How to spice up the Democratic debate

As with the Republicans’, the Democratic debates have become rather predictable and therefore un-revealing. The moderators ask variations of the same questions; the candidates give variations of the same answers. That does not mean there is a lack of material. There is plenty to ask at this week’s debate.

From Hillary Clinton, we would like to know:

▪ Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, says going into Libya was a mistake. Why is he wrong?

▪ What, if anything, in retrospect would you have done differently with regard to the Egyptian uprising against Hosni Mubarak?

▪ Should we cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority if it continues to incite violence and refuses to come to the negotiating table?

▪ You’ve said you would go beyond President Obama’s executive orders on immigration. However, a federal court has blocked his actions. Why would your executive orders succeed?

▪ Would you put any Republicans in your Cabinet? If so, who?

▪ Hasn’t the recent cease-fire in Syria given Bashar al-Assad a new lease on life? Isn’t this a big win for Russia and Iran as well?

▪ What would you do on taxes, health care and the rest of your domestic agenda if the Republicans have House and/or Senate majorities?

▪ The economy is growing at a little more than 2 percent a year. Is that good enough? If not, how would you promote economic growth?

▪ Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is called a “maverick” for opposing his party on some issues. Are you a maverick? On what issues do you depart from the conventional liberal position?

Then there is Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). We would like to know:

▪ You don’t have a specific plan for breaking up the banks. Why not?

▪ Do you really have no position on whether Israel should go back to the so-called pre-1967 borders?

▪ What responsibility does Hamas have for conditions in Gaza?

▪ Why would you be any better on opposing trade deals than Donald Trump?

▪ Each of President Obama’s secretaries of defense have argued we are spending too little on national security. Are they wrong? On what basis do you think so?

▪ Is global warming our biggest threat? Greater than terrorism?

▪ Do we need to lower the corporate tax rate? If not, aren’t we losing jobs to other countries where businesses choose to locate?

▪ What would you do if Russia invaded one of the Baltic states?

▪ Other than corporate “welfare” and defense, are you willing to cut any government spending?

This story was originally published April 10, 2016 at 9:23 PM with the headline "How to spice up the Democratic debate."