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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 Past and present Senate candidates from Florida (number of quotes indicated): |
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details) |
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Abortion Augustus Invictus: Leave abortion decisions to the states. Betty Castor: Abortion should be rare, safe and legal. Betty Castor: Abortion is a personal matter that should not be interfered. Bill Nelson: Supports a women's right to choose. Charlie Crist: Tea Party is too extreme on outlawing abortion. Charlie Crist: Vetoed bill requiring ultrasound exams before abortions. Edward Janowski: Men imposing on pregnant women makes them breeding stock. Kendrick Meek: I have a 100% voting record on abortion, unlike Gov. Crist. Mel Martinez: Opposed to abortion--life begins at conception. Rick Scott: Abortion is wrong & Roe versus Wade should be overturned. Marco Rubio: Leave it to state's voters; Democrats want no restrictions. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Guarantee abortion rights in the Florida constitution. Ashley Moody: Fought to keep abortion access question off the state ballot. |
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Budget & Economy Augustus Invictus: Fight for balanced budget & against Federal Reserve. Betty Castor: No tax cuts to the wealthy while we are facing huge deficits. Bill Nelson: Budget sequestration avoided national default. Carlos Lopez-Cantera: As Lt. Governor: focus on job creation and tax reduction. Charlie Crist: Supports economic stimulus and some parts of ObamaCare. Charlie Crist: $8B stimulus funds saved or created 87,000 jobs in Florida. Charlie Crist: OpEd: As incumbent, blamed for Florida's weak economy. David Jolly: We've doubled our national debt in the last 8 years. David Jolly: Balance the budget: morally bound and for national security. Edward Janowski: Stimulus is short-lived; reduce barriers to market growth. Kendrick Meek: For economic stimulus, ObamaCare, & repealing Bush tax cuts. Kendrick Meek: Grow the economy rather than applying ideology. Marco Rubio: Oppose Obama stimulus package; it's bad for America. Marco Rubio: Paycheck Protection Program most effective relief program. Mel Martinez: Promote growth and job creation to reduce the deficit. Marco Rubio: Supports emergency relief to be spent immediately. |
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Civil Rights Augustus Invictus: Who one marries is not the concern of the Government. Augustus Invictus: Friends with white supremacists, but denies affiliation. Betty Castor: Support basic protections for gay couples, but not marriage. Charlie Crist: Lifetime member of NAACP. Charlie Crist: Opposed gay adoption; then praised Court overturning ban. Edward Janowski: Focus on corporate benefits for same-sex couples. Marco Rubio: Men's bathrooms are for men & women's bathrooms for women. Mel Martinez: Support the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Pam Keith: Racists are sad aberrations, but they still exist. Rick Scott: Enforce Court decision ending college affirmative action. Rick Scott: Urged NCAA to ban transgender athletes from women's sports. |
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Corporations Marco Rubio: Work across the aisle to make America more business-friendly. Marco Rubio: Businesses need certainty to commit to hiring new workers. |
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Crime Charlie Crist: Chain-Gang Charlie: reinstitute prison chain gangs. Edward Janowski: Enforce existing sentences; eliminate other crimes. Val Demings: Police work should be about building communities. Val Demings: Support police but we also have to deal with social ills. Marco Rubio: Courts are used to persecute and prosecute Donald Trump. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Require police reforms; address systemic racism in policing. Ashley Moody: Supports enhanced penalties under Thin Blue Line Act. |
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Drugs Alan Grayson: Exempt high-CBD/low-THC medical marijuana from Drug War. Augustus Invictus: Abolishing the DEA is a start to end war on drugs. Edward Janowski: Ridiculous to consider marijuana a gateway drug. Marco Rubio: Prove medical benefits to FDA before legalizing marijuana. Patrick Murphy: Protect people complying with state marijuana laws from feds. Patrick Murphy: Let states decide marijuana legalization. Rocky De La Fuente: Focus on opioids rather than marijuana. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Rated A by NORML: legalize marijuana & tax it. Rick Scott: Rated F by NORML: no medical marijuana. Ashley Moody: Opposed state ballot measure for recreational marijuana. |
