Government Reform: 2008 contenders' views

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Common Sense Government, by Al Gore

Lessons Learned the Hard Way, by Newt Gingrich

FactCheck.org analysis of 2007 primary debates

Inventing Al Gore, by Bill Turque

Rediscovering God in America, by Newt Gingrich

The Assault on Reason, by Al Gore

The Myth of a Maverick, by Matt Welch

Freedom Under Siege, by Ron Paul

Earth in the Balance, by Al Gore

The Contenders, by Laura Flanders et al.

Living Beyond Your Lifetime: How to be Intentional about the Legacy You Leave, by Mike Huckabee

FactCheck.org analysis of 2008 primary debates

Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics, by Joe Biden

Obama: From Promise to Power, by David Mendell

Leadership, autobiography by Rudolph Giuliani

Barack Obama: This Improbable Quest, by John K. Wilson

Citizen McCain, by Elizabeth Drew

Character Makes a Difference, by Mike Huckabee

The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama

Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy, by Amanda Carpenter

The Unique Voice of Hillary Clinton

Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games

Should Barack Obama Be President? by Fred Zimmerman, published Oct. 2006

To Renew America, by Newt Gingrich

Profiles in Character, by Jeb Bush & B.Yablonski, published January 1996

Living History, by Hillary Rodhan Clinton

Leading by Example, by Bill Richardson

Her Way, by Jeff Gerth & Don Van Natta

Building a Healthy Culture, Don Eberly, ed.

Gold, Peace, and Prosperity, by Ron Paul

God and Hillary Clinton: A Spiritual Life, by Paul Kengor

Four Trials

A Foreign Policy of Freedom: Peace, Commerce, and Honest Friendship

Giuliani: Flawed or Flawless?

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

The Courage to Survive, by Dennis Kucinich

America's Mayor, America's President?, by Robert Polner

Washington Post, "The Fact Checker"

FactCheck.org analysis of 2007 campaign ads

(click a picture above for excerpts or other books and debates about Government_Reform)

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Republican Possibilities:
Sen.Sam Brownback
Chmn.John Cox
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Gov.Mike Huckabee
Rep.Duncan Hunter

Amb.Alan Keyes
Sen.John McCain
Rep.Ron Paul
Gov.Mitt Romney
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Sen.Fred Thompson

Democratic Possibilities:

Sen.Joe Biden
Sen.Hillary Clinton
Sen.Chris Dodd
Sen.John Edwards

V.P.Al Gore
Sen.Mike Gravel
Rep.Dennis Kucinich
Sen.Barack Obama
Gov.Bill Richardson

Hillary Clinton on Government Reform

Democratic Jr Senator (NY)

Click here for 39 full quotes by Hillary Clinton OR click here for 4 older headlines OR click here for Hillary Clinton on other issues.

Get D.C. full voting rights, plus more direct federal funds. (Feb 2008)
It took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush. (Jan 2008)
Stand for public financing and getting money out of politics. (Jan 2008)
Transparent government includes federal agency blogs. (Jan 2008)
Never abuse the purpose of signing statements. (Dec 2007)
Change system from the inside, not from the outside. (Nov 2007)
HILL-PAC is one of politics biggest money-raisers. (Nov 2007)
Public financing would fix campaign donor problems. (Sep 2007)
Presidents should reveal donations to their foundations. (Sep 2007)
Move to public election financing, not banning lobbyists. (Aug 2007)
End no-bid contracts, end revolving door in government. (Aug 2007)
1978: chaired Legal Services Corp. while at Rose Law Firm. (Jul 2007)
Same-day voter registration; no oppressive ID requirements. (Jul 2007)
Create a public service academy, like military academy. (Jun 2007)
1970s: Worked on 18-year-old voting Amendment. (Jun 2007)
Cut gov't contractors and end privatization of government. (Feb 2007)
Verified paper ballot for every electronic voting machines. (Nov 2006)
$5M in New York state "pork barrel" bills thru 2004. (Oct 2006)
Whitewater investigation ends; Hillary questions $52M spent. (Sep 2000)
Soft money ban & independent ad ban for Senate campaign. (Feb 2000)
New Democrat: Government is not the solution to all problems. (Feb 2000)
Give big states a big slice of federal pie. (Aug 1999)
We need strong and efficient governments. (Jun 1999)
Government should help people, not support bureaucracy. (Feb 1997)
Voting Record
Count Every Vote Act: end voting discrimination by race. (Jun 2007)
Voted YES on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
Voted NO on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
Voted NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)
Voted NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
Voted NO on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002)
Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations. (Apr 2001)
Voluntary public financing for all general elections. (Aug 2000)
Criminalize false or deceptive info about elections. (Nov 2005)
Reject photo ID requirements for voting. (Sep 2005)
Post earmarks on the Internet before voting on them. (Jan 2006)
Establish the United States Public Service Academy. (Mar 2007)
Prohibit voter intimidation in federal elections. (Mar 2007)
Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting. (Nov 2007)

