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| 2024 Election: | Joe Biden's book | Kamala Harris' book | Donald Trump's book | JD Vance's book | 2024 Senate Debates |
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| Book Reviews | |||||||||||||||
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(from Amazon.com) | |||||||||||||||
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(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com) |
from The Washington Post 2000s (number of quotes indicated): |
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details) |
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Abortion Al Gore: Next president�s Supreme Court nominees will decide abortion. Bob McDonnell: Supported 35 restrictive bills, even with rape & incest. Creigh Deeds: Backs abortion rights without parental consent. Duke Cunningham: Both pro-life and pro-stem cell research. Elizabeth Dole: For federal funding only in cases of incest, rape, health. George Pataki: Favors abortion rights. George W. Bush: Supreme Court is wrong: leave abortion to the states. Gordon Harold Smith: Both pro-life and pro-stem cell research. John Kerry: Life begins at conception, but we can't legislate that. Orrin Hatch: Both pro-life and pro-stem cell research. Strom Thurmond: Both pro-life and pro-stem cell research. Tom Vilsack: A Catholic who supports abortion rights. Wesley Clark: Partial birth ban ok if exceptions made for woman's health. Zell Miller: Both pro-life and pro-stem cell research. |
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Budget & Economy Al Gore: Broad solutions to national debt & maintaining prosperity. Al Gore: Voters in key states do not credit Gore for prosperity. Al Gore: Prosperity itself is on the ballot; keep �new-economy�. George W. Bush: $46B in new spending on health, education, & defense. George W. Bush: Make budget biennial; reinstate line-item veto; target pork. Jim Gilmore: More banking oversight, even if it means bigger government. John McCain: GovWatch: Specified cuts are $10B, not $100B. Mark Warner: Banking crisis caused by too many asleep at the switch in DC. |
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Civil Rights Chuck Robb: Soldiers die to protect values; allow flag-burning. George Allen: Support VA beliefs & pass flag-burning ban amendment. Ezola Foster: Supports display of Confederate flag in southern states. Ezola Foster: Against racial preferences. Ezola Foster: Homosexuality is biologically & psychologically damaging. Ezola Foster: Racism is out of govt; now focus on people. George Allen: Tunisian mother did not teach him Tunisian slur "macaca". George W. Bush: Offices on AIDS and race will remain open. John Kerry: Personally believes marriage is between a man & a woman. Mike Bloomberg: Backs same-sex marriage. Rudy Giuliani: Pro gay rights. Russell Feingold: Shouldn't change the Constitution to ban gay marriage. Wesley Clark: Homosexuality is not a sin. |
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Corporations Dick Cheney: Halliburton receives $7B in no-bid contracts in Iraq. Howard Dean: AdWatch: "Hold corporations accountable"-but gave incentives. |
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Crime Ezola Foster: Defends police action in Rodney King beating. Jim Gilmore: Three strikes eligibility no grounds for stay of execution. Jim Gilmore: Death penalty sets standard to not tolerate ghastly murders. |
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Drugs Al Gore: Science doesn�t say medical marijuana is proper. Barack Obama: Admitted marijuana use in high school & college. George W. Bush: Never disclosed DUI arrest out of concern for his daughters. |
