How important for American foreign policy aims is it that Jeb Bush be informed about the root causes of the Konfrontasi and a border dispute on Kalimantan? Do you think Hillary could explain that? Isn't that what the State Department is for? It's one thing to be an ignoramus like Trump, unknowing of major events and groups abroad, but another to not know of the minutiae of ultra low-level disputes unrelated to the United States.
I don't see the point of asking candidates to contrast the development polices of Sarit Dhanarajata and Norodom Sihanouk and their effects on their countries' subsequent histories. You can ask me those sorts of things-- I enjoy talking about the minutiae of Southeast Asia-- but I'm not running for President.
Carly Fiorina has been briefed on these issues, she understood the questions. If Donald Trump is unwilling to do his homework before obtaining the job of President, how can we trust him to do his homework as President? The fact is, Mr. Trump doesn't understand foreign policy or the economy, and that's a problem.
FDR was dead before Truman even knew there was an A-Bomb in the works.
Running for President isn't a quiz show and being President isn't a matter of being an expert on everything. It's a matter of using EXECUTIVE power. Carter probably could have answered such questions far better than Reagan in a similar point in the 1980 campaign; how'd that one turn out?
Pretty good, actually. Carter was the last president not to launch any wars, and helped facilitate peace between Israel and Egypt. Despite the hostage rescue attempt, practically no American service members died on his watch compared to other 20th century presidents.
