What questions would you like Trump to answer in the debate?
We know some about Donald Trump's views on immigration but not much else.
I think it is important to bring forward the questions that should be asked, so we at least have an eye out for what to focus on. Here, now, are the most important questions I think Donald Trump should be asked:
1) You have said you want to deport all illegals but allow the good ones to reapply. Is it your rough sense that the "good ones" are closer to a minority, roughly half, or a majority of all illegals currently here?
2) Will the "good ones" be forced to stay in their home country the entire time they are reapplying, or will they be allowed to return provisionally? You mentioned "expedited" return. If they are pushed to the back of the line, is the plan that they will wait, for years, in their home countries like legal immigrants?
3) Do you think Anthony Kennedy has given a good or unfavorable performance on the Supreme Court, and why? And do you really think your sister, who is a liberal jurist who authored an opinion in support of partial birth abortion, would be a great Supreme Court pick?
4) Can you name three agencies or cabinet departments you would cut? (For those Rick Perry fans who feel this is an unfair gotcha question, I feel for you. Not.)
5) You say you would "revise" the Iran deal. Could you agree to a deal that ever allows them to enrich uranium, allows them to continue developing ICBM's, and allows them to avoid surprise, immediate inspections by American inspectors?
6) In your 2011 book you state the top tax rate should be 15%. Do you still feel that way?
7) Should federal workers earn more than the average salary of Americans in the private sector? If not, do you plan to do anything about it?
8) Should the federal workforce be unionized? Why or why not?
9) Do you think the Endangered Species Act needs to be changed? If so, in what way?
10) Do you think we need more drilling on federal lands?
11) Should the internet be regulated?
12) Should public contributions to candidates be limited?
13) Should the government be able to record emails and phone calls of all American citizens?
14) Should men who claim they are women have special protection under the law? Should they be allowed to serve in the military?
15) Should Planned Parenthood receive federal funding?
16) Do you believe the Supreme Court has absolute, unchallengeable authority? If not, what do you believe the limits should be?
17) You went back and forth on admitting Muslim refugees from the Middle East. You now say we shouldn't admit them in large numbers. Why do you think that?
18) Would you push for legislation to overturn birthright citizenship? If Congress is unwilling, do you believe birthright citizenship can be overturned by executive order, since it has no constitutional or legislative basis?
The idea behind these questions is to figure out not just what Trump thinks but more importantly why he thinks them. If he were to answer some of these questions, I think voters would have a higher comfort level with them. But if he gives his often stated answer to rare substantive questions: "I'll get the best people to work for me, and they will know the answers," that of course would be less reassuring.
All candidates should hire the best people, but before the first best person is hired, they should have their own worldview. The purpose of best people is not to provide a worldview, but to implement it.
This article was written by Ed Straker, senior writer of NewsMachete.com, the conservative news site.