Day to a weekend?

What is the cnn comment policy

Hello, Wolf:

I am a 76 year old lady in N.C. Never have I felt like this before – - that America is being dumped by other countries into a third world country. This observation comes from watching the immense debt that we are piling upon ourselves. I have no idea now as to how to end the Iraqi War and I don't believe any of them do. Having read about so many presidents, as I love history, they are all shocked when they move into the Oval Office and have Advisors disagreeing with them or with each other. I believe that the candidates now "think" they know what they will do BUT no president can basically act without the Congressional Approval. So how do they think they can pull off some of their "I will do this when I am President!" And Hillary is no more qualified than any other president just because she slept upstairs. I sit and watch you, Wolf, and shake my head for I see no strong leader in any ot them and we need a tough, strong person who is not afraid to take a stand to SAVE America from being claimed by countries to whom we owe our souls and bank accounts now. Vi in Waxhaw, N.C.

I wanted to touch upon another side of the immigration debate that rarely gets mentioned: the destructive impact of immigration raids in workplaces and neighborhoods.

I wont speculate as to why the Bush administration has stepped up these raids to such a degree. But what would the candidates do about them? Increase them? decrease them?

Much concern has been voiced about reducing US oil dependency and Detroit started producing alternative fuel capable vehicles years ago (in 2000). Some states, like Minnesota and Illinois, have good consumer access to today's primary alternative fuel, E85 ethanol, while others, including California, have virtually no consumer access to available alternatives. Given the oil industry's historic dominance of the nation's auto fuel distribution system, what will you do to ensure that all US consumers have fair access to alternative fuels like E85 and bio-diesels?

Question for All the Presidential Candidates: With the current problems in Washington, the partisan politics and divides that seek to tear us down rather than build us up. What makes you better suited than the other candidates to bring Democrats, Republicans and Independents together to bring about the CHANGE that Washington truly needs??????

Do you believe we should follow the Constitution like Ron Paul believes and have small and limited federal govnerment? Do you believe the American people deserve their privacy and how will you resecure that? Oh.. and please do not start off your response with "I belive" or "I have a plan". I want to hear specifics not vague political talk.

Thanks, again, Wolf–

For Mr. Edwards:

I am impressed by how, in your campaign, you honor the sacrifice your parents made to give you a better life. Mine did the same. What do you think you would take into the White House with you in terms of character that makes you better suited for the position than either Ms. Clinton or Mr. Obama ?

Thank you.

Wolf :

Ask the candidates what they plan to do about the CHINA.******????

CHINA IS:

(1) Communist

(2) Number one threat to world security

(3) Recipeant of multi-trillions of dollars of American treasure

(4) A world power-with a 2.5 million man army-more necular weapons than america.

(5) Capable of scrambling and shooting down our satelites ,disrupting our military, bringing our nation to a halt by corrupting our computers, and bringing down all the fly-by-wire planes in the air*******WOW SCAREY*******

(6) The benifactor of loss of hundereds of million jobs in America and Trillions-Trillions-Trillions of dollers in treasure******How much longer can this go on before they have it ALL*****?

(7) Are none of the candidates concerned*****?

Hi, Wolf–

Love the Situation Room! Thanks for the opportunity to suggest questions for the important debate before Super Tuesday. Here's one for your consideration:

I am uncomfortable with Mr. Obama's admitted cocaine use in his youth and Ms. Clinton's much-publicized marital problems. We cannot afford to elect anyone this time whose personal issues may distract us from the important work we need to do. How can each of you assure the American people that any embarrassing personal problems you encounter in office will not interfere with the tough job that lies ahead of you as President?

Thank you.

Wolf,

At the issue of race and racism in America among both Blacks and Whites- I would want to know the reasonings behind dubbing Obama a Black man when he is of mixed heritage. Is it that for Blacks his is a black man and is it that for Whites he looks too black to be of mixed heritage? Here we have a Man who carries within his genes the 2 Ethnic heritage that has been so long and divisive and we still cant accept that Obama is not a White Man nor a Black Man -But one of us- Americans!

Roger

I would like to hear all the candidates tell exactly how they plan to actually finish the war in Iraq and bring our troops home. If Bush keeps it up we will be in a conflict with Iran also before the end of his term. So how would you rectify that? And please tell it in a way that is understandable and without double talk. As an American I am sick and tired of being both lied to and told what you think we want to hear by our government. How honest would you be with us on all topics? And please don't lie!!! I know that is hard.

This is a yes/no question for all candidates.

Suppose, after your presidency begins and you initiate troop drawdown, violenece levels in Iraq explodes to a record high. Suppose it gets so high that your top generals vehemently urge a return to troop levels and military commitment seen during the surge lead by General Petraeus. Will you heed the request of the generals?

Please ask the candidates to consider changing election day procedures. As a California resident, I feel our votes count for very little…results are always announced before the polls even close here. To increase voter turnout and keep the press from negatively influencing voter opinions during a one day election, why can't the US have elections over a three day period like other countries? It gives citizens ample opportunity to go to the polls regardless of their work schedules, and the "exit polls" might have less of a negative impact on independent thinking. Other countries have elections over a few days with no more risk to voter fraud than what we experience here (perhaps less!), so fraud should not be an argument against a new process. With so much at stake, it would be nice to have an election that accommodated voters rather than the candidates and the press for a change.

The candidates talk about "change". I will like ask each candidate what kind of change the will bring about in the following area: the economy; health care; education; approach to war on terrorism and homeland security. I also will like ask how each canditate propose to accompish changes in these areas

Would you pledge to honestly uphold the office of the President of the United States vs. appeasing and pandering to special interests, ethnic groups (including Caucasians), Congress or anybody/anything else, even if it meant eliminating any possibility of a second term?

I would like to know if the canidates agree with congress in the proposed selling of 20 billion dollars of weapons to Saudi Arabia.

CNN: Could you please ask the following to all the delegates?

"What is the rightful place of the US in the context of the international community? How does this differ with the mainly unilateral positions that the US has taken under George W. Bush? And finally, what is the first step to mending these relationships?"

My question is,

It is a fact that the federal reserve is a private bank owned by private individuals. Do you believe that because the federal reserve has the ability to print and provide the government money when it is needed that they have too much power and can influence world policies on war and peace? Is it constitutional for them to have this ability and if you think they have too much power can you commit yourself to shutting down the federal reserve to allow the government to print the money for the United States of America? If you do not believe they have too much power can you explain why you believe this?

Please ask the following of Mr. Obama, as I have not been able to find an answer to this anywhere:

Why did you vote to reauthorize the Patriot Act, when it has taken away so many of our civil liberties – something you say you stand for?

I would really like to know if the candidates are aware that America is asking for and longing for better public transportation and that we do not believe that a president will speak about this on the platform because it will take too much courage to speak up about it.

I mean, come on – what free market exists when there is no public transportation and we are forced to buy cars to get to and from work and even to go to the grocery shopping? Why are people even studying to be architects if developers control construction?

Do they know that the world is upset with us because of this?

For all candidates: if you we no longer in the race, which of the other candidates will best reflect your agenda for change? Not asking for an endorsement, just who you think will be strongest on your specific issues. (Could be that X would be good on health care, but Y on the economy).

For all candidates: where do you see the most wasteful spending in government today, and where would you cut spending?

On healthcare: why would socialized medicine be such a bad thing? What are the pitfalls of too much regulation?

On terrorism: do you believe that, with our economy at or near recession, our enemies would time an attack to kick us while we are down?

On our face to the world: what would you do to improve America's international reputation, increase our number of allies and reduce our number of enemies? What actions will you take to inspire the world?

I have a series of questions I would like for you to ask the candiates:

1. What are you going to do to reduce the national debt?
2. What are you going to do to bring balance to our massive trade deficit?
3. Are you going to propose another crime bill with a ban on assault weapons?
4. What specifically are you going to do to see that every American has access to health care? ( I am uninsured).
5. Will it be a broader version of Medicare at the federal level and Medicaid at the state level?
6. Right now, FICA tax contributions are made to the first $97,500 of income. Will you raise that cap, or eliminate the cap altogether in order to give senior citizens confidence that Social Security will still be accessible for them?
7. In the past four years, gasoline prices have more than doubled. What are you going to do to bring them back down to less than $2.00 a gallon?

Thanks for taking the questions,
One of my concerns is the disintegration of the Iraqi social, and family, structure since this war began. I read a white paper on the cost of war, which showed the number of Iraqi men between the ages of 20-45 which have died in this war. There are a large number of Iraqi families with the mother being head of household, and a single parent, and we have seen the consequence of this in our country when there is not a good male role model for our young men, our prisons begin to fill up. The are are also a large number of Iraqi families in refugee camps. This has the potential to be a breeding ground for recruitment for future terrorists, if the social and family structure is not repaired before the children reach their teen and adult years.
What's our plan to fix this problem once we pull out?

To all the Candidates: You want to reform Healthcare in this country but what do you propose to solve the problem of healthcare for illegals that is crippling our public hospitals? Over 100 MILLION was spent in my county alone treating illegals. If you fix illegal immigration you will help our healthcare system.

Wolf I would love for you to ask Mrs Clinton about her 35 years of experiance she so freely speak about. She has never explain in detail what that experience consist of besides being the First Lady. Being the Presidents wife is a hell of a lot different from being "THE PRESIDENT". I surely hope she isn't counting that time as part of her experience in politics. Please as that questions for Americans all around the world.

CNN, Please ask:
I believe the way in which you campaign strongly indicates the way you will govern as President of the United States.

So, Senator Clinton: How do you defend the way in which you attack your chief rival, a fellow Democrat, with misleading information? For example, the abortion mailers in NH in which you claimed Sen. Obama doesn't really care for a woman's right to choose, when in actuality he has a 100% rating from groups who advocate exactly that, or the misleading quotes from your 'Fact Hub' on your website that take Sen. Obama's quotes out of context to suggest to the reader he wasn't consistent on the war in Iraq.

Senator Obama: How do you defend the accusations that you've recently fanned the flames of racial tensions to pander to the Black vote?

Senator Edwards: How do you claim to not pander to interest groups when, in the Iowa campaign, a 527 group, headed by a former aide to your campaign, seemed to advocate your Presidency? Particularly, when they had your face prominently shown in their commercials.

Wolf,
could you please ask Obama what his reasons are for thinking that the Clintons do not represent anything but positive change.Futher, what is it that he finds negative in the great effect the Clintons have had on social issues affecting our hard working Americans ?

LEGAL IMMIGRATION

Illegal immigration has been a topic of heated debate and has received much needed attention during this election. Many of you have taken a strong position on one side or the other of this issue while ignoring the problems of aspiring LEGAL immigrants. In the midst of all the hype and bickering about ILLEGAL immigration, there is a group of people, often forgotten and ignored, who are caught up in a bureaucratic mess and stuck in a limbo, patiently waiting on the path to LEGAL immigration. This is a group of high skilled workers, most of whom have advanced degrees in medicine, engineering and science from Universities in the US and abroad. These people have worked hard, paid taxes and waited their turn, many for a decade, without the end anywhere near sight because of a system that is hopelessly broken and inefficient. .There are about 500000 of LEGAL IMMIGRANTS stuck in this mess.

As the President of the United States how do you intend to address the problems faced by future Americans already living and working LEGALLY in the United States?"

This question may seem trivial but as a women voter who is torn between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, it makes a difference to me. I would like to know if Senator Obama was aware of the lyrics to the song "99 problems" that played in the background as his campaign celebrated it's victory in Iowa? If he was not aware of the lyric's, how does he feel now that he must have been made aware that the song refers to women in very deragatory terms?

Are you willing to eliminate health-insurance companies from using the "Pre-existing Condition" tool for denying people heath insurance. There is NO possibility for universal coverage without getting rid of pre-existing conditions denials.

President Bush has argued that Iran is a danger because of its nuclear program. However, a quart of VX nerve gas dispersed as an aerosol has the potential of killing everything within a cubic mile, and allows asymmetric warfare by either developing countries or well-organized terrorist groups.

What would be your response as President if a quart of VX nerve gas was delivered to Ft. Detrick for verification that it is a viable agent, and accompanied by demands such as to withdraw from Iraq or face dispersal in the United States?

Further, have our military actions in Iraq increased the likelihood that a developing country or terrorist group would produce such weapons as an asymmetrical response to our use of military power?

If so, how should the United States and other developed countries proceed in a world where weapons of such mass destruction can be manufactured and smuggled into the United States or other countries with little or no chance of detection?

Do you believe that the danger of the use of nerve agents is much greater than the use of nuclear weapons, given the ease of manufacturing versus that of nuclear technology?

{For information on VX, see Wikipedia: "VX (nerve agent)".}

Is one belief system better than another? When I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Eastern Europe in the early 90s, two Roma (Gypsies) told me on separate occasions in two different countries that the 44th president of the United States will be a woman, and when she comes to power the US will experience its worst economic collapse and a nuclear catastrophe. Are the thoughts of an ancient wandering people simply "superstition," or an opportunity to consider reality with a different eye? (1.) What do the candidates predict will be the end result of the average Americans' overextension with credit, and massive foreclosures that we currently see? (2.)Since our foreign policies, and economic expansionism, makes our government (and in turn citizens) distasteful to the great number of other denizens of the planet, do the canidates imagine another violent barrage within US territory and what will they do materially (not simply diplomatic lipservice by suited minions in other countries) to mend our relationships with the international community?

To all candidates.
– Have you taken money from Lobbyists and/or PACS and which ones?
- How much does a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread cost?

Universal health care in the United States must be addressed in the near future as it is stifling our economy. The Democrats all have laid out plans on this important issue. Much has been discussed on a difference of mandatory coverage under Sen Clinton's plan versus Sen Obama's plan. However, Sen Obama stated emphatically that all Americans will sign up for health care. So, then why the concern over a mandatory coverage penalty? This difference in plans illuminates the difference between these two candidates in experience of getting participation from all parties on an issue. You must address the concerns of the majority to get acceptance of the plan. This tenant brings more confidence to all Americans that individuals don't have the option to opt out of the system and thus we all accept their risk while they receive the benefits of not paying in.

Following the 2006 elections, Speaker Pelosi vowed to reduce the extreme partisanship in the Congress and allow the minority party more involvement than the Republicans had done while they controlled the House. I, and apparently many others based on the low ratings Congress gets, believe that she has not done that. There are different people leading it, but it's still the same old thing – problems go unsolved while politicians maneuver for political advantage in the next election. Do you see the partisanship as a problem and, if so, how do you intend to get both sides of the aisle working together for the good of our country rather than working against each other for the good of their respective parties?

Dear Mr. Blitzer,

I have a few questions.

1) When we talk about experence, how do the candidate define it? Is it years served as an elected official? If so does that not make Obama more experenced that Clinton? Is it public serve as an uneleced offical? Does being first lady count? If so what did Clinton do?

2) In terms of Health-Care, explain how forcing people to buy insurece counts as universal coverage when insurence companies don't always cover things, you have to go to their doctors, and some people can't afford to buy it. Also, Mr. Obama, what is your plan in detail? Mrs. Clinton, how do you deal with the fact that while you talk about univeral coverage, how do you deal with the fact that you take a lot of money from the insurence lobby, at my most recent check the second most in the Senate?

3) We've heard a lot about change. In the debates, Mr. Clinton has talked about how elected a woman would be a big change? Wouldn't elected an African-America(Obama) or an Latino-American(Richardson) also be a big change?

4) I'll end with education. As a teacher, I have a lot of issues with no child left behind, many teachers do. What will they candidates do spacificly to fix education, and also make college more affordable?

Thank you
Chris-Willowbrook, IL

For Obama–

Clinton amd Edwards both have good ideas to implement change but what sets you apart in bringing change to help minorities? And what have you done in the past?

I have watched (and complained to whomever would listen) as our(?) government sits on its hands while the executive branch uses our constitution as toilet paper. At this point, how can any politician in Washington be trusted to uphold the law? Last time I checked, we still have 3 Supreme Justices that violated the constitutional rights of all Floridians in the 2000 election by not allowing their votes to be counted. We have numerous members of Congress that have failed to bring President Bush to justice for allegedly violating the constitutional rights of 10s of thousands of Americans. He is also allegedly responsible for torturing foreigners and obstructing inquiries into their torture. Congress, by failing to act, is a coconspirator after the fact. Congress has a legal obligation to bring the President to justice. This brings me to my question. How is our current government any different from any other dictatorship where the rule of law is something to be cast aside when it is convenient?

I would ask Senator Clinton the following:

Senator Clinton, many within the party feel that you are the most conservative of all the candidates. Additionally, statistically, it has been shown that your nomination would increase Republican turnout against you and depress Democratic support. On the otherside of the coin, Senators Obama and Edwards both show increased turnout from Democrats and Democrat leaning independents. In this election, where it is fundamental that the Deomcrats, as a party, are able to rally around a candidate who can fight back against the Bush agenda; how do you reconcile that you will be strong enough in the party and to the independents to win in November and correct the mistakes of the past eight years, while it largely does not appear this is the case?

Please ask Senator Obama why he has not helped his grandmother get out of poverty in Kenya. If he wants to uplift America and bring prosperity to many…One must ask why he has failed to do so for his own grandmother. This goes to the heart of his character and judgment. With the wealth that he has in America, he needs to explain why his grandmother still lives in poverty in Kenya.

Please ask Senator Obama why he has not helped his grandmother get out of poverty in Kenya. If he wants to uplift America and bring prosperity to many…One must ask why he has failed to do so for his own grandmother. This goes to the heart of his character and judgment. With the wealth that he has in America, he needs to explain why his grandmother still lives in poverty in Kenya.

Wolf,

Please ask: We've had seven years of a President who believes his executive powers trump those of Congress and the Judiciary. Many people feel this has twisted the meaning of the Constitution and has been harmful to the country. How do you view the balance between the three branches of government, and what will you do to keep that balance? Please also comment on the use of signing statements and the role of transparency in government. In other words, will you continue the Bush administration's policy of the unitary executive?

To all candidates:

What would be the FIRST THREE THINGS you would do when you get into the oval office?

Dear Mr. Blitzer:

My questions to Obama:

Questions to Obama:

1) If your wife is seriously sick, do you pick the Doctor who has the experience and qualification of treating patience or you will pick someone with very little experience but claims he can provide hope and insists he can provide change in the status quo in the medical filed? Remember, you wife is seriously sick, it is a life and death decision, just as our country's situation now.

2) When you were down 20 points, your campaign started personal attacks on Senator Clinton, calling her dishonest and not telling the truth. Do you think this is politics of Hope?

3) When you visited Google recently, you mentioned that the two co-founders of Google were twenty something when they started their private company, so you claim judgment should be more important than experience. Do you understand that there is a major difference between starting a private company and being a leader of this country ? The founder of private company gambles with their own money while the inexperienced person running for president is gambling with our country’s money. If the private company fails, the founder will be in debt, they lose their own property. But if the elected leader fails, as our current leader does, our country lose. You will put our country in debt. Why should we elect a person who has not enough experience and willing to gamble with our country’s money and our country’s future?

To all: Why in this unpresidented age of telecommunication, is it still necessary to 'stump' across the nation during a campaign?

Who is 'minding the store', representing the people that voted you into office, while you are taking a year off, with pay, to campaign for another office?