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Education Augustus Invictus: Enemy of Common Core and No Child Left Behind. Edward Janowski: Vouchers are regularly abused due to lack of oversight. Patrick Murphy: Quality public education is best way to grow middle class. Rocky De La Fuente: Keep college graduates in Florida after graduation. Val Demings: We need to focus more on our children graduating high school. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Opposes Florida's "Stop WOKE Act" in schools. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Cancel student debt, or at least cancel interest. Rick Scott: It's time for schools to stop pushing these woke ideologies. Rick Scott: Student loan bailout is a socialist handout. |
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Energy & Oil Augustus Invictus: Find alternatives to dependence on foreign energy sources. Betty Castor: We won�t solve this problem with more drilling. Charlie Crist: Open to cap-and-trade plan for carbon emissions. David Jolly: I support offshore drilling, but not off Florida's coasts. Edward Janowski: Strong supporter of green energy. Mel Martinez: Allow exploration in areas that support drilling. Ron DeSantis: No delay on Keystone pipeline for security & safety study. Marco Rubio: Produce more American oil and not buy Russian oil. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Climate change is real; act to upgrade infrastructure. Rick Scott: Address climate change impact without killing the economy. Ashley Moody: Oppose "radical energy policies" applied to washing machines. |
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Environment Augustus Invictus: Respecting environment over business is a must. Bill Nelson: Lake Okeechobee water is murky, but it's a state issue. Connie Mack IV: Criticizes agricultural tax breaks for grazing land. Edward Janowski: Rein in EPA along with other bureaucracies. Patrick Murphy: Vital to Florida's future that we protect our environment. Rick Scott: Lake Okeechobee water is murky, but it's a federal issue. Rick Scott: OpEd: Protestors blame Scott for red tide algae bloom. Rick Scott: Repealed mandatory septic tank inspection & cut state DEP. Rick Scott: Emergency $9M to cope with red tide algae bloom. Rocky De La Fuente: We bear responsibility as stewards of our planet. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Our environment is at the heart of everything. Rick Scott: Cut budgets of state environmental agencies. |
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Families & Children Augustus Invictus: Healthy relations between men and women: opposes deviancy. |
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Foreign Policy Betty Castor: Bush�s travel restrictions to Cuba are wrong. Bill Nelson: Keep the Cuban embargo, but let family members travel. Carlos Lopez-Cantera: Defend democracy in Cuba, Venezuela, & Israel. Carlos Lopez-Cantera: After Cuban "normalization," more beatings & more oppression. Connie Mack IV: Keep the Cuban embargo until Cuba is a free democracy. David Jolly: Help create stability in regions where there is none. Edward Janowski: Support American Exceptionalism. Pam Keith: Don't live by fear; we're the most bad-ass nation. Pam Keith: Born in Turkey; lived outside US for 9 years. Marco Rubio: Prisoner swaps put a price tag on Americans. Ashley Moody: Demands answers about retailer's connection to CCP. Ashley Moody: Florida stands with the nation's ally, Israel. |
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Free Trade David Jolly: Yes to Ex-im bank; No to fast-track. Edward Janowski: Trade deals not balanced for US but favor global economy. Marco Rubio: Ban Xinjiang trade to fight Communist China on human rights. Patrick Murphy: Yes to Ex-im bank; No to fast-track. Ron DeSantis: No to Ex-im bank; Yes to fast-track. Marco Rubio: Assume something made in China is from slave labor. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Add country of origin meat labeling to trade pact. |
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Government Reform Bill Nelson: Russians penetrating our elections, but details classified. Bill Nelson: Require ads to disclose funders. David Jolly: OpEd AdWatch: Worked for lobbyists associated with Pakistan. Edward Janowski: Voter ID system to end election fraud. George LeMieux: Opposed thousands of earmarks during time in Senate. Rick Scott: Political donations exercise the right to free speech. Val Demings: Members of extremist groups shouldn't be in police, military. Marco Rubio: Vice President doesn't have power to overturn election. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Require independent, nonpartisan redistricting. Rick Scott: Shrink government work force by 25% in 5 years . Ashley Moody: Oppose unelected bureaucrats cramming down regulations. Ashley Moody: Signed onto lawsuit attempting to overturn 2020 election. Ashley Moody: Supported brief allowing Virginia to purge voter rolls. Ashley Moody: Ease regulations to allow rebuilding after hurricanes. |
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Gun Control Augustus Invictus: Wants restoration of the Second Amendment. Edward Janowski: Absolute right to gun ownership. Patrick Murphy: More background checks: close the terrorist gun loophole. Patrick Murphy: No civilian access to military-style assault weapons. Patrick Murphy: Expand background checks; bar people on watch lists. Rick Scott: Don't ban AR-15s; fully automatic weapons already illegal. Rocky De La Fuente: Prohibit assault weapons; prohibit bump stocks. Rocky De La Fuente: Allow open carry in all public places and schools. Val Demings: Biden's measured, evidence-based orders will save lives. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Floridians don't want more unchecked guns on our streets. |
