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Books by and about 2024 presidential candidates |
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Hillbilly Elegy,
by JD Vance (2017) |
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) |
Becoming,
by Michelle Obama (2018) |
Higher Loyalty,
by James Comey (2018) |
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2017) |
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Book Reviews |
(from Amazon.com) |
(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com)
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| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details)
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Abortion
Andrew Gillum: Defunding Planned Parenthood jeopardizes women's health.
Andrew Gillum: Decision should be made by women & their doctors.
Annette Taddeo: Defends a woman's right to make choices about her own body.
Charlie Crist: 2006: I'm pro-life; 2014: That was for Republicans.
Nikki Fried: Require half the legislature be female for new abortion laws.
Philip Levine: Women have the right to be pro-choice, government keep out.
Ron DeSantis: Ban abortions after fetal heartbeat detected.
Ron DeSantis: Anti-choice on abortion; pro-choice on vaccinations.
Charlie Crist: Voted for Women's Health Protection Act after Roe overturned.
Ron DeSantis: FactCheck: Only 1.3% of abortions take place after 21 weeks.
Brian Moore: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right.
David Jolly: Florida should codify the Roe/Casey framework.
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Budget & Economy
Adam Putnam: Don't make Florida into California & their debt.
Andrew Gillum: Stimulus better than market-led recovery.
Annette Taddeo: Budget should help struggling families, not make it harder.
Charlie Crist: Worked to pass the American Rescue Plan.
Jeb Bush: Supports constitutional balanced budget amendment.
Nikki Fried: We need to be bringing in new industries to our state.
Philip Levine: An economy that works for all Floridians.
Rick Scott: 777 economic plan: 7 Steps to 700,000 Jobs in 7 Years.
Brian Moore: Stimulus better than market-led recovery.
Jerry Demings: $160M over 10 years for affordable and workforce housing.
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Civil Rights
Andrew Gillum: Take down Confederate monuments.
Andrew Gillum: Staunch supporter of LGBT rights.
Andrew Gillum: Oppose discrimination based on gender identity.
Andrew Gillum: Supports same-sex marriage.
Annette Taddeo: State must value everyone no matter their sexual orientation.
Charlie Crist: 2010: Backed gay marriage ban; 2014: supports gay marriage.
Charlie Crist: I left GOP because they bash Obama's race.
Charlie Crist: I support same-sex marriage.
Nikki Fried: Banning transgender kids in sports is peddling hate.
Nikki Fried: Updated personnel policies to ban LGBTQ discrimination.
Philip Levine: History of being a fierce champion for LGBTQ rights.
Rick Scott: I support traditional marriage.
Ron DeSantis: Backs bill impeding voting by ex-felons.
Val Demings: To cops after George Floyd:"What in the hell are you doing?".
Byron Donalds: During Jim Crow, the Black family was together.
David Jolly: Marriage should be defined by church, not by the state.
Jerry Demings: Added an LGBTQ+ Community liaison to his executive staff.
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Corporations
Adam Putnam: Cut regulations & taxes for farms & businesses.
Andrew Gillum: Corporate tax cuts can create jobs, support training.
Andrew Gillum: Raise corporate taxes from 5.5% to 7.75%.
Andrew Gillum: 90% of businesses pay no corporate income tax, & too little.
Andrew Gillum: Trump tax cuts gave billions to our richest corporations.
Philip Levine: Stop special interest tax breaks in Tallahassee.
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Crime
Andrew Gillum: Restorative justice programs to reduce teen recidivism.
Andrew Gillum: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime.
Andrew Gillum: Ban the box: re-entry of returning citizens into job market.
Charlie Crist: Reimagine law enforcement; restore trust with police.
Nikki Fried: Supported posthumous clemency for Groveland Four.
Philip Levine: Top-down & bottom-up audit of the Department of Corrections.
Rick Scott: Signs death warrant for murderer.