To All Candidates:

Do you own stocks in oil companies? Can we get someone in office that does not own stock in these companies so that all Americans can get a break? How can anyone get ahead if it costs more to go to work then they make in a day? This is one reason why the are so many people on welfare. They make more money staying at home than going to work. Is anyone going to do anything about the price of gas or is it going to be like all of our previous presidents and allow the oil companies to make massive profits?

What are you going to do to make congress work together to fix this country's problems. The only thing most Americans ever see is the bickering that they do. Kids resolve issues better than they do.

I'd like to know how the candidates will approach the immigration issue. Specific policies and positions are important, but so is approach. How you listen and talk to the country about issues is also important. There are deep divisions in our country over the immigration issue. Deep anger and passions on all sides. What will you do as President to bridge those passions and unify the Country?

More generally, how will you communicate to the public. FDR was famous for his fireside chats. What is the fireside chat of this century and how will you listen and communicate with the public.

I would like to ask Senator Obama to help me understand how he is prepared to deal with the amazing hurtles of this next presidency. Who is on his wish list for his cabinet? I would consider voting for him, but I still have serious concerns about his experience and I need to know he will be getting the best advice and support. p.s. I want names – not glossy talk!

Subject: Energy.
In the last century there were two very large government funded efforts. One was the Mahatan project started by Roosevelt, which produced the first Atomic bomb. The second was the effort starter by Kennedy which put the USA on the moon.
Both Democratic led efforts by giants in our countrys history.

As president, what would you do (note that its not 'if you would') to start, finance, coordinate and ensure that the United States comes up with a viable, non-global warming, replacement to oil as an energy source, that would free us from the strangle hold OPEC has on our country?

Subject Terrorism:
During the past 7 years the actions of 9/11 and the word 'terrorism' have been used for political reasons and to conjure fear in our hearts while at the same time violating international agreements and walking over our constitution.

As president, what would you do to 1) bring bin Laden to justice, dead or alive! 2) restore our international standing to a respected nation instead of a shunned nation 3) restore our civil liberties and reintorduce, long ignored, governmental checks and balances.

Subject Healthcare:
Most other industrialized nations, and some not so industrialized, have long had a healthcare system that covers all of its citizens regardless of their social and financial standing. No limits, no excuses, just a system that takes care of its citizens. Our government has a similar system for our military and for our congress, however its citizens are not covered by such a system.

As president, what would you do to 1) Create a healthcare system that would cover all citizens 2) pass this legislation through congress, 3) finance it?

Subject Jobs:
After WW2 the USA saw a great rise in employment and related benefits provided thanks to labor negotiations with employers. In the past 30 years this countrys' leadership has been dominated by corporate friendly legislators, republicans. As such companies are making record profits while labor has seen its jobs go over seas, its benefits reduced, its wages near stagnation, and worst of all labor has seen its jobs replaced by imported labor, mainly from India.
As president, what would you do to 1) Keep American jobs in America and stem the tide of jobs going overseas, 2) Keep American jobs for Americans by stemming the influx of legal foreign workers to replace American workers. Note that stating H1B and L1 visas has limits is not an answer as these limits have crept up every year; 3) Improve worker wages and benefits.

Joe

Thanks, Wolf. "Sen. Obama (and also Sen. Clinton), while everybody agrees that the prospective nominee of the Democratic party could make history, by either being the first African American or the first woman president, is it fair to assume that the losing candidate's constituency will have a bitter taste in their mouths that "history has eluded them." Based on this assumption, would it not make sense for either of you (should you lose) to consider being the other's running mate, thereby making history for both large groups?"

You do a great job, Wolf. Keep it up.

Please ask the candidates if the plan on investing more time, money and effort into stem cell research. Not only will this create jobs but it will save millions (of people.)

What will be your FIRST act as Presdident, and why?

Wolf,

Please ask the current Senators how they're able to represent their state while campaigning for a new job. It appears to me that they're neglecting their current job.

I wish my employer would let me look for a new job and pay me for it! 8-;

A number of different studies conducted by Harvard University, the Urban Institute and several others conclude that there is no shortage of American IT workers. In fact, unemployment among American IT workers is growing as more and more jobs are lost to outsourcing, off shoring and the importation of foreign labor through so-called temp visas like H-1B.

Engineering schools like the University of Michigan report that almost half their graduates can not get even entry level jobs. To any candidate: "How can you claim to support the American middle class when you support an increase in these temp visas?"

Wolf,

I am confident that any of the [Democratic] candidates will get us out of Iraq. But my other top voting issue is OPEN GOVERNMENT. I'm sick of the citizens of this great country not knowing what is going on. I feel like we're supposed to blindly follow our leaders when they pass shady legislation and make back-room deals the American People weren't part of. I would like you to ask the candidates exactly how they plan to make government transparent again.

Thanks.

Did you support the guest-worker program that President Bush was advocating in his immigration-reform proposal? If so, would you say that the President showed political courage in standing up to his own party's base in pushing for such a measure? Can you give an example of an area where you have a serious disagreement with your own Democratic Party's base where you're willing to stand up against popular opinion within the party?

Do you believe that an independent investigation into the events of September 11th is necessary and will you, as President, push for such an investigation?

For Senators Barack & Hillary:

Please explain why all U.S. Citizens cannot have the same, identical health insurance coverage as you. I do not want to hear about your specific plans. I want to know why we are less entitled than our government officials; our employees.

What is your biggest personal regret? Not something political, but personal.

Thank you for the forum Wolf and CNN.

1) Should voters really care about who was president when the Civil Rights Act was passed? Would there have been a bill to sign at all had it not been for Martin Luther King, Jr.?

2) With high-school kids creating cars that run on soy-bean oil, what specific initiatives does either candidate have in mind to create a completely environmentally friendly automobile in the very near future in the U.S.?
Are we not the same country who safely sent man to the moon? Shouldn't we be able to mass produce an engine that runs on something other than crude oil.

Thanks again,
Tom

Will you prosecute the Bush Administration to the fullest extent of the law for their many crimes…illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, illegal warrentless wiretapping, Katrina, and on and on? Or will you say "We must move on" and allow the criminals to go free, like Iran/Contra and Watergate?

A question for the candidates: Given that we have a great volume of imports from China (formerly referred to as Communist China) and a ban on imports from Cuba, to what extent would you normalize relations with Cuba if you become our President?

If she were elected, does she think that the historical impact of her election as the first female president is diminished by the fact that many (if not most) of her support comes from those who view her as a surrogate for her husband?

My question is to Senator John Edwards.

Sen. Edwards, I found it rather strange that your campaign offered a fiscal stimulus package for the econmony a few weeks before Sen. Clinton. However, while I have watched CCN everyday during that period, I did not read on its website or see on its coverage any mention of your package until Sen. Clinton offered one followed by Sen. Obama. Do you think that some media outlets are biasly trying to pick the issues and thereby the peoples' candidate by not giving you your due?

Please ask the candidates this: If their healthcare insurance plans are put into effect whereby everyone is covered and has to pay something for insurance , who is going to pay for the treatment of illegal aliens at public hospitals? Are we going to stop them at the border and require them to pay for their medical care before they are allowed to continue on to the interior of the country?

For Senator Clinton

In a region of the world, where they show no respect to women, what makes you think that you wou;d be effective?

I would like to ask the Clinton campaign to make a pledge that they will no longer make attacks or remarks towards the Obama campaign by using Bill Clinton, supporters, Black politicans, Black celeberties, Pastors, or any friends of the Clintons. As a registered democratic I need to take a serious look at all the candidates to choose who will truely able to fix the major problems of education, economy, healthcare, environment, immigration, tax system, and poverty

Thank you
Rodney Gaspard
Flushing, NY

All of the democrats seem to be discussing some form of universal health care. I recently spent some time in the UK, and think there are some serious problems with the socialized medicine system they have in place, and it frightens me to think that the US could be on the same road. I would like to know the candidates' justification for wishing to implement universal, government funded healthcare, and if they have any thoughts on avoiding some of the pitfalls seen in other countries.

Question For All Candidates

Black Americans and others rioted in the 60s and 70s for change, more rights, and a chance at the American Dream in the pursuit of happiness. Business and home ownership loans, better jobs with pay and better opportunities were attempted, many were rejected because of ill policy, practices and trust (1) Do you think that the main cause and effect of drowning of those dreams in the 60s and 70s is directly related to the perpetuating apathy in the Black Community today coupled with a lack of involvement of their younger Black Americans in the political process has spread to all people and in all societies nationwide caused by a lack of trust in political leadership to solve/resolve problems and (2) Can you support a policy of broad decision-making input-inclusion with change.

Please ask: will you all use the Pro Israel card to win votes rather than adopt a fair policy towards the whole issue of the Israeli Palestinian question that hurts our foreign policy the most?

To Senator Obama: Do you think that the civil rights legislation would have been passed without a president like Lyndon Johnson, who had all the connections and power he had in congress, twisting the arms and getting the job done? ( I am old enough to remember this time and in fact was a VISTA Volunteer in 1966 and 67 – and I am a huge fan of Martin Luther King, Jr., however, Senator Clinton is correct, it wouldn't have gotten done without a president like LBJ. Shame on the Obama campaign and the media for taking her comments out of context,)

To All Candidates:

I am a son to a widowed Middle Class Mother and she has just lost her house to foreclosure and declared bankruptcy due to credit card companies unfairly raising interest rates. How would you handle the housing and interest rate issues here in the US?

I am newly married. My wife and I have our first baby on the way. I own a small business; incorporated, and it is operated solely by me. I have no healthcare because I am told that it will cost more than my mortgage to insure my family.
All I hear from these candidates is how going to "fix" healthcare so my child will be covered. And they are going to do it by taxing the corporations to gain funding and ease the burden on me the individual. OK…so now I am a corporation who can't afford healthcare for my employee; me, because my business is now taxed to the point that I have to pay myself less. Tell me again how you are going to "fix" things?

Why has so little been mentioned regarding the fact that Senator Obama was raised as a Muslim. Surely this is of great concern to the people who may or may not be considering voting for Senator Obama. I would like to hear the answer regarding the truth about the Senator's relious beliefs. America does not need a future President of Muslim faith.

America is hemmoraging middle class jobs. The ease of opening plants in foreign countries and the imbalance of imported/exported goods has crippled industries employing hundreds of thousands of citizens. The country's current economic situation is a direct result. What specifically would you do to encourage growth in this sector?

I would ask the candidates: Why did you oppose the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, a piece of legislation that a large majority of americans wanted and the supreme court upheld, and which banned a gruesome procedure in which a fetus is delivered until only its head remains in the woman, its skull is punctured, and its brains are sucked out?

Recently congress passed legislation that required automobile makers raise the MPG of all cars over the next several years. Part of this bill also called for extending the tax breaks oil companies are now receiving. I have several questions;
1. How did Obama and Clinton vote
2. In this time of raising budget defeciets and oil companies making record profits how can anyone justify giving an extention of tax breaks to these companies

Wolf ,

I think the entire country want's Hillary Clinton to explain in "DETAIL" her claim to 35 years experience , and if she goes into her years of being the first lady ,have her explain just who was running the country , her or Bill.

I want to know what the canidates are going to help fight chronic diseases when 7 of 10 deaths in the US are due to chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc., 75 cents of every health dollar we spend in the US is spent to treat chronic disease, and One in three of today’s first graders will develop diabetes in their lifetime if we take no actionThis is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

Hello, My name is Kim. I took part in the Democratic "Youtube" debate, I am the future breast cancer survivor from Long Island. I have been carefully reading each of the Democratic health care plans.

My question is, how would you determine affordability of premiums. Each of you says if you're too poor to afford insurance, you would get it for free, and then each would pay according to what they could afford. Will that be indexed by region? After all, a family of four making $50,000 in Wyoming might live pretty well and be able to afford to pay a decent sized premium. However that same pay on Long Island means you can't afford to pay your electric bill, let along health insurance.

Thank you,
Kim

Mr Blitzer, Mr Johns and Mrs Malveaux
I commend you for your transparency regarding the questions to be presented to the democratic candidates. But also caution you to understand the seriousness that many of us on this page take the questions that we are asking. An thus please do not make the mistake of failing to address the questions that have been posed in a representative manner, and run the risk of alienating many of you most avid viewers.

To all candidates; Many of you campaign on the promises to the American people yet no doubt have deep desires to bring change to the entire world. Which, in your role as president you will have the power to influence. It might seem like a easy answer while on the campaign trail, but what will guide your decisions while in office. The promise to unite the american people behind your reforms or using your "good judgement" to make tough decisions internationally even if it sometimes forces you to be a unilateral decider?

Isnt trumpeting your desire for unity at the same time as your desire for change
a unrealistic promise in America today?

Thanks

1. Ask all how is the Irag war being Financed.
2.If they say the World Bank, ask at what rate.
3. Then ask who are the Major investers supporting the World Bank.
4. Ask why any good Business enity would support a losing investment.
5. Ask, Does the American People realize how the war is being financed?

if the people in this country understand our government, they would understand why Sen Clinton made the satement about LBJ that she did, the civil rights act had to be signed into law to take effect, and being he was President at that time, it was him that signed it into law. the flap that is created by reporters is a disgrace to the american people, they distort theings, then other reporters instead of checking the facts just carry along with the same old misrepresentations, when are we going to have truth in reporting the same as we have truth in advertising, probably never, reporters slant the news anyway they want to spin it, and so do the pundits on our media system. I can remember when a reporter never mentioned his choice for any office or how he would vote or who he would support, he had his privacy the same as the electorate, now days all reporters think that spinning some story to the way he wants to hurt or help some candidate is the proper way to report, all I can say is a pox on the house of all spinners. thanks

To Mrs. Clinton

1. Your campaign staffers and supporters don't seem to be very organized, too many people speaking for you, the former president, your husband running a campaign of his own. How does that speak to your experience and leadership and how can you convince America that Bill Clinton will not interfere with your presidency, if you cannot control him during the campaign?

2. I believe all the democrats have very good ideas but the reality is that nothing will get done if the house is divided as is today. With that said, half of the country (Republicans and Independents) dislike the former president for many reason we don’t need to get into, how do you plan on bring the country together (republican and democrats) with Bill Clinton back in the White House, and do you feel the former president is a reliability to win in NOV, remember Bush won in 2000 partly claimed to bring honor and integrity back to the White House?

Does Mr. Obama really believe in the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag and our country for which it stands. I am one of many concerned americans that when he was sworn in as a senator he would not place his hand on the HOLY BIBLE nor does he place his hand over his heart during the pledge of allegiance. He turns his back to the flag. Does he really believe in Jesus Christ and what our nation stands for. I am also concerned regarding his Muslim belief and the safety of our country if he should become President of my UNITED STATES.

Take Notice and Wake Up America!!

Hi I am writing from Tanzania. Question to HIllary about Africa: In 2004, you received an award from the Sullivan foundation together with Condi Rice. (link http://www.thesullivanfoundation.org/foundation/news/AllAfricaStory.asp) That same award was also given to President Obasanjo of Nigeria who now faces corruption probes in Nigeria. Your husband (Bill Clinton) is sitting on the board of Sullivan foundation which is chaired by Andrew Young. Andrew Young was appoint by President Clinton as the Chairman of the Southern Africa Enterprise Development Fund. Andrew Young and carlton Masters are also the founders of Good Works International that is currently implicated in one of the biggest corruption scandals in NIgeria (reported by New York Times). All this is public information.
The question is : Despite your talk of helping Africa with your husband, you have appeared to be held hostage by economic hitmans and lobbyists. How do you plan to help Africa without stealing a chapter from your husband's book?

Wolf, I would truly appreciate if you could get Hillary to answer this question, as they are ransacking Africa and pretend to be helping us!

To all the candidates:

As President, how do you propose to fix the mistakes made by the Bush administration and unify the nation, as well as our allies, on all fronts?

Extra Credit: Answer without using campaign cliches or political buzzwords!

What I would like to ask the candidates……………As President, What would you do the morning after a "katrina" when Americans are trapped?

Wolf,
In general to the candidates:
I need to know more about their healthcare plans and SPECIFICALLY how it would affect Nursing and the Nursing shortage, which is only getting worse. It is my understanding that several of the candidate's plans have included salary caps for Nursing.
As a Healthcare professional and more proudly, a Registered Nurse, I find that humiliating. We are the front lines of the healthcare profession. We are the bedside managers of not only patients care, but in most cases, their lives. From counselor to teacher and everything in between. We wear more "hats" in one day than any other profession. If anything we deserve MORE than what we are currently making.
I want SPECIFIC answers (not numbers or quotes) and solutions to this overwhelming problem.
I did specifically email this question to the Clinton campaign, but got one of those automated responses, which is something I don't want this time.

For all candidates:

Global Warming is a global problem, and requires a global solution.
The future safety and security of the world depends on immediate Carbon Dioxide emissions reductions. If elected President, will you take all necessary steps and actions to immediately ratify the Kyoto Protocol and engage with all nations in developing stronger and committments to drastically and immediately reduce all Carbon Emissions?

Thank you!

Dominic, California

TO ALL CANDIDATES:

Based on 2006 figures:

- seventy cents of every income-tax dollar goes to pay for past, present, and future wars while Education gets only *two cents*.

- the cost of military aircraft parts and ammunition kept *in storage* by the Pentagon is greater than the combined federal spending on pollution control, conservation, community development, housing, occupational safety, and mass transportation all put together.

- the US Navy spends more money in its development of a submarine rescue vehicle than is spent for public libraries, occupational safety, and daycare centers combined.

If you were President, would you cut military spending to pay for important and necessary social and environmental programs?

To All:

Do you see biodiesel as climate-neutral, though the same amount of CO2 comes out of the exhaust and crops on the land could be used for other purposes like food?
I do not understand why the establishment deem that climate neutral!
What long term solution do you see for cars not to run on fossil fuels or biosiel, but on antother viable alternative.

Senator Clinton,

Do you understand why so many people, especially in the black community, think that there are racial overtones and fear-based attacks behind a pattern of comments and actions attributable to you or your supporters/surrogates?

1) Emails forwarded by two (2) of your staffers suggesting Senator Obama is a Muslim, etc.
2) Mr. Shaheen raising Senator Obama's teen drug use and suggesting that Senator Obama may be accused of being a drug dealer
3) Mark Penn using the word "cocaine" on national TV as he referred to Senator Obama's teenage drug use in the aftermath of Mr. Shaheens's comments
4) Bob Johnson's subtle comments about Senator Obama's teenage drug use
5) Bob Kerrey's repeated "code word" use of Senator Obama's middle name and "madrassa" schooling on national TV
6) One of your staffers suggesting that people want Senator Obama as an "imaginary hip black friend," as reported in The Guardian
7) Andrew Cuomo's "shuck and jive" line
President Clinton referring to Senator Obama's campaign for President of the United States as too risky, a roll of the dice, etc.
9) Your charges that Senator Obama was giving people "false hope" and that Senator Obama, with an accomplished resume, is a talker and not ready to lead.

To all candidates:

It has long been my feeling that there are some fundamental questions of government, which, when truly and honestly examined and answered, can tell you what is needed about a candidate, or, in fact, any person's political beliefs. I present a few of these to you now.

