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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
Bill Bryant: I don't want the government telling me how to live my life.
Bob McDonnell: Supported 35 restrictive bills, even with rape & incest.
Creigh Deeds: Backs abortion rights without parental consent.
Maya Cummings: Emily's List endorsement.
Katie McGinty: Oppose any effort to further restrict abortion rights.
Ken Cuccinelli: No new abortion restrictions as governor.
Phil Fortunato: F Grade from NARAL, sponsored anti-abortion bills.
Tom Perriello: Backs pro-choice groups.
Glenn Youngkin: Protect the life of every Virginia child born and unborn.
Glenn Youngkin: My religion teaches me protect life before and after.
Hilary Franz: I'll ensure that WA is a sanctuary for reproductive care.
Mark Mullet: 100% Pro-Choice Voting Record in State Senate.
Mark Mullet: Enshrine the right to abortion in our state's constitution.
Bob Ferguson: Protect the right to bodily autonomy, reproductive freedom.
Dave Reichert: Pro-life with exceptions; but no plans to change state laws.
Semi Bird: I value all life, from conception through natural death.
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Budget & Economy
Jerry Brown: Ping-pong budgeting makes no sense.
Loren Culp: Cut state programs to return to 2016 spending level.
Phil Fortunato: Partial zero-based budgets; 1/4 of budget every two years.
Phil Fortunato: Open up state to building housing of all kinds.
Lee Carter: Put economic power into the hands of working people.
Mark Mullet: Must factor affordability into every government decision.
Dave Reichert: Focus on lowering gas prices and property taxes .
Semi Bird: Be a steward of taxpayer dollars.
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Civil Rights
Barbara Buono: Push legislature to legalize gay marriage.
Bill Bryant: Supports repeal of right to transgender bathroom choice.
Bill Haslam: Remove Confederate statues from state capitol.
Colin Bonini: Opposed same-sex marriage for Delaware.
Diane Black: Confederate statues are part of history.
Jack Markell: Supported same-sex marriage for Delaware.
Jay Inslee: Racial inequity not limited to criminal justice.
John B. King: Great-grandfather enslaved; must grapple with racial equity.
Ken Cuccinelli: Homosexuality is against nature and harmful to society.
Larry Hogan: Respect state law on same-sex marriage (even if not my view).
Larry Hogan: I evolved and will not repeal same-sex marriage law.
Larry Hogan: Opposes a transgender rights bill.
Loren Culp: No systemic racism, laws treat everyone equally.
Tom Perriello: Embraces same-sex marriage.
Ralph Northam: Backs marriage rights for same-sex couples.
Semi Bird: Left abandoned him, a black man, over policy disagreements.
Hilary Franz: Trails for all: no matter who they love, how they identify.
Mark Mullet: Voted against repeal of state ban on affirmative action.
Bob Ferguson: Won case guaranteeing rights for same-sex couples.
Bob Ferguson: Strongest civil rights division fighting discrimination.
Mike Ramone: Only Republican co-sponsor of state same-sex marriage bill.
Semi Bird: Stop perpetrating the scare of a national racist threat.
Pete Snyder: Left is pushing transgender bathrooms in our schools.
Deb Haaland: Everyone deserves to love without discrimination.
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Corporations
Katie McGinty: Expand the reach of the corporate net income tax.
Neel Kashkari: Corporate rate complexity encourages investment abroad.
Tom Corbett: Give up on privatizing state lottery program.
Mark Mullet: It's time for a small business owner mentality.
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Crime
Allyson Schwartz: End the Pennsylvania death penalty.
Asa Hutchinson: Four executions in 8 days; keep protocol of lethal injection.
John Kasich: Black Lives Matter means the system doesn't work for them.
John Kasich: Police must understand challenges of black community.
Katie McGinty: Moratorium on the death penalty.
Loren Culp: For qualified immunity protecting cops from lawsuits.
Mike Murphy: No more looting; we're going to shoot back.
Phil Fortunato: Only "criminal homeless" should be incarcerated.
Phil Fortunato: Need to remove criminal homeless from the streets.
Mark Mullet: Restore law enforcement's ability to pursue criminals.
Mark Mullet: Hire more police officers, access mental health treatment.
Bob Ferguson: Increased protections for survivors of human trafficking.
Dave Reichert: Led team that captured the "Green River Killer".
