|
|
Books by and about 2020 presidential candidates |
|
Crippled America,
by Donald J. Trump (2015) |
Fire and Fury,
by Michael Wolff (2018) |
Trump Revealed,
by Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher (2016) |
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2016) |
Promise Me, Dad ,
by Joe Biden (2017) |
The Book of Joe ,
by Jeff Wilser (2019; biography of Joe Biden) |
The Truths We Hold,
by Kamala Harris (2019) |
Smart on Crime,
by Kamala Harris (2010) |
Guide to Political Revolution,
by Bernie Sanders (2017) |
Where We Go From Here,
by Bernie Sanders (2018) |
Our Revolution,
by Bernie Sanders (2016) |
This Fight Is Our Fight,
by Elizabeth Warren (2017) |
United,
by Cory Booker (2016) |
Conscience of a Conservative,
by Jeff Flake (2017) |
Two Paths,
by Gov. John Kasich (2017) |
Every Other Monday,
by Rep. John Kasich (2010) |
Courage is Contagious,
by John Kasich (1998) |
Shortest Way Home,
by Pete Buttigieg (2019) |
Becoming,
by Michelle Obama (2018) |
Higher Loyalty,
by James Comey (2018) |
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2017) |
Higher Loyalty ,
by James Comey (2018) |
Trump vs. Hillary On The Issues ,
by Jesse Gordon (2016) |
Outsider in the White House,
by Bernie Sanders (2015) |
|
|
Book Reviews |
(from Amazon.com) |
(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com)
|
Congressional 2012 Political Courage Test, by Project Vote Smart
Click on a participant to pop-up their full list of quotations
from Congressional 2012 Political Courage Test (number of quotes indicated):
- Alan Lowenthal (3) Democrat U.S. Rep California-47
- Amanda Curtis (6) Democratic Challenger Montana
- Angus King (1) Maine Former Independent Governor (1995-2002)
- Brad Hutto (4) Democratic Challenger South Carolina
- Champ Edmunds (6) Democrat Challenger Montana
- David Ige (9) Hawaii Democratic Governor
- Doug Collins (6) Republican challenger for 2-year special election Georgia
- Jared Huffman (6) Democrat U.S. Rep California-2
- Jim Bridenstine (10) Republican U.S. Rep Oklahoma-1
- Joe Cervantes (7) New Mexico Democratic candidate for New Mexico Governor
- Joe Kennedy III (9) Democratic Senate challenger Massachusetts
- Kevin Cramer (9) Republican candidate for North Dakota U.S. Senator North Dakota
- Matt Rosendale (8) Republican candidate for Montana U. S. Senator Montana
- Michael Folk (11) West Virginia Republican Gubernatorial Challenger
- Pat McGeehan (6) Republican Senate Challenger West Virginia
- Richard Hudson (6) Republican U.S. Rep North Carolina-8
- Sam Rankin (8) Reform Senate Challenger Montana
- Ted Yoho (9) Republican U.S. Rep Florida-3
OR click on an issue category below for a subset. |
The "Political Courage Test", according to Project Vote-Smart, "measures each candidate’s willingness to provide citizens with their positions on key issues. Most candidates, fearing their opponents might use their positions in attack ads, refuse or only respond to a few questions that their consultants stamp as safe. Each candidate is repeatedly confronted with these issue questions by Vote Smart, national media and political leaders of both major parties."
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details)
|
Abortion
David Ige: Pro-choice; no parental consent; no public funding.
Joe Cervantes: Fund abortion organizations; some parental notification.
Michael Folk: All life is precious, even when inconvenient.
Sam Rankin: Pro-choice.
|
Budget & Economy
Joe Cervantes: State funding for job training, infrastructure, & some homes.
Ted Yoho: Keynesian economics is no way to stimulate the economy.
|
Civil Rights
Champ Edmunds: Marriage between one man and one woman.
David Ige: Civil unions ok; gay marriage not ok.
Joe Cervantes: Civil unions ok; same-sex marriage ok.
Matt Rosendale: No civil unions; no same-sex marriage.
Pat McGeehan: Civil unions ok; anti-discrimination laws not ok.
Sam Rankin: Supports same-sex marriage.