What are a government's responsibilities to its citizens, and what are a citizen's responsibilities to their government?
Which is more important, freedom TO or freedom FROM?
Is there ever a time when is it ethical for a society as a whole to do what is unethical for a single member of that society to do?

I have quite a few questions to field to the candidates, since it seems they all share many of the same end-goals but their APPROACHES vary when it comes to tackling the challenges America faces. Hopefully one of these (or some questions similar to these) will make it into the debate. Just FYI, I'm an independent, not a full-fledged Democrat, so if a few of my questions have a Republican flavor, please forgive me. I'm anticipating November a bit, here.

1.) Iraq: How and when will you get us out, and how exactly do you plan to do it in a way that will not destabilize Iraq and the Middle East? Give more details please! Explain why your approach is realistic, with reference to the wider Middle-Eastern and international perspective. Do try to keep in mind that the situation may be different, in various possible ways, by this time next year. Take those possible differences into account in your answer.

2.) Health Care: Discuss the differences in your health care plans with regard to the decision of including mandates. Do you believe such mandates can actually be enforced in practice, and if so, how? If you included certain mandates, why do you believe they are necessary? If you omitted certain mandates, what was your rationale for that decision? Most importantly, how will you gain the cooperation and assistance of the House and Senate in making your plan a reality?

3.) Faith and Religion: What role will your personal beliefs have in your presidency? What do you believe is the most important thing to remember when it comes to balancing the role of faith in public life, for elected officials and for ordinary Americans? (Yes, it's a question more often asked of the Republican candidates, but it's still worth asking you to address.)

4.) Change: Discuss how you, as president, will help our nation heal and move beyond the Bush presidency (and other previous messy political legacies still affecting today's politics). How will you help us get back on track to embody the ideals of our founders and our previous generations? How will your actions in the short term (first year in office to end of your first term) fit with your goals regarding to the longer-term future of America and the opportunities of generations not yet born? How will you lead America FORWARD, rather than merely in a circle or back-and-forth between the current "left" and "right" as we've seen happen in the last few decades?

(To clarify #4 if needed: We still face many of the same difficulties we faced in the 1970s: energy, environment, inflation, foreign policy blunders, social issues, etc. Some of these items have improved, to various degrees, but in some areas it feels like we have made little meaningful progress, particularly on energy and the environment. How can we realistically solve these problems, in practical ways that bring parties and citizens together rather than deepening America's ideological divides?)

5.) Experience: Discuss the role of a candidate's experience in a presidential race. Which experiences from your own life do you believe are the most valuable, and how do they affect your vision of policy and leadership? What kinds of new experience and what new goals would you be bringing to the White House? How will you handle concerns about lack of personal or policy-making experience in certain areas, since Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, and Bill Richardson (all of whom have vast experience in government, diplomacy, and policy-making) are no longer in this race? Can you comment on how experience and expertise will affect your choice of advisors?

6.) Individual candidate concerns:

John Edwards: How will you mitigate the possible trickle-down effects to low-income and middle-class workers while you crack down on the corporate greed and corruption you cite so frequently as a problem in America and politics today? In other words, how will you ensure that the irresponsible corporate executives you intend to crack down on will not simply drop the burden on their workers? Also, how do you differentiate between responsible and irresponsible corporations? It would be helpful if you laid this out in some whole-system terms to explain what your proposed corporate crackdown would mean for our economy and what effects you'll achieve regarding the poor and the rich, as well as the middle class you've been so focused on.

Hillary Clinton: Please address once and for all the concerns that you are "too divisive" to be an effective president. What steps will you take to reach out and bridge the many divides among the American people and in our government? What will you do to reconcile America with the rest of the world to build a better future for all? How do you plan to gain the respect of people who disagree with you at home and abroad? How do you plan to handle any dissent you encounter from Republicans, voters, and others? What will you do to win hearts and minds, not just political arguments, at home and around the world? How will this help you rise above the division issue? This is related to question #4, but more focused on some of your perceived weaknesses.

Barack Obama: One of the goals you've highlighted repeatedly is the goal of bringing the American people together to help tackle America's challenges and to be more active in politics and government. Discuss how you plan to accomplish this goal. How will you continue to "network" with the American people and make sure that you are working together effectively with the rest of the nation throughout your presidency? How will you restore trust and unity to the United States, with regard to citizens, states, local governments, the military, and the different branches of the government? Also, discuss how, specifically, you will increase the openness, transparency, and accountability of the government. What new resources will you give the American people to help us hold our president and federal government accountable for their actions? Do you think people will be motivated to stay involved after the election in November is over? How will you work to keep the public involved so that a departure from "politics as usual" will be a long-lasting change for America?

Yes, I realize this set of questions could just about be a made into full-length debate without having to put much other material in there, and any one of the questions could be expanded on to essay or book length. I still hope at least a few of my concerns will be addressed, though.

Typo on the last sentence…."an illegal war isnt it"

In the hope you are still muddling through further debate questions Id humbly submit the following question:

To Senator Obama – It's no secret a major part of your campaign rests on your opposition to the war in Iraq. You have declared time and again your commitment to swiftly end that war and that this war was illegal. Yet at the same time you have made comments that you would, as President, in effect, violate the sovereignty of another nation by "going into Pakistan" unilaterally to pursue Al Qaeda, a move to which President Musharraf has responded to strongly in his recent comments. How do you reconcile these two views? Wouldn't an invasion, whether it be large scale or small scale, still be a major violation of International Law. And if it does violate International Law, and you would still do it, how does that view really effect change? An illegal war is an illegal was isnt it?

Brian Michaels
Columbia, South Carolina

WHen Senator Clinton was here in NH, she spoke about promising to work for equal rights for all Americans. I'd like if you could ask the Senator how she can say this while not supporting gay marriage.

Sen. Edwards, would you please consider Dennis Kucinich as a running mate?

Kindly ask Mrs Clinton ,if 35 years of leadership is not enough for retirement.?

To Hillary:

When is it appropriate for the U.S. to declare war on another nation?

As immigration (illegal and legal) continues to increase in this country, English-as-Second Language (ESL) students are drastically on the rise. These students are requiring a tremendous amount of educator's time in the classroom as the language barrier prohbits them from performing at a pace consistent with english-speaking students. Additionally, these same immigrants are bringing down achievement test scores that are used to measure success of a school as well as to determine funding. Good schools that are receiving a large number of non-english speaking immigrants are being punished because these students are reducing the overal performance of the schools. Likewise, english speaking students, especially those that are gifted, are not receiving the quality education they could have otherwise.

1) What WILL you do address the issue of non-english speaking students being mainstreamed into english-speaking classrooms and the disruption they cause to the education of America's best and brightest students?

2) What WILL you do to balance the investment in our gifted students, especially in math/science, that are currently being held back due to the high-level of educator's time in the classroom caused by non-english speaking students?

3) By constantly taking from the middle-class to give to the poorer class, are we not becoming a socialist soceity? If this trend continues, what is the incentive for those Americans who are currently ambitous and innovative to remain so, since much of their earnings will be taken to "level the playing field"? Isn't it dangerous to America's future to risk the initiative of the working class by rewarding those that contribute less with equal compensation through taking from the middle class and giving it to the poorer class?

Constitutionally, Bill Clinton can run for Vice President, as the Constitution only prohibits "being elected to the office of the president" more than twice. Would any of you have a problem with him running?

Wolf,

I would like to ask a question to all of the candidates:

Why is "socialized medicine" such a dirty word?

C'mon! You're all supposed to be Democrats; now act like one and tell us!

All the candidates:
What do you think of Joe Biden's plan to federalize Iraq? Do you have a viable alternative?

To all the candidates?
Do you know anyone more knowledgeable about foreign affairs (especially Pakistan) than Joe Biden? Shouldn't he be our secretary of state?

Wolf,
Ask all candidates: If elected president 1) what would you do to stabilize the economy and how? 2) Would you help third world countries such as Haiti, Darfur, and others to end poverty and starvation?
Thank you,

I woul like someone to ask Senator Barrack why he did not vote for the Iraq war. Was it because
- He knew something the rest of Congress did not?
- He believes War is not a solution
- He did not want to go to war against a muslim nation for fear of a backlash in the Middle East
- He was not convinced America's forces could win a war
- He was not convinced America had a plan for post war Iraq
???

Wolf, I think Kevin Drawbaugh from Reuters brings up a good point to ask:

"Ask corporate lobbyists which presidential contender is most feared by their clients and the answer is almost always the same — Democrat John Edwards. One business lobbyist said an Edwards presidency would be a 'disaster' for his well-heeled industrialist clients.

'I think Hillary is approachable. She knows where a lot of her funding has come from to be blunt,' said Greg Valliere, chief political strategist at Stanford Group Co., a market and policy analysis group."

Senator Obama, since the year 2000 NASA has consumed 140 billion dollars of the federal budget. Your health care plan would, if fully funded, cost 50 to 60 billion dollars annually. Can we really justify spending that money on space rocks instead of medicine?

To the rest of the candidates: What's your position on NASA funding? Do we really need NASA now that the cold war is over?

In the midst of this recent increase in negative campaigning, it seems as if the real issues, those which truly define what this election means for democrats, Americans and people around the world, have fallen to the wayside. Discussion on any issue that affects the American people; health care, Iran, global climate change and L.G.B.T. rights only appear in conversation upon external prompting. What motivates a candidate like yourself to participate in what can hardly be deemed "political debates" over these issues such as Hillary's unfortunate remarks about LBJ and M.L.K. Jr., and what does this say about your campaign and the current state of American politics?

In order to promote a UNITED States of America would you appoint a true bipartisan cabinet? What specific strategies do you have for reducing the polarization of the UNITED States Senate and Congress and the UNITED States of America?

Wolf – Please ask these candidates what they believe will be the impact on the American people if the national debt continues to mushroom and the dollar continues to dive? How do they inted to fix this difficult problem?

In order to promote a UNITED States of America would you appoint a true bipartisan cabinet? What specific strategies do you have for reducing the polarization of the (un)UNITED States Senate and Congress and the (un)UNITED States of America?

Our country gives men and women the day off on important days such as Veteran's Day and Memorial Day.

How come Election days are not national holidays to encourage our citizens to vote in the most patriotic day possible? Would you support legislation to label election days every 2 years to be national holidays?

To Senator Clinton: Although you claim an admiration for Dr. MLK's visions and how he worked with President Johnson's in order to sign the Civil Rights bill, you neglect to tell the voters at that time, you were a supporter of Barry Goldwater, who opposed the enactment of the Civil Rights bill?

For Senator Clinton:
During your campaign you have highlighted your experience gained while in the Whitehouse during Mr. Clinton's administration. During his administration, he essentially took a "break" from military spending, which has now led to our nations services having to recapitalize land, air and sea vehicles and support equipment in enormous quantities. We have left so much equipment behind in the desterts that they are now veritable bone yards. If elected, will you commit to military spending to modernize and recapitalize our fleets and to help keep me, as a soldier mobile, prepared, and able to combat future threats?

Question For All Candidates

Global Warming is a world survival threat that is without a probable plan that would work to evacuate planet earth. Michigan-Detroit and based auto makers are in a sales and jobs slump – will you support legislation and is there a justifiable reason why America's technology and the pace set by the auto industry aren't agreeing to manufacture vehicles with 50, 60 70+ mpg as a standard in 3-5years which will generate more interest and sales of U.S. made vehicles.

I recently emailed a question to a number of campaigns that I am interested in personally. I have yet to receive an answer from any candidate I managed to get the question to, but what bothers me most is that what I did get from the Democratic candidates was a free subscription to a large number of unsolicited emails thanking me for my support (never offered) and asking for my money. So here's a question I'd like to see addressed:

Are you going to listen to the people? How are you going to ensure that the voices of the people are actually heard, when so many of us have our voices drowned out or ignored?

Here is the question I originally asked the candidates, which I still would like to have answered. To be fair, I didn't get this sent to Senator Edwards until today, so I don't know if he (meaning his campaign, of course) will take the time to answer my question or will ask me to give him money like the others have.

——————————
I believe any nation or culture has always needed some goal or project that unifies them– WWII unified our nation and brought us out of difficult financial situations because the American people banded together to accomplish something for good. The space program did that more recently, and also showed another incredible feat: it unified the entire world, who watched eagerly as Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, and later as we struggled to return the Apollo 13 astronauts to earth. The International Space Station is perhaps the biggest collaboration between nations, and I believe the space program could possibly be the most effective means of generating peace and good will between nations in the world.

I applaud the number of candidates that have suggested building a project like the Apollo moon landings to solve our energy issues, but at the same time I have not heard many candidates even mention the space program itself.

A recent survey found that most people believe that NASA's budget is comparable to the Department of Defense's, however the actual budget is quite small, and possibly not enough to really accomplish the wonderful things they are engaged in.

Can you tell me what you believe is the roll of America in Space Exploration, and how he would support NASA and private endeavors in space?

My question is for all the candidates, but I would like to hear Senator Clinton's response first:

In 1995, Senator Clinton spoke in China, stating in part, "that it is no longer acceptable to discuss women's rights as separate from human rights". I agree. Millions of women currently live in countries without many basic rights, often to due to oppressive Sharia Islamic law.

As most scholars agree that divestiture and economic sanctions helped end apartheid in South Africa, isn't the west hypocritical by not acting similarly against governments that deny women basic rights? What would you do as President to improve human rights for women in Saudi Arabia and all people around the world?

Can any of the candidates explain why the democrat controlled Congress has not accomplished any of the changes promised during the mid term elections and based on their track records why should we believe that any of the members of Congress currently running for the democratic nomination would do any more as president?

Can any of the candidates explain why the democrat controlled Congress has not accomplished any of the changes promised during the mid term elections and based on their track records why should we believe that any of the members of Congress currently running for the democratic nomination would do any more as president?

Wolf,

I have read most of the comments on this site and with out any doubt, 50% of
americans want to know why Hillary refuse to explain her 35 years of experience,
if you don't ask her any other question please ask her to outline the 35 years.

Thanks in advance

Zack!!!!

I am interested in Bill Clinton and his influence in Hillary Clinton's Campaign. I can see that he has had a large role in this campaign and I am interested in what role he will have in the future. Can he become Vice-President or maybe he will become a supreme court judge. My question is: will we have the same polices of the 90's and will Hillary be able to run the country without Bill constantly interjecting? This might be the greatest challenge to change that Hillary will face in the future.

Senator Clinton,

What is the most significant way politically or ideologically that your views differ from those of Bill Clinton?

I think the American citizenry is pretty well-informed on his policies, and given that many Americans assume that a Hillary presidency would be an extension of his leadership (especially given a prominent role Bill would likely play in the White House), I think it would be instructive to know what differences there are… since we seem to be pretty familiar with the similarities.

This is not a question for the candidates but rather a plea to Wolf Blitzer:

1. PLEASE stop with the constant self-congratulatory "Best Political Team on Television" business, or at least cut back to only a couple dozen times per show. It is intensely annoying after the first few hundred times. It makes you sound like a used car salesman pushing lemons on a late night commercial.

2. PLEASE try to show more balance and less favoritism in your treatment of debate participants. You have a strong tendency to favor those presumed by the media to be the front runners and to ignore presumed "also rans." As one example, you ignored Ron Paul almost completely in the early Republican debates. The voters get to decide who merits serious treatment, not broadcast journalists. Give us a chance to hear from each of them.

3. PLEASE stop inciting candidates to dwell on pseudo controversies and focus on the issues. You like to get candidates to criticize one another on ancient history and side issues, encouraging dog fights that add nothing to our understanding of the policies the candidates would promote. I believe we would all benefit more from a thorough discussion of the many issues our nation faces.

I would ask all the candidates about their views on the United States' recent lagging in the sciences as compared with countries such as China, India and Japan. Where do the candidates think the US stands today among industrialized nations in consideration of the sciences and how can we change this?

What would they do to reemphasize the sciences in middle and high schools and to bring Americans back to a level of mild understanding of science?

Additionally and most importantly, what would their policies be as to supporting and funding national research agencies such as the NIH and NSF, which give vital grants to research programs in academia to further research in many greatly important areas?

Finally, in addition to funding federal research agencies, how would the candidates address the issue that has come up recently that the FDA, the governmental agency in charge of regulating the safety of prescription drugs, is having a hard time quickly and accurately approving drugs for market sale, which can have a huge effect on consumer safety and health?

Ask each of the candidates "if your bid for the Democratic presidential nominee is unsuccessful, which of your opponents would you like to see as your party's nominee and why?" A follow-up question is "would you consider being this candidate's running mate to continue serving the party's agenda and the American people?"

For all the candidates:

I take it that each of you disagree with CNN's Lou Dobbs on immigration, and there may be some valid points to the disagreements, so my question is this:

Why have non of you, sat down with those in opposition to your position to get a better understanding of the concerns of Americans on the issues surrounding them?

I would think, its a great start at healing the country that is divided on many fronts because of a policy that appears to being forced on a majority of Americans that contest it.

Which of you would call on Mr. Dobbs, if for nothing else, his references to make sure that your not making policy that is biased towards lobby, and pac.

After all why take lobby money for the vote, when your voting with them anyway.

I'd like to ask each candidate what they will do to preserve the rights to be free from the imposition of religion. All the candidates trumpet their faith, some, such as Huckabee and Romney, more stridently than others. How can we trust them to uphold the freedoms of *all* the people, including atheists, agnostics, and secular humanists. Policies based on a candidate's religion are at best suspect: I want policies based on what is best for the country as a whole, not ones they believe or claim to believe to have been dictated by an imaginary dictator they consider worthy of worship.

On another topic, in the interests of preserving the environment, candidates talk of more efficient cars, more public transportation, etc., but I don't hear any talking of reducing the *need* for transportation by supporting increased openness to telecommuting, incentives to replace business travel with teleconferencing, etc.

Wolf – Please ask these candidates what they believe will be the impact on the American people if the national continues to mushroom and the dollar continues to dive? How do they inted to fix this difficult problem?

to all the democrats:
On which issue would you diverge the most from the Bush-Cheney administration?

(SORRY IF THIS IS A REPEAT, BUT I DO NOT FIND MY ORIGINAL POST)

To Senator Obama:

Why did you wait one week to condemn accusations against Hillary that her remarks (and her husband’s) were racist in nature? Moreover, upon condemning these accusations, you then proceeded to state to ABC News on January 14, 2008 that the comment was revealing about her political character. "I do think it was indicative of the perspective that she brings, which is that what happens in Washington is more important than what happens outside of Washington." He said he believes the quote betrays a belief on her part, "that the intricacies of the legislative process were somehow more significant than when ordinary people rise up and march and go to jail and fight for justice." He called that a "fundamental difference" between them (Source: ABC News Political Radar: “Obama Damps Down Racial Controversy” 01-14-08).

Is there not a hypocrisy in your statement? Didn't Hillary explicitly acknowledge Dr. King's contributions in all the aspects you outlined beforehand? What is this "fundamental difference" you refer to? Please explain and justify your statements with hard evidence that clearly outlines this intention on Hillary's behalf. Hillary please respond to Senator Obama's remarks should you feel it merits clarification of the facts. Thank you.