Mike Gravel on Government Reform

Libertarian for President; Former Democratic Senator (AK)

Click here for 19 full quotes by Mike Gravel OR click here for Mike Gravel on other issues.

Public empowerment appeals to progressives & libertarians. (Nov 2007)
National Initiative criticized as public opinion bureaucracy. (Nov 2007)
Americans are getting fatter & dumber; must get empowered!. (Sep 2007)
Asks candidates to pledge to use existing public finance law. (Aug 2007)
When you use political capital, more capital flows your way. (Aug 2007)
Obama avoids PAC money, but takes lobbyists' bundled money. (Jul 2007)
Without paper ballots, they'll steal the next election too. (Jul 2007)
Congress is Constitutionally more powerful than President. (Jun 2007)
Congress is Constitutionally more powerful than President. (Jun 2007)
People protest because they cannot participate in power. (Jun 2007)
People protest because they cannot participate in power. (Jun 2007)
Institute healtharereforms by people's National Initiative. (Mar 2007)
I've got no money; of course I'm for campaign finance reform. (Feb 2007)
You can be empowered to vote on issues that affect your life. (Feb 2007)
Repeal the Electoral College; enact federal term limits. (Dec 2006)
National Initiative to allow citizen law makers. (Nov 2006)
Start with public financing of campaigns. (Jan 1972)
Abolish voter registration as precondition for voting. (Jan 1972)
Replace electoral college with direct election. (Jan 1972)

Alan Keyes on Government Reform

2004 former Republican challenger for IL Senate; previously Candidate for President

Click here for 20 full quotes by Alan Keyes OR click here for Alan Keyes on other issues.

Focus on moral sovereignty, tax reform, & sealing the border. (Dec 2007)
Campaign finance reform violates freedom of association. (Oct 2007)
Avoid incumbency protection: no union or corporate donors. (Oct 2007)
Terri Schiavo case was about judicial power over executive. (Oct 2007)
No representation for DC; it has a unique unifying status. (Sep 2007)
Disallow lawsuits that stop public officials invoking God. (Sep 2007)
Ok if church identifies candidates who favor its principles. (Sep 2007)
We have surrendered our personal sovereignty to government. (Aug 2004)
Surrendering moral government to courts surrenders freedom. (Feb 2004)
Congress should have the last word, not the Supreme Court. (Oct 2003)
Obeying the dictate of federal judges means no Constitution. (Oct 2003)
Call halt to �War on this� and �War on that�. (Aug 1995)
Only valid reason to go to Washington is to break up power. (Aug 1995)
Campaign reform is hypocritical: leave office instead. (Mar 2000)
Campaigns: No union $, no corporate $, no foreign $. (Feb 2000)
�Dollar vote� only if you can �ballot vote�. (Jan 2000)
Wife Jocelyn�s issues: anti-poverty & anti-abortion. (Dec 1999)
Campaign reforms: unconstitutional �incumbency protection�. (Dec 1999)
Unlimited contributions, but only by people, & publicized. (Dec 1999)
Campaign reform: No $ limits; full disclosure. (Jul 1996)

Gloria La Riva on Government Reform

Party for Socialism and Liberation nominee for President

Click here for Gloria La Riva on other issues.

No stance on record.

John McCain on Government Reform

Republican Sr Senator (AZ

Click here for 55 full quotes by John McCain OR click here for 17 older headlines OR click here for John McCain on other issues.