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Health Care Betty Castor: Expand federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. Betty Castor: Fight for a meaningful prescription drug plan. Charlie Crist: Cover Florida: 6,000 uninsured given peace of mind. Charlie Crist: Get waste & fraud out of Medicare so program will survive. Connie Mack IV: ObamaCare cuts $700 billion out of your Medicare. Connie Mack IV: Repeal ObamaCare but preserve pre-existing condition rule. Edward Janowski: Dismantle ObamaCare, for personal sovereignty & cost too. Marco Rubio: Provide alternatives to employer-based insurance system. Mel Martinez: Support Bush's plan to provide prescription drug benefits. Patrick Murphy: We can improve ObamaCare, but it has hugely positive impact. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Expand Affordable Care Act and include a public option. Ashley Moody: During pandemic we defeated mask and vaccine mandates. |
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Homeland Security Alan Grayson: Opposed $607 billion national defense bill. Ann Kirkpatrick: Voted with GOP for DoD bill that Obama vetoed. Augustus Invictus: Non-interventionism & no unconditional support to Israel. Betty Castor: Support the all volunteer military, not a military draft. Charlie Crist: Military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy has worked. Connie Mack IV: Budget sequestration guts our military. Edward Janowski: Expand military to provide jobs and education. Marco Rubio: No evidence to change policy of don't ask, don't tell. Marco Rubio: Shouldn't rely on China for our prescription drugs. Mel Martinez: Volunteers for military service make a draft unnecessary. Pam Keith: My military service exposed me to issues that we face. Patrick Murphy: Voted with GOP for DoD bill that Obama vetoed. Rocky De La Fuente: Address broken VA hospital system. |
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Immigration Alan Grayson: Allow administrative amnesty to some illegal aliens. Augustus Invictus: Screen immigrants for status and ISIS connections. Betty Castor: Expedite citizenship for legal immigrants on active duty. Bill Nelson: Path to citizenship with fines & English proficiency. Carlos Lopez-Cantera: FactCheck: Supports E-Verify, but not racial profiling. Charlie Crist: Seal borders; enforce laws; send illegals to back of line. Connie Mack IV: No amnesty for illegal immigrants. Edward Janowski: Pathway to citizenship for some, to work thru quagmire. Marco Rubio: Don't count illegal immigrants in the 2010 census. Marco Rubio: AZ law may unreasonably single out some citizens. Marco Rubio: Allow children of illegals to pay in-state college tuition. Marco Rubio: No amnesty in any form, not even back-of-the-line. Marco Rubio: GOP DREAM Act: visas for going to college or military. Mel Martinez: Strongly oppose amnesty for illegal aliens. Rocky De La Fuente: We have a rich history of embracing immigrants. Val Demings: Supports Kate's Law: harsher sentences on deported migrants. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Path to permanent residence for DACA (support DREAMers). Rick Scott: Urged Trump to not end DACA (support DREAMers). Ashley Moody: Supports Trump's immigrations policies on DAY ONE. |
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Jobs Edward Janowski: No affirmative action; no quotas. Rocky De La Fuente: Create more jobs, and create higher paying jobs. Val Demings: Look at hiring standards, police should reflect diversity. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Supports PRO Act: fight to defend labor rights. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Raise minimum wage gradually to $15. Rick Scott: Supports the National Right-to-Work Act. |
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Principles & Values Augustus Invictus: Libertarians are the party of peace & party of principle. Bob Smith: Only one in this race with real-world experience. Charlie Crist: In Rubio's $600,000 slush fund only $4000 went to candidates. Charlie Crist: Problem solving requires consensus, and sometimes concession. Charlie Crist: I would have left GOP anyway; they're too extreme. Charlie Crist: We need open-mindedness in a Senator, not ideology. Connie Mack IV: Son of Senator; husband of Congresswoman. Connie Mack IV: GOP debates only help Democrats. Edward Janowski: Keep "God" on public buildings, as done historically. George LeMieux: Kept his promise not run for re-election after appointment. Marco Rubio: God does not love America more than Belgium. Marco Rubio: Without America, the world would be a worse place. Marco Rubio: $600,000 fund was not taxpayer money, & is fully accounted. Marco Rubio: Fundraised via "Floridians for Conservative Leadership". Marco Rubio: Repaid Florida GOP for overspending on party credit card. Marco Rubio: Home purchases funded by very GOP-friendly bank boards. Marco Rubio: As Speaker, passed 57 of "100 Innovative Ideas". Marco Rubio: Attended 15-20 Tea Party events; but not formally vetted. Marco Rubio: Are Floridians better off than they were four years ago? No! Patrick Murphy: OpEd: Angry black women should oppose party-choice Murphy. Patrick Murphy: Former Republican; FL's most conservative House Democrat. Val Demings: Would be first Black woman elected as FL Governor or Senator. Val Demings: Seeing VP Harris sworn in demonstrated American promise. Val Demings: Being unified nation doesn't mean giving up beliefs. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Threats in name of Christianity are religious terrorism. Ashley Moody: Appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace Marco Rubio. |
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Social Security Betty Castor: Oppose investing Social Security in the stock market. Betty Castor: Privatizing Social Security will reduce benefits. Betty Castor: Oppose privatizing Social Security and retirement age change. Carlos Lopez-Cantera: Preserve and protect Social Security and Medicare. Charlie Crist: Focus on waste & fraud, not retirement age & COLA. Charlie Crist: Reducing COLA is unfair to seniors living on fixed income. Charlie Crist: Don't raise retirement age; don't adjust COLA. David Jolly: FactCheck: Discuss private accounts & other options too. Edward Janowski: Privatizing is idiotic; it puts profits before people. Marco Rubio: Tough choices include raising retirement age & reducing COLA. Marco Rubio: Raise retirement age for those now under 55. Marco Rubio: Hard choices for people under 40, to avoid runaway growth. Marco Rubio: Keep raising the retirement age on the table. Marco Rubio: Keep cost-of-living adjustment on the table. Mel Martinez: Allow people to invest in a private account. Mel Martinez: Social Security is a sacred promise but plan future solvency. Rocky De La Fuente: Social Security is broke. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Will always fight to protect Medicare & Social Security. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Protect Social Security instead of Trump's tax cuts. |
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Tax Reform Betty Castor: Tax cuts must reward people who work hard for a living. Charlie Crist: Extend the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers. Charlie Crist: Reduce the tax brackets to let private enterprise flourish. Charlie Crist: 2006: Pledged no taxes; 2009: $2.2B in fees on 16M people. Charlie Crist: Best to extend all tax cuts; but compromise and push later. Connie Mack IV: Litmus test: Voting for higher taxes means it's time to go. Edward Janowski: Remove loopholes and establish a flat tax. Kendrick Meek: Bush tax cuts killed surpluses; no more trickle-down. Marco Rubio: Extend Bush tax cuts, even for high earners. Marco Rubio: 2000: $4 surcharge to cruise tickets to fund Marlins stadium. Marco Rubio: Proposed to replace property taxes with state sales tax. Marco Rubio: Pledged to never raise taxes as state rep. Marco Rubio: No one should pay higher taxes in recession, not even top 2%. Mel Martinez: Make Bush's tax cuts permanent for strong economic growth. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Our country suffers when wealthy get extreme tax cuts. Rick Scott: Permanently enact Trump's tax cuts. |
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Technology Augustus Invictus: Subsidies to ISPs are the internet's real problem. |
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War & Peace Augustus Invictus: Our foreign policies are interventionist. Betty Castor: Would have let Bush use force in Iraq with given information. Carlos Lopez-Cantera: No nuclear deal with Iran; support preemptive strike. David Jolly: Cancel Obama's Iran agreement and keep sanctions. Edward Janowski: Support UN action on disputes, instead of CIA decisions. Kendrick Meek: Get troops out of Iraq to pay for tax cuts. Mel Martinez: Iraq was the right decision with or without WMD. Mel Martinez: The decision to use force in Iraq was necessary. Patrick Murphy: Air strikes against ISIS but no ground troops. Marco Rubio: There is no U.S. combat role in Ukraine; use sanctions. Marco Rubio: A no-fly zone in Ukraine means World War III. Betty Castor: Finish the job in Iraq; repair relations with other nations. |
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Welfare & Poverty Betty Castor: Raising minimum wage will help. Mel Martinez: A buck an hour is not going to bring someone out of poverty. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell: Expand child tax credit for lower-income families. |
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Senatorial winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - U.S. House of Representatives winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - Gubernatorial winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - |
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