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Education Al Gore: Highlights of 10-year $115B education program. Al Gore: Increase the federal role in education. Bob McDonnell: Supports charter schools. Creigh Deeds: Don't divert money from schools, even in recession. Elizabeth Dole: Supports CA Prop 187 barring illegal aliens from schools. Ezola Foster: Focus on Constitution: feds out of school funding & control. George W. Bush: Establish standards, then let school districts meet them. George W. Bush: Results-oriented systems: OK to link funding to performance. George W. Bush: Teachers' unions obstacle to school innovation. George W. Bush: $5B reading program; mixing phonics & literature. George W. Bush: $2B for teachers; mandates are optional. George W. Bush: Apply Texas Reading Initiative to US: all 3rd graders read. George W. Bush: $400 deductible when teachers spend own money on classrooms. George W. Bush: $13B on education programs over 5 years. George W. Bush: Vouchers a priority; encourage their spread. Jim Gilmore: More support for traditional African-American universities. Margaret Spellings: NCLB act is modeled after her reforms in Texas. Mark Warner: Home-schooling is ok; my sister home-schools her kids. Rick Santorum: Expose kids to legitimate debate of evolution & creationism. |
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Energy & Oil Al Gore: Gore calls for elimination of combustion engine. Barack Obama: GovWatch: $150B for electric car batteries & new technology. Barack Obama: GovWatch: Supports nuclear power if it�s clean & safe. Barack Obama: GovWatch: Opposes Yucca Mountain for nuclear waste storage. Bob McDonnell: Opposes cap-and-trade as congressional encroachment. Chuck Robb: Keep federal gas tax to maintain VA highway funding. Creigh Deeds: No cap-and-trade during recession. George Allen: Roll back federal gas tax to lower gas price. George W. Bush: Use ANWR fees for alternative energy and home oil help. George W. Bush: Drill ANWR and leave only footprints. Hillary Clinton: GovWatch: Gas tax holiday saves $8B; but that's 64 cents/day. John McCain: GovWatch: No, Obama supported $150B in energy innovation. John McCain: GovWatch: Build 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030. John McCain: End moratorium on offshore oil drilling. John McCain: GovWatch: Yes, his cap-and-trade bill is mandatory. John McCain: GovWatch: Favors wind & solar in ad; favors nuclear in bills. John McCain: GovWatch: Gas tax cut goes to oil companies, not consumers. |
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Environment Al Gore: Supports brownfield cleanup; says Bush did not in Texas. Ezola Foster: Eliminate EPA; businesses can take care of themselves. George W. Bush: Clean up urban brownfields, in US as in Texas. George W. Bush: Restrict wetland development, but not arsenic or CO2. George W. Bush: More lead emission reporting requirements. George W. Bush: Keep fed enviro role but give money & flexibility to states. John McCain: GovWatch: Voted for one Congressional Katrina investigation. |
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Families & Children Al Gore: Elian�s interests paramount over diplomatic interests. Al Gore: Elian�s father should decide Elian�s fate; maybe with courts. George W. Bush: Fathers' registry will promote involvement, responsibility. Hillary Clinton: Decide Elian's fate via ongoing INS legal process. Rudy Giuliani: Give Elian citizenship; decide fate in family court. |
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Foreign Policy Al Gore: Russia�s transition is accomplishment, if over-optimistic. Dick Cheney: Reach out to allies-but advisory role only. Ezola Foster: American sovereignty is extremely important. George W. Bush: US troops will never be under UN command. George W. Bush: Bush Doctrine: pre-emptive strikes for US defense. Jim Gilmore: Pursue terrorists into Pakistan, but maintain secrecy. Maria Cantwell: Opposes linking Human Rights to trade with China. Mark Warner: Pakistan could emerge as world's most dangerous nation. |
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Free Trade Ezola Foster: Bush & Gore both favor free trade; Buchanan/Foster don't. George W. Bush: Repeals steel tariffs he imposed in 2002. |
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Government Reform Barack Obama: GovWatch: Promised public financing, and then retreated. Barack Obama: GovWatch: No, McCain & RNC don�t get much money from PACs. Ezola Foster: Government should stop meddling in people's lives. George W. Bush: Streamline government with cuts and competition. George W. Bush: Bush's support of non-severability makes reform vulnerable. John McCain: Differentiate "electioneering" from real issue ads. Ralph Nader: Don't waste your vote: Gore & Bush only marginally differ. Samuel Alito: Courts play limited role in Constitutional system. |