Kevin Cramer: Marriage is defined in Scripture.
|
Crime
Amanda Curtis: No to capital punishment; yes to alternative sentencing.
Brad Hutto: Supports capital punishment.
Champ Edmunds: Capital punishment , but not for juveniles.
David Ige: Opposes capital punishment.
Doug Collins: Supports capital punishment.
Matt Rosendale: No capital punishment; yes prosecute minors as adults.
Michael Folk: Supports capital punishment; supports prosecuting minors.
Pat McGeehan: No capital punishment; don't prosecute minors as adults.
Ted Yoho: Support capital punishment.
Jared Huffman: Life-without-parole instead of capital punishment.
Jim Bridenstine: Swift capital punishment saves lives.
Joe Kennedy III: Opposes capital punishment.
Kevin Cramer: 100% pro-life includes opposing death penalty.
|
Drugs
Champ Edmunds: Decriminalize marijuana; support substance abuse treatment.
David Ige: No marijuana decriminalization but alternative sentencing ok.
Matt Rosendale: Decriminalize and handle marijuana like a prescription drug.
Michael Folk: Decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Pat McGeehan: Decriminalize marijuana possession.
|
Education
Amanda Curtis: No vouchers; no charters; yes Common Core.
Champ Edmunds: State funding for charters and vouchers.
David Ige: Opposes vouchers, but supports charters.
Matt Rosendale: Supports charters and vouchers; opposes tenure.
Michael Folk: State funding for charters and vouchers.
Pat McGeehan: Vouchers to send children to any school.
Sam Rankin: New reforms to replace No Child Left Behind.
Ted Yoho: Department of Education should be eliminated over 3-5 years.
Jim Bridenstine: No federal standards; local control & spending.
Joe Kennedy III: I support the President's Race to the Top program.
|
Energy & Oil
Doug Collins: Human activity is not contributing to climate change.
Michael Folk: Don't fund oil development, but no restrictions on fracking.
Sam Rankin: Federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.
Ted Yoho: Department of Energy needs to be eliminated.
Alan Lowenthal: Restrict offshore drilling; regulate greenhouse gases.
Jim Bridenstine: No credible evidence that CO2 affects global climate.
Joe Kennedy III: Human activity is contributing to climate change.
|
Environment
Joe Cervantes: Open space preservation & comprehensive water management.
Matt Rosendale: No state funding for open space preservation.
Michael Folk: No new regulations on mountaintop mining.
Pat McGeehan: No state funding for open space preservation.
|
Families & Children
Michael Folk: Civil union contracts for same-sex couples, but no marriage.
|
Government Reform
Amanda Curtis: Limit campaign contributions; and no photo ID's to vote.
Brad Hutto: Limit corporate and PAC campaign contributions.
Champ Edmunds: No limits on political contributions.
David Ige: Support independent redistricting but also voter ID.
David Ige: Limit campaign donations and campaign spending.
David Ige: Require photo identification in order to vote.
Doug Collins: Increased transparency about campaign contributions.
Joe Cervantes: No voter ID; yes prohibit legislators from lobbying.
Matt Rosendale: Yes voter ID; but also independent redistricting.
Michael Folk: Require voter ID, but for free.
Pat McGeehan: No limits on campaign contributions for PACs or parties.
Sam Rankin: Excessive campaign money is our country's greatest problem.
Ted Yoho: Regulate campaign contributions.
Alan Lowenthal: Regulate corporate & union campaign contributions.
Jared Huffman: Ban "independent expenditures"; they're out of control.
Jim Bridenstine: First Amendment includes campaign spending.
Joe Kennedy III: Citizens United decision should be reversed.
Kevin Cramer: First Amendment is clear: unregulated campaign contributions.
Richard Hudson: Eliminate 527s and force full disclosure.
|
Gun Control
Amanda Curtis: No gun licensing; allow concealed carry.
Brad Hutto: Supports only current gun laws.
David Ige: Supports background checks; opposes concealed carry.
Matt Rosendale: Citizens can own any number and type of firearms.
Michael Folk: No background checks; yes concealed carry.
Sam Rankin: Restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.
Jared Huffman: 2nd amendment right is not absolute.
