No, I hadn't seen the part of the debate you mention, but like you I don't watch much broadcast news anymore.

That's pretty sad. Any potential immigrant who's spent a few minutes with the rather modest naturalization study material can rattle off the freedoms.

You'd think someone going into public life would eagerly devour books on history and politics, if only to establish a baseline of knowledge*. You'd think they'd read, and read about, documents fundamental to America. As a beginning, not an end.

Is that asking too much, or am I just barking up the wrong tree?

*Yeah, TB, I read your post regarding knowledge vs intelligence. Like I say, I'm just talking baseline here, not unlike finding a pulse.