For All Candidates – Dems & Reps

1. Customer Service in the U.S. has basically gone down the tube – there is no personal service. Major corporations are achieving major profits and senior managers are receiving big bonuses and the national unemployment rate is alarmingly high with many U.S. citizens at the lower pay scale finding it hard to find a job – do you and will you (as a starting point) support tax incentives to businesses that hires real customer services representatives and which throw away voice recordings-answering machines to stimulate employment and personal economies.

2. Is Change Really In The Air and Is Healing A Part Of Change – the latest housing market information looks dismal while reparations remains in limbo. Financial stability and home ownership are two main issues that have been lacking for the majority of Black Americans since slavery – how would you cure both the current housing market crisis and reparations and would you support reparations legislation that would provide 3% mortgages backed by the Federal Government to assist with settling the issue and which also would allow all Americans to refinance at the 3% mortgage interest rate to stimulate the economy, healing a wounded people and road to recovery.

Wolf – Please ask these candidates what do they consider the greatest threat to the American Way of Life, why do they think so, and what do they intend to do about it.

Thanks.

to all the democrats:
Which republican will best continue the policies of the Bush-Cheney administration?

Senator Clinton

Experience, there is no doubt that you have Washington experience, advocacy experience, and family experience, and I will not question them.

But I do question your judgment, and I want to point out two; your vote for the war in Iraq, you submit in hindsight should not have happened.

The information following the failure of the comprehensive immigration policy, reflects that it would not have done the job projected.

We see a similar pattern from the current president in which we all feel missed the opportunity to really represent Americans.

So my question is: If your elected President, how would you eliminate risk associated with bad policies that often come from oversight.

To all democrats:
Of all the positions of all of the republicans, which one do you disagree with the most and why?

what will be the american benefit from the midele east

This question is for Senator Obama,

CHANGE, CHANGE, CHANGE.

You understand the need no doubt that Americans are losing America, and to save something of it for our children, and our children's children, there is a need to change the course.

We are in a perfect storm of challenge, the Economy, which no one seems to be talking about in its entirety, I remember a time when I was in high school, during summer vacation, finding a job that helped me learn the value of hard work, finance management and priority sought us out.

Today, I see this generation of high school vacationers competing with a foreign population, that are not here legally filling those same slots.

So my question is this, How do you balance the quality of life of your potential constituents, with the effects the new comers have on them?

What legislation enacted in the last 20 years will you work in your first year of office to repeal?

To all the dems, starting with Hillary:
What has the Bush-Cheney administration done that has most harmed America?

What has the Bush-Cheney administration done that has most harmed Americans?

Wolf,
Please ask Senator Clinton if she can, in good conscious, look into the eyes of the mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers of our fallen soldiers and continue to say (as she did on Meet the Press) that she did not realize that she was voting for authorization to go to war. I think I am more concerned about her voting without fully understanding the implications than I am about the vote itself. This is very concerning.

My question is for Mr. Edwards

I feel your passion when it comes to lobby's buying the country off of elected officials that vowed to represent the people, and I am sure you can understand why its so hard to trust those in office.

and I agree with you that Lobbying should not be allowed to feast off of our quality of life.

But I don't blame Lobbying, I blame those in office that accept it in trade.

So, we have a supply and demand issue, If ethics reform had real teeth, there would be no place for lobbying.

Please respond to what you would do to change the culture in Washington if you are elected president

James (Los Angeles)

Mr. Blitzer,

Please ask the candidates a question that is on many of our minds and clear up the mass of confusion.

Hillary Clinton claims she will bring change. Why is she reverting to old "un-changed" "Washington" ways of campaigning. Her campaigning is attempting to down other candidates and trying to moving the focus off herself. Please ask her why she is contradicting her statements (and consistently is doing so).

Also, please ask her how Bill Clinton's experience in politics, and as president, automatically gives her so much "experience" and will be ready if she walks in as president.

Lastly, please ask her why she attempts to bring the "women factor" into the campaign and then accuses other candidates of doing the same thing, even though other candidates did not the same as her.

Sincerely,
Mike

I would like Obama to respond to Hillary Clinton's attack on his campaign coordinator Jim Demers who Hillary attacked as being a lobbyist for the drug company Fizer. How can Obama push for health care reform and to rid Washington of lobbyist influence if his close adviser works for a drug company

My question to the democratic candidates is simple:

with all three of you vying hard for the black vote, why should black Americans vote democratic? Blacks break 9-to-1 democrat, yet black schools and communities are in shambles, and hospitals that serve black neighborhoods are hospitals you wouldn't want YOUR loved ones forced to use. With black loyalty to democrats obvious, would you continue voting democratic despite the appalling results of democratic loyalty listed above?

Please ask Hillary ,
If she claim she cares so much about our country … why she did not run against Bush in 2004. It was already obvious what to expect from him.

And another one about the war.

If she claims :
"“Obviously, if we knew then what we know now, there wouldn’t have been a vote…"

After this confession she should get out of politics because of the admitted failure and why should we trust her judgement?

How will Israel play a role in your middle eastern foreign policy?

Wolf,

Please ask the candidates if they were in office and a major terrorist attack (on par with 9/11) were to take place on American soil how would they respond both as President and as Commander-in-Chief. Would such an act be considered an act of war and would they be willing to go before Congress seeking a declaration of war against the terrorists and host country(s)?

Thank you,
Scott

Please ask all of the republican canadates if they will undo the law (passed in the omnibus budget) which cuts the amount of borders fence in half and cuts the double fence to a single fence, and makes it nearly impossible to build given the local consultaitons, environmental impact studies, and other red tape.

Is affirmative action just? If not, would you continue it as president?

Wolf, could you please ask the candidates (Obama, Clinton & Edwards) how they can justify treating American people that happen to be gay unequal by forbidding them to marry the people they love? Is it for votes?

And if their answer is for religious reasons, will you please remind them of the separation of church and state? How can they force their warped hateful religion on the citizens of our country? Land of the free, home of the brave?

Dennis Kucinich is the only one that gets it on every issue. He is by far the most evolved candidate in the race.

I agree with previous comments that an important area where a dialogue has been lacking is the true extent of Obama's drug use, and whether or not he ever did actually sell drugs at any time.

In the form of a question, "If you insist that Senator Clinton's initial vote authorizing some form of action in Iraq is an important blemish on her voting record, why is your past drug use not an important blemish on your record as a citizen?"

I truly believe that Barack Obama is not receiving the kind of scrutiny that Hillary Clinton is receiving. The media seems to be playing nice with Obama and Edwards, while Senator Clinton's voting record and policy positions are being questioned at every debate. It seems to me as though the questions posed to all of the candidates, Hillary included, are very easy to answer with voter-pleasing sound bites that denigrate the other candidates, despite the fact that they all agree on basic issues. I think that a more direct and assertive line of questioning for all the candidates is called for this time. As a moderator, you should be willing to peel away at the political answers to get at the bare truth, and uncover the political statements.

Ask Obama why he seems to consider experience irrelevant. It seems ridiculous. If all a candidate for President requires is a good acumen of rabble-rousing sound bites regardless of relevant experience, the only purpose of these elections is to determine who can rile up the voters most. That would be a very sad day for the American media, whose goal should be to confront the candidates as genially but as aptly as possible.

I apologize for the long comment

Wolf, would you please ask them how their healthcare plans (except Kucinich's) will help solve our healthcare crisis when they will REQUIRE that we pay into the broken private health insurance system whose only interest is profiting from NOT giving healthcare?

Wouldn't it be better to use all our tax dollars that go to government subsidies for these wealthy corporations and the $300 billion a year in administrative and paperwork costs (would be eliminated with Kucinich's single-payer) to ACTUALLY give us healthcare?

And lastly to Clinton, Edwards, and Obama: Are you insurance salesmen?

To Senator Clinton, Senator Obama and Senator Edwards:
The SAVE (Secure America with Verification and Enforcement) Act has been recently introduced in both houses of Congress with broad bi-partisan support (137 co-signers to date). Will you sign on as a cosponsor of this important legislation and as President work hard for it's full implementation? If so, why? If not, why not?

ask if they believe the electoral college should be abolished, as some states have done under the National Popular Vote.

As I write this question, my 5 year old daughter and 5 month old son are asleep, feeling safe in their home. But their future as Americans is not safe. Not because of terrorists, but because right now, as they sleep, they each already owe over $30,000 as their share of the National Debt. My daughter has $27 in her savings account.

I love my country. I hate that callous politicians have endangered my children's future and I feel powerless to do anything about it. One of you will have that power if elected President.

Specifically, what will you do to get rid of the debt, or even just the deficit, by the end of your presidency?

According to the American Public Transportation Association, 60 million Americans living in rural communites are completely isolated due to lack of access to public transportation systems. This is especially difficult for aging and low income Americans who either can't drive or don't have access to a vehicle. As president, would you back legislation that would provide federal support to states wishing to expand public transportation into rural areas?

Obesity is one of the nations leading causes of heart disease and an ever growing epedemic yet people over a certain weight can't get health insurance. My 3 year old daughter has a condition that requires her to get MRIs every year but due to a career change and new insurance coverage her condition is considered pre-existing and will not be covered by insurance. What do the candidates plan to do about the increasing cost of health care and health insurance and will they address the issues limited coverage from the health insurance companies?

My question is for Dennis Kucinich.

I believe it's important for a President to show resiliency and courage. Dennis Kucinich, you have faced much adversity while growing up, such as poverty and a Mafia hit job being placed on you for not selling Cleavland's electric grid, (an act that ended up saving the city an estimated $195 million between 1985 and 1995). You still face many obstacles in your campaign for presidency. How do you find the courage and inspiration when all the odds seem so heavily stacked against you?

SINCE POLITICAL CANDIDATES AND OFFICE HOLDERS MUST BE FOCUSED ON, AND EXPERT AT, RAISING HUGE SUMS OF MONEY TO GET INTO, OR REMAIN IN, OFFICE, WHY ARE WE SURPRISED AT THE EXTENT OF CORRUPTION IN WASHINGTON BY THOSE WHO ARE SO MONEY ORIENTED?

HOW WOULD YOU STOP THE GOVERNMENT FROM BEING SOLD-OUT TO BIG MONEY LOBBYISTS?

RECENTLY I RECEIVED AN EXTENSIVE SURVEY FROM THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE ASKING QUESTIONS 'ABOUT ISSUES IMPORTANT TO AMERICAN VOTERS'–WHY WAS THERE NO QUESTION ABOUT IMMIGRATION? INADVERTENT OR INTENTIONAL?

For Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama

Do any of you think it is a good idea for American citizens to be displaced / passed over for cheap labor from third world countries? Given proof there is no shortage of skilled, high tech workers evidenced by stagnant and falling wages, why then do you think it's good policy to raise the limits on foreign worker visas such as the H-1b, L-1 etc.

I want the first woman President of the U.S.A. to get to the White House without having been First Lady. I'm not alone in this preference. Any assurances to offer us?

Our Afghanistan soldiers are just as brave, and when they die, just as dead, as the soldiers we send to Iraq, yet we never hear about our Afghanistan strategy; why did we go, why are we still there, what are our goals, etc.

What is your strategy for Afghanistan? Are Iraq and Afghanistan policies automatically linked – if we pull out of/stay in Iraq, do we pull out/stay in Afghanistan?

What are the compelling reasons for staying? For leaving?

The Bush administration says we are in a war on terror, which is conveniently vague. The reality is we are fighting a war on two fronts, but we never hear anyone, democrat or republican, discuss the Afghani front, only the Iraqi front.

Please, discuss your views on Afghanistan.

Since our oil dependence plays such a strong role in our foreign policy, would you be willing to publically committ to making this country oil independent in 10 years. And, if you do make the committment, how can the American people believe you since every President since Richard Nixon in l968 has made the same unkept committment.

My name is Anil and am Indian Came here with work permit and living in Chicago. I am interested in politics and always follow up US politica in CNN and having following questions:

Candidates talking about CHAGE VS EXPERIANCE :

1)What's the chage means they are taking always? I mean to ask here are they will change the systems? if so, Could you please mention exact changes you would like to change(Ex: Econamy,Iraq war, Terrorism and Health care).

2)How would you change the system with out having the Expericance?

3) As per my K/W has a presiden for Great country should need to have big Experiance to ready to make a decision in any critical issues like Econamy and specially in Defense…etc (otherwise we will see more situations like IRAQ)

4) Current Econamy is going down day by day So how could you play good role without having good experiances for making critical decision?

Please ignore if I made any mistakes in my statements.

Regards,
Anil Ch

Would you please ask Obama, the uniter, why he thinks he inspires his supporters to negativity/divisiveness.

Robert, Gastonia, North Carolina January 11, 2008 4:33 pm ET

As a gay male, I would also be curious to know what their personal feelings are on homosexuality and gay rights. Also what do they plan to do in their presidency to support gays and lesbians and if they would do away with dont ask dont tell

ANSWER
Senator John Edwards, in his "Plan for One America" has pages on this very topic. He wants to do away with "don't ask, don't tell". He also wants to repeal laws preventing the possibility of gay marriage. That would return gay marriage to a state issue.
Edwards is definitely on top of these issues.

I have heard so many comments on race and issue in the past couple of days. It is obviously a topic that most Americans can’t seem to let go. After all these years, it is still and underlying issue that makes headline news.
As a 34 year old bi-racial woman of color (asian and black), I understand Senator Obama’s decision to not make it part of his campaign. Interesting that we still use the old standby to characterize what race a person is supposed to be.
Bill Clinton was labeled the “first black president.” (I’m sorry, I didn’t realize someone did his genealogy and he was actually African-American? Or is that because he plays the sax? Has an office in Harlem? Cheated on Hillary? I didn’t know that qualifies one as “being black”.)
Senator Obama is now being labeled as the “first black presidential candidate.” (Somewhat insulting to us bi-racial folks who recognize both our mothers and our fathers as significant donors to our DNA.)
Senator Clinton is being labeled as the “first woman candidate.” (Does no one remember Shirley Chisholm?)
It would be almost too progressive for Americans to leave the race card at the bottom of the deck. Much like the Joker in the pile, leave it out!
My two questions:
Being that this debate will be televised on the day we honor and celebrate a true American leader and a true voice for change and hope (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), how has each candidate embraced the idea of Dr. King’s “Dream” and what have they done personally or through their various positions to see that this dream becomes or remains a reality?
Economy is of concern to most Americans. We are in a recession. Some say headed toward a depression. My husband and I are hard working adults with children that would like to buy a home and send our kids to college and be able to save and retire and have access to good healthcare. We have had to hold out on our American dream because it is too costly and would leave us house poor. We were so close to buying in to the ARM mortgages 2 years ago, but held off because the payments were too scary. What will each candidate do to ensure Americans have access or a realistic path to their dreams?
Thanks CNN,
Concerned citizen from SF, California

We've all lost the equity in our homes, thanks to the unregulated Wild West of mortgage lending, followed by the Wall Street bundling that moved our wealth into the hands of foreign investors. Many of us were swindled into bad loans, and that has hurt us all. We no longer own our own homes, even if we did nothing wrong. What will each candidate do to restore our homes back to us? How will you help those who have been swindled by the industry restore their credit and good names?

I would like to know from each candidate what their stand is on offshoring of American jobs. Seems to me that offshoring (and also outsourcing) will: add to unemployment numbers; cause people to lose health plans; inhibit purchase power of middle-class Americans; under-utilize the skills and abilities of Americans whereas many must seek out employment beneath their skills and abilities just to pay the bills. I do not believe that the benefit (is there more than one?) of offshoring will outweigh the pain and distress that Americans endure as a result of it. Thank you.

The 9/11 attacks were carried out by 19 men using box cutters.

For those of you currently operating at the federal level, I wonder how you sleep at night knowing that the most dominant military in history responded so impotently in getting after bin Laden.

More importantly, I wonder how you sleep knowing that, in what now can only be considered a military response for 9/11, approximately 4,000 U.S. troops are dead, and that our military action has caused the death of upwards of 60,000 Iraqi CIVILIANS, perhaps many times that.

After the massive loss of life, which ought to be our primary concern, comes the massive loss of money. Estimates are for 1 Trillion dollars in war spending.

I used to wake up every morning happy to be an American. I was proud of our country, I felt as we led the world in mostly positive ways. I still wake up happy to be an American, but much of that has to do with not being born and trying to raise a family in Iraq.

You have an opportunity to save lives and restore dignity to our country. What is your plan to do so?

Mark Legere

First, too many of these "questions" are attacks and accusations, geared to put Clinton and Obama on the defensive, which would only serve to encourage counter-attacks on each other. The DeMoines Register's Iowa debate was the most serious, least confrontational one, and generally respectful of the candidates and us, the audience. That should be the model.

Question: What personal qualities make you an excellent choice for this office? How does your life and career experience fit into the role?

Question: (catch them by surprise) What do you admire in your rivals, that you'd be happy to embody?

Why are my question-entries still marked "awaiting moderation" (on my own screen, at least), ABOVE others that have been cleared already??

For Senator Edwards:
Do you believe that you have to be poor, or currently part of the middle class, to have concern about issues that affect the poor and the middle class?
Critics of your "Plan for One America" claim that a person like yourself, who has obtained wealth, cannot comprehend the issues that concern the poor and middle class.
As part of the middle class, I think that the Presidency requires an extraordinary person. I think that a person who worked their way up from meager beginnings, made a good living, has done service to the public,and is now running for President of the United States, could still understand the needs and desires of the poor and middle class.
What do you think?

What do you plan to do before and after the election to stop Bush's planned arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait? This is idiotic at the highest degree!

Will you, as President, pardon George Bush after he leaves office??

Here’s the question no one is talking about: What about Social Security?

The WW2 babies are beginning to draw Social Security now. This year the first wave of the post-war baby boomers will begin drawing Social Security. Every year from now on will see huge demands on the broken Social Security system.

No one is talking about Social Security. It’s about time someone did. How do you propose to ensure that funds will be available to meet the demands placed on the system over the next ten years.

What changes would you make for people contributing in the future?

I thought Obama was claiming to represent "Change". Am I dreaming??
Most African Americans believe they are not able to strive in this copuntry or that they suffer injustice because they are black. That is the notion of the 'past'. This great country is a land of opportunity and any one who works hard despite minor bumps along the way is sure to succeed. Please ask Obama to stop playing the race card. I don't believe there is any right-thinking American who believes the Clintons are racists. Please check their records. If you cannot stand the heat..get out of the kitchen. And please ask Obama to stop his wife from speaking publicly
with so much anger and frustration. She is a potential first lady. She should know there is no second chance to make first impression. Thank you.

If you are elected, what would you do to protect small businesses, homes, and churches from the corporate use of eminent domain?

Q: Without using the word "change" or any of its variants, what specific initiatives would you propose to restore the many civil rights that have been taken (rather, given to the government BY the government) from the American people.

For Hillary:

Senator Clinton, in 1993 you were charged with creating a universal health care plan. At the time the majority of the public was in favor of universal health care, your husband was president and there was a Democratic majority in the House and Senate. Despite this it failed disastrously and was the basis for Newt Gingrich's Republican revolution that saw both houses lost to the Republicans. What assurance do Democrats have that we won't see history repeat itself if you are elected?