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Gun Control Charles Schumer: Cutting record-keeping limits fosters gun sale fraud & abuse. Dick Gephardt: No additional authority for federal gun agency. Ezola Foster: Focus on Constitution: No infringement of gun rights. George W. Bush: Assault weapon OK; waiting period not OK. George W. Bush: Concealed Carry needed in our dangerous society. John Edwards: Leading Dems distance themselves from divisive gun debate. John Edwards: Guns are about independence-don't mess with that. Mark Warner: Strong defender of the Second Amendment. Michael Steele: No ban on guns; focus on enforcement instead. Mike Bloomberg: Sued New York City gun dealers to control guns. Wesley Clark: Supports ban on assault weapons. Wesley Clark: Supports the Second Amendment and uses guns himself. |
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Health Care Al Gore: Focus on low-income families who lack insurance. Al Gore: Use Medicare surplus to pay federal debt, not to cut taxes. Al Gore: Base drug plan on people, not power. Anthony Kennedy: States cannot ban cigarette ads near schools. Antonin Scalia: States cannot ban cigarette ads near schools. Barbara Mikulski: Oppose a prescription plan that subsidies the drug companies. Bill Bradley: $65B per year for 45 million uninsured. Bob McDonnell: Resist congressional encroachment & socialized medicine. Clarence Thomas: States cannot ban cigarette ads near schools. David Souter: Allow states to restrict cigarette ads beyond federal rules. Dick Gephardt: AdWatch: Criticizes Dean for 11-year-old outdated stances. Ezola Foster: Portable and private affordable Medicare solutions. George W. Bush: Supports subsidized Medicare menu with means testing. George W. Bush: Senior Rx: "Immediate Helping Hand" now; more later. John Paul Stevens: Allow states to restrict cigarette ads beyond federal rules. Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Allow states to restrict cigarette ads beyond federal rules. Sandra Day O`Connor: States cannot ban cigarette ads near schools. Stephen Breyer: Allow states to restrict cigarette ads beyond federal rules. Wesley Clark: Supports universal health coverage. William Rehnquist: States cannot ban cigarette ads near schools. |
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Homeland Security Ezola Foster: Sovereignty of nation is a primary concern. George W. Bush: SDI plan like Bush Sr.'s $63B GPALS & "Brilliant Pebbles". Howard Dean: No SDI deployment until it's proven to work. John McCain: Applying habeas to Guantanamo let 30 terrorists attack US. John McCain: GovWatch: Only 13 Gitmo recidivists & none attacked US. Russell Feingold: Al-Qaeda is a priority, not Iraq. Wesley Clark: Consider cutting defense spending. |
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Immigration Barack Obama: GovWatch: Anti-immigrants fuel xenophobia, but 45% increase. Ezola Foster: Immigration policies should protect Americans. Elizabeth Dole: Supports CA Prop 187 barring illegal aliens from schools. George W. Bush: Against the spirit of CA Proposition 187. George W. Bush: New temporary worker program includes illegal aliens. Howard Dean: Poor treatment of Muslim immigrants is ethnic profiling. |
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Jobs Jim Gilmore: Oppose making it easier to organize labor unions. John Edward Walsh: My dad was a union man, and my roots are in unions. |
