Ideas for questions to ask the potential next governor of massachusetts?

dpakman91 · 08-01-2006, 05:32 PM

Tomorrow I'm doing the first 2 of a set of interviews with the candidates for Massachusetts governor. Tomorrow I am interviewing Chris Gabrieli (Link: Chris Gabrieli for Massachusetts Governor) and Christy Miho (Link: Christy Mihos :: Independent For Governor of Massachusetts)

So far, I've brainstormed the following. (These aren't worded as questions, just things i will ask about)

Gabrieli:

-Car insurance: it's regulated in MA so there's no "shopping around." it costs the same everywhere, and it's one of hte most expensive states. how might he change that?

-Late entry: gabrieli just entered the race in april/may, and was way behind, having to make up a lot of ground.

-I contend that whoever wins the democratic primary in september will win in november, and the polls show that. (some question based on this)

-wind power (on cape cod, they want to install those wind power turbines, but politicians, including ted kennedy, don't want them visible from where they live)...hypocrisy of these positions, what his position would be

-mass state universities cost way too much, and constantly more...what will he do regarding umass and other universities here
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Mihos:

-Liberal, but running as an independent...simply a posturing move because there are already 3 better known democrats, or are there actually differences with the democrats?

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Ardentfrost · 08-01-2006, 05:36 PM

Wish I knew more about the state so I could suggest some questions for you

Should probably ask them to present their big issue items they intend to address (which will probably be prepared, but perhaps if they say something silly, you can touch on that)

motivez · 08-01-2006, 05:37 PM

Gay marriage

If he says he's against it, ask him whether or not he feels the Government could similarly deny citizens other types of licenses to people based on their sexuailty (ie: drivers license), or some other arbitrary attribute such as skin color.

If he's for it, ask him whether or not he supports consenting adults being able to form polygamous relationships. If not, why?

You could also ask for comments on a 'proposal' to allow everyone to obtain civil unions with the same rights, and then let people to be married in the religious or spiritual institution of their choosing

Make for an interesting discussion with both of them, and if their answer is controversial, your clip might be played all over

Ardentfrost · 08-01-2006, 05:39 PM

I wouldn't talk about gay marriage unless it's one of their big advertised talking points.

But they're left-leaners... surely they think gay marriage should be legalised

kinggovernor · 08-01-2006, 05:40 PM

their opinion on the new healthcare plan

Ardentfrost · 08-01-2006, 05:42 PM

Wasn't it Mass that tried to pass that Wal-Mart bill? You could ask their opinions on that.

motivez · 08-01-2006, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

I wouldn't talk about gay marriage unless it's one of their big advertised talking points.

But they're left-leaners... surely they think gay marriage should be legalised

Why not?

They shouldn't answer questions on what's bound to be used by the GOP as a key running point in the election?

It'd be interesting to see their response too

Ardentfrost · 08-01-2006, 05:43 PM

Well, I wouldn't because gay marriage is such a non-issue to me personally

I wouldn't want to propogate the disillusionment that gay marriage is something we should be worrying about.

dpakman91 · 08-01-2006, 05:45 PM

In MA it is an issue though, so I will definitely touch on that.

Ardentfrost · 08-01-2006, 05:46 PM

what do you mean it is an issue?

edit: snap, 666 posts :eek666:

motivez · 08-01-2006, 05:48 PM

It's a big issue in MA since they are one of the few states who legalized it

Ardentfrost · 08-01-2006, 05:50 PM

Right, but what I'm trying to say is that it's politicians who MAKE gay marriage a big issue. Keeping it in the spotlight only tosses more important issues to the curb... like I'm sure taxes in Mass are pretty high, talk about that. That's really important stuff, not gay marriage

dpakman91 · 08-01-2006, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

what do you mean it is an issue?

edit: snap, 666 posts :eek666:

you said to you gay marraige is a non issue, but in massachusetts it's a huge issue.

Ardentfrost · 08-01-2006, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by dpakman91

you said to you gay marraige is a non issue, but in massachusetts it's a huge issue.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean you have to touch on it

Perhaps it's best if you do, but imo that is only continuing a problem.

OR, even better, phrase your questioning to make it out to be why they feel it's a huge issue. I'm sure they wouldn't be prepared for that

ballz2wallz · 08-01-2006, 06:01 PM

how could you forget the big dig?

dpakman91 · 08-01-2006, 06:02 PM

ok this is interesting...Mihos is actualyl a republican, but becuase of the following info (from wikipedia) he is running as an independent:

In late 2005, Mihos announced that he was thinking of running for Governor in 2006, under the condition that Governor Romney would not run. After Romney announced that he would not seek re-election, Christy decided to pursue his candidacy further. Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey had won the support of Romney and the majority of the state Republican leadership for the nomination, so Mihos decided on the Independent route. Healey, fearing that Mihos' candidacy as an Independent would siphon off votes in the general election, offered to guarantee him the 15% of the delegates necessary at the state convention to get on the primary ballot, if he were to run as a Republican. Mihos chose not to accept the offer and said in a televised interview on March 2, 2006 that he would be an Independent candidate for Governor.[1] The next day, he held a rally at the Massachusetts State House to officially announce his candidacy.