The GraniteGrok Q & A Series-- NH's Congressional Candidates on the Issues
GraniteGrok is pleased to announce the start of our first "Q & A Series". Seeking to focus on particular issues and specifics from political candidates rather than the broad rhetoric most often associated with campaigns, Skip and I have developed a set of questions based mainly on issues that should be, in our opinion, of importance to voters as they decide who they will send to the next Congress. In some cases, they are pretty basic, requiring nothing more than a short and simple answer. Others need more detail.
What follows below is the cover letter sent to the campaigns, along with the questions. Each got the identical document. We sent them via email to these campaigns:
- Sununu- US Senate
- Shaheen- US Senate
- Bradley- House District 1
- Stephen- House District 1
- Shea-Porter- House District 1
- Bosse- House District 2
- Clegg- House District 2
- Horn- House District 2
- Steiner- House District 2
- Hodes- House District 2
Dear Candidate,
Below, please find a list of questions covering a variety of topics that we believe will be important matters faced by the next Congress. The answers you provide will help voters gain insight into the type of representation they will get, should you be elected to the US House.
What we are offering to each candidate from both NH Districts is the opportunity to submit answers to the questions as presented. Once we receive the answers from all of the candidates, we will publish them in their entirety as guest posts on GraniteGrok. As many of our readers are very active in a wide variety of ways throughout the Granite State, we believe that this is an excellent opportunity that should not to be missed.
We are asking that your response be submitted no later than May 20th. If you do not wish to participate, we ask that you kindly give us the courtesy of saying so, in order that we not delay publishing the responses once we have them from those who do.
In addition to this, we will be issuing invitations to join us on our radio program, Meet the New Press (1490 WEMJ Laconia, Saturdays 9 till 11), and always welcome submissions for guest posting on the ‘Grok as well.
We look forward to hearing from you ASAP as to your participation, and your completed questionnaires by May 20th, the latest.
Best Regards,
Doug Lambert
Skip Murphy
www.granitegrok.com
www.gilfordgrok.com
Meet the New Press radio
As of right now, we have received completed answers from some of the campaigns, and promises to deliver soon from most of the others. Those we have not heard from will be offered another chance to participate. We are happy to report that Senator Sununu's team responded the fastest, and will therefore be the first Q & A we will be posting here on the 'Grok.
Keep checking back for updates, as you won't want to miss what promises to be a helpful tool in getting to know your favorite candidate-- or the opponent... 
Oh, and one last thing-- We just know we probably left something important out, so if there's a particular question you'd like asked of a candidate, please don't hesitate to send it along to either one of us, and we will try to get it answered.
Here are the questions:
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QUESTIONS1. If you could ask General Petraeus any question, but only one question, what would it be?
2. Do you favor Oil recovery in the newly found fields in Montana & the Dakotas?
• Drilling in ANWR?
• Drilling in the deep waters off Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico?
• Creating a fast track process to license and build new nuclear plants?3. In the area of healthcare, are you in favor of:
• Giving tax credits for policies to individuals / families as well as businesses?
• Allow policies to be purchased across state lines?
• Allow individuals to buy lower cost policies by "unhooking" legal mandates4. British Prime Minister Brown said that the US must give up the idea of absolute sovereignty in order to better cooperate in the global community. Agree or disagree, and why?
5. Guantanomo military prison:
• Keep it open or close it?
• If closed - where would you send those enemy combatants?
• Would you be willing to try those enemy combatants in our civilian courts (with its accompanying mandatory rights as due to citizens)?6. Should President Bush attend the Summer Olympics' opening ceremonies in communist China?
7. Are you in favor of using eminent domain in taking private property from one owner to another in order to expand taxable property values?
8. Are you willing to sign an earmark moratorium?
9. You have a choice: raise corporate taxes or eliminate five Federal programs. Which is your choice? If it is “eliminate five programs”, please list them. (Feel free to list more than five if you think more could go)
10. Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are “demographic time bombs” in waiting. What steps should be taken to avoid future failures of these entitlements?
11. How would you propose Congress and the president balance the federal budget?
12. Would you vote for the “Fair Tax”? The “Flat Tax”?