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Principles & Values Al Gore: At impeachment, defends �one of our greatest presidents�. Amy Klobuchar: Voted with Democratic Party 94.1% of 324 votes. Arlen Specter: Voted with Republican Party 67.1% of 322 votes. Barack Obama: Voted with Democratic Party 96.0% of 251 votes. Barack Obama: GovWatch: never a Muslim, but school listed him as Muslim. Barack Obama: GovWatch: Wears flag pin to deflect anti-patriotism critics. Barack Obama: GovWatch: �Worked his way thru college� meant 2 summer jobs. Barbara Boxer: Voted with Democratic Party 94.9% of 312 votes. Barbara Mikulski: Voted with Democratic Party 96% of 325 votes. Ben Nelson: Voted with Democratic Party 77.8% of 325 votes. Benjamin Cardin: Voted with Democratic Party 97.2% of 324 votes. Bernie Sanders: Voted with Democratic Party 94.1% of 324 votes. Bill Nelson: Voted with Democratic Party 93.4% of 320 votes. Blanche Lambert Lincoln: Voted with Democratic Party 91.5% of 305 votes. Bob Casey: Voted with Democratic Party 94.5% of 326 votes. Bob Corker: Voted with Republican Party 89.2% of 324 votes. Byron Dorgan: Voted with Democratic Party 89.4% of 321 votes. Carl Levin: Voted with Democratic Party 96.0% of 322 votes. Charles Grassley: Voted with Republican Party 84.4% of 326 votes. Charles Schumer: Voted with Democratic Party 96.5% of 315 votes. Chris Dodd: Voted with Democratic Party 95.8% of 238 votes. Chuck Hagel: Voted with Republican Party 79.4% of 311 votes. Chuck Robb: Calls himself a centrist Democrat. Claire McCaskill: Voted with Democratic Party 84.6% of 325 votes. Craig Thomas: Voted with Republican Party 90.9% of 164 votes. Daniel Akaka: Voted with Democratic Party 96.6% of 325 votes. Daniel Inouye: Voted with Democratic Party 96.9% of 293 votes. David Vitter: Voted with Republican Party 87.6% of 306 votes. Debbie Stabenow: Voted with Democratic Party 94.7% of 323 votes. Dianne Feinstein: Voted with Democratic Party 94.1% of 320 votes. Dick Cheney: Praises Bush for decency, integrity, and honor. Dick Cheney: Opportunity to serve led to acceptance of nomination. Elizabeth Dole: Voted with Republican Party 91.3% of 311 votes. Evan Bayh: Voted with Democratic Party 86.8% of 319 votes. Ezola Foster: Left Democrats & GOP because of differences of belief. Ezola Foster: In the race to win. Ezola Foster: Encourages attending John Birch chapter meetings. Ezola Foster: No rift in Reform Party; no change in platform. Frank Lautenberg: Voted with Democratic Party 96.9% of 322 votes. George Allen: Calls himself "Common sense" conservative populist. George Allen: Recently discovered he has Jewish heritage. George Allen: Raised Christian with Jewish ancestry; religion not relevant. George Voinovich: Voted with Republican Party 75.4% of 317 votes. George W. Bush: "Bully Pulpit" should spur societal change. George W. Bush: Theme: change how Washington works & restore moral purpose. George W. Bush: Bush cultivates a religious language acceptable to most. George W. Bush: Bush ended news conferences in Sept.; Gore now accessible. George W. Bush: Communitarianism: Society over unfettered individualism. Gordon Harold Smith: Voted with Republican Party 71.0% of 324 votes. Harriet Miers: Served one term on Dallas City Council and then bowed out. Harriet Miers: Low-key but high-precision style. Harry Reid: Voted with Democratic Party 95.1% of 326 votes. Herbert Kohl: Voted with Democratic Party 96.0% of 326 votes. Hillary Clinton: Voted with Democratic Party 96.7% of 304 votes. Hillary Clinton: GovWatch: Maybe won popular vote, but only delegates count. Howard Dean: Let's say what we think and get away from being poll-driven. Howard Dean: Building a grassroots movement, like a liberal Goldwater. Jack Reed: Voted with Democratic Party 96.6% of 322 votes. James Inhofe: Voted with Republican Party 88.1% of 311 votes. James Webb: Voted with Democratic Party 90.1% of 324 votes. Janet Reno: In contempt of Congress over Clinton-Gore fund-raising. Jeff Bingaman: Voted with Democratic Party 95.6% of 320 votes. Jeff Sessions: Voted with Republican Party 89.3% of 317 votes. Jim Bunning: Voted with Republican Party 89.4% of 320 votes. Jim DeMint: Voted with Republican Party 87.3% of 316 votes. Jim Gilmore: Warner is ducking debates; doesn't want his positions known. Jim Gilmore: Will be conservative voice in Democratic-controlled Congress. Jim Jeffords: Party switch gives control of Senate to Democrats. Joe Biden: Voted with Democratic Party 97.0% of 233 votes. John Barrasso: Voted with Republican Party 94% of 100 votes. John Cornyn: Voted with Republican Party 93.2% of 322 votes. John Edward Walsh: Washington