No litmus test for Supreme Court nominees on McCain-Feingold. (Feb 2008)
Eliminate broken government programs--20% of all program. (Feb 2008)
FactCheck: $35B in pork meant $484 per child, not $1000. (Jan 2008)
More sunshine on the Working Group on Financial Markets. (Jan 2008)
I'm "the sheriff", not Miss Congeniality, about pork bills. (Jan 2008)
FactCheck: Claim of "24 years with no earmarks" mostly true. (Jan 2008)
No signing statements: either sign or veto bills. (Dec 2007)
Focus on homeland safety, restoring trust, and fiscal policy. (Dec 2007)
Authored line-item veto law; struck down by Supreme Court. (Oct 2007)
Keating Five mea culpa established openness to press. (Oct 2007)
OpEd: McCain-Feingold chilled grassroots political speech. (Oct 2007)
There's only one president; V.P. sticks to official duties. (Aug 2007)
Reform election system, and get rid of electors. (Nov 2000)
Close corporate loopholes; veto pork-barrel spending. (Jan 2000)
No term limits; they throw away the good with the bad. (Jan 2000)
Drain the big money swamp to kill lobbyist mosquitoes. (Dec 1999)
Influence peddling helps the Chinese Army. (Sep 1999)
End sugar subsidy; corporate welfare at its worst. (Aug 1999)
Politicans poll, posture, & influence-peddle. (Jun 1999)
Supports Line-Item Veto and Balanced Budget. (May 1999)
Supports term limits on Congress. (Jul 1998)
Campaign Finance Reform
The 527s need to be eliminated. (Oct 2007)
527s are clearly illegal; reform intended for small donors. (Apr 2007)
Supported then opposed transparency in grassroots reporting. (Jan 2007)
Campaign finance reform needed to restore faith in politics. (May 2002)
Finance reform will prevail if we have the votes & the guts. (May 2002)
CFR passes Senate; focus on House, not court challenges. (Apr 2001)
Differentiate �electioneering� from real issue ads. (Mar 2001)
Clearer rules about campaign finance; no soft money. (Jan 2001)
Replace battle of bucks with battle of ideas. (Feb 2000)
Fight iron triangle: special interests, money, & legislation. (Feb 2000)
Campaign reform that�s best for country, not for GOP. (Jan 2000)
Take away soft money & �hurt the unions bad�. (Jan 2000)
Money corrupts politics, and soft money corrupts absolutely. (Dec 1999)
Campaign Finance: ban both labor union & corporate donations. (May 1999)
Voting Record
Gets legislation passed despite lack of congeniality. (Mar 2000)
Voted NO on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
Voted YES on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007)
Voted YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads. (Mar 2002)
Voted YES on require photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration. (Feb 2002)
Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations. (Apr 2001)
Voted NO on funding for National Endowment for the Arts. (Aug 1999)
Voted YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance. (Oct 1997)
Voted YES on Approving the presidential line-item veto. (Mar 1996)
Voted NO on banning more types of Congressional gifts. (Jul 1995)
Supports Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform. (Jul 2001)
Sponsored bill subjecting 527s to political committee rules. (Feb 2005)
Sponsored bill prohibiting non-legislated earmarks. (Jul 2005)
Sponsored bill disclosing lobbyist info & gifts on Internet. (Dec 2005)
Rethink flawed Presidential daily intelligence briefings. (Mar 2005)
CIA yielded to conventional wisdom, not political pressure. (Mar 2005)
Sponsored bill allowing individual votes on each earmark. (Feb 2006)
Reduce federal government size & scope, including military. (Sep 1998)

Cynthia McKinney on Government Reform

Green Party Presidential challenger (Former Rep., D, GA-4)

Click here for 12 full quotes by Cynthia McKinney OR click here for Cynthia McKinney on other issues.

Long been a supporter of publicly financed elections. (Feb 2008)
Do better on gov't contracting for small & minority business. (Dec 2007)
Proposed proportional or instant runoff voting for Congress. (Nov 2006)
Voted NO on requiring photo ID for voting in federal elections. (Sep 2006)
Voted NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees. (Apr 2006)
Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers. (Oct 2005)
Voted NO on limiting attorney's fees in class action lawsuits. (Feb 2005)
Voted NO on banning soft money donations to national political parties. (Jul 2001)
Voted YES on banning soft money and issue ads. (Sep 1999)
Election reform is #1 priority to prevent disenfranchisement. (Jan 2001)
Sponsored bill for IRV voting for Electoral College. (Mar 2001)
Allow same-day voter registration on election day. (Jan 2001)

Brian Moore on Government Reform

Socialist nominee for President

Click here for the full quote by Brian Moore OR click here for Brian Moore on other issues.

