The Dean campaign believes strongly in the internet as a campaign tool. However, the internet isn't simply a tool for disseminating information from a national campaign downward, its a way for all of us to communicate as equals. As such I've compiled a list of my most pressing questions for Governor Dean, and I think it would be great if everyone added their own. That way we can provide the Dean campaign with a list of what we really want to know. No questions using rhetorical devices designed to trap the candidate or silly things like "PC vs. Mac" (unless its genuinely important to you), or anything like that please, just honest requests for information.
My list:
Our president seems to use the word "terrorist" at every opportunity, but he's never actually given us a definition of a terrorist. Can you tell us precisely what a terrorist is?
On college campuses I frequently hear that we should attempt to understand why we were attacked on 9/11 and change our policies so as not to antagonize the rest of the world. Do you agree with this assessment or is it appeasement?
Under what circumstances should a President launch a preemptive strike or risk civilian casualties?
Is it ever acceptable for a president to purposefully deceive the American people?
Hypothetically, if Saddam Hussein actually posed an imminent threat to the United States would it have been acceptable to take unilateral action?
Many young people are getting involved in politics, and supporting your campaign, because of their anger at the Bush administration. How many of your supporters are motivated by anger and is this a good thing for America?
As Governor of Vermont, you've received the NRA's highest rating, is that a distinction you're proud of?
You've said repeatedly that gun control laws simply aren't appropriate for Vermont. I'm from Connecticut, so I don't have much of a right to tell Vermont how to govern itself, but it seems likely that people are buying guns in Vermont (where there are no gun-control laws) and using them for crimes in Hartford. Is this a valid case for stricter federal gun-control laws?
What is your opinion of No Child Left Behind? Should we be giving money to schools based on test scores and other metrics?