I too would like to know more about Hillary's claimed 35 years of experience. If her experience comes from the private sector as well as being married to an elected official, then the person we should be electing is Bob Byrd's wife. Better yet, let's make it a Mrs. Byrd/Mrs. Thurmond ticket.

A question for each candidate: 1) How has 'up to the minute' press coverage of your campaign effected your campaign strategy and, 2) is your campaign counting on 'the press' to get your positions out to all the Super Tuesday states and beyond or do you intend to visit some or all of them yourselves?

A question for you, Mr. Blitzer: I used to think CNN presented the news in a non-biased, non partisan way until the primaries started. Now, however it seems that most of the commentators and news staff have 'crowned' Obama and relegated Clinton to 'racist' status. What has happened? Have the formats of the afternoon/evening shows changed to all be strictly 'non news'? Thank you. Arleen Benson, Seattle Washington

Wolf,

Please ask each of the candidates their basis for believing that the government can create and manage a health care program better than a properly incented free market?

Thanks!

Robert

How can Senator Clinton claim more experience than any other candidate in the field? She hasn't served as Senator since she was 26. Please explain.

Sen. Clinton,

How do you explain your support of Bob Johnson, founder of BET, when he has made millions off the degradation of women and youth through is pandering of exploitation music videos that reflect young women and African Americans negatively?

Dear Wolf,
Please ask how each one of them differs from Ron Paul.

Wolf: I have not heard any discussions about the infrastructure of the U.S. Bridges come to mind, but there are as many old and failing buildings, schools, housing, nursing homes too many to list. What would or could, a president do to shore up America? I think its about ime that the inflation index address the real costs we face every day. Currently food and any form of energy is not used to ascertain our inflation rate. I think these issues should be addressed. P.S. Tell Lou that I'm about to become an independent. thanks!

Questions for those who believe the H-1B is about a shortage of Americans to do the job:

1. If corporations get all the H-1Bs and green cards they want, can the long term consequence be anything other than total dependence on foreigners for technology?
2. Is Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, wrong? He testified to Congress: “Simply producing more engineers and scientists may not be the answer because the labor market for those workers will simply reflect lower wages or, perhaps, greater unemployment for those workers.”
3. Is Vivek Wadhwa of Duke University, a supported of more foreign workers (he is one), wrong? He says “…the problem isn't the supply, it's the demand…we have enough engineers and scientists. The problem is that the salaries aren't there.”
4. Why are law firms, like the notorious Cohen & Grigsby, holding seminars on how to legally avoid hiring qualified Americans? Lawrence Lebowitz’s famous quote explaining of the PERM application process to employers. "Our goal is clearly not to find a qualified and interested U.S. worker, and that, in a sense, sounds funny, but it's what we are trying to do here."
5. Shortage at what price? My undergraduate economics professor made a big deal about it not making economic sense to claim a shortage without a price. For example, claiming there is a shortage of good five cent cigars makes sense. A claim that there is a shortage of cigars is foolish. There is no doubt that there is a shortage of college graduate programmers at $20,000 a year, is there a shortage at what the average American programmer makes? So the question is at what price?
6. If there is a shortage why are real wages going down?
7. Why is it that those employers who claim a shortage of American tech workers laying off so many of them?
8. Is socialist Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wrong? He says "What many of us have come to understand is that these H-1B visas are not being used to supplement the American workforce where we have shortages but, rather, H-1B visas are being used to replace American workers with lower cost foreign workers,"
9. Is Nobel economist Milton Friedman wrong when he says the H-1B is a subsidy? He said "There is no doubt, that the [H-1B] program is a benefit to their employers, enabling them to get workers at a lower wage, and to that extent, it is a subsidy."
10. Why not end the H-1B and other work visas and allow a free market solution? An increasing wage will attract more workers to science and engineering and solve any supply shortage that MAY exist. Free markets do not have shortages.

Sen. Clinton,

Please define the experience you have been heralding. Are the years you were first lady in Arkansas and Washington what you are including as a part of your experience?

And…will former President Clinton have a post if you become president? Or will former President Clinton be running the country like you have been giving yourself credit for doing while he was in the White House?

Why does being the First Lady either of a Governor or President qualify a person to run a country?

If Hillary is so confident in her experience, why is it necessary to have Bill on the campaign trail?

My question is for Senator Clinton.

As far as my research has led me, Senator is the first elected office you have held and you weren't elected 35 years ago. Would you please explain to America what you did during these past 35 years that equate "experience".

I'd like to know if the candidates could discuss whether or not they think that "energy independence" could be a nationwide effort (just as JFK described going to the moon) and how it could be the key to jump starting other major issues like and upsurge in the economy, our involvement in the Middle East, unemployment, the interest of younger Americans in math and science, etc.

Scott Rosenbloom,
New York City

Question for Hillary:

What exatly is the 35yrs of experience you are talking about? What changes in govt have YOU initiated, discounting what president clinton has done. Does being first lady translate to experience?

Why have you and hubby all of a sudden started playing the race card. It almost looked like barack was gonna embarrass you two with wins in Iowa and new hamshire…then you guys went on that personal divise rhetoric…..You had my vote but i'm thinking twice about it….EVEN IF YOU WIN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION I MIGHT VOTE FOR JOHN MCCAIN!!

Sen. Clinton

How do you explain your refusal to distance yourself from Bob Johnson, founder of BET, who is credited with making millions by the degradation of women and negative influence of youth with the music videos he pandered on BET?

As a feminist, a woman and a leader what is your position on tthis? I am an African American woman with an issue of your allowing his divisive statements at one of your rallies in S.C.

Having just returned from Burma, this question is from the people I met on the street during my visit. "Given our poor track record with sanctions to promote democracy ie. Cuba etc. What would you do different to help bring freedom to the people of Burma?"

I would like to ask the candidates that in the waker of warrantless wiretapping, the military commissions act, signing statements that go against the very law being signed, holding American citizens without charge and without the rule of law, and other abuses of the constitution uder the Bush administration, what do they plan to do to bring back the primacy of the constitution.

Many of these issues have been put through under the congress that contains members who are now candidates. How and what will they do to "turn back the clock" on the abuses to our consitution?

Senator Clirnton (and others)

Please define your experience you have been tauting throughout this campaign. Are you counting the time your were first lady in Arkansas and the White House, when it was your husband who was supposed be in the elected office.

I'm supporting Obama, but I'd really like to know why he voted for the PATRIOT Act.

I would like to know how each of you support the Railroad? Over the past years the Bush administration has gave billions and billions to our airports and have literally ignored the railroad. The U.S. is far behind other established countries with passenger rail – How would you support the Railroad? With gas prices skyrocketing and the skies and airports overloaded, we need long term committment to the countries rail system. Please let me know how you would support the system and what plans you have in place?

Thanks

Wolf – please ask the candidates if they would make Election Day a national holiday (or at least move it to a weekend) to encourage and celebrate our most sacred right, electing our leaders.

Dear Presidential Candidate,

Families of children with disabilities in the public school system do not have equal access to justice, contrary to what you may have been led to believe.

Will you push for legislation to level the playing field? How will you convince Congress to accomplish this?

Respectfully,

vic

(Wolf, Thanks for the opportunity.)

To all the candidates:

With the recent protests and dissatisfaction regarding Chinese land grabs, how would your administration respond to popular unrest in China that threatens to destabilize the country and region?

Ask them about specifics about withdrawl in Iraq. All you hear is we need to set a timetable or that the surge is working and let it play out. That is not good enough. Joe Biden actually had a plan to divide the country into a loose 3 state federal system with each of Iraq's political and religious factions having their own state they can govern. It has it's flaws, but it is progress. I want to hear what is going to be done SPECIFICALLY to improve the political situation besides being patient.

Two part question:

We all know that politicians do not work long hours, or even long weeks, why is that? Serving the country is their job, we all have jobs, we all make sacrifices, work long hours, don't get compensated for extra hours worked, miss time with our families, etc… why dont our elected officals do the same. Work a 40, 50, 60 or 80 hour work week, get things accomplished instead of working how you will get relelected.

Second question:

Why are all bills passed thru with a ton of pork? This is their job, make laws and get them passed. Each law should be passed on its own merit, and not because your friend will vote for it if you give him 50 million for a bridge to nowwhere. Why cant the congress and the senate vote for one item at a time, figure out what is best for our country and then move on to the next item?? Seems practical, and it might actually force them to work more then 15 hours a week.

The candidates from both parties talk so much about themselves and broad-based programs they want to enact.

What about me?

I am a citizen (supposedly part of the entity the candidates know as their boss) and nobody has told me anything they will do that will make my life better!

More this and less that does not translate well to what's in it for me.

So to paraphrase the Clinton 42 phrase: "It's about ME, stupid!" What do each of the candidates have cooked up for me?

Oh yeah, I'm deliberately not giving away any part of my identity – to make the question a little more real and less open for a canned response.

Dear Sir,
Would you please ask these candidates (a) who it is that they plan to have as their closest advisors if elected; and (b) why these particular persons, what expertise do they bring etc,; and (c) is there any bibliographic materials available to which we might refer to consider these persons more carefully.
If we had known that Mr. Bush was going to ask the cast of characters that he ultimately did ask we might very well have anticipated and consequently avoided the kind of mess that they would produce and in which we now find ourselves.

Mr. Blitzer,

Can you please ask the canidates their position on the State of Israel, the relationship between the two countries and if they would be as strong supporters of Israel as their Republican counterparts.

Do you think that the Presidential powers that the current administration has claimed for itself are appropriate and what, if anything, will you and your administration do differently?

Wolf and the CNN team-

I propose the following two questions for each of the candidates:

1.) A strong leader must be able to assess and appreciate both the strengths and weaknesses of opponents and other dignitaries. That being said please state one quality for each of the other candidates that would make them a leader fit to lead today's America.

2.) Come November only one of you will appear as the Democratic presidential candidate. Should it not be you, what issue would you continue to fight for, be it on the Hill or in your state?

Thank you,

Maria Cortez, Texas

What specifically needs to happen to improve public schools? Is NCLB salvagable? Should it be salvaged?

ALSO, I would like the candidates to say what they think they have in common with each other.

To each candidate:

What is the content of your character?

Sen. Obama, I have been hearing claims that you do not wear the America Flag pinning and you would not pledge on the Bible if elected, is this true?

All Candidates – Dems & Reps

Economists are pointing to a recession – sales of goods and services didn't do too well in the fourth quarter. U.S. firms are allowed to export jobs overseas to cut costs with no savings-benefit to U.S. taxpayer-consumer, allowed to import a cheaper skilled and unskilled and educated and uneducated labor force causing the economy to downsize with salary cuts, rise in unemployment, rise in medical insurance costs to support the uninsured and unemployed coupled with a surge of 12 million illegal immigrants sending millions if not billions out of the country-economy – what is your remedy and can you show me your plan/or what will you introduce to turn-around and stimulate the economy (I can show you my "Catch 22 Economic Stimulus Plan") developed for the country upon request.

I have read about 60% of the questions above. Is someone doing a statistical review to determine the groupings and then the distributions across a bell curve? I have read about 60% of the questions above. Is someone doing a statistical review to determine the groupings and then the distributions across a bell curve? I think the questions that are biased should be removed from consideration. There are many questions addressing the issues: the economy, education costs, mortgage defaults, wages, social security, immigration, the war in Iraq, Iran (currently a war of words), Afghanistan, Pakistan, and many minority group interests.

These issues should be addressed from the position of how would you if elected President manage each of these situations providing us with facts as well as their plans. I think we need to know if they understand the issues enough to have a position regarding each.

All the questions about experience are justified however, some of our Greatest Presidents had little or no experience, yet some of our Best Presidents owned their own businesses, or were State Governors and many were private practice lawyers maybe you could remind them.

All the candidates are educated and very intelligent but are they prepared to be President. I know they think they are prepared ask them if they can prove it with a two sentence answer, a verbal resume. You could end the show with that question.

PLEASE CONSIDER: I would like to piggy back off of Roosevelt Allen's comment/question-

With such negative tactics being used lately and further enhanced by the media coverage they get, I want to know how the candidate who does win the Democratic nomination will be able to unite the party again.

While I understand a struggle for political survival can put candidates under tremendous pressure, integrity requires more than the tactics that have been used as of late. If the Democratic party continues to tear one another apart, once this primary is over, the party might be so divided that in the end we all loose out. Do we really want to tear each other down to the point that it really becomes hard for us all to rally around and support the Democratic nominee after the primary?
To each of the candidates, America wants change, how can you bring that about now in your politicking?

I am discouraged by what's happening but still have hope that this can turn around starting with each of the candidates.

Will you follow the 10th amendment?

I would like to ask all the candidates what they are going to do about securing our borders and stopping the out-of-control violence going on at our borders.

I'd like to know how these Democrats think banning guns will stop criminals from getting them.

We've heard Hillary boast her 35 years of experience while Barack believes that his grassroots approach to politics will gather the support to push him to the presidency. My question is: With the way that Washington operates today, in order to turn a candidate's much publicized/scrutinized ideas for 'change' that they're currently boasting on the campaign trail into reality once they're elected, it seems that they'll need countless connections in Congress, across the globe, and various support across the American political landscape. How will someone like Barack Obama, who's Federal political experience is limited to only a few years in the Senate, effectively implement his ideas once he's elected? Does he have the connections to turn his ideas into reality or is he relying on his alleged ability to unite Democrats and Republicans? With vitally important issues facing our nation in the coming years, such as global warming, the national debt and trade deficit (to nations like China), and the baby boomers on the verge on retirement in mass, this election is crucially important and Democrats need to nominate a candidate that not only believes in the right ideas, but also possesses the power to enact these new plans. (While Barack Obama is a great orator and a charismatic politician, it seems he currently lacks the political relationships to effectively implement ideas. I would love to him run when he's been in Washington longer)

I realize to the world there are many more pressing issues than my own . However as the father of a twelve year old son with Duchenne muscular dystrophy , the upsets surrounding the lack of advancement in stem cell research and this current administrations naive and blatant disregard for American opinion and well being . I would like to ask all candidates what their opinion of stem cell research may be and if their opinion is favorable , what do they intend to do for the countless Americans who's lives and longevity may very well depend on it .

Keep up the great work !

Everyone participating in this debate has an element of "Change" within their message. Please address two points. 1) Do you need to work with Republicans to get that change since the U.S. currenlty have a Democrat Congress and 2) Do you think Republicans would work well with you if that control would reverse itself?

For each Democratic candidate:
The war in Iraq is being financed with money that has not been collected through taxation. What will you do to stop and reverse the inevitable inflationary effect this has on our currency?

Explain your feelings on the morality of using soldiers for hire.

Explain your understanding of what portion of the US military presence in Iraq is in the form of soldiers for hire.

Explain your position on "free trade" agreements, and the loss of jobs in the US they have caused.

List one good quality you admire in each of the other candidates.

It is very sad and frustrating the lack of follow-through from the government and others after Katrina. It is a terrible how services and funds are still lacking.

Please ask all three what will they do to address the rebuilding the Gulf Coast region post-Katrina?

Wolf and the CNN team,
I have a variety of questions to ask.
In the current primary season the word is "change" and so every viable candidate is desperately trying to attach themselves to it. But experience is a crucial part of decision making. In all spheres of life, people make better informed decisions based on past experiences. Why is experience considered, as Bill Richardson said at the recent New Hampshire debate, such a "leper?" Why is it considered to be an inferior asset to being able to say the word "change" many times?
As Obama said at the New Hampshire debate, "All of the [Democratic] candidates here represent a change from George W. Bush." This leads me onto my question. Wolf I was wondering if you could possibly ask him why his policies are so appealing? What makes him the candidate who should be elected? And please don't let him waffle on about "change" and "hope" and "unity", make him present his positions. I naturally adher to Democratic principles over Republican ones, but I'm failing to see a great deal of distinction between the candidates.
Wolf I also wondered if you could pose the field a q on the ridiculousness of the American Primary system. Whilst I advocate the public selection of candidates, which we do not have in England, I cannot for the life of me comprehend how the US has such an amazingly strange system. The first two states in the primary calendar, Iowa and New Hampshire, are around 95% white. They hold an enourmous say in who the next President is. The percentage of whites in the US is around 75%. The equality in that selection process is minimal. Why not have New York or California as the first states to vote, or why don't all the states just vote on the same day? Whilst it is unlikely that the candidates will deride the system, for fear of alleniating Iowans and the people of New Hampshire; could you possibly ask them their opinions on the equality and sensibleness behind the process?
Thanks,
H

For each Democratic candidate:
The Democratic Congress, with the support of 2/3 of the American people and a plurality of seats, failed to end the war in Iraq. Why? How did you vote? What part did you otherwise play?

For Senator Clinton, this post from Andrew Sullivan's blog is something I think she should address:

"The benign interpretation of the Clintons' evocation of the importance of an LBJ to complement an MLK is about the need for legislative activity to enshrine the vital work of civil rights activists. As such, it's a perfectly reasonable analogy to make, if a little condescending to King. But does it reflect who the Clintons actually are? Are they really today's version of LBJ? In fact, unlike most others in this race, we have some direct evidence of how the Clintons, given the power of the White House, responded to the civil rights movement of their own time.

In the 1990s, we saw a burst of grass-roots activism, protest and rhetoric in defense of gay and lesbian equality. Out of the ashes of the AIDS epidemic, the gay rights movement rose like a phoenix. And the Clintons, seeing a fund-raising opportunity, reached out to some in the movement to finance their own campaign. Those donors trusted them. I wrote the TNR endorsement. But as soon as the gays had performed their role – financing the Clintons in power and supporting their campaign – the Clintons turned on us. They dropped their promise to end the military's ban instantaneously and then presided over a doubling of the discharges of gay servicemembers under the hideous "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. They then used the other emerging civil rights issue – marriage equality – to triangulate against gay couples. They ran ads on Christian radio stations bragging about the Defense of Marriage Act that president Clinton eagerly signed. And the only gay people they embraced were those willing to continue to trade money for access – and loyalty to the Clintons. Who helped them devise this anti-gay strategy? Dick Morris. Who recommended hiring him in the first place? Hillary Clinton.

Johnson risked his entire coalition on the issue of civil rights – a heroic act that still reverberates today. The Clintons wouldn't risk a smidgen of a percentage point in a Mark Penn poll for the duration of a news cycle. That's the difference."

Please ask if the candidates would consider:

0 earmarks. All expenses have to be voted on and approved.

Campaign Finance Reform: Campaigns to be funded by tax dollars and each candidate gets the same amount and only 6 months to campaign. This levels the playing field, will make candidates more creative and will keep candidates doing the job they were hired to do instead of campaigning.

Are they willing to take the budget and make a list of priorities and nice things to have but not necessary and start cutting government spending and waste and dealing with the deficiet. Instead of focusing on cutting tax's, raising tax's etc… How about cutting the nice things to have. Citizens against government waste has already outlined many of these items.

Would the candidates consider calling in the top accountants in the country to go through all the books and make recommendations.

I am undecided but looking at the candidate that will work night and day to put the financial house in order I think the minimum wage should be $10 per hour and if you make less than $65,000 a year you pay 0 tax.

Talk to Coburn he takes NO EARMARKS and thinks it is important to get the financials in order.