Promote public funding of elections. (Dec 2007)

Ralph Nader on Government Reform

2004 Reform nominee; 2000 Green Candidate for President

Click here for 30 full quotes by Ralph Nader OR click here for 11 older headlines OR click here for Ralph Nader on other issues.

Government become unresponsive to citizen groups in 1979. (Feb 2008)
Civic engagement fights corporate-government fascism. (Oct 2004)
$13M for "educational" party conventions wastes tax dollars. (Jul 2004)
The two parties are proxies for corporate government. (Jul 2004)
Democracy gap: people must claim power, or the greedy will. (Jul 2004)
Giving information to people overcomes propaganda. (Jul 2004)
Change requires a critical mass of the involved. (Jul 2004)
Primary architect of Freedom of Information Act. (Sep 2002)
Supreme Court nominees should have a sense of justice. (Aug 2000)
Justices need sense of justice & sense of history. (Jul 2000)
Empower citizens via accurate information from govt. (Feb 2000)
Reinvent democracy via new tools for citizen empowerment. (Feb 2000)
Concentrated party power weakens democracy. (Feb 2000)
Focus on anti-trust enforcement to help small business. (Oct 1996)
Government delivers more service than people realize. (Dec 1995)
Give voters more voices and choices. (Feb 2007)
Campaign Finance Reform
No PAC money, no commercial donations; only individuals. (Feb 2008)
Public funding of campaigns would fight corporate control. (Feb 2008)
Green Party does not take PAC, soft, or corporate cash. (Oct 2000)
No private money in public campaigns. (Aug 2000)
Spending campaign money is not free speech. (Feb 2000)
Public campaign finance; 12-year term limits. (Feb 2000)
Public election financing, with free TV & radio time. (Feb 2000)
100% publicly funded campaigns, by $100 tax checkoff. (Oct 1996)
Voting Reform
For fair ballot access and fair debate access. (Feb 2008)
Instant Runoff Voting makes all votes count. (Jan 2008)
Taking away votes from Democrats gains leverage. (Jul 2004)
Advocate to allow people to vote "no confidence". (Jul 2004)
Increase voting by weekend and holiday Election Days. (Sep 2002)
Allow voting for �None of the Above�. (Feb 2000)

Barack Obama on Government Reform

Democratic Jr Senator (IL)

Click here for 50 full quotes by Barack Obama OR click here for Barack Obama on other issues.

