GOP presidential contender Rick Perry has challenged House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) to a public debate about his Overhaul Washington plan versus the congressional status quo. In a letter to the former Speaker of the House, Governor Perry writes, "I think it would be a tremendous service to the American people to see a public airing of these differences." He may be onto something.

Continued...

With the number of GOP primary debates already in double digits, voters have a pretty clear picture of the policy differences between the Republican candidates. But when it comes to whose ideas will stand up best against the record of President Barack Obama and his congressional cronies, we can only make educated guesses based on shadow boxing and friendly fire.

What if instead of waiting until there was only one Republican and one Democrat to participate in a handful of last minute debates, the voters could see that public airing of the difference between ideologies. Imagine debates between...

• Governor Perry and Representative Pelosi on the size and scope of Congress.
  
  
• Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) and former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-New York) on the US Tax Code.
  
  
• Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former House Financial Services Committee Chair Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) on financial regulatory reform.
  
  
• Former Senator Rick Santorum and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on US foreign policy.
  
  
• Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) on the unemployment crisis.
  
  

Of course none of these matchups will happen. Just as Representative Pelosi has declined Governor Perry's invitation, it's unlikely any of the other Democrats would agree to defend their records or offer any legitimate argument for why the nation should continue down Obama & Company's path.

But it sure is fun to imagine.