There’s a “Q&A Session” with Obama at UNH on Friday. I’m heavily inclined to go. I reckon that it’ll be hard to get to ask a question, and that I’d chicken out even if I had the chance, but here are a few that are kicking around in the back of my head right now:

• “Senator, I’m a big supporter of yours, but I’m troubled by what some say about your lack of experience. Given that the next President will have huge shoes to fill, how do you, as a one-term Senator, answer this criticism?”
  • I worry that this sounds too negative, as if I’m there to attack him. Then again, it is what’s on my mind.
• “The powers of commutation and pardons are vested in the President as a final safeguard against tyranny [I think I can find a better word]. In the past two Presidencies [wording?], many have felt that this power has been abused. What can be done to curtail future abuses of this power?”
  • Something about this question just makes it seem like it’s not the biggest deal
• “What is your plan for the war in Afghanistan?”
  • Everyone’s talking about Iraq. 9/11 is the reason we’re in Afghanistan, not Iraq, and Afghanistan is where bin Laden was initially thought to be hiding out. People are so focused on Iraq that they seem to forget Afghanistan.
• “A college education at many private universities costs more than $40,000 a year. This is substantially more than a minimum-wage household makes in a year. Besides reducing interest rates on college loans, what can be done to alleviate this, and to ensure that America stays competitive?”
  • I worry that this is something I can find online easily. (Maybe I should check?) I also don’t so much care about his answer as I care about him doing something about it, such as subsidizing tuition.
• “I’ve grown up hearing that Democrats favor massive government spending, and Republicans favor reduced government spending. And yet we’re seeing Democrats criticizing the Republican Administration for the volume of its spending. If you were elected, would you increase or decrease government expenditures?”
  • This is oddly-worded, but I want to ensure an answer that doesn’t talk about the tax rate, tax breaks, or the deficit. (All of which are big, important issues!)
• “On September 12, 2001, almost every nation in the world stood by our side. Today, it seems as if enormous parts of the world have disdain for America and all things American. How do you propose we rebuild our image?”
  • I initially said, “enormous parts of the world hate America…” but toned it down a little. Does this question work? Does it invite an answer that turns into talking about Iraq?