Following up on the post below I contacted the Connecticut Republican candidate for the Senate, Alan Schlesinger, to get some of this thoughts on the Democratic primary and the issues facing Connecticut an the nation. I committed to reproducing the questions and answers verbatim (I did fix a few typos) so I am withholding any comment except to say that I will contacting Mr. Schlesinger for some follow-ups.

LOCAL POLITICS/ISSUES
Has the national focus on the contentious Democratic primary made it more difficult for your campaign to get significant exposure in the media?

Yes, but we expect that to change after the primary.

This would normally be a very difficult seat for any Republican to win. Do you see the possibility of Senator Lieberman running as an
independent candidate as helping or hurting your chances in the election?

Helping. It splits the democratic vote.

What do you see as the role of the federal government in dealing with the problem of congestion in Connecticut - particularly along the I95 corridor?

Federal govt. can help with funding but the state is responsible for executing any plan.

What do you see as the biggest economic or social issue facing the people of Connecticut and what can the federal government do to help resolve that issue?

Health care costs and entitlements (Soc. Sec. & Medicare). Unfunded liability with he baby boomers approaching retirement. We must inject competition into healthcare by using HSA's (health savings accounts) etc. Schlesinger has a plan to guarantee Social Security.

NATIONAL POLITICS
Your platform as given on your campaign website includes a Seasonal Employee Visa program that does not include a path to citizenship outside of the normal immigration process. Your statement does not include positions on border security and the disposition of the current illegal population. Do you see enforcement and border security as happening concurrently with the Seasonal Visa program or would they be a prerequisite to the Seasonal Visa program?

They[would] be a prerequisite to the Seasonal Visa program.

Your position on tax reform focuses on tax simplification and eliminating special interest loopholes. Are you familiar with H.R. 25, the FairTax proposal and what is your opinion of the FairTax plan?

We need more of an overhaul han H. R. 25.

What is your position on the use of the power of Eminent Domain in light of the Supreme Court Decision in the case Kelo v. New London?

Eminent Domain should be considerd on a case by case basis. I disagree with New London's use of Eminent Domain.

INTERNATIONAL
Do you agree that the president should sate a date certain timetable for withdrawal of U.S. armed forces in Iraq?

I recommend a 50% reduction with Iraqi replacement within 12 months.

Should the United States sign and ratify the Kyoto Protocol?

Undecided.

Do you believe that the current Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon represent another front in the Global war on terror and do you believe the United States should offer it's moral and military support to the state of Israel in it's battles against terrorism?

Yes

Technorati Tags: Fair Tax, Immigration, Republicans

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 02:04 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment

1 Hmmm. Kudos for getting the answers from Schlesinger (if that IS his real name **snort**). However, you might want some clarification on some of 'em.

First off, I'm not convinced that Schelsy (yeah, I just made that up, so?) wrote those answers. Notice how the response to question 4 concludes with "Schlesinger has a plan...", yet answer 7 quotes "I disagree with...". Also, the "I have a plan" schtick sounds awfully Kerry-esque.

"Undecided" on Kyoto? WTF?! You did a good job of keeping the questions philisophically neutral. I wonder if he's hedging his answers, not knowing who he's speaking with. Not the sign of a principled player.

Good job in trying to assertain his idea of the federal role in state issues. I think his answers on that score were pretty good. He stuck to supporting and strengthening existing federal programs without proposing any abject new ones.

I'd like to know if he has more of an understanding of HR25 than he lets on in his very brief reply.

Good stuff, Steve. Can't wait for volume II!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at July 20, 2006 02:45 PM (gW65p)

2 Thanks Spork.

I have already sent follow-ups on the issues you mentioned. It's nice to finally be getting some direct use of the Journalism degree I spent all of that money on!

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at July 20, 2006 03:39 PM (DdRjH)

3 Sorry. With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. I am from Bangladesh and learning to speak English, tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "The easiest and cheapest way to get to the aloha flea market is to take the bus.Vendor categories, amenities, layout map, and general information." THX , Zane.

Posted by: Gale at July 03, 2009 01:40 PM (O7ANZ)

4 Very nice site. Well laid out. I am from Ireland and also now am reading in English, please tell me right I wrote the following sentence: "This burns that until the supply-side timing arrangements, the cards in the zodiac cannot be awarded to use on each supply-side." Thank you so much for your future answers . Tess.

Posted by: Tess at September 02, 2009 10:55 PM (di2HJ)

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