Joe Kennedy III: Keep assault weapons ban; end gun-show loophole.
|
Health Care
Joe Cervantes: Supports individual mandate and universal coverage.
Michael Folk: No universally-accessible public health insurance.
Alan Lowenthal: KeepObamaCare; require purchasing insurance.
Kevin Cramer: ObamaCare is an insult to the constitution.
|
Homeland Security
Doug Collins: Protect citizenry from terrorists while respecting rights.
Jared Huffman: Reduce defense spending to balance the budget.
Jared Huffman: Diplomacy and due process, instead of military action.
Jim Bridenstine: Smart defense reductions; don't jeopardize national security.
Joe Kennedy III: Reduce defense spending, not Medicaid/Medicare.
Kevin Cramer: Every agency, including defense, should cut programs.
Richard Hudson: I do not support Obama's proposal to cut $1T from Defense.
Angus King: Ok to target suspected terrorists outside of war zones.
|
Immigration
Amanda Curtis: Illegal aliens eligible for in-state tuition.
Joe Cervantes: Yes in-state tuition for illegals; but no to driver licenses.
Matt Rosendale: No in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.
Sam Rankin: Don't deport illegal immigrants.
Ted Yoho: First, secure the borders; then a path to citizenship.
Jim Bridenstine: Secure the borders to stop movement of narcotics and slaves.
Joe Kennedy III: Provide an opportunity to earn citizenship.
Kevin Cramer: Harder for illegals to get benefits & become citizens.
Richard Hudson: End "birth right citizenship".
|
Social Security
Ted Yoho: Option of 100% privatization.
Jim Bridenstine: Give younger people option of personal retirement accounts.
Kevin Cramer: Allow future workers to invest more of their own money.
Richard Hudson: Reform the system for those my age and younger.
|
Tax Reform
Amanda Curtis: Increase income taxes on wealthy, but not others.
Brad Hutto: Maintain current tax levels, except gas tax to improve roads.
Champ Edmunds: Eliminate income taxes and corporate taxes.
Jim Bridenstine: High taxes inhibit economic growth and job creation.
|
Technology
Michael Folk: Opposes "bridge to nowhere" projects, even for job creation.
|
War & Peace
Doug Collins: Afghan withdrawal when commanders say, on secret timetable.
Doug Collins: Iran is an imminent threat to the US.
Sam Rankin: Timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Ted Yoho: Support a timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Ted Yoho: Defend if Iran attacks us, but no military prevention.
Jared Huffman: Timetable for Afghan withdrawal should be immediately!
Jim Bridenstine: Don't set timetables for withdrawal from any conflict.
Jim Bridenstine: Military force OK to prevent Iranian nukes.
Joe Kennedy III: Bring troops home quickly & prudently before end of 2014.
Joe Kennedy III: Crippling sanctions on Iran to ensure no nuclear arms.
Kevin Cramer: Withdraw from Afghanistan, but no timetable.
Kevin Cramer: Military force OK to prevent Iranian nukes.
Richard Hudson: No timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Richard Hudson: Military force OK to prevent Iranian nukes.
|
The above quotations are from Congressional 2012 Political Courage Test, by Project Vote Smart.
- 2020 Political Courage Test: House and Senate
- 2018 State legislation: House, Senate, and Governor
- 2016 State legislation: Presidential, Gubernatorial, and State
- 2013-2014 Political Courage Test: Gubernatorial & Senate, plus legislative records
- 2011-12 State legislation: House and Senate plus legislative records
- 2009-10 Political Courage Tests: Senatorial, Gubernatorial, and State legislation
- 2008 Political Courage Tests: Presidential, Gubernatorial, and Senatorial
- 2006 Political Awareness Tests: Gubernatorial and Senatorial
- 2004 Political Awareness Tests: Presidential, Gubernatorial, and Senatorial
- 2002 Political Awareness Tests: Gubernatorial and Senatorial
- 2000 Political Awareness Tests: Presidential and Congress
- 1996-1998 Political Awareness Tests: House, Senate, and State
- Collections of Voter Guides:
|
- American Family Association iVoterGuides:
- Science Debate Voter Guides:
- CampusElect.org Voter Guides:
- AARP voter guides:
- Vote-USA.org voter guides:
- Miscellaneous voter guides:
|
|