Rick Scott: Let's Keep Florida Safe: focus on reductions in crime.
Ron DeSantis: Don't restore voting rights to former felons.
Brian Moore: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime.
Jason Pizzo: Florida "pay to stay" law is ridiculous, needs to be changed.
Jerry Demings: As Sheriff he deployed police body-worn cameras.
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Drugs
Adam Putnam: Opposes marijuana legalization as a gateway drug.
Andrew Gillum: Focus on opioid epidemic as medical issue.
Andrew Gillum: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug.
Andrew Gillum: legalize marijuana, and tax it.
Charlie Crist: Supports legalizing recreational marijuana.
Nikki Fried: Advocated for medical marijuana & legalization.
Nikki Fried: Advocated for medical marijuana & legalization.
Nikki Fried: State should license black farmers for medical marijuana.
Nikki Fried: As lobbyist, helped legalize smokable medical cannabis.
Philip Levine: Combat the opioid epidemic by expanding Medicaid.
Rick Scott: Drug courts & alternatives to incarceration.
Rick Scott: OpEd: Requiring drug testing for welfare is unconstitutional.
Ron DeSantis: No recreational marijuana; let voters decide medical usage.
Brian Moore: Treat drug addiction and mental health on a massive scale.
Jerry Demings: Medical marijuana is the wolf in sheep's clothing.
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Education
Adam Putnam: Parental control of education, not state or federal.
Adam Putnam: Urges veto of school choice bill.
Adam Putnam: More emphasis on technical training, not college.
Andrew Gillum: End punitive high-stakes testing regime.
Andrew Gillum: Opposes vouchers for school choice.
Andrew Gillum: $1B on education: set minimum teacher salary at $50,000.
Andrew Gillum: Debt-free college in exchange for 4 years' work in Florida.
Andrew Gillum: $1 billion Fair Share investment in public schools.
Andrew Gillum: Make college debt-free for nurses & teachers.
Annette Taddeo: Expand state's pre-K program to a full day.
Philip Levine: Replace high-stakes testing with more comprehensive scoring.
Philip Levine: Invest in public schools; stop funds to private/charters.
Ron DeSantis: Expand voucher and charters; stop Common Core.
Ron DeSantis: Expand both charters & vouchers.
Ron DeSantis: Fund training for high schoolers who enter workforce.
Ron DeSantis: Signed bills to protect religious freedom in Florida.
Ron DeSantis: Make sure people are not supporting critical race theory.
Ron DeSantis: Don't sow doubts among children about gender identity.
Brian Moore: Opposes vouchers for school choice.
Byron Donalds: A record of keeping radical woke ideology out of schools.
David Jolly: State voucher program built on a model likely to collapse.
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Energy & Oil
Adam Putnam: Florida positioned to be oil hub for energy independence.
Andrew Gillum: Climate change is a real; transition to clean energy.
Andrew Gillum: Transition Florida to clean energy as rapidly as possible.
Andrew Gillum: Make Florida world leader in rooftop solar energy production.
Andrew Gillum: Withdrawal from Paris Climate accord is reckless.
Brian Moore: Prioritize green energy.
Charlie Crist: I'm not a scientists, but I can use my brain & talk to one.
Nikki Fried: Middle of the road policies got C-minus from Sierra Club.
Nikki Fried: Proposed a state-federal partnership on carbon farming.
Philip Levine: $24M project to mitigate sea-rise in Miami Beach.
Philip Levine: Against offshore drilling; invest instead in solar energy.
Philip Levine: Effectively tackled challenges of climate change in Miami.
Rick Scott: I'm not a scientist, so I have no proposal on climate change.
Ron DeSantis: No carbon tax; no wind energy subsidy.
Byron Donalds: Climate change risk is almost impossible to quantify.
David Jolly: Florida should accept the science of climate change.
Jerry Demings: Expand renewable power like solar, invest in energy storage.
