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Submit and Moderate Questions for Bush and Kerry 1650

We're teaming up with the New Voters Project Presidential Youth Debate to ask the two major party candidates "the 12 previously unasked questions that most concern young Americans." This is different from the usual Slashdot interview because we're asking you to submit questions through the New Voters Project site instead of as comments attached to this post. Next week you'll have a chance to help select questions for the candidates from among the top 50 asked by everyone -- not just Slashdot readers -- by first winnowing those down to 20 through the Slashdot moderation system, then by voting on the "final 12" displayed on the New Voters Project site. On October 12 we'll post the answers, and on October 19 we'll post candidate-supplied rebuttals.
Note that the idea here is to solicit questions specifically from voters 18 - 35, because this age group tends to vote less than older Americans, plus questions from people 13 - 17 who will be voters before long. But the question selection process is not age-restricted, and it's where your comments and moderation become most important, because one great hope here is to avoid asking questions the candidates have heard (and answered) over and over.

The other question-selecting moderators are groups like Youth Vote Coalition, Earth Day Network, Rock The Vote, Declare Yourself, and 18to35.org, plus lead moderator Farai Chideya.

Anthony Tedesco, founder of the Presidential Youth Debates, has been doing this since 1996. 2004 is the first time an entire online community has participated in the moderation process. It's a logical evolution of the group-questions idea, and Slashdot is the obvious community to choose not only because of the wide range of political views held by Slashdot readers but also because the primary Presidential Youth Debates tech guy, Dan Collis Puro (AKA Hero Zzyzzx), is a Slashdot member himself (and would be happy if you volunteer to help work on their all-FOSS Web site).

Anyway, this is an interesting experiment. Ask your questions, prepare to moderate and comment next week, and to read the candidates' answers and rebuttals when we post them next month.
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Submit and Moderate Questions for Bush and Kerry

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  • by FalconZero ( 607567 ) * <FalconZero&Gmail,com> on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:27PM (#10340845)
    ... I got my mod points *this* week. Unless they're giving mod points to all (for fairness) ;)
    Either way, I bet a lot of people will metamoderate that week.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:29PM (#10340865)
    Still trying to marry your sister, eh?
  • by The Ape With No Name ( 213531 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:31PM (#10340886) Homepage
    Who fired first? What is your opinion on Han firing first? Was it justified? Is he a murderer or a hero? What about revisionist editing by Lucas? Should all /.'ers who get bent out of shape over such matters be detained at Guantanamo Bay? Or just CmdrTaco?
  • by AyeRoxor! ( 471669 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:31PM (#10340887) Journal
    Mr. President, do you think the word 'whom' has all but died completely? Should it die? Would you pardon it?
  • 2 questions (Score:4, Funny)

    by painehope ( 580569 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:33PM (#10340909)
    1) Mr. Bush, exactly how fucking high were you when your handlers somehow let you say "there are OBGYNs that are unable to practice their love on the women of America"?

    2) Mr. Kerry, while I, like many Americans, approve wholeheartedly of your 1-point "Get Bush the Fuck Out of Office" plan to getting America back on track, do you have an actual agenda to win over those of us who wouldn't vote for a stuffed deer head before Bush?
  • by the MaD HuNGaRIaN ( 311517 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:33PM (#10340930)
    In Soviet Russia, the government questions YOU!!!
  • by philbert26 ( 705644 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:35PM (#10340950)
    Mr. President, Do you believe the government should decide who should marry who?

    Both of my wives agree that the government shouldn't decide!

