For the next two weeks I'll be in Denver to observe the Democrats official coronation of Barack Obama and in St. Paul while the Republicans anoint John McCain. The political conventions are a dream for a reporter with my beat, National Affairs. Decision-makers and policy experts from all over the country converge in one place. Part of their raison d'etre is to get their agenda in the party's platform. They'd also like to get some face time with the vice-presidential candidate since the announcement will be hot off the presses when they arrive. But they also come because they're political animals--and this event, which happens only every four years, is their Olympics.
With their adrenaline running high--and talking points in full gear--they'll also be chatting up people like me. So...I have a mission.
I want to what how an Obama administration and a McCain administration would do—really do—about education in the United States. I want to know if either has a real plan to make sure all Americans have reasonable and affordable health insurance. I also want to know how each party would take care of the earth and all that lives on it so it will be in fairly good condition for my kids, who are very small.
I don't necessarily want to hear their overall philosophies—those are outlined perfectly well on their websites. Rather, I want to know how their ideas transfer into policy. Real and realistic policy. Whoever wins this election—and it's truly a toss-up at this point—one of them will have to govern and work with many who voted for the other guy. The one very practical question on my mind as I roam the convention centers these next two weeks: Where is the common ground?
As I'm sure any parent knows, the world looks different and more than frightening when your mind is consumed with the well-being of little dependent people. So on behalf of all the kids who can't ask the questions, I'm going to find out what Camps Obama and McCain want the next four years to look like.
I'm also curious about what you'd like to know. If you send me your questions, I'll try and find out!