I suppose the people who moderate these TV shows that feature Republican specialists in bombast have entered into an agreement not to embarrass them with tough questions. It would be easy enough, otherwise, to knock out a few of them with questions that would prove even to their supporters that they are dumb fools whose qualifications for high office are nonexistent. That the TV pundits, who surely know the truth, take them seriously, is proof that the whole show is a sham. I say “Bring back Teddy Nadler and Charles van Doren.”
Would this be an unfair question? “In the light of the fact that the IAEA now admits that Iran’s nuclear program is not solely aimed at producing electricity, what should the USA do? By the way, what is your opinion of the IAEA?” Those initials “IAEA”would be a killer and wipe out 2 or 3 of the contestants. Or, try this: “Lots of financial experts think the great mortgage crisis was due to bundling the riskiest mortgages together as “collateralized debt obligations” on the corporate/junk-bond market. What do you think?” I like this one, too: “The EU is worrying about the upcoming vote in Italy concerning austerity measures. What’s this all about and what do you hope will happen?” This one could be fun: “The IWC reports frighteningly large violations of its Convention and Protocols. Norway and Japan are particularly egregious in their flagrant violations. Is there any position the USA should take? Any action, perhaps? Do you think the USA should withdraw from the IWC? Are you bothered by the fact that Japan is one of the few important nations that are not signatories to the Convention?”
Don’t hold your breath.