What do the Democratic candidates consider the optimum population of the United States? 300 million, 500 million, 1 billion? The population of the U.S has just about doubled in my lifetime (I'm 53). I voted a straight Democratic ticket for the last 27 years primarily because of Democrats' pro-environment policies. The Democratic Party's support of amnesty for illegal aliens and support of special interest ethnocentrists who want wide open borders and immigration have shown that the Democrats are not truly committed to protecting the environment nor our quality of life, freedom, prosperity and security. All environmental problems are exacerbated by population growth. As a manger of livestock and wildlife in rural Texas I understand the limitations of habitat and how overpopulation destroys the land and its resources' ablilty to support healthy, thriving populations of livestock, wildlife or human beings. As our population increases we can expect to see our freedoms, prosperity and quality of life decrease. We need an independent candidate who will put America first over partisan politics and special interests.

John Edwards said he was wrong to sign the bankruptcy bill. Well, why did he sign it, then? Didn't he bother to read it first? Now that he realizes he's wrong, he (and the other candidates) need to amend it so that a U.S. citizen cannot lose their home in bankruptcy if they are driven into bankruptcy because of medical costs. Even those WITH health insurance face this prospect. In what other major industrialized country does this happen? A law should be enacted protecting the homes of Americans in the event of medical bankrupcty. (Of course, the real answer is a GENUINE single payer national health insurance program, paid for via taxes, but the only candidate supporting that plan, Dennis Kucinich, has been silenced by the media. Shame on you!)

For Senator Clinton:

You constantly refer to being the most qualified candidate due to your 35 years of experience. Yet you've only held elected office for 8 years, 3 fewer then your chief rival Senator Obama. Why should your 20 years of being a first lady count as job experience for being president?

For ALL:

What began as the media narrative of Iowa has become the dead horse for the rest of the campaign. Can any of you answer a question without using the word "Change"?

Ask each of the candidates what $100 million dollars could have been spent on instead of telling people what you want them to hear. Think of the numbers of people that could have had health insurance with that money… or how many people would not go to bed at night without heat… or how many families would have had food on the table instead of sending their children to bed hungry.

Many Americans are able to look at things in other countries that work well for the people. This includes countries such as Canada, the UK, France, and Germany to name a few.

What policies and programs would you borrow from other governments and implement into our own?

Ask them what they think is the reason behind the fact that most people don't vote. Also ask them why the average joe (which constitutes 90% of society) feels increasingly isolated and betrated by his or her political leaders. I would also like to comment on something somebody else posted. At the top of page some poor and pitiful fool ask the question " why the "uneducated people" , "deserve" the prosperity educated people have". Well this guy is apparently as ignorant as he is cold hearted. So called "uneducated" people are still people and deserve as much reward for a full days work as anybody else. Also, just because somebody doesn't have a college degree doesn't mean there stupid and "deserve" to live beneath the standards of so called educated people. I've got an idea. When these ignorant savages are finished cutting my hair, fixing the leak in my roof, or delivering my mail we can lock them up in my toolshed and give them a cup of water or two ( if I'm in a good mood ) and then let them out in the morning when it's time for "them" to go back to work. I really, really, hope that this isn't also the attitude of the people at CNN. A working man is a working man no matter what kind of pants he's wearing.

P.S. Trim it back some Wolf.

I would like to see a president sign a pledge to try their best to honor their campaign "promises". I assume no one will, but I would like to see that question asked! Stand behind what you say! Make them sign a contract for the people!

I would ask all the candidates what they intend to do for our soldiers returning from the war and for their families. Will they make sure they have a job and all the help they need to recover from mental and physical problems from multiple tours in the war

I would like to ask all the candidates what they think of the exclusion of Dennis Kucinich from this debate after his original invitation, and his call for a New Hampshire recount.
Thank you,
- Zephyr Logan, Virginia

I would like to hear the opinions of the candidates on possibly having a required service for two years for our country upon graduation from High School. (i.e. community involvement, military…)

To all,

Could you comment on your perspective of why the lion share of the US foreign aid goes to Israel (and not to a country in dire economic need, in Africa for example)?

A four-part "litmus question" on change for all candidates.

They have all spoken about being "agents for change". Let's see just how much change they are willing to make that will truly alter the status quo, as opposed to cosmetic campaign promises:

1. Are you in favor of eliminating the electoral college and move to direct popular vote so that all states voters have to be heard, not just a focus on those with the most electoral votes?

2. Are you willing to sponsor public campaign financing (including third parties) and get rid of the focus on fund raising, especially with the projected $1billion price tag for the 2008 election, specifically for television ads?

3. Are you willing to support the The Presidential Records Act of 2007 to force release of public Presidential papers 12 years after leaving office or reverse the executive order of President Bush if elected to lend transparency to presidential decisions?

4. Are you willing to support an independent political ad review committee, which in conjunction with a pre-allotted number of hours of publicly financed campaign ads that would review ads and if determined to be a lie or misleading, would take away advertising time from the guilty candidate and provide it to the candidate that was attacked with a misleading or false ad to help eliminate mud slinging and focus on the facts?

If they aren't willing to "get out of the box" and really drive changes that will actually make a difference, then they're just blowing smoke. Other major issues have already been covered, but I'm not sure if these have been lost in the shuffle and may provide a solid indication of just how much change they are willing to make. After all, they've had time to develop positions for all of the other major issues, maybe these will provide an accurate view of their stomach for change.

Can you ask what the candidates will do for the environment?

I love that you are asking the public for questions!

As a recent college graduate who is a new public school teacher, I find myself not being able to own my own home, because (simply put) my college loans are horrific.
Do any of the candidates have any ideas on college finance reform?

There are repeated government studies and congressional hearings which prove there is no tech worker shortage in the United States. These studies also show Professional careers are under attack to labor arbitrage. In addition, the H-1B and L-1 guest worker Visas are called the "outsourcing" Visas by NASSCOM, an Indian trade association and have been proved to facilitate the offshore outsourcing of jobs.

Why then do you promise to increase these very Visas which have hurt Professional workers? Why will you not present positions and policy based on the real facts and in support of the middle class, which most assuredly would not be to increase guest worker Visas and accelerate the offshore outsourcing of American jobs.

The current Visa programs lend themselves to massive abuse. Will you support legislation to fix the abuse as opposed to increasing caps which will only lead to more abuse?
Bills to support:
S.1035 : H-1B and L-1 Visa Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 (Durbin-Grassley)
H.R.2538: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide greater protections to domestic and foreign workers under the H-1B nonimmigrant worker program. (Pascrell)
H.R.2504: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to the admission of L-1 intra-company transferee nonimmigrants. (DeLauro)
H.R.548: To establish a Congressional Trade Office (DeFazio)

From an environmental and energy efficiency standpoint, it would seem that tax credits to lower income through middle income households to improve the energy efficiency of older homes as well as purchasing energy efficient appliances would be an efficient policy to encourage conservation. A serious short term program of this nature with a smaller follow up program might be to the benefit of the nations energy usage as well as improving the cost of living for those who benefit. Do you support this type of program and can you identify any legislation you have authored or supported recently to provide incentives for middle class and below in this area.

To all candidates: do you think we should expand the space program, and if so, what would be your main goals? If not, why not?

Ask Senator Obama: Key to successful presidential leadership is the kind of people a president surrounds himself/herself with. Given your limited experience in administration and coalition building, in military and diplomatic affairs, we voters need to know what kind of team you would pick and why?

Ask Senator Clinton: Given both your political history and your declarations that you can bring change, how would you build your team to mix seasoned advisors and people with fresh ideas?

The Democratic candidates have not laid out any specific plans in their debates. They have spent more time using the word change than being specific about their plans. Change can be good, but history teaches us that we need to look back to look forward. My questions would be:
1. What is your plan for illegal immigration including closing our borders?
2. What is your plan for withdrawal of troops from Iraq?
3. Since the American people are sick of paying for an over priced government, how will you assist in reform?
4. Specifically to Barack Obama. How will you further the cause for black families to stay together, stop killing each other, obtain an education and become an american and not just a black american? The terms white american, black american, mexican american, etc. need to stop. We are one country!!.

In indiana there is a law that requires voters to present an ID on election in order to vote. The consitutionality of this law is being challenged in a case that will shortly be heard by the supreme court. While some argue that this is a way to prevent voter fraud, others argue that there has never been a single case of such fraud, and that this law is a way to deprive the homless and poor minorities of the vote (as they cannot afford ID). I would like to know what each of the candidates thinks about this.

Wolf,
Please ask

"What is the most common meal for a single parent in America making less than $25,000 per year?"

"What is the percentage of black single households in America?"

"What is the percentage of white (or non-black) single households in America?"

I want every vote to count in the upcoming presidential election.. what can be accomplished by Nov. 2008 to ensure this?

One question only: If elected president would you support a constitutional amendment to declair a corporation NOT an individual, thus holding CEO's and board members personally liable for the destructive decisions made to society and enviornment? Instead of expecting ALL of the tax payers paying for the clean up of their disasterous decisions.

For all candidates – Without prefacing your answer or invoking a particular example, explain your first requests to the congress to address the financial excesses of the last 8 years. Specifically a short synopsis for the reduction of the national debt, Medicaid funding, Social Security tax changes and how would you practically address this issue without increased taxes on the middle class which provides the vast majority of the United States revenue stream. What financial data (not anecdotal) can you cite to substantiate your claim that your suggestion(s) would work?

Then provide the candidates at least 3 minutes each to respond.

Questions for all Candidates

A. You've had a chance as major players in U.S. Policy-Making in business, congress and senate – how many suicide bombers have you allowed to walk across our borders, let's here the plan (show me) and why should I give you a second chance at stopping the unabated border crossings.

B. Approximately 12 million illegal aliens residing in the U.S. is a simple U.S. Immigration Policy problem – show and tell me your plan and can you introduce legislation now and support as President (1) to have all undocumented aliens register for national security and identification reasons, (2) create a path for citizenship for those that are gainfully employed with the employer paying an additional employment fee, and (3) deport undocumented and unemployed aliens who fail to register for national security and identification reasons and those undocumented and unemployed that have committed a crime.

C. Recent history tells us that the U.S. and its properties were attacked repeatedly without an in kind U.S. response. The Democrates for president want to withdraw U.S. troops from Irag. The war on terror and the Irag War are seen as the entry points for the U.S. pre-emptive war on terror and engagement – As the Commander and Chief – If not Irag, where and when would you have entered the war on terror and why would you have delayed the Iragi engagement.

As the spouse of a Vietnam Vet, who is helping him though the disability process, what would you, as President, do to streamline the disability process for Veteran's and help those who have been waiting years (I kid you not, we filed a claim in 2003 we are still waiting on) to get the medical and financial assistance they deserve.

What will you do to streamline the VA's long disability process so that it is more in line with what they claim is a 180 day turnaround? Most Vet's that I have been in contact with have taken well over a year, and some have been up to 10 years and still no decision on the claim.

Since Agent Orange is known to cause cancers, including skin cancers, from all tests that have been done and studies that have been reported, what will you do to help the veteran's suffering from this disease to receive assistance from the VA both with disability and medical assistance?

Thank you for remaining open to the concerns of the public. It is good to hear that the issues brought up by those of us "out here" are being addressed.

In September of last year the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) unfairly (and possibly illegally) imposed new work rules on its own air traffic controller work force. These controllers have been working under a new pay scale that has been cut by approximately 30%. This along with several other issues was being discussed in good faith during the recent collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

That is until the FAA declared an impasse and under a highly questionable loop-hole in the law, was able to unilaterally impose their offer on their own people. The union representing the controllers the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has been trying to get the FAA back to the table to negotiate fairly, but apparently they will not hear of it.

I would ask everyone to consider what can be done to resolve this issue. The change in work rules have caused massive retirements throughout the nation. These veteran controllers cannot be easily replaced, because to train a new controller can take from about 8 months at smaller facilities to over 2 years at the busier, more complex locations.

The recent GAO report that highlighted some very disturbing trends in air safety can be at least, partially attributed to this loss of skilled controllers. I for one would prefer our skies remain safe. If the controllers were given an opportunity to negotiate a new contract, it may help put a temporary patch in the leaky air traffic system.

I would ask what each candidate has in mind on this issue and in labor relations in general. How can we make the first steps to restoring any kind of trust between the FAA and its controllers? What can be done to bring the FAA's focus away from making money and back to safety where it was designed to be.

Thank you for allowing us to voice our concerns and bring our issues to the candidates' attention.

Jason (MN)

Sen. Obama, I know that controllers appreciate your support of their cause in the past, and would ask you to continue giving that support.

Wolf,

One question that hasn't been raised much during the primary:

Why is it that each candidate can raise millions of dollars to run in these races, yet we as American's can not raise that same amount and insure millions of American's who are without healthcare?

Thank you for letting me submit my question.

Steve

I would like for you to do 2 things for the viewers Wolfe: 1) Please ask them to detail their plan rather than to bash another's plan; and 2) Please ask them to define what/who is the "rich" rather than just using an abstract title.

I would like to ask all the canadiates 3 questions:

1.) What is their take on the surge in Iraq after violence has droped 70% from '06 to '07. What do we do now going forward from these improvements, or do they still want to cut and run?

2.) How are they going to pay for their "social" healthcare plans (if they say just that they will tax the rich refer to the top of the page).

3.) What will you do to fix the social security, medicare, and medicade programs that anyone in my generation (I am 27) looks at in its current state as an added tax since the program will not be around when we retire.

There are those that would rather get to the substance of their plans, rather than political bickering and pondering!

Please ask Clinton, Edwards, and Obama why any Democrat in Florida should support them?

The Florida legislature changed the date of the primary without our consent. In response, the DNC has disenfranchised us in regards to choosing the next Presidental candidate.

To the best of my knowledge, NOT ONE of these candidates has come to our defense. Instead, they are complicit with this disenfranchisement by refusing to campaign in the State of Florida.

Yet after one of them is nominated, he/she will expect those of us who are active Democrats to work on his/her campaign, to distribute literature, to make phone calls, to stuff envelopes, and – oh, yes – to send money.

If they don't care about the rights of the Democrats within the Democratic Party when they are candidates, why should we expect them to care about the rights of citizens of the United States when they are in the White House?

So why should we bother with them? Perhaps we would be better off supporting a moderate Republican or an independent.

If whoever among them wins the democrat nomination is able to win the general election in November. Are the others ready to serve the winner if call into Government. They may not know it well but they are all respected, apreciated and are capable of doing great things for America and the world at large.
God Bless america

I have not heard Obama being questioned on his views with regard to Israel. Does he support Israel as the only true democracy in the mideast and our strongest long-term ally in that part of the world?

Wolf
ask Hilliary the following:

What steps will she take to overcome her past history of causing feelings of divisiveness in America that evolved during the Clinton Presidency and was demonstrated during her first try at solving the healthcare crisis? These feelings of divisiveness are easily seen in the reaction from South Carolinians when her name is mentioned, and will hinder her effectiveness as a leader. Will she have an open Jacksonian presidency or a closed one like the Bush's?

Thanks

Kennth J. Baker, MD
Lancaster, SC

Please ask all the candidates:

1. if they believe the invasion of Iraq was justified and how they voted, if they were in the position to do so.

2. what is their plan to end the occupation and bring the troops home.

3. What steps they would take to stablize the middle east.

4. And finally, how will they restore the reputation of the United States around the world.

I would ask both hillary clinton and barack obamma how they could support the Jenna Six after it was released that the 6 black boys that attacked the 1 white boy kicked him in his head and body as he laid unconscious on the ground unable to defend himself.

My understanding is that when you inflict damage on a persons body and they are unable to fight back especially when you kick them to the head and cause blood clots in to be formed in their eyes and maybe their brain that this is Attempted Murder.

Mrs Clinton was the first to defend the boys and then after Jessy Jackson said obama was "acting white" Mr Obama released a statement backing the six criminals that continued to kick and beat an unconscious boy.

The reason behind the beating even if it was self defense which it was not escalated to attempted murder after the white boy was unconscious.

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My Direct Question to both of them is : If you or someone you loved were on the ground and beaten while unconscious wouldn't you want the criminals that did it prosecuted 100% to the fullest extent of the law and will you now condemn the actions of Al Sharpton and the 20,000 black people that went to Jena to have the verdicts changed and the criminals released.

How can we trust you if you won't even defend an unconscious HUMAN beaten by six others no matter what their race, sex, religion or sexual orientation.

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——

And I put to you that Neither of you are worthy to lead if you can not see past your own past and apply justice to everyone as we are ALL created equally by God and those rights are not to be taken away for political gain or any other reason.

———
[ WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson criticized Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday over his reaction to the arrest of six black juveniles in Jena, Louisiana, on murder charges, accusing the Illinois senator of "acting like he's white," ]

"Today I stand with those who stand for justice in Jena. The thousands of Americans from every race and region who have descended on this small Louisiana town carry forth the legacy of all those who sat at lunch counters and took freedom rides to strike a blow against injustice wherever it may exist. When a noose hangs from a schoolyard tree in the 21st century and young men are treated in a way that is not equal nor just, it is not just an offense to the people of Jena or to the African-American community, it is an offense to the ideals we hold as Americans. I renew my call for the District Attorney to drop the excessive charges filed in this case, and I will continue my decades-long fight against injustice and division as President." – Sen. Barack Obama's statement.

US foreign policy is held hostage to oil producing countries (e.g., Saudi Arabia) and will be held hostage to holders of our massive debt (e.g., China). I'd like to hear Sens. Clinton, Obama and former Sen. Edwards explain what specific initiatives his/her administration will take to reverse what amounts to a curbing of our sovereignty. I think we need a federal mandate (like JFK's sending a man to the moon and safely returning him home) to free ourselves from foreign fuel sources and recover our financial independence by resuming manufacturing and paying-as-we-go vs. using credit to excess!

I am currently enrolled at Missouri University of Science and Technology and I wanted to know if any of the candidates had plans to help college students with tuition and what exactly those plans are.

My Debate question would be;

The U.S seems to be heading for recession . The Federal Reserve is being questioned about it's lanquid response at a time when thousands of Americans are losing their American dream – Americans are losing the homes they live in-
and neighborhoods are being affected.
Early on the Fed told us the crisis would be contained in the housing sector, yet Christmas retail sales slumped and unemployment jumped in December;

Please respond to the serious questions raised by this;

1) Do you agree that the Federal Reserve failed to fore-see the fall-out from this crisis and that the Fed has been too slow to make a difference and too detached from the downside consequences of Americans losing their homes and now their jobs , as demand falls ?

2) The possibility of a loss of confidence in the management of the economy is spreading, would you promise not to reappoint the Federal Reserve Chairman (Mr Bernanke) because of the foregoing ?

I haven't heard any discussion or debate on the war on drugs. The US has spent billions of dollars on eradication programs in counties like Columbia, Peru and Bolivia. These campaigns cause social problems and environmental damage in these nations but they don't reduce the cost or availability of drugs in the US. How would the candidates address this failure and pursue a more just and effective policy on illegal drugs?

Wolf,

Could you please ask each of the candidates to layout their foreign policy objectives?
How do you plan to move the current administration's pro-democracy movement in the Middle East? How do you plan to counter the Pro-militant Islamist war against the other religions of the world?
How would you go about gaining religious reconciliation around the globe?
How will you plan on dealing with the globalization movement that will increase the power of emerging countries like India and China?