Dave Reichert: Co-sponsored Thin Blue Line Act to punish cop killers .
Semi Bird: Mandatory maximum sentence for fentanyl distribution.
Dave Reichert: Communities are suffering a devasting public safety crisis.
Mark Mullet: State partnerships to invest in local public safety.
Semi Bird: Back the Blue.
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Drugs
Allyson Schwartz: Reduce the criminalization of simple marijuana possession.
Colin Bonini: Decriminalizing marijuana sends young people wrong message.
Jack Markell: Decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana.
Jerry Brown: How many people can get stoned and still have a great state?
Katie McGinty: Legalize medicinal pot; decriminalize recreational pot.
Martin O`Malley: Baltimore recovered from open-air drug markets.
Tom Wolf: Study states with legal marijuana sales before deciding.
Ralph Northam: We spend $67 million a year enforcing our marijuana laws.
Hilary Franz: Criminal justice sector not set up to handle addiction.
Bob Ferguson: Prepared to defend state marijuana legalization against DOJ .
Jay Inslee: Prepared to defend state marijuana legalization against DOJ .
Semi Bird: I will make Schedule 1 drugs a felony again.
Bob Ferguson: Accountability for those who deal or supply drugs illegally .
Mark Mullet: Criminal penalties for possessing illegal drugs .
Bob Ferguson: Rated F by NORML: stiffen penalties for cannabis.
Jay Inslee: Rated A by NORML: expunge low-level marijuana convictions.
Mark Mullet: Share state cannabis tax revenue with cities and counties .
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Education
Bill Bryant: Act aggressively to support charter schools.
Bob McDonnell: Supports charter schools.
Creigh Deeds: Don't divert money from schools, even in recession.
James Craig: Parents deserve school choice; led to his conservatism.
John B. King: Expand education access; seek universal preschool.
Katie McGinty: Subsidize state colleges to keep tuition below inflation.
Loren Culp: Local control, even parental control, of education is best.
Phil Fortunato: Let local schools get waivers from unfunded state mandates.
Mark Mullet: Public school the best ladder to raise people out of poverty.
Semi Bird: Parental access to ALL curriculum materials used in class.
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Energy & Oil
Bill Bryant: Allow oil rigs through Port of Seattle for Arctic drilling.
Bill Bryant: Supported leasing oil drilling port for jobs benefit.
Bill Bryant: I believe in climate change, but focus elsewhere.
Bob McDonnell: Opposes cap-and-trade as congressional encroachment.
Creigh Deeds: No cap-and-trade during recession.
Jay Inslee: Supports oil refinery (plus biofuel) along Columbia River.
Jay Inslee: I see climate change already affecting Washingtonians.
Jay Inslee: Forest wildfires are "climate fires".
Loren Culp: Questions climate change, fires from poor forest management.
Loren Culp: Climate change: get the bureaucrats out of the way.
Phil Fortunato: Questioned global warming: what if temperatures drop?
Terry McAuliffe: Co-founded GreenTech electric car company, in Mississippi.
Semi Bird: Won't be giving up our gas engines by 2035, an insane idea.
Hilary Franz: No time to waste tackling growing impacts of climate change.
Mark Mullet: Prioritize the permitting of clean energy infrastructure.
Mark Mullet: Make sure climate change policies aren't unaffordable.
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Environment
Bill Bryant: OpEd: Claims conservationism, but enabled Arctic drilling.
Jerry Brown: $25B for water-shortage farmland.
Loren Culp: Stop over-regulation and nonsensical permitting.
Bob Ferguson: Defended Obama-era climate change protections.
Semi Bird: No ESG: no environmental investment.
Hilary Franz: $500M for DNR to prevent wildfires.
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Families & Children
Robert Foster: Refused ride-along with lone female reporter.
Tim Kaine: 2005: "conservative on family;" oppose same-sex marriage.
Mark Mullet: Remove Christian Science exemption for treating children.
Mark Walker: Called Congresswomen "eye candy" during press conference.
Dave Reichert: Personal experience leads to focus on domestic violence.
Semi Bird: Let parents parent, and let children be children.
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Foreign Policy
Asa Hutchinson: Eradicate North Korean leadership, but no assassinations.
Semi Bird: Government has money for Ukraine, not doing good for America.