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Environment
Adam Putnam: Unravel the EPA mess; it kills jobs & increases costs.
Andrew Gillum: EPA protects our families from corporate toxic pollution.
Andrew Gillum: EPA has critical role in protecting us from toxic pollution.
Andrew Gillum: Properly fund Florida Forever and Everglades restorations.
Andrew Gillum: Redirect freshwater flow, with pollution standards.
Nikki Fried: Initiated a plan to phase out the use of Styrofoam products.
Nikki Fried: State needs to deal with potentially polluting gypsum stacks.
Nikki Fried: Asks that manatees again be listed as "endangered" species.
Rick Scott: Lay off DEP staff; environmental compliance & no enforcement.
Rick Scott: Base environmental policy on sound science, not politics.
Ron DeSantis: Stop Lake Okeechobee discharges that caused algae crisis.
Ron DeSantis: Deal with Red Tide: clean the water; build a reservoir.
Brian Moore: Support the EPA.
Jerry Demings: Protect our oceans by never allowing offshore drilling.
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Families & Children
Andrew Gillum: Invited same-sex couples to get married in Tallahassee.
Brian Moore: Comfortable with same-sex marriage.
Ron DeSantis: Protect faith-based noncooperation with gay marriage.
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Foreign Policy
Andrew Gillum: Support American Exceptionalism.
Annette Taddeo: Even if oil were free, don't go to Maduro regime for help.
Charlie Crist: Lift the Cuban embargo; it has failed for 50 years.
Nikki Fried: I am supporting the American-Israeli relationship.
Rick Scott: Cuba's Castros are terrorists; don't travel there.
Brian Moore: Oppose this false notion of American exceptionalism.
Jason Pizzo: Those criticizing Israel are silent on Yemen and Syria.
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Free Trade
Andrew Gillum: Support free trade with restrictions.
Andrew Gillum: Trump's tariffs threaten Florida's workers, farmers.
Brian Moore: Free trade causes global inequalities & job loss.
Nikki Fried: Opposed Trump trade deal, foreign produce dumping.
Ron DeSantis: Trump's tariffs will get concessions from China.
Ron DeSantis: Expands program to engage new international markets.
Byron Donalds: We're going to go down the line with Trump on tariffs.
Jerry Demings: Tariffs on Canada have definitely impacted tourism.
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Government Reform
Andrew Gillum: Limit corporate money in campaigns.
Andrew Gillum: Make voter registration easier.
Andrew Gillum: Campaign funded by many small donors plus two billionaires.
Andrew Gillum: Bring it Home Florida: voter registration drive for 2020.
Annette Taddeo: Republican legislature has suppressed voters' rights.
Charlie Crist: Extend voting hours across the state for all.
Charlie Crist: Criticized restrictive elections bill & anti-riot bill.
Jeb Bush: No campaign spending limits; no public financing.
Nikki Fried: Been transparent on finances including past filing mistakes.
Nikki Fried: Would reverse restrictions on voting rights.
Nikki Fried: Republicans engage in voter suppression.
Rick Scott: Free speech includes financially supporting candidates.
Ron DeSantis: State legislatures decide presidential electors .
Brian Moore: Make voter registration easier.
David Jolly: Florida should lead the nation in campaign finance reform.
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Gun Control
Adam Putnam: Expanded concealed weapon licenses program; largest in US.
Andrew Gillum: Operation Safe Neighborhood: community crime watch.
Andrew Gillum: Favors strong gun laws.
Andrew Gillum: No right to guns for domestic abusers or mentally ill.
Andrew Gillum: Prohibit bump stocks and assault weapons.
Andrew Gillum: Universal background checks & assault weapon ban.
Andrew Gillum: Voting rights to former felons: they deserve a second chance.
Annette Taddeo: Allow municipalities to pass stricter gun regulations.
Nikki Fried: Kicked the NRA out of weapons license permitting.
