Will the first Republican debate become 'The Donald Trump Show'?

The first Republican presidential debate is almost upon us, and all eyes turn to the candidate with the highest ranking in GOP polls: Donald Trump. Considered the wild card of the debate, Trump is known for his controversial comments and actions. Yet, Trump has assured the public that, for this debate, “I’d prefer no conflict, no infighting.” But, he added, “if they hit me, I’ll hit them harder. It’s all going to depend on the moment.” Trump promises to keep the debate “on a high level because he has “a lot of respect” for the other Republican candidates.

Do you trust that Donald Trump will keep the debate civil and avoid personally attacking his fellow debaters?

Are you surprised about the Republican debate roster?

The Republican candidates that will participate in the Fox News’ Republican debate on Thursday have been announced. The presidential candidates are Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie and John Kasich. Fox used a national polling system to determine the 10 most favored candidates to be given the chance to be in the debate. This leaves Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, George Pataki, and Jim Gilmore to appear in a separate debate earlier in the evening.

Does the lineup surprise you?

How likely are candidates omitted from the Republican debate roster to still have a chance at Republican nomination?

Fox News released their roster for the first Republican debate earlier today. The roster only includes the 10 top polling GOP presidential candidates, meaning that candidates that didn’t make the cut (Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, George Pataki, and Jim Gilmore) are only given the chance to debate earlier in the day of the prime-time debate.

Do you think that being left out of the official Republican debate leaves the candidates with little chance of getting Republican presidential nomination?

Should prisoners have access federal grants for college tuition?

President Obama has announced the next step in his plan for criminal justice reform: giving inmates access to federal Pell grants. Pell grants are federal money provided for low-income students to pay their college tuition and do not need to be repaid. Congress banned prisoners from having access to Pell grants in 1994 and the Obama administration cannot lift the ban without approval from Congress, so the Education Department is running a temporary program to test out the effectiveness of correctional education programs for prisoners. The administration believes such a program will provide prisoners with the skills needed to reenter the community and help them “avoid future contact with the justice system and become productive members of society.”

Would Amy and Chuck Schumer’s plan for tighter gun control decrease mass shootings?

Amy Schumer has teamed up with her cousin, Senator Chuck Schumer, to call for tighter gun control. The actor has been vocal about her support of greater gun control in the wake of the shooting of two women at the screening of her own movie, Trainwreck. The shooter, John Houser, had a history of mental illness yet legally obtained his gun. The Schumers are calling for a three-part plan that will make it more difficult for violent criminals and mentally ill people to acquire firearms. The proposed legislation has a reward and punishment system. States that submit all required records into the background check system receive a monetary reward and states that fail to comply are punished. Sen. Schumer also asks Congress to continue funding for mental health and drug abuse programs. They believe that this plan will decrease mass shootings. Do you agree?

Are you more afraid of the political crazies or the status quo?

With socialist Bernie Sanders and unfiltered Donald Trump making headlines, New York Times Magazine chief national correspondent Mark Leibovich raised the question of whether we should fear political crazies. Leibovich writes that “Each party has always had passionate elements whom its (mainstream) leaders and candidates have decried as loony tunes.” However, views of what constitutes mainstream and loony can change over time (ex. Tea Party). Additionally, he notes that “it’s arguable that the political status quo is itself a big bag of calcified crazy” as our political process is broken.

So, are you more afraid of political crazies or the status quo?

To read the full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/magazine/should-we-fear-the-political-crazies.html

Do you support President Obama’s climate change plan?

President Obama has announced his climate change plan, which mandates a 32% nationwide cut of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 on 2005 levels, a stricter reduction than the 30% that was previously proposed. States are also expected to comply by 2022. Obama’s plan also emphasizes on making renewable energy happen and will push for a switch from coal and natural gas to wind and solar power. While hundreds of businesses have lauded Obama on his policy that “climate change is not a problem for another generation, not anymore,” others criticize that the plan is impractical and too expensive to implement.

Do you support President Obama’s climate change plan?

Should Hillary Clinton be worried if Joe Biden decides to run for president?

Reports indicate that Vice President Joe Biden is thinking of running for president. While recent polls show Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton maintaining a commanding lead in the Democratic primary, a recent Quinnipiac University poll shows Clinton losing ground in favorability and trustworthiness (as Time notes "with 57 percent of Americans viewing her as neither honest nor trustworthy") in addition to head-to-head match-ups against Republican candidates. These negatives, which also came up in polls in key swing states, were not helped by her use of personal email during her tenure at the State Department being back in the news. It is not all doom and gloom for Clinton as a recent Marist University poll shows her beating all of the potential GOP nominees.

Do you think Clinton should be worried if Biden gets in the race?

Is Donald Trump appealing because of his policies or his ability to say “what’s on his mind”?

Noted businessman and owner of the Dallas Mavericks Mark Cuban voiced his approval of Donald Trump’s political campaign on his Cyber Dust messaging app. He explained the appeal of Trump, stating that “I don’t care what his actual positions are. I don’t care if he says the wrong thing. He says what’s on his mind. He gives honest answers rather than prepared answers. This is more important than anything any candidate has done in years.” Do you think Trump owes his popularity more to his opinions on issues or his unfiltered candor?

Should Hillary Clinton state whether or not she supports the Keystone XL project?

“I refuse to turn my back on what is one of the greatest threats and greatest opportunities America faces,” said Hillary Clinton on her position on climate change, generating approval from environmental activists. Yet, she has also received criticism for her refusal to talk about the Keystone XL Pipeline project. When asked if she supported the project, Clinton replied, “If it’s undecided when I become president, I will answer your question. This is President Obama’s decision. I’m not going to second-guess him.” She cited that she is “in a different position than any other candidate,” because she played a part in putting the project together during her role as Secretary of State. This statement caused many to criticize her for her wariness to offend different parts of the democratic party. Should Clinton stop avoiding the topic and state her position?