  • And what are your views on the subjunctive?
  • by HedonismBot ( 742920 ) <`moc.liamg' `ta' `relliug'> on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:37PM (#10340985)
    Best deals: Democrats
    Best deals: Republicans

    Hmm, maybe I can buy a couple congressmen to make the it.slashdot.org "theme" illegal...
  • by EpsCylonB ( 307640 ) <eps&epscylonb,com> on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:37PM (#10340990) Homepage
    Did you think it was strange that bert and ernie used to live together ?
  • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:39PM (#10341016)
    ME: OMFG have you seen the Halo 2 trailer?!?>11`

    PRESIDENCE BUSH: YA!!~ it's like slow and it's telling you all the stuff you did in the first one then the music kicks in and and the chief comes out and gets a gun the earf is on fire and chief is like fuck this im jumping and HE JUMPS PUT OF TEH SPACESHIP with angels singing and he lands on the bad guys and that annoying ai lady is like GO GET EM TIGER! WILDCAT IS ON TEH SPOKE!!!~`1 and theres less polys but rawkin bumb mappings you can view this on a special MICROSOFT xbox disk that comes with EB games store.
  • by AvantLegion ( 595806 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:41PM (#10341052) Journal
    >> Simple question: What is the role of war?

    Sir, you will probably be moderated down, as Edwin Starr has sufficiently dealt with this question.

  • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:41PM (#10341060)
    Are you concerned that neither of you shows up under "Best deals: Republicans" or "Best deals: Democrats" in the link collection at the right? How do you plan to address this?
  • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:44PM (#10341104)
    Mr Kerry and Mr President, should we RTFA?
  • by Ranger ( 1783 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:48PM (#10341159) Homepage
    Here are a few questions I'd like to ask Mr. John Kerry-Heinz 57 and El Presidente George Dubya Bush:

    Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?

    Do you still beat your wife?

    Can God make a rock so heavy he can't lift it?

    What is the meaning of the word 'is'?

    If an orange is called an orange because of it's colour, why isn't a banana called a yellow?

    What did you know and when did you know it?

    And finally ...


    Why do dogs have wet noses?
  • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:50PM (#10341199)
    Emacs or vi?
  • by stinkyfingers ( 588428 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:51PM (#10341206)
    AyeRoxor!: Mr. President, do you think the word 'whom' has all but died completely? Should it die? Would you pardon it?

    Bush: Son, there's no such word as hoom.
  • by ackthpt ( 218170 ) * on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:52PM (#10341221) Homepage Journal
    . I got my mod points *this* week. Unless they're giving mod points to all (for fairness) ;) Either way, I bet a lot of people will metamoderate that week.

    Mr. President,

    Should citizens be able to moderate and metamoderate presidential orders?

    Killed auto emissions bill (-1 Troll)

    Proposed flag burning amendment (-1 Flamebait)

    9/11 speech (4 insightful)

    Tax cuts (3 Interesting)

    Tell everyone to go out and spend that $300 right away (5 Funny)

    Record deficit spending (-1 Troll)

    Invade Afghanistan in pursuit of al qaeda (5 Interesting)

    Invade Iraq (-1 Flamebait)

    Gay marriage ban amendment (-1 Flamebait)

  • by cortez ( 316233 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:54PM (#10341250) Journal
    Dear President Bush,

    Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from you and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

    I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them:

    1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not to Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

    2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

    3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

    4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

    5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states that he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

    6. A friend of mine feels that, even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there "degrees" of abomination?

    7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

    8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

    9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

    10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the
    whole town together to stone them (Lev. 24:10-16)?
    Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?

    I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.

    Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
  • by mopslik ( 688435 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @12:56PM (#10341278)

    Christ, don't you people even read the damn blurb?

    Your ID# is 15591. You should know the answer to that by now.

  • by NialScorva ( 213763 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @01:03PM (#10341372)
    I have a whole bag...
  • by lucabrasi999 ( 585141 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @01:04PM (#10341378) Journal
    Cause the penis goes in the vagina, not the butt.

    Hey, are you my wife?

  • by stu_coates ( 156061 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @01:04PM (#10341381)
    vi || emacs?
  • Yes, yes, but don't you see? Gay marriage is simply the first step down a slippery slope! What they really want is for all decent, God-fearing Americans being forced to marry autographed copies of Atlas Shrugged and have aural sex with box turtles!

    Can't you see the madness of it all? Dammit, man! Open your eyes! They won't be satisfied until they've destroyed the very fabric of the universe!