Nikki Fried: Holds medical marijuana card and concealed-weapons permit.
Nikki Fried: Kicked the NRA out of weapons license permitting.
Nikki Fried: Supports common-sense gun violence prevention reforms.
Philip Levine: We need gun control reform with a common sense approach.
Rick Scott: 21-year-old age requirement & 3-day wait on gun purchases.
Ron DeSantis: Allow carrying guns openly and on college campuses.
Ron DeSantis: Concealed carry statewide; open-carry on campuses.
Brian Moore: No absolute right to gun ownership.
David Jolly: Ban assault weapons; require background checks.
Jason Pizzo: I don't trust students having guns in their dorm room.
Jerry Demings: Wants universal background checks, limits on open carry.
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Health Care
Andrew Gillum: Healthcare should be a fundamental right.
Andrew Gillum: Extend Medicaid to one million Floridians.
Andrew Gillum: Expand ObamaCare; Medicare for Al.
Andrew Gillum: Medicare for all: universal health care is a right.
Andrew Gillum: Medicare-for-All, paid $1B restoration of corporate tax cuts.
Andrew Gillum: Expand Medicaid in Florida; work toward Medicare-for-All.
Annette Taddeo: Override governor; let voters decide on Medicaid expansion.
Charlie Crist: AdWatch: unwavering support of ObamaCare.
Charlie Crist: 2007 & 2010: opposed ObamaCare; now supports fixing it.
Gwen Graham: Apply ObamaCare to full-time workers, not 30 hours per week.
Jeb Bush: No physician-assisted suicide.
Nikki Fried: Criticized Florida AG for joining anti-ACA lawsuit.
Philip Levine: Expand Medicaid; give healthcare access to everyone.
Rick Scott: AdWatch: "Let's Get to Work" opposing ObamaCare.
Ron DeSantis: No right to health care; that's just a bureaucratic right.
Ron DeSantis: Repeal ObamaCare; health care isn't a right.
Ron DeSantis: Supports $5000 fines for businesses demanding vaccine proof.
Brian Moore: Opposes ObamaCare because it allows private sector.
David Jolly: Expand Medicaid: ensure healthcare for all Floridians.
Jerry Demings: Expand Medicaid to cover those who need it most.
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Homeland Security
Adam Putnam: Make Florida the most military friendly & vet friendly state.
Adam Putnam: Use conservation money to protect military bases.
Andrew Gillum: Opposes expanding the military.
Annette Taddeo: Opposes DeSantis plan to have state military force.
Charlie Crist: Led effort to ensure veterans had access to COVID vaccine.
Philip Levine: Military veterans should receive the benefits they deserve.
Ron DeSantis: $3.4 million in state spending to support military.
Brian Moore: Oppose expanding the military.
Jerry Demings: Make Florida the most military-friendly state in America.
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Immigration
Adam Putnam: Opposed anti-immigrant laws that might affect workers.
Adam Putnam: Muslim ban is offensive to American values.
Adam Putnam: Don't let illegal aliens vote for anything.
Andrew Gillum: Protect Dreamers from end of DACA.
Andrew Gillum: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
Andrew Gillum: Protect borders without criminalizing undocumented people.
Andrew Gillum: DACA is unconstitutional; opposes any path to citizenship.
Annette Taddeo: Documented & undocumented immigrants contribute.
Nikki Fried: Fought against Florida ban on "sanctuary cities".
Philip Levine: Fully supports a pathway to citizenship for immigrants.
Rick Scott: In-state tuition for illegals, as part of tuition cap deal.
Ron DeSantis: Supports E-Verify; opposes sanctuary cities.
Ron DeSantis: DACA is unconstitutional; opposes any path to citizenship.
Ron DeSantis: End catch and release, finish the border wall.
Ron DeSantis: Pull over drivers suspected of transporting immigrants.
Brian Moore: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
Byron Donalds: Secure the border; end taxpayer handouts to illegals.