Semi Bird: Prevent CCP from owning land in Washington State.
Hilary Franz: Special relationship with Israel more important than ever.
Raul Garcia: Born in Cuba; passion for service from authoritarian regime.
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Free Trade
Bill Bryant: Expand trade and tourism; that creates jobs.
Jay Inslee: Foreign trade & strong workforce are inextricably linked.
Hilary Franz: Trade war with China has had significant impact on state.
Mark Mullet: Will work to ensure our farmers remain global leaders.
Dave Reichert: Chaired Trade Subcommittee; championed free-trade agreements.
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Government Reform
Kristi Noem: Summoned employee who denied daughter's license.
Loren Culp: Government unions should not be partisan.
Jennifer McClellan: Worked to create Virginia Voting Rights Act.
Justin Fairfax: Opponents accepted "false" accusation, no due process.
Amanda Chase: If Trump not made president, declare martial law.
Dale Folwell: Oppose IRS monitoring banks accounts with more than $600.
Semi Bird: If elected, imposing term limits would top his agenda.
Mark Mullet: Make our permitting process more predictable and timelier.
Bob Ferguson: Secured the largest campaign finance penalty in history.
Dave Reichert: Lower taxes and reduce regulations to grow economy.
Dave Reichert: Make state government open, responsive, and inclusive.
Semi Bird: Yes to Voter ID; yes to Electoral College.
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Gun Control
Allyson Schwartz: Restrictions on both assault weapons and handguns.
Bill Bryant: I support the second amendment.
Katie McGinty: Restrictions on assault weapons but not handguns.
Larry Hogan: Ban bump stocks and other rapid-trigger devices.
Larry Hogan: Increase age of unsupervised access from 16 to 18.
Phil Fortunato: Displayed sidearm while speaking on 2nd Amendment.
Phil Fortunato: Gun bill legislators should have to pass firearms training.
Terry McAuliffe: Promises to ban assault rifles and high-capacity magazines.
Glenn Youngkin: Against red flag laws, universal background checks.
Semi Bird: Will overturn assault weapons ban, there's no such thing.
Mark Mullet: For background checks, waiting periods, assault weapons ban.
Bob Ferguson: Ban the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Semi Bird: Give teachers guns, and training with concealed carry.
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Health Care
Alec Ross: Favors public option over single payer.
Bill Bryant: The ACA made employers hire fewer full-time employees.
Bob McDonnell: Resist congressional encroachment & socialized medicine.
Chris Sununu: Import Canadian prescription drugs.
Dan Feltes: Import Canadian prescription drugs.
Jay Inslee: COVID: Lower infections with masks, distancing, not Trump.
Ken Cuccinelli: Opposes ObamaCare and opposes delaying its implementation.
Loren Culp: COVID: Wearing a mask should be a personal choice.
Terry McAuliffe: Supports ObamaCare's expanding the state's Medicaid program.
Justin Fairfax: Cast tiebreaking vote for Medicaid expansion.
Semi Bird: No child will undergo a "gender affirmation" surgery.
Bob Ferguson: Defended the Affordable Care Act from legal attack.
Hilary Franz: I'll work to lower the Medicare age & expand benefits.
Mark Mullet: Supports opting out of state long-term care program .
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Homeland Security
Semi Bird: Told conflicting stories about court-martial as a Marine.
Bob Ferguson: Strengthened consumer protections for veterans, military .
Hilary Franz: Support our veterans and military families.
Semi Bird: Served in Marine Corps and Army National Guard.
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Immigration
Allan Fung: Federal authorities notified on illegal immigrants releases.
Ken Cuccinelli: Path to citizenship ok as part of compromise.
Neel Kashkari: Expand visa programs for highly skilled workers.
Terry McAuliffe: Support the DREAM Act for legalizing minors.
Ralph Northam: Support driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.
Hilary Franz: Supports legal status for firefighting DREAMers.
Bob Ferguson: Opposed Muslim Travel Ban; blocked rescinding DACA.
Dave Reichert: Voted against bill blocking funds to "sanctuary cities".
Semi Bird: Secure all borders against human and narco-trafficking.
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Jobs
Ralph Northam: Tiebreaker in favor of increasing the minimum wage.
Mark Mullet: Expand and invest in apprenticeship and training programs.
Bob Ferguson: Defended state's minimum wage against legal challenge.