incumbents are part of a broken system. John Ensign: Voted with Republican Party 91.7% of 314 votes. John Kerry: Voted with Democratic Party 93.5% of 306 votes. John McCain: Voted with Republican Party 87.3% of 165 votes. John Rockefeller: Voted with Democratic Party 92.1% of 304 votes. John Sununu: Voted with Republican Party 84.4% of 321 votes. John Thune: Voted with Republican Party 91.0% of 324 votes. John Warner: Voted with Republican Party 84.1% of 320 votes. Johnny Isakson: Voted with Republican Party 94.4% of 323 votes. Jon Kyl: Voted with Republican Party 88.4% of 318 votes. Jon Tester: Voted with Democratic Party 88.6% of 324 votes. Joseph Lieberman: AdWatch: Fighting extremes of both parties. Joseph Lieberman: Voted with Democratic Party 88.4% of 320 votes. Judd Gregg: Voted with Republican Party 82.9% of 316 votes. Kay Bailey Hutchison: Voted with Republican Party 89.7% of 319 votes. Kenneth Salazar: Voted with Democratic Party 92.6% of 326 votes. Kent Conrad: Voted with Democratic Party 92.2% of 320 votes. Kit Bond: Voted with Republican Party 85.0% of 313 votes. Lamar Alexander: Voted with Republican Party 88.1% of 319 votes. Larry Craig: Voted with Republican Party 89.5% of 306 votes. Lindsey Graham: Voted with Republican Party 87.5% of 312 votes. Lisa Murkowski: Voted with Republican Party 80.6% of 319 votes. Maria Cantwell: Voted with Democratic Party 94.7% of 323 votes. Mark Pryor: Voted with Democratic Party 87.1% of 326 votes. Mark Warner: End partisan gridlock; embrace common ground. Mary Landrieu: Voted with Democratic Party 84.7% of 321 votes. Max Baucus: Voted with Democratic Party 88.3% of 326 votes. Mel Martinez: Voted with Republican Party 87.8% of 320 votes. Michael Crapo: Voted with Republican Party 91.2% of 308 votes. Michael Enzi: Voted with Republican Party 91.2% of 308 votes. Mike Bloomberg: Will decide in early �08 on run as self-financed independent. Mitch McConnell: Voted with Republican Party 92.9% of 325 votes. Norm Coleman: Voted with Republican Party 76.9% of 312 votes. Olympia Snowe: Voted with Republican Party 62.9% of 326 votes. Orrin Hatch: Voted with Republican Party 87.1% of 319 votes. Pat Buchanan: Far right support for Buchanan has transformed Reform Party. Pat Roberts: Voted with Republican Party 86.9% of 313 votes. Patrick Leahy: Voted with Democratic Party 94.8% of 324 votes. Patty Murray: Voted with Democratic Party 96.6% of 322 votes. Pete Domenici: Voted with Republican Party 80.8% of 317 votes. Ralph Nader: Uses personal income as societal change agent. Ralph Nader: Spoiled political system spawns spoiled candidates. Ralph Nader: Tactical voting: if Gore leads your state by 9%, vote Nader. Ralph Nader: Nader-Trader: Swap Gore vote with friend in non-swing state. Ralph Nader: Hold Your Vote: check late polls; vote Nader if not close. Richard Burr: Voted with Republican Party 91.5% of 318 votes. Richard Durbin: Voted with Democratic Party 97.5% of 323 votes. Richard Lugar: Voted with Republican Party 76.2% of 324 votes. Richard Shelby: Voted with Republican Party 89.8% of 324 votes. Robert Bennett: Voted with Republican Party 88.2% of 322 votes. Robert Byrd: Voted with Democratic Party 86.8% of 319 votes. Robert Menendez: Voted with Democratic Party 95.7% of 325 votes. Robert Reich: Democratic Party: not playing dead, but dead. Ron Wyden: Voted with Democratic Party 95.1% of 324 votes. Rudy Giuliani: Socially liberal stances: weak in primary; strong in general. Russell Feingold: Voted with Democratic Party 91.7% of 326 votes. Sam Brownback: Voted with Republican Party 90.0% of 201 votes. Saxby Chambliss: Voted with Republican Party 94.4% of 319 votes. Sheldon Whitehouse: Voted with Democratic Party 96.6% of 325 votes. Sherrod Brown: Voted with Democratic Party 96.9% of 318 votes. Susan Collins: Voted with Republican Party 66.9% of 326 votes. Ted Kennedy: Voted with Democratic Party 91.3% of 321 votes. Ted Stevens: Voted with Republican Party 81.6% of 310 votes. Thad Cochran: Voted with Republican Party 87.5% of 321 votes. Thomas Carper: Voted with Democratic Party 91.6% of 321 votes. Tim Johnson: Voted with Democratic Party 100% of 15 votes. Tom Coburn: Voted with Republican Party 82.8% of 290 votes. Tom Harkin: Voted with Democratic Party 95.3% of 320 votes. Trent Lott: Voted with Republican Party 88.2% of 304 votes. Wayne Allard: Voted with Republican Party 92.7% of 317 votes. Wesley Clark: Different kind of Democrat-without strong partisanship. Wesley Clark: Would not rule out vice presidency. Wesley Clark: Bush abuses executive power as much as Nixon did. |