David Jolly: Crossing the border without legal status not a crime.
Jerry Demings: Signed agreement with ICE under protest and extreme duress.
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Jobs
Andrew Gillum: Supports state $15 minimum wage.
Andrew Gillum: Legally require hiring more women & minorities.
Brian Moore: Legally require hiring more women/minorities.
Charlie Crist: Minimum wage increase good; living wage better.
Philip Levine: For raising minimum wage; let local communities decide rate.
Rick Scott: FactCheck: Yes, unemployment up; but stimulus has helped.
Rick Scott: Opposed increasing the minimum wage.
Rick Scott: Designed unemployment system with maximum $275/week benefit.
Ron DeSantis: Oversaw unemployment system with maximum $275/week benefit.
Jerry Demings: Complied with anti-DEI order to avoid losing federal money.
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Principles & Values
Andrew Gillum: Religious-political dialogue good.
Andrew Gillum: Served a decade on City Commission and as Tallahassee mayor.
Andrew Gillum: Keep God in the public sphere.
Annette Taddeo: Father was kidnapped by a Marxist terrorist group.
Charlie Crist: We need to stop the division and hate; bring state together.
Charlie Crist: I stand for fairness and trying to treat people right.
Charlie Crist: This is a moment for inclusion rather than exclusion.
Nikki Fried: We can build a state that gives power back to you.
Nikki Fried: We've got to learn again how to respect one another.
Rick Scott: FanGate: Refused to debate if opponent allowed to use a fan.
Ron DeSantis: Compels schools to have moment of silence for prayer.
Brian Moore: Keep God out of the public sphere.
David Jolly: Going from GOP to Democrats part of political evolution.
Jason Pizzo: No one can say I've ever been bullied or bought.
Jason Pizzo: Mixing faith and politics desecrates innocent faith in God.
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Social Security
Andrew Gillum: Fight any attempt to privatize Social Security.
Brian Moore: Don't privatize Social Security.
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Tax Reform
Adam Putnam: Opposes a "kayak tax" on non-motorized boats.
Adam Putnam: Amend constitution to make tax hikes harder.
Andrew Gillum: Economy should works for all, not just those at the top.
Andrew Gillum: Trump tax cuts put billions into richest coffers.
Brian Moore: Higher taxes on the wealthy.
Charlie Crist: 2009: temporary $25 average car fee increase.
Philip Levine: Level the playing field; rich will pay their fair share.
Rick Scott: $500 million in automobile fee & tax relief.
Rick Scott: Saved business more than $2.3 billion in unemployment taxes.
Ron DeSantis: Keep Florida a low-tax state; super-majority to raise taxes.
Ron DeSantis: Tax cuts help US companies compete with foreign businesses.
Byron Donalds: Lower taxes, less regulation will keep our economy strong.
David Jolly: Can't repeal property tax without solution for revenue.
Jerry Demings: Local county taxes remain relatively low.
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Technology
Adam Putnam: Get Fed money for infrastructure for roads.
Andrew Gillum: Digital Harmony Project: computers & internet for schoolkids.
Andrew Gillum: Greater emphasis on light rail and mass transit.
Andrew Gillum: Net neutrality protected FL communities & residents.
Nikki Fried: Protect children from unsafe products, such as social media.
Philip Levine: Infrastructure must be modernized to meet 21st century needs.
Ron DeSantis: FCC requirement for net neutrality was a massive power grab.
Ron DeSantis: Net neutrality was an FEC massive power grab.
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War & Peace
Andrew Gillum: America should be world's human rights champion.
Brian Moore: Avoid foreign entanglements & regime change abroad.
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Welfare & Poverty
Adam Putnam: Weeding out fraudulent charities.
Andrew Gillum: Public/private program gets youth on right track.
Andrew Gillum: Address income inequality; remake an innovation economy.
Rick Scott: Require drug testing for receiving welfare.
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