In asking myself the question "Is Governor Palin ready to be VP," I've prepared 10 questions that are (mostly) non-partisan and serious attempts to gauge her understanding of her potential new job. If I were picking a VP with her background, these are just some of the questions I would ask, in no particular order.
- You have a background in ethics reform, and since one of your duties is acting as President of the Senate, I wonder if you could tell us what you think the three most significant ethics issues in the Senate are at the present time. As a follow-up, can you explain your position on Senator Obama's recent attempts at ethics reform -- how has that changed the culture in the Senate, in what ways does it fall short, and how might further ethics reform legislation be developed and made into law?
- Were you to become President, you would have to appoint judges to federal benches as well as the Supreme Court. Two part question: first, what are the procedural challenges of presenting a judicial candidate to a Senate that will likely be controlled by the opposition party? Second, name three current members of the Federal Judiciary that would be on your short list for Supreme Court positions, and cite what specifically in their records you find appealing.
- The role of the Vice-President has changed and evolved over the last 40 years. Of the Vice-Presidents since Walter Mondale, which one serves as an example of how you might serve a President McCain?
- Vice-President Cheney and his office have often made the argument that the Vice-President is not part of the executive or legislative branches of government as a way to dodge Congressional inquiry into sensitive executive matters. On the basis of your understanding of Constitutional law, where does the Vice-President "fit" in the American political system and under what circumstances might/should the VP withhold information from a Congressional inquiry?
- On a personal level, you have argued on behalf of home-schooling. Do you believe that the science of evolution should be taught in home-schooling? Do you personally want your children to learn about the science of evolutionary biology? If not, do you think this adequately prepares them for an education in the sciences and liberal arts?
- Related to that topic, what do you think are the central challenges for the federal government in terms of educational reform and improving America's schools? How much influence can the executive branch have over an educational system that is largely funded and controlled at the local level? How has "No Child Left Behind" succeeded, in your opinion, and what about the program can be improved?
- Many of your duties will be diplomatic in nature, requiring travel to distant parts of the world. Can you describe your own experiences on foreign soil and what it felt like, to you, to be an American abroad? What is your understanding of America's reputation around the globe, particularly given our differing stances with some of our allies? For example, what does the European Union think of our position on the Kyoto accord, and how does that impression effect our ability to engage in discussion with them in regards to issues of trade and labor? How has our reputation in Southeast Asia changing because of recent developments with North America? How might you address current issues with Venezuela's neighbors which are influenced by that country's oil production and distribution networks?
- You are on the record as saying you don't believe global warming is "man-made." In your opinion, what do you think is responsible for recent aberrations in weather, and can you cite either scientific or historical research that indicates current trends in climate change are beyond the control of human forces?
- You come from a part of the country that is (for many different reasons) not ethnically diverse, yet as Vice-President you would be representing Americans with many different cultural backgrounds and experiences. What are the most significant challenges facing Americans of color, and what role might the federal government have in moving beyond affirmative action while still ensuring that all Americans will be treated fairly under the law?
- Where do you stand on tort reform and how might the executive and legislative branches of government move forward in fixing what is broken in the American judiciary?
Now, I'm sure I could come up with 10 questions about living in Alaska that Joe Biden couldn't answer, but he's not running for Mayor of Wasila. But let's face it, folks. BEAU Biden would have a better answer for most of these questions that Governor Palin.