Semi Bird: Minimum wage determined by the market, not mandated.
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Principles & Values
Bill Bryant: Good Catholic but for separation of church & state.
Bob McDonnell: Indicted on corruption charges days after leaving office.
Danielle Allen: Will bring experience from academia to governing.
Jay Inslee: We need to make decisions based on science and reality.
John Gregg: Calls himself a "gun-totin' Bible-quotin' Democrat".
Loren Culp: I firmly believe in individual freedom and liberty.
Peter Shumlin: Retiring after three terms to return to the business world.
Ralph Northam: Religious sectarianism has no place in politics.
Jennifer Carroll Foy: I don't have to empathize, because I understand.
Semi Bird: Calls himself a "constitutional Christian conservative".
Semi Bird: His life a testament to greatness of God and America.
JB McCuskey: A proud conservative, lawyer, business owner & man of faith.
Hilary Franz: Progress comes from working together & putting people first.
Hilary Franz: Was kidnapped by close family member at age 3.
Bob Ferguson: An internationally rated chess master.
Bob Ferguson: "Three Bobs": Two other Robert Fergusons on ballot?
Bob Ferguson: Against claim "guy upstairs" responsible for climate change.
Raul Garcia: Ran for Governor in 2020 & 2024;then switched to Senate race.
Semi Bird: OpEd: Got 9% in primary; MAGA bubble bursting in blue state.
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Social Security
Allyson Schwartz: No further reductions in the public pension benefits.
Andrew Cuomo: Expose obscure formulas that cause automatic increases.
Jay Inslee: Suspends laws allowing garnishment of stimulus checks.
Katie McGinty: No further reductions in the public pension benefits.
Mike Pence: Personal investment for Social Security retirement.
Neel Kashkari: We must cut entitlements, to avoid national insolvency.
Neel Kashkari: Index for inflation; increase retirement age; means-testing.
Mark Mullet: Ensure workers a payroll deduction for retirement accounts.
Mark Mullet: Long-term care payroll tax is unnecessary tax increase.
Hilary Franz: Supports providing benefits for people caring for elderly.
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Tax Reform
Ben Jealous: Tax the top 1% earners by 1% to pay for free college.
Bill Bryant: As port commissioner, his lean budget led to tax relief.
Bob McDonnell: Opposed tax increases for core government services.
Ed Gillespie: Use 40% of projected revenue growth for tax relief.
Frank Wagner: More taxes to pay for chronic lack of transportation funding.
Ken Cuccinelli: Cut taxes by $1.4 billion a year.
Loren Culp: Stop raising taxes.
Loren Culp: No tax increase: cut anything with the word "study" in it.
Phil Fortunato: Fund transportation needs with inflation-linked sales tax.
Phil Fortunato: Introduced bill to exempt older seniors from property tax.
Phil Fortunato: Restructure property tax as relief for homeowners.
Hilary Franz: Raising taxes may be needed to address homelessness.
Mark Mullet: Voted against capital gains tax to fund state's schools.
Mark Mullet: We can't keep solving every problem by creating a new tax.
Bob Ferguson: Surtax on big banks makes state's tax system fairer.
Semi Bird: Provide tax relief; reduce spending; restructure welfare.
Dave Reichert: Deal with substantially increased taxes and spending .
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Technology
Bill Bryant: Refocus Transportation Dept. on reducing traffic congestion.
Loren Culp: Relieve traffic congestion with transportation dollars.
Phil Fortunato: Fund transportation with existing sales tax.
Phil Fortunato: Sound Transit 3 & Mileage Tax won't solve the problem.
Mark Mullet: Traffic sucks; prioritize infrastructure investments.
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War & Peace
Bill Bryant: Opposed Trump over attack on military family who lost son.
Semi Bird: Support Israel for global security purposes.
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Welfare & Poverty
Jerry Brown: 1977: Visited tenement & prison to see 1st-hand.
Neel Kashkari: With $40 & no job, economy hasn't improved since 2011.
Paul LePage: Give people in need a hand up; don't give unneeded hand-outs.
Phil Fortunato: Implement transitional housing for homeless.
Mark Mullet: Increased capital budget to promote affordable housing.
Semi Bird: Cause of homelessness is mental illness, not affordability.
Dave Reichert: Appoint Director of Homelessness: apply what's working.
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