Lobbyists & special interests have strangle-hold on agenda. (Feb 2008)
Consistently in favor of more disclosure around earmarks. (Feb 2008)
Created a publicly searchable database on earmarks spending. (Feb 2008)
Need a government that listens to the people again. (Feb 2008)
Give D.C. the opportunity to elect its own representatives. (Feb 2008)
Shine light on federal contracts, earmarks, & proposed bills. (Feb 2008)
Capping credit card interest rates at 30% is not enough. (Jan 2008)
Never took money from federal lobbyists or their companies. (Jan 2008)
Release people in bankruptcy due to health care problems. (Jan 2008)
I opposed both the 2001 and 2005 bankruptcy bills. (Jan 2008)
Accountability and oversight over the financial markets. (Jan 2008)
Modify some of the fraudulent & predatory lending practices. (Jan 2008)
Bad idea to over-classify information. (Dec 2007)
Bush's signing statements are a clear abuse of prerogative. (Dec 2007)
Public submits policy ideas on Obama's "My Policy" website. (Oct 2007)
Create "Google for Government" to track government spending. (Aug 2007)
Prayer can't prevent disasters; good policy can handle them. (Aug 2007)
1998: First law passed, 52-4, stripping legislator perks. (Aug 2007)
2004: Used state money for seemingly political mailing. (Aug 2007)
Registered 150,000 new minority voters in Chicago in 1992. (Jul 2007)
Half of us don't vote; time for taking it back. (Jun 2007)
Sponsored bill to disclose earmarks on Internet. (Oct 2006)
Filibuster has long tradition, but used to harm civil rights. (Oct 2006)
People are really ready for a message for change. (Jul 2004)
Campaign race baiting works in both directions. (Aug 1996)
Campaign Finance Reform
Ended corporate jet travel subsidized by lobbyists. (Feb 2008)
No lobbyist money; no PAC money; fund campaigns instead. (Jan 2008)
Money is the original sin in politics and I am not sinless. (Nov 2007)
Reduced cost TV ads for candidates; $85M presidential limit. (Oct 2007)
Ok to take $5 donations from drug company employees. (Sep 2007)
Public campaign financing with free television & radio time. (Aug 2007)
No "bundled" money from federal-registered lobbyists. (Aug 2007)
Campaigns last too long & cost too much. (Aug 2007)
Doesn't take PAC money or federal lobbyists' money. (Jul 2007)
People know his "bundlers" because he pushed disclosure law. (Jul 2007)
FactCheck: no lobbyist money; yes from bundlers who lobby. (Jul 2007)
First bill ever passed was campaign finance reform. (Apr 2007)
FactCheck: no lobbyist money, yes from lobbyist spouses. (Apr 2007)
Hopefund PAC pushes government to honor sacred commitments. (Nov 2006)
Lobbyist influence comes from access, not money. (Oct 2006)
Voting Record
FactCheck: Yes, Obama cast 130 "present" votes in IL Senate. (Jan 2008)
Voted YES on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
Voted NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity. (Mar 2006)
Election reform is #1 priority to prevent disenfranchisement. (Jan 2001)
Sponsored bill criminalizing deceptive info about elections. (Nov 2005)
Sponsored resolution rejecting photo ID for voting. (Sep 2005)
Sponsored bill to post earmarks on the Internet. (Jan 2006)
Prohibit voter intimidation in federal elections. (Mar 2007)
Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting. (Nov 2007)

Ron Paul on Government Reform

Republican Representative (TX-14); former LIbertarian for President

Click here for 32 full quotes by Ron Paul OR click here for Ron Paul on other issues.

Constitution defines much smaller government. (Feb 2008)
Received the most campaign contributions from the military. (Feb 2008)
Dismantle agencies that have no Constitutional role. (Dec 2007)
Put 65 projects into 2006 bills, worth $4B to his district. (Dec 2007)
No on all earmarks, even those he proposes for his district. (Dec 2007)
Supports compulsory term limits, not voluntary for himself. (Dec 2007)
DC voting representation should be determined by Amendment. (Sep 2007)
No federal voter ID card; but state ID cards ok. (Sep 2007)
Constitution was written to restrain the federal government. (Sep 2007)
We are drifting rather rapidly into a totalitarian state. (Sep 2007)
Disallow lawsuits that stop public officials invoking God. (Sep 2007)
End government secrecy; restore openness of information. (Aug 2007)
With neocon philosophy, Cheney is more powerful than Bush. (Aug 2007)
Signing statements erode constitutional balance. (Jul 2007)
Conservatives support big government war policies. (Jun 2007)
Close departments of Energy, Education & Homeland Security. (May 2007)
Judges have become legislators by de-emphasizing juries. (Dec 1987)
Our government routinely lies to us. (Dec 1987)
Federal abuses today worse than King's in 1776 revolution. (Dec 1987)
Spending without taxation causes inflation. (Dec 1981)
Voted NO on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations. (May 2007)
Voted NO on granting Washington DC an Electoral vote & vote in Congress. (Apr 2007)
Voted YES on protecting whistleblowers from employer recrimination. (Mar 2007)
Voted YES on requiring photo ID for voting in federal elections. (Sep 2006)
Voted NO on restricting independent grassroots political committees. (Apr 2006)
Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers. (Oct 2005)
Voted YES on limiting attorney's fees in class action lawsuits. (Feb 2005)
Voted YES on restricting frivolous lawsuits. (Sep 2004)
Voted NO on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions. (Feb 2002)
Voted NO on banning soft money and issue ads. (Sep 1999)
Limit federal power, per the 10th Amendment. (Dec 2000)
Unlimited campaign contributions; with full disclosure. (Dec 2000)

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