Finally, if you could only accomplish 3 things in the next 4 years, what would they be and why?
Thanks.

Most of you candidates have spoken out against the war in Iraq and pledged to withdraw our troops if elected. When, in fact, we are winning the war in Iraq. As we march towards victory in Iraq, would you still pull our troops out if you were elected? If so, would you set a deadline for doing so?

Wolf, please ask all of the presidential candidates what their short and long-term plans are for the detainees and facilities at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. What rights do the candidates feel that the detainees have and how can we assure that the detainees are being treated fairly? What impact do the candidates feel our policies towards "unlawful combatants" have for the United States' reputation as a world leader in protecting human rights?

I would also like to know how the candidates feel about the Patriot Act? What will the candidates do to protect citizen's rights to privacy? How much freedom does each candidate feel Americans must cede in order to promote national security?

Thank you.

Wolf -

The comments from Bruce Smith and Michael Lederer both deal with the current candidates choosing one of the other candidates as a vice-president. I haven't watched all the debates, so i don't know if this question came up, but it seems that at least one of the "Big Eight" would make a decent vice-president for the winner. I really would like to see this question asked and then the answer posted in the ticker.

And as a side note, why not give "us" a chance to rate/vote on which questions (after you have combined duplicates like the vice-presidential one) are of interest to your readers. Of course, you want some of your own picks, put perhaps you could use the "Top Five Reader Picks" as part of the questions you ask.

I'm sure you've got a technical guru in the wings that could create a quick webpage poll to pull this off by Monday.

Thanks for the opportunity. RJH

My name is Nathan Bullman and I am a 25 year old recovering drug addict. I am clean and sober 2+ years now and have turned my life around even landing a high paying career job. It is an everyday fight but so far I am winning. I did this only by the grace of god and the help of a friend in a program.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it is estimated that almost 22.8 million Americans need treatment for either alcohol or drug addiction. Out of these 22.8 million people, only a small percentage received help from rehabilitation, and the rest were not exposed to any rehab programs.

My question I would have you ask is "Why? why are so many Americans under the grip of addiction and not able to get help, and what are you prepared to do about it?" And please dont say harsher sentences for drug dealers, most of them are addicts too.

Thank You

Ask them about things that will actually make a difference such as:

Real campaign finance reform with public financing so that our elected leaders do not spend more than 50% of their energy raising money for re-election. This is so obviously the most important thing we could do to improve our government but nobody ever mentions it.

Scrapping this ridiculous primary system where some early states have way too much power (states filled with white people — big surprise there). Why not go to a rotating regional system or even national primary day. duh!

Why they dance around the idea of supporting gay marriage — calling for civil unions even though marriage is just a legal 'civil union'. I thought the democrats were supposed to be about making the kind of progress that makes the country better (like the civil rights of the 60s). Legalizing gay marriage is the only conclusion if you actually read the constitution. Isn't this America where everybody is supposed to be treated the same by the law? By the way, I am not gay, just not brainless.

Why they don't talk about improving the parenting by offering free classes in infant care and basic child psychology. The US has millions of morons who have no clue how to raise kids, and what do they produce? Criminals and drug addicts. We can't prevent all of that or even most of it, but we could have some effect with the right policies. Politicians don't talk about this because they don't want to 'anger' the voters, even though the voters are sometimes complete idiots.

By the way, CNN, Blitzer and the rest of the media do NOT help by this petty focus on imaginary squabbles between Obama and Hillary. Stick to the issues and maybe try to analyze the real problems ( and maybe even suggest some solutions) instead acting like some show on E!.

I am watching these primaries with sooooo much interest…I love this stuff. I really want our very best friends down there to turn it around and get their ever loving "stuff" together moving forward.

My question would be relatively simple. What are the candidates positions on stem cell research?

Kindest regards,

Alan.

Yo Wolf!
PLEASE PLEASE talk about campaign contributions.

How is CHANGE expected to occur when companies have given ten (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars to certain candidates?

I'm sorry, but unless donations are given anonymously, favors will be expected.

Is our Presidency for sale???

To all candidates:

While I would like to scapegoat the current President for everything that has gone wrong in the past eight years, I feel that it is not all his fault. When you review the current administration's track record it seems as if both 9/11 and the current war in Iraq could have been avoided all together. My question to you all is what, if any, reforms would you make in the intelligence community so that we do not have another national faux pas?

My name is Nathan Bullman and I am a 25 year old recovering drug addict. I am clean and sober 2+ years now and have turned my life around even landing a high paying career job. It is an everyday fight but so far I am winning. I did this only by the grace of god and the help of a friend in a program. Two part Question,

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, it is estimated that almost 22.8 million Americans need treatment for either alcohol or drug addiction. Out of these 22.8 million people, only a small percentage received help from rehabilitation, and the rest were not exposed to any rehab programs.

My first question to you is "Why? why are so many Americans under the grip of addiction and not able to get help, and what are you prepared to do about it?" And please dont say harsher sentences for drug dealers, most of them are addicts too.

Thank You

Mr. Blitzer,

Three questions for Mrs. Clinton:

1) Explain IN DETAIL what you accomplished during your self-promoted "35 years of experience" and what exactly were the job titles/positions that you held while racking up these "accomplishments." Note: your answer cannot include the accomplishments of your husband – they must be something you actually did on your own, independent of your husband and/or his administration.

2) Your husband was the Governor of Arkansas before being elected President. Please address how being the Governor of the small state of Arkansas imparts more experience than being a U.S. Senator from the large state of Illinois.

3) Why is it than when those of us born after 1960 look at Senator Obama, all we see is a young, dynamic man with an intelligent wife and beautiful children? It appears that when you look at him, all you see is the color of his skin and a way to make sure that fact is introduced into the equation in your obsession for power. Guess it's just a product of your baby boomer generation. So much for change.

I would ask all of the candidates, but more specifically Sen. Hillary Clinton, how they feel about the images that are portrayed by the media, most specifically, BET. I am concerned about the fact that Clinton has chosen to be seen with Bob Johnson, the founder and former owner of BET. BET has created a "visual crack" that denigrates Black women, and has made it acceptable to show black people as "pimps and hoes." Her support of him concerns me that she is not about the welfare of black women. Thank you for this opportunity!

In looking over your career, what initiative would you organize or handle differently than you did? What lessons did you learn?

Many candidates claim foreign policy experience. Please ask the candidates to enumerate what foreign languages they speak fluently, and given their foreign policy claims, how their fluency might help the United States win hearts and minds abroad.

Can u please ask the candidates whats are their plans for africa.i mean what can they do to help fight poverty,aids in africa.

Note:In all the debates none of this candidates has been ask any question in regards to africa

Do you feel the presidential election process is working fine, or what would you do to correct it?

I live in Washington State and feel I must sit idly by watching other states elect who should run for president. I won't have the chance to meet any candidate face to face. I tune in to the news shows and all I hear are commentators droning on and on about the latest poll or candidate soundbite, but never hear any useful information about what a candidate stands for. I'd like more comparison information.

For the last twenty years, US foreign policy has focused overwhelmingly on the middle east and asia. In contrast, US relations with Latin America have been woefully negelected. I would like the candidates to detail (that is, offer a concrete example of) what would be their top foreign policy priority in Latin America.

Another important question:

Baring in mind that:

-Many who watching you now are accutely aware of your past words, past actions, voting record, etc. AND
-Most who are watchin you now are human B.S. detecters.

Please, prioritize the following:

-Personal Political Career
-Special Interests Groups/Lobbiests
-Average Joe Public – Worldwide
-Average Joe Public – United States
-Affiliated Party
-Your Personal Family
-Your Personal Religous Creedos

Who is more important to you? No need to elaborate – I'm not interested in spin.
Thank you.

Please ask Hillary how she sees her agenda getting passed through Congress when Republicans hate her so much and will try to block anything she proposes.

For Barack Obama – how would his presidency look different from HIllary's in working to bring about change he talks about.

Thanks!
Susan

The government has got in a rut in the budget process. By this I mean that the mentality is spend all that is allocated in your budget so you may get more next year. Where is the incentive to save. I think that an incentive program should be in place that rewards those who come in under budget. maybe by increasing their budget by the amount they save added to the following year. Of course this makes no sense to the governments way of thinking ,they just tax more and spend more. The question would be as follows. "what incentive plan due you propose to gov't depts. to come in under budget? The Spend more so you can get more days are over and the American people expect better leadership in this area.

It has been deeply troubling to see Global Warming and our energy crisis rarely brought up in the Republican or Democratic debates. With Iowa out of the way, it will be interesting to see if candidates will still be as adamant of their support for corn Ethanol. What will they do to transform our economy into a green one that will provide high quality and environment preserving jobs. How do they plan to reduce our oil dependence without destroying precious wildlife reservations in Alaska, and what kind of painful concessions do they foresee the American people having to make to achieve this independence?

Some candidates have claimed to feminists and/or deeply concerned with women's issues. As president, would you work with Congress for the ratification of CEDAW? Additionally would you work for the execution of its principles in the United States?

As a Native American, Puyallup Tribe, I'm particularly concerned about the candidates positions related to Indian nations and issues. Will they be partners or overseers? Will they support our self-determination efforts or as Bush as done, try and 'assimilate' us?

I would like to know how all the candiates feel about changing the primarys in each state and have everyone vote at the same time, and get rid of the electroial collage and bring back the popular vote?

Question for Hillary:

A recent polls states that 57% of Americans over age 21 admit to having tried marijuana atleast once. Common sense tell us that some people have but wont admit to it. Senator Obama and former Senator Edwards have both candidly admitted to having tried marijuana in their youth. Senator Clinton have you ever smoked marijuana? (I do mean inhaling as well!!!)

To all of the candidates: In the spirit of enhancing the public's ability to make an informed choice, why have you not been more vocal about the exclusion of Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich in other debates. How can the American public trust you to act in their best interests when you won't put your neck out for democracy, now?

Wolf, I am presupposing that the integrity of CNN will continue, with an invitation to both Dennis and Mike.

Please ask the candidates what they would do the next time China refuses to allow any of our ships into their ports?

Thank you

Question for all the candidates: There are many illegal immigrants that came to this country as children with their parents and have grown up here with no connection to the country that they came from. What is your proposal to address the legal status of these people that came to the United States of America, not by choice and now identify themselves as "American" because it is the only country they have ever known?

Wolf,
Some of the Republican candidates advocate eliminating the income tax and abolishing the IRS. Could you ask each of the Democratic candidates why they think this would be a bad idea, (or a good one if they think so).

Wolf, considering your broad international audience, I would propose that you consider asking the candidates the following question in the forthcoming debate…

"With millions of American civilians living and working abroad, they represent a segment of the US population who daily face the brunt of 'Anti-American' sentiment throughout the world that has become so prevelant during the Bush Administration.

By and large, each of these Americans are in reality, 'Ambassadors' of this great country. Despite the anomosity they frequently encounter, they do their very best to explain to foreigners in their host countries, the real values that American's pocess, as we try and defend the policies of our government and represent our country in a positive and constructive fashion.

The constantly falling US Dollar has increasingly imposed a severe financial hardship on this particular group of Americans, with little notice or acknowledgement of such, from either members of Congress or the Bush Administration. Together, this group make up a significant voting block and are becoming far politically active and better organized ahead of this years forthcoming national election.

If you are elected President, what action will you take to recognize their personal contribution to our overall economy and image abroad and provide them with some degree of protection or tax relief to insure that this particular group of Americans are no longer forgotten? "

Keep up the good work and it just doesn't get any better than you and 'Late Edition'.!!

An American in Munich

It's amnesty for illegal aliens, stupid. Ask the democratic candidates what their plans are, we know they are supposed to be pro-amnesty but let's hear it. Not talking about makes it seem a non-issue when it is very important to most legitimate Americans.

POSITION ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

FAVORED SUPREME COURT JUSTICE. WHY?

OBAMA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH REV. WRIGHT AND THE AFRO CENTRIC TRINITY CHURCH. WOULD THIS CREATE PROBLEMS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION FROM REPUBLICANS.

TO MR. OBAMA:
ON HEALTH INSURANCE: FOR THE UNEMPLOYED POOR: MEDICAID;
THE WORKING MIDDLE CLASS WILL AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY INSURANCE. ARE THOSE "THE WORKING POOR"?
WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM?

TO ALL:
WHY DOES OBAMA GET SO MUCH POSITIVE PRESS
HILLARY LESS SO
EDWARDS MARGINALIZED OR IGNORED.
MCCAIN WITH LOWER POLLS THAN EDWARDS HAD MORE PRESS COVERAGE.

TO; MRS CLINTON, MR. OBAMA AND MR. BLITZER:
IF THEY. OR A MEMBER OF THEIR FAMILY WERE INJURED BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE NEGLIGENCE OF A MANUFACTURER, A HOSPITAL OR A DOCTOR, WILL THEY CONSIDER RETAINING A TRIAL LAWYER, OR THEY WOULD SAY :]
EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES, FORGET ABOUT IT.

What will you do about normalizing relations with Cuba? Isn't it about high time??

Mr. Blitzer,

Thank you for your professional reporting on political issues. It is a pleasure to watch you anchor events and the Situation Room.

Please ask the 3 Democratic front-runners (Clinton, Edwards, and Obama) to explain their position regarding illegal immigration. Specifically, what would they do to secure the border and deal with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States? This seems to be an issue that the Democrats do not want to talk about. I am a registered Democrat, and I do not know where the Democratic candidates specifically stand on this issue.

Thank you for your time and keep up the great work!!

Alice

Obama:

In the recent New Hampshire debate, when Senator Clinton said that your NH campaign chairman is a lobbyist., you could be heard saying, "that's not true – that's not true."

The facts are, he IS a lobbyist. Were you knowingly lying, or do you just have no idea about the people you hire?

Often people lose sight of their family in the midst of their demanding jobs. All of the candidates seem to have good relationships with their family. Yet how much quality time does Edwards, Obama, Clinton, Kucinich, and any other remaining candidates actually spend with their families every year.

America doesn't build anything anymore (Ships, Dams, 'works programs). What will you do to change this? Specifically. Don't tell me what your philosophy is. Tell me what action you would take.

I would like to know if given their parties nomination would any of the democrats consider any of the more moderate republicans, such as John McCain as a vice president or high cabinent position? I feel this move would go a long ways toward uniting the country.

Thanks

A Question for the Candidates: In an 1886 decision (Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Company) the US Supreme Court decided that a private corporation is a person and is entitled to the legal rights and protections the Constitution affords to any person. In principle, do you agree that private corporations should be entitled to the same constitutional rights as private citizens? If so, why? Should labor unions be treated differently?

Everyone talks about the war in Iraq, but what about the war in America. Since the war in Iraq started in 2002, over 16,000 Americans have been killed each year in America. I can only imagine what the uproar would have been if we had suffered such casualties in Iraq. What are you going to do to make America safe?

There are repeated government studies and congressional hearings which prove there is no tech worker shortage in the United States. These studies also show Professional careers are under attack to labor arbitrage. In addition, the H-1B and L-1 guest worker Visas are called the "outsourcing" Visas by NASSCOM, an Indian trade association and have been proved to facilitate the offshore outsourcing of jobs.

Why then do you promise to increase these very Visas which have hurt Professional workers? Why will you not present positions and policy based on the real facts and in support of the middle class, which most assuredly would not be to increase guest worker Visas and accelerate the offshore outsourcing of American jobs.

Isn't our system of a welfare state encouraging laziness where the hard working support the lazy. It is okay to help the disabled and poor, but Isn't it illeagle to steal from the hard working and to give to the lazy.

I am very concerned that so much money is going out of the USA due to trade deficits while our manufacturing industries are struggling and there is talk of raising taxes. I would like to hear how the candidates feel about adding tarrifs to incoming goods to raise money instead of taxing the American people and also balance the money involved in international trade.

Thank you. Clinton says that Obama is just pretty words, what are her plans to run the government? What is her reason voting for war and now saying her vote was just a warning? I thought she was full of experience, she spins. What is she going to do about the inequities of the justice system (stop the racism against black me put into jail for the same offenses that white people get therapy and probation for), or really do mucho about the school system. I also fought for change in the school system , I have been a organizer, I have helped hundreds of kids stay in school, I have worked with the issues of the Children's Defense Fund, but I can't take credit for all that was done in those situations. She is a usurper, and a negator of others. She hates Obama because he is good and he has made her vulnerable in of all things race and taking credit for Civil Rights, when she thought she was sleeping in the White House again as President. In other words what real change has she made for Black people lately? Why does she say she can hit the ground running when she also has stated repeatedly that she will get a group together to help her decide how to handle the war? Is that not the same thing Barak Obama could do? She says that he is all talk and no substance, just a lot of uplifting rhetoric (belittling) how would electing her be different than a White man? White men simply handed the training and promotions to their women after the civil rights movement. She is just going to be another blue eyed blond pushed in our faces like all those newswomen who look alike and are like the White men who hired them. What are her changes? She is so busy downing Obama and talking about race ( but of course let's not make it an issue except when she wants to) that she is not really telling the public what her policies are. I was for her until she kept at the race thing and then tried to blame others for reacting to what she has said. By the way she never takes anything back but repeats it over and over while saying that it is of no importance. I think she is talking to White people and her rhetoric may help her win. How did she get 35 years of political experience? I calculate that she and Obama have about the same no of years real experience. While Obama was doing community work and I might add being an attorney as well, she was doing the same on her various committees and such. Why is the media not pinning her to explain herself about experience, her policies, her agenda, her need to neutralize others, and how is she different than a White man in America? She takes the black vote for granted. She says she is for us but I still want to know what she has planned to change how we are treated in this country? To be honest it would be great to ask her what did her husband really do for Blacks and what is she going to do, since I can't think of a thing either of them did to help us in this country where discrimination is rampant. Blacks voted Bill in because we did not want the other guy. Then we were ignored in reality. I can't play the sax but I did want better schools and less redlining. I don't care about Bill's elevator stuff and Hillary's 35 years of fictious experience. She is not truthful, when I saw her on meet the press she was cold, dismissive and herself, which scared me. She spins, when it seems she can get away with it and she did on Meet the Press. I think the media is now trying to take Obama down. Hilary and her husband or starting the we are white people saying the black guy is not good enough campaign. Media don't help them. This is everyday for Black people. Its called discrimination.

I feel 'EXPERIENCE' is a drawback. Isn't it these EXPERIENCED Washington folks who have caused our problems—bad trade deals, highest trade deficit, loss of jobs, etc. ??? Am I missing something?
Also, is anyone focusing on the ROOT CAUSE of illegal Mexicans….?? We hear that after Nafta was signed, we sent our subsidized farm products to Mexico, displacing 19 million farmers…! (Etc.)

Do you think the time has come to stop playing "world police" and concentrate our resources into helping our own citizens. Spending funds on education, immigration and healthcare instead of the war in Iraq?

I'd like you to ask a job interview question. Like, "what would you do if…."

nuclear bomb expodes at port…

massive earth quake hits the Pacific NW.

stock market drops by 1000 points

etc.

They should have specific answers, not their canned responses from the trail. Push them on this.