  • by Tired_Blood ( 582679 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @01:15PM (#10341588)
    Check out some of the related links above:

    Best deals: Democrats
    Best deals: Republicans
    Best deals: United States

    Who thought buying into the system could be so transparent? :)
    I'll take 200 shares of the junior senator from my state and 100 of the representative from my neighboring district.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 24, 2004 @01:33PM (#10341855)
    There is as much interest in David Cobb's presidential campaign as there is in my left nard. Therefore, I propose that my left nard be invited to the presidential debates.
  • by nanojath ( 265940 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @01:36PM (#10341890) Homepage Journal
    George W. Bush: Drugs are terrorists. We have to fight these terrorists, to keep our families safe, like the thousands who lost loved ones in the vicious, terrorist attacks of 9-11. That's why we're winning the war for freedom for the people of Iraq.

    Laura Bush: Just say no, dear (thanks again for lending me your play book, Nancy!).

    Kerry: My party enjoys the benefits of getting voters like you on our side because we're the "liberal" party - but when it comes down to it we also like the benefits of being able to rush some more insane mandatory minimum sentencing and revisions to the bill of rights through congress any time we feel we need to have a "we're tough on crime" pissing contest with the GOP. So I'm just going to keep treating that issue like Kryptonite so I can play both sides.

    Teresa Heinz-Kerry: Oh god, we all smoked dope like it was going out of style back in the day! I never said that... you're twisting my words... stuff it! You can just stuff it!

    John Edwards - uh, what Kerry said, but with my own little rhetorical spin so you know that I'm not just the man's little sidekick, in case we somehow get the next 8 years outta this, or if he tanks it and I get to go for the gold in four.

    Dick Cheney: Go fuck yourself.
  • by American AC in Paris ( 230456 ) * on Friday September 24, 2004 @01:38PM (#10341910) Homepage
    ...because, y'know, it says such wonderful things about American values when we calibrate our moral compass based on the actions of Saddam Hussein.

    That's something to take pride in, all right. America: We're Not As Bad As Saddam, Dammit!

  • by Greg@RageNet ( 39860 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @01:47PM (#10342034) Homepage
    Is this a troll? WTF? Why should I pay for your lifestyle choices (having childeren)?

    Are you going to pay for my sportscar habit? I think you should send me checks every month so I can race sportscars all day instead of work.

    I am sick of you marginalizing and denying me my sportscar rights!!! sportscar entitlements now!!!!!!!!

    If canada is so friggin great why don't you go there. I hope you like hockey, and being part of the largest un-noteworthy country in the world.
    Who'd wanna live in a country where the tracks are iced in 10 months a year anyway.

    -- Greg
  • by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 24, 2004 @02:10PM (#10342363)
    I think you mean:

    Gay marriage ban amendment (-1 Flamer-bait)
  • by Sri Ramkrishna ( 1856 ) <sriram.ramkrishna@gmail. c o m> on Friday September 24, 2004 @02:53PM (#10342914)
    One point. Modern Hindus typically do not have multiple wives. While religious epics like Mahabharata have show kings with multiple wives, it's generally not followed by the local populous.

    As to why kings have multiple wives.

    "It's good to be the king" :-)

    sri
  • by zymurgy_cat ( 627260 ) on Friday September 24, 2004 @03:11PM (#10343106) Homepage
    Please explain why I am a "young" voter because I'm 33. I have two kids, a wife, a house and mortgage, a job, a lawn that needs mowed, aches and pains in joints I never knew I had, a dog and a cat.

    Why do voter advocacy groups put me in this youth group and associate me with others as young as 13-17? I don't get jiggy wit it cause P Diddy says voting is phat. I don't spread the bling-bling to my senate homies cause a certain bill is whack. I don't look to MTV to motivate me to vote and get involved.

    10-15 years makes a lot of difference in one's life. Please explain why these groups assume that "youth" campaigns appeal to adults.

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