Great interview questions from Rose

As journalist Rose Aguilar travels around Texas taking the pulse of the red state people she nabs them in parking lots (when it's not insufferably hot) and asks them a bunch of questions. [For the whole journal, click on the link to the right - BlueGirl in RedStates.] Their answers are quite varied and it's clear she occasionally gets the person to THINK. I went through several of her interviews and created a list of her more generic questions. The honesty of the answers she gets is, I believe, a reflection of the skillful nature of her questions. If we want dialogue instead of diatribe, here's a model.

Overall, what is your opinion of the state of the nation?

How do you feel about the war? how do you feel it’s going?

What about the economy? How has it affected your job/family?

Do you identify with a political party?

Do you always vote Republican? Why? What does being Republican mean to you?

What's it like for you living here ( in a predominantly Republican area)?

Why do you think Republicans who are critical of Bush hesitate to speak out?

What message would you send to the Democratic (Republican) party?

Where do you get most of your news?

What makes you a Republican?

Do you think Bush is running a small government? [responding to desire for small govt]

How do you feel about the deficit?

How do you feel about gay marriage?

How do you feel about prevention? (contraception)

How do you feel about the religious right?

Do you worry about global warming?

Do you always vote Republican or are you open to voting for a Democrat?

Are you surprised that more people aren't speaking out about this (issue of concern)?

Do your friends have similar opinions?

[Blah blah blah. ] Can you give me an example?

If you were unhappy with the Republicans why did you vote for Bush again?

Did you watch the debates?

Why didn’t you vote for Kerry?

How do you feel about providing healthcare benefits to the troops? Did you know that a few bills that would have increased coverage were killed in the House?

What's your opinion of Bush? Is he doing a good job?

What do you like about him?

What does freedom mean to you? [bla blah]

Do you think that's what Bush means when he uses the word freedom?

What does the word patriotic mean to you?