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Social Security Al Gore: More benefits to 8 million mothers and 3 million widows. Al Gore: Privatization is �stock market roulette�. Al Gore: Protect Social Security from privacy & ID theft. Ezola Foster: Help people without dependency: transition to IRAs. George W. Bush: Lock-box yes; tax increase no; bipartisanship yes. George W. Bush: Tax-funded private IRA's under federal guidelines. George W. Bush: Use political capital to implement private savings accounts. Walter Mondale: Chaired commission on privatization, but opposed privatizing. |
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Tax Reform Al Gore: Don�t eliminate gas tax; ask oil interests to charge less. Al Gore: $500B to people earning under $100K; via 30 targeted cuts. Barack Obama: GovWatch: didn�t vote to raise taxes 94 times; at most 54. Bob McDonnell: Opposed tax increases for core government services. Ezola Foster: End taxes on income, capital gains, gifts, & inheritance. George W. Bush: Simplify tax code to stimulate economic growth. George W. Bush: $8B tax incentives for charitable contributions. George W. Bush: Allow IRA withdrawals for charitable contributions. George W. Bush: Use the marketplace to encourage people to save and invest. George W. Bush: Add targeted cuts to comprehensive tax cut. George W. Bush: Don't eliminate gas tax; ask OPEC to increase supply. George W. Bush: $500B to people earning under $100K; $800B to those richer. Jim Gilmore: Signature achievement: effort to eliminate Virginia car tax. Mark Warner: Pushed $1.4B tax increase to close $6B budget shortfall. Mike Bloomberg: Raised property taxes 18% to pay off budget deficit. Wesley Clark: Freeze Bush tax cuts which haven't yet taken effect. |
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Technology Al Gore: $33B for new R&D tax credit; more privacy protection on-line. Dick Gephardt: Using raw census numbers disenfranchises minorities. George W. Bush: Census long form is intrusive; not sure he'd fill it out. George W. Bush: Fewer strings to obtain technology for schools. George W. Bush: No "virtual people" in census; use raw numbers. |
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War & Peace Chuck Hagel: US in �deep trouble� in Iraq. Dick Cheney: Saddam had intent to create WMD. E.J. Pipkin: Give the President the benefit of the doubt to fight terror. George W. Bush: Saddam a "madman" who could make WMDs. George W. Bush: Request of $25 billion for war just the beginning. Howard Dean: Israeli security fence cannot be permanent. Howard Dean: AdWatch: "My opponents voted for war"-negative but true. Jim Gilmore: Any kind of timetable in Iraq is not responsible. John Hagelin: "Coherence-creation" via meditation would reduce stress. John McCain: Looting, terrorism in Iraq a result of US mistakes. Lindsey Graham: We need more troops for long haul, Iraq is like WWII. Mark Warner: No timetable to end war in Iraq. Newt Gingrich: Iraq policy is a mess. Wesley Clark: Yes to Iraqi $87B if Bush makes exit strategy. Wesley Clark: Would probably have voted yes on Iraq war authorization. |
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Welfare & Poverty Al Gore: $200B to encourage more savings by low-income workers. Al Gore: Housing: Keep interest rates low; foster more savings. Barack Obama: GovWatch: Welfare laws he �passed� were federally mandated. George W. Bush: Invigorate "a Civil Society" to protect vulnerable citizens. George W. Bush: Housing: Help low-income purchasers, and housing developers. George W. Bush: Housing: Use HUD rental vouchers for first home purchase. George W. Bush: Fund faith-based social services, not worship services. |
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