I believe the greatest threat to this country is the erosion of the wall between church and state. I would like the candidates to respond. In the 50s and 60s candidates still had their personal beliefs, attended (or chose not to) the church of their choice without much comment and without that becoming part of the body politic.(Although Kennedy drew attention for being Catholic, in the end, it became a non-issue.) Religious beliefs were not woven into the fabric of government, as they are today. I find this very frightening and dangerous… what do the candidates' think?

Much talk about immigration issues has been about illegal immigration. What about legal immigration? There are a limited number of green cards available for highly skilled workers, especially in technology. Many of the students at university graduate programs are foreign, and then leave our country and bring their new skills to their home countries because they can't get a green card here. Microsoft can't hire enough workers for facilities in the U.S. and is now opening an office in Canada. While worrying so much about amnesty for illegal immigrants, shouldn't we also be concerned about keeping some of the highly skilled workers here that our universities educated and trained?

Sen. Clinton, Obama, and Edwards have all advocated the position of pulling the troops out of Iraq. I'd like to know what their plan is for national security if the Iraqi government doesn't maintain stability post pull-out and Iraq slips into civil war. Will we save American troops lives at the cost of American civilian lives?

There's been a lot of talk about "change" and how change is necessary for the country. But sometimes, as the old adage goes, if it's not broken, we shouldn't necessarily fix it. My question to the candidates is: Are there any current policies you would NOT change?

If you were to become President would you choose the law over your personal conviction even when to do so will contradict the principles under which you are running to be President at the moment (and maybe got elected) and why would you go with whatever preference you decide?

To Barack Obama:

I read on the internet that you took the position of supporting partial birth abortions? Is this true, and if so, can you provide your rationale for your positon?

My question is:

Many of the presidential candidates have changed their motto or their theme through out the campaign, how can they guarantee that they will not completely change their story/position after they are elected to office?

The actions of government seem to be increasingly divergent from the will of the people. Perhaps nowhere is this more obvious than in the shear size of the government, which has become a monster that is more expensive and less responsive as it swells in size.

Do you think the government is too large and do you see any way it can be brought under control?

As the wife of a member of the United States Armed Services who is currently serving a tour of duty in Iraq, I am very concerned about recruitment and retention in our military. More and more service members are choosing to get out of the military when their commitment is up, and recruitment has been down for some time. All of this puts a strain on those who choose to continue to serve their country. Deployments are lasting longer and are coming more frequently. I would like to know what each of the candidates proposes to do to encourage both retention and recruitment within the military, as this could become a serious problem if it is not addressed appropriately by our government.

In light of Pakistan's status as a nuclear power and in the wake of the assassination of Benizir Bhutto, what course of action should the US take to promote the stability of Pakistan without repeating the mistakes made in supporting the Shah of Iran.

My Question to all the candidates:

I am a Senior at the University of North Carolina. When I graduate in 4 months, I will be nearly $30,000.00 in debt from student loans. With the unemployment rate rising, making the prospects of finding a job after graduation that much harder, what would you do as President to help recent grads find a job and pay off their debt?

I agree that this question needs to be asked, and Hillary needs to answer. Saying that the documents are being reviewed and will be released in due time, is not an answer.

"I would ask Hillary Clinton why she refuses to allow documents from her years as First Lady to be released until 2012. She insists that candidates be vetted and remarks that she will answer any and all questions posed to her; yet the release of these documents would provide a truier insight into her years of "experience". If she wanted these documents released it could be done; seems as if she is hiding something."

For Senators Obama and Clinton:

For the last several years you have each had the opportunity to work in a bipartisan way with the Republican leadership, and for the last year with the Democratic leadership, to legislate your health care reform packages. Perhaps I missed it, but when did you introduce these bills, who co-sponsored them, when did they come out of committee, by what margin did they pass, and when did President Bush veto them?

I assume he vetoed them since they are not law, and you are legislators who can introduce bills, and sometimes are even present to vote on them

I was taught in civics classes many years ago that Congress passes laws, the Executive branch enforces them, and the Judiciary interprets them. Yet I hear presidential candidates talk about introducing legislation when they become President, which they clearly cannot do.

My question: What's stopping you from taking care of this NOW, while you have a seat and a vote in the U.S. Senate, and while your party is in control of both houses of Congress?

Thank you.

To All Candidates:

Many of you have lofty goals of realizing a dream of complete energy independence, and just as many have put emphasis on making sure the energy is "green".

With the incredible advances and cost reductions occurring such as "printable" solar cells, improved wind generators, and other forms of renewable, nonvolatile power, do you have any plans to offer subsidies to business and households across the nation who wish to supplement their environmental friendliness by implementing solar water heaters, personal wind generators, geothermal heating/cooling systems, or other forms of self sufficient power supplements?

Do you have any plans to cut the massive subsidies to oil and coal companies in order to bring costs up to their actual level for these types of energy, thus making renewable sources more competitive?

Questions:
1. Handling of problems associated with global warming?
2. Illegal Immigration including eliminating jobs, healthcare, college
education, social security, and welfare – to convince the millions who
are here illegally to go home to fly their flag, speak their language, exercise
their rights, build their country, and "change" and make demands of
their own government.
3. Chinese relations including trade, loss of jobs, poison our pets and us,
lead in toys, skinning alive of dogs and cats for use in toys and other
"fur" products, mistreatment of women and children, …
4. Selling arms to Saudi Arabia – (911 terrorists from SA), treatment of women,
…

Press should start concentrating on our many problems instead of rock
star, talk show host, non-existent racial issues, – anything to avoid talking
about what is important!

How many of the mortgages that are to be bailed out belong to illegal
immigrants? I know for a fact that much of the housing in the Southwest
have not only been built by Mexicans but are also inhabited by Mexicans.
We give them our jobs, our healthcare, college educations, now we
can bail them out when they fail on their mortgages.

I would ask Hillary this:

You've bemoaned the caucus process as undemocratic and argued that it deprives working men and women of the right to vote. Nonetheless, you're supporters in Nevada have launched a lawsuit aimed at preventing the State of Nevada from setting up at large caucusing locations for working men and women who are employed at hotels and casinos along the Vegas strip who would otherwise be unable to vote. This process has been known for nearly a year, and the Union now objecting took part in the plan's formulation, yet they only now, after the Culinary Union endorsement of your opponent, have chosen to bring the suit.
While you have correctly pointed out that the Union bringing the suit has not endorsed you, the head of that Union is also the head and charter member of one of your support committees in Nevada and the lawyers who are prosecuting the suit have donated a great deal of money to your campaign. Do you support the suit? If so, why? If not, why haven't you called on your supporters to drop the suit?

If, by some chance, Bush gets us into another war, with Iran, what would your position be concerning the drafting of our young men and women when you take office especially since we're already spread too thin and young people are not enlisting like they used to?

The first thing George W Bush did as President was to end fudning for overseas women's clinics that provided abortion services. He didn't make sure abortions were not funded, he ended all funding. This deeply disturbs me. What would be your first act as President?

Currently the income cap on Social Security is $97,000. How do you justify any American who earns over $97,000 not paying on every dime of earned income? Would this change alone not make the Social Security System solvent?

In light of Obama continually referring to Senator Clinton as a "triangulator", she puts herself on the line and votes either for or against legislation. Senator Obama, while in the Illinois Legislature choose to vote "present" @ 130 times. I can only assume that his position was to avoid a statement like John Kerry's infamous, "I was for it before I was against it".

Obama got a pass when he attacked Clinton on the Kyl-Lieberman legislation, even though he voted for similar legislation earlier in the year. More importantly, he skipped the vote that would have put him on record.

Question for Senator Obama:

1.How do you justify your talking points about Clintons vote(s) when you seem to navigate to votes of "present" when confronted with issues that may, in the future be controvercial.

This is will be a short question, i have plenty more i will ask in the near future.

Everyone is debating and talking abt middle class!! for what!! They are not struggling!! low incomes families are, they spend less because there income isnt quite what middle class makes!! the more money u have, the more u spend. Real struggling families are families with more problems, financially, domestically, and everything else that comes with the environment, whatever changes will happen, wont affect and change anything in low incomes families, the reason why middle class are struggling, they spend more money on housing, of course they can afford!! this goes for all the candidates on the democrats side. Is the focus only on middle class, not low income families???

Given that drug companies spend twice as much on marketing as they do on actual R&D would any of the candidates consider capping the money drug companies devote toward marketing in an effort to end the drug ad wars and allow drug companies do what they were designed to do in the first place?

If, by some chance Bush gets us into yet another war with Iran what is your feeling about the draft?

I continually hear the candidates mention working families, single mothers, single parents … what are about single people period? We continue to be the victims of financial discrimination in the workplace via benefits such as health insurance. Please ask each of the candidates their position on the growing number of unmarried Americans in this country!

1. PLease ask about the embarrasing maternity leave (or lack there of) policy in this country. Does any candidate have any plans to make maternity leave acceptable, mandatory and PAID. We look like insensitive barbarians next to almost every other country.

2. Please ask Hillary how 8 years as First Lady counts in her years of experience. By that logic, Laura Bush can run

3. Please ask all candidates if they have ever, in their whole lives, done anything wrong. Maybe they will fess up like Obama did and look like human beings

THANKS!

To John Edwards:

Education is a big issue in this year's election, as it always has been. As president of the United States of America, how do you plan to raise a teacher's salary who does an outstanding job with his/her students, and how do you plan attack No Child Left Behind?

Thanks

Two questions I would like to hear from any or all of the candidates:

Do you believe that the foreign policy of the Bush Administration is rooted in imperialism? And aside from Iraq and Iran, how would your foreign policy be any different?

Wolf,
Thank you for giving the oportunity for those of us that aren't 'talking heads' to participate in our nations most important conversations.

For all candidates:
Do you believe that preemtive war is every justified? If so, what specific criteria would you consider before considering a preemtive attack?

Secondly, do you believe that the United States can promote preemtive peace effectively and if so, how would you go about securing such peace?

(My thoughts here are aligned with situations where third world countries who hold no particular interest to America today may hold such interests in 20-30 years. Our national attention in the Middle East has grown with our Fuel needs over the last several generations. However, our relationship with the Middle East is very much and has always been about our needs. What areas of the globe do we largely ignore today, even though we could establish a peaceful and benevolent relationship, because we see nothing to gain from them? AIDS stricken Africa comes to mind as a place where an outpouring of peacful aid today could foster a secure friendship for generations to come: even when third world African nations grow up into more poweful political and economical players.)

Sorry for the typos, it is DUE not SUE:

I believe the American people are getting tired of having to go bankrupt in order to finance a surgery or extended hospital stay, not to mention, being kicked out of important treatments due to no insurance, even if they hold 3 jobs, or the non-approval of medical interventions by insurers. One last thing: There are more doctors and health care professionals FOR the national health care program than the general public is informed about.

I would also like to add the following sentence:

Another big propaganda weapon is that such national health care is free, so those in jobs would have to finance th care of the others without a job. This serves solely one purpose: to pit everyone against their very neighbors and friends. This is NOT how the health care system works in most of these European countries, all people pay one or the other way, for health insurance. The Germans do that with their 4-way tax (very inappropriately called tax, when indeed it is a contribution to insurance). Of their paycheck, a small percentage goes for health care, another percentage for unemployment insurance, another small percentage for retirement benefits (which are handled by a national fund, and each hour a person works, each payment they ever receive, contributes a percentage towards retirement in a point system), and only the 4th part of these deductions is actually an income tax. When somebody looses a job, the unemployment insurance takes over the health care payments. Also, the individual contribution for upgrades is much higher and there are out of pocket expenses if you want that gold filling instead of the plain porcelain white. However, everyone gets at least a minimum basic treatment, 24/7 without paying any further deductibles, and the bill from doctors offices goes directly to the insurance (unless you want the Cadillac treatment, in which case you will get an itemized bill and you make your selection but they still take off from the total invoice amount what the insurer would have paid as basic treatment cost).

The European systems also offer prevention because they are smart enough to realize, if we take care of health and do frequent screenings, it not only saves lives, but also decreases total costs. In the USA, many people wait to go to the doctor when they are already severely ill. In Germany, you get a Dental Passport (a little yellow booklet) into which a stamp goes each time you went to see the dentist for a cleansing. if a certain amount of such annual check-ups is stamped, the insurance company will reduce the invoice total (offer discount) on those special services (re: gold filling) that you would otherwise have to pay out of pocket for they constitute more than the basic care. This is a wonderful incentive for people to overcome that anxiety attack and go 2-3 times annually to the dentist.

Why are we being held back on using the advance technology that we have .. which will help us with or economy.. why are we paying $100 a barrell for oil when we have so much of our own… why doesnt america use the resources that we have to advance or nation and help our economy? why are we holding back on our resources and technology and allowing foreign trade to support our country..

For all of the candidates: If given the opportunity to hire Karl Rove as your chief political advisor, would you consider doing so? Anticipating your answer, why not and please be specific?

Team Blitzer –

I personally think this is the Most Important Election we have had to vote in, in a very long time.

I have read the previous comments and I think there are some great questions already being asked about the economy.

Please ask the candidates to give a brief overview of how they would steer the foreign policy ship during their time in office — what do they see as American priorities overseas?

What would they do in terms of cracking down on the free flow of illicit drugs onto the US streets and schools?

Gawd, I hope we can get somebody proactive instead of reactive for a change.

The questions that will shape the next presidency are most likely ones that we have not begun to conceive of – eight years ago the questions we are asking now would be unexpected to say the least. A president must be able to look forward, and not merely be a giant – but stand on the shoulders of giants. One key difference between Obama and Clinton seems to be their philosophy of how to deal with an economic recession.

1. I would like to know the reasoning behind each of their economic stimulus proposals.
2. Furthermore, at least an outline of principles/plan for what withdrawal from Iraq will look like – both for Iraq and for the region: moving beyond the pat answer of "we're for withdrawal" and "we're for economic success."

These hard issues may take different forms in the next four years – but the process, values, and reasoning that the candidates use to base their decisions will shape these coming years.

Question:
To all candidates; are you willing to take a drug test?

To all candidates:
1.) Would you make it illegal for personal, medical and financial information to be gathered by outsourced agents in a foreign country?

2.) Make Credit reporting Agencies cease operations if they can not guarantee 100% accuracy on their reporting.

3.) Given the current financial markets and the outrageous behavior of credit card and lending institutions would you be willing to outlaw telephone solicitation by Credit Collecting Agencies?

Ask them what they are planning to do with green cards for legal immigrants. Right now a non specialized worker from any other country gets a green card faster than a highly skilled worker from India or China.

So would they choose a agricultural laborer over say a scientist just based on their country of origin, in the name of diversity?

For Obama:

1) Studies have shown (http://www.journalism.org/node/8187) that the media is strongly biased in your favor. Do you feel that you have actually earned your current standing in the polls, in light of how much the media has rooted for you?

2) Experience, experience, experience.

3) Rezko? Hopefund? Are you just an empty bag of rhetoric?

4) How is it racist or in any way off limits to mention your admitted cocaine use? If it didn't miss your attention… drugs + politics = scandal… no matter when it happened or what the ethnicity of the politician is. Doesn't your drug use show bad judgement and set a bad example? How is it not a legitimate issue? DID you ever deal?

5) Was Jay-Z's "99 Problems" played at any of your even remotely campaign-related events? (Private victory party in Iowa?) Plus, you've said you enjoy Jay-Z's "music" …why? Just the right combination of lawlessness and sexism?

For Edwards:

1) Why have you changed so many of your positions (health care?) since 2004? Why was your voting record in congress so much more conservative than what you're spouting now?

THE COUNTRY IS IN A BIG MESS, WHY WOULD WE RISK GIVING IT TO OBAMA TEAM WHEN THE CLINTON TEAM HAS SHOWN HOW TO MANAGE THE ECONOMY THAN ANY OF THE BUSHES?. OBAMA IS DECIDEDLY A BETTER SPEAKER. LET HIM BE THE CHIEF SPEECH WRITER BUT PLEASE NOT THE PRESIDENCY OF A COUNTRY ON RECESSION.

It often seems like the Democrats and Republicans are speaking to two different Americas. To get past this, take the questions suggested for the last Republican debate and put them to the Democrats in their next debate, and vice versa.

It would be enlightening to hear what the Democrats have to say about appointing judges, 2nd Amendment rights and teaching intelligent design, and what the Republicans say about corporate welfare, gay rights and affordable housing.

I would ask all what they would do to stop the endless crimes against women. I am sick and tired of reading day after day about women and girls of all ages being kidnapped, raped and murderd. We can not go shopping, jogging, hiking, stand at a bus stop and NOW not able to serve our counrty in the military without the fear of something bad happening to us. I believe more women were mudered in this counrty last year than soliders died in Iraq. Please ask someone this question. We have hate crime laws against color , sexual oreintation — Why not Women their are more of us killed !!!

Why don't any of the candidates other than Dennis Kucinich support SINGLE PAYER health care? Health insurance companies don't add any value to providing health care, they just take money and delay resource allocation. United Healthcare paid it's CEO $1 billion when he retired!!! It seems like we would have a lot more money to provide healthcare if the insurance companies didn't suck so much of it up. If not single-payer health care, would the candidates support limiting profits of insurance companies?

What choice does say, my husband have? With kidney stones in his past ($54,000 for 2 nights in the hospital, a cat scan and pain medication) he can pay $400 a month for a $2000 deductible plan as part of my companies group plan, otherwise his costs would be astronomical for health care because of previous conditions. More likely, he the health insurance would probably not cover kidney stones for him. So it's either $400 a month or nothing, soon to be $440 next year.

Why would any sane person want this job? Seriously, it's the economy, the environment, the War in Iraq, the War in Afghanistan, our education system, our healthcare debacle, our standing overseas, the price of gas, the cost of food, milk costs more because we're using the corn for ethanol but at least it's not foreign oil, and don't forget the foreign child workers, the exporting of American jobs, the trade deficit, it's the unions-no it's not the unions, the falling apart infrastructure, the housing crisis, the banking crisis, the crisis crisis…

No one can fix all of this. Seriously. Most issues are so interwoven you can barely separate one issue from another, which gets back to my first question. Why would you or anyone else want this job?

My question is to all the candidates:

A barrel of crude oil is $100, and an average American is paying about $3 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline today. This translates to a high cost of living ranging from perishable and non perishable commodities. This pain at the pump is being felt every where with its attendant effects. What would you do as a President to fix or ameliorate this problem?

Hi Wolf, I doubt this question would receive the light of day since it was not taken very seriously in the republican debate. But many of us would really like to know exactly how enthusiastically the candidates would support the space program. Specifically the constellation program. It was said from the beginning that it would take strong support from many generations of presidents and bipartisan support of congress to keep everything on track. It will truly be inspiring to the world when we return to the moon and it would effect my vote knowing who was for it or against it. No one knows that I am aware of.

I would ask any of the candidates about the apparent weakening to the checks-and-balances of our governmental system. It's not that we necessarily think that the present Executive branch is abusing its power (although they may be, it's hard to tell), but it sets a horrendous precedent for future generations to have the attitude 'if the President does it, it cannot be illegal'. Do any of these candidates see this as a problem? And if so, what would you do to repeal so