[Svartalfiar]

However, I hope that didn't spoil the pleasure to all which I intended to give in my otherwise lighthearted satire.

Ha yea the rest of the post was certainly amusing. It would be interesting to make that part of the primary process: once a week/month, each candidate is assigned a random issue of the day, and they have to do a five to ten minute explanation to old-time Americans (17/1800s) explaining both sides of it, and why they support which side. No help from aides or other staff, they have to show, themselves, that they can understand the issue and at least half-ass an explanation.

[frank ballenger]

No help from aides or other staff

That's impossible for non Trump ones. Biden would ramble and babble and forget the question. Sanders would mention the obvious classism and racism of the pre-Marxist America. Remember Obama could never say "Hi, how are you?" without cue cards, a staff feeding answers and a Telepromter that worked. "All 48 states of the union" was one of his ad libs.