The political world is waiting in suspense for the first debate of this unprecedentedly large and exciting presidential field scheduled for tonight. However, anyone wishing to go on a date that night instead of watching the glorified game show will likely miss very little substance.

Let’s summarize what we already know from past debates in previous cycles about the substance of these debates. Every candidate says they want lower taxes, fewer regulations, and free market health care. Obamacare is the worst thing in the world, we must secure our borders, we must name our enemy, and Hillary is the worst person in the world. The only unknown about this debate is which candidates will load up on Red Bull before the forum and try to outdo the field trash-talking Obama and his policies in some memorable rant in an effort to draw attention to his/her candidacy.

The problem with this process is that we’ve gone through this already during every election cycle. Most prominently, last November, when every Republican campaigned on these same themes. Except – almost none of them will actually do what it takes to fight for us when it really matters. Despite years of promises similar to the platitudes we will likely hear during the debates, we have hit rock bottom as a nation and the far Left is successfully remaking America in every way imaginable – with no meaningful opposition standing in their way.

My colleague, Jeff Lord, has already compiled a list of questions that would be geared more towards gauging the authenticity of the candidates and whether conservatism is indeed their first language. In order to foster a substantive debate – one that will nudge the candidates off their carefully scripted talking points and force them to take stances on somewhat new, yet critically important issues, here is another list of questions from which debate organizers would be wise to choose. These questions would force the candidates to stake out new definitive stances on issues to which some might have never given thought, but will absolutely be confronted with as president.

1. Immigration

Moving beyond the platitudes, would you pledge to build the “San Diego style” double layered fence across the 700 most critical miles of the border by the end of your presidency? Would you restore the true meaning of the 14th Amendment and end unconditional birthright citizenship for illegal aliens? Would you overturn Obama’s DACA amnesty? With the growing threat of homegrown Islamic terror, what sort of changes to our immigration policies would you support to protect the homeland?

2. Judiciary

Every Republican promises to appoint strict constructionist judges. George W. Bush promised that as well, and instead we got John Roberts and a number of post-constitutionalist lower court judges out of his presidency. Would you have litmus tests on specific jurisprudence, such as the Commerce Clause and whether there is a constitutional right to redefine marriage, as a precondition for nominating any district or appellate judge?

3. Internet Sales Tax

Every Republican says they want lower, flatter taxes. But many Republicans support the internet sales tax. Would you pledge to veto any tax that enables cross-state tax collection on internet purchases?

4. Boehner/McConnell

Do you think Boehner and McConnell would be effective in pushing your bold agenda items or would they be impediments to conservative progress? Would you rather see them replaced?

5. Getting Past Democrats

All of you are promising bold conservative ideas. But even in the best case scenario, Democrats will still have a strong minority in the Senate capable of filibustering even the procedural motion on every bill. And unlike Republicans, they will actually use it. How do you plan to pass even 5% of your agenda items with such a fringe and determined minority party? Which leverage points are you willing to use to pass your top priorities?

6. Criminal Justice

With crime on the rise in some major metropolitan areas after two decades of steep declines, what do you think is fueling the change? Which policies would you pursue to bend this new trajectory? Do you think Obama’s effort to toss out federal mandatory minimums, which is supported by many Republicans, will accelerate this trend? Also, would you trust the current bench of federal judges to not abuse their discretion if federal mandatory minimums were lifted?

7. Article V Convention of the States

There are clearly a lot of enduring problems in our government that are beyond the ability of one president to fix. Would you use the bully pulpit of the presidency and the status as leader of the party to push long-term reforms advocated by Mark Levin, such as term limits, through Article V conventions of the states?

8. Military

Morale in the military has sunk to the lowest levels in years. Why do you think morale is so low and what would you do as president to restore the pride in our military? Would you end Obama’s social engineering policies related to homosexuals and transgendered in the military? Would you end his pursuit of woman in direct ground combat?

9. Foreign Policy

What is your plan to stay on offense against Islamic terror without ensnaring our military into endless, inconclusive Islamic civil wars and nation-building endeavors that we have witnessed over the past decade?

10. Marriage

In light of the Supreme Court decision, what is your plan to fight for the preservation of marriage, of which you all profess support for retaining its authentic definition?

These are just a few examples of questions that would spawn a deep, spirited, and thoughtful debate, which would make it easier for conservative voters to whittle down the huge presidential field. How many of these questions do you think will be posed during the Thursday night Fox debate? (Re-posted with permission from the author, “10 Questions GOP Candidates Should Be Asked Tonight”, originally appeared HERE)

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