Questions for the Candidates

Radley chimes in (here are mine). Excerpts:

• What is your philosophical approach to federalism? What issues do you feel are best decided at the national level? What issues should be left to the states? Is there any underlying principle you use in separating one from the other, or would you make such decisions ad hoc?

• Name five things you think are none of the federal government's business.

• What is your view of the pardon power and executive clemency? Should it be used frequently? Should it be use to show mercy and forgiveness or to correct injustices that slip through the cracks? Neither? Both?

• When the two are in conflict, do you believe a politician is obligated to vote for his own principles and values, or for the will of the people?

• Is there any type of speech you believe should be criminalized?

• Under what circumstances would it be appropriate for a government to seize land from one private party and give it to another?

• What federal crimes will you instruct the Justice Department to make a priority during your administration?

• Do you think it's a legitimate function of government to protect people from making bad decisions or prevent them from developing bad habits? Even if those habit or decisions don't directly affect anyone else? How far should the government go in preventing bad habits and bad decisions? In other words, should the government's role be merely advisory, or should it criminalize things like gambling, pornography, drug use, or trans fats?

• Should federal law supersede the will of the people in a given state when it comes to medical marijuana? Assisted suicide? How about the regulation of prescription painkillers?

• Do you think presidents should be term limited? What about members of Congress? If you didn't give the same answer to each question, what's the difference?