Meet your new Senators: Nov. 18th, 2008

Three Senate elections are still undecided, two weeks after the election; and two Senate appointments are pending:
• AK, being recounted (Sen. Stevens may be expelled from Senate for his felony conviction): Mayor Mark Begich (D) vs. Ted Stevens (R, incumbent)
• DE, Vice.Pres.-Elect Biden will resign his Senate seat, and Gov. Ruth Ann Minner will appoint his successor.
• GA, runoff scheduled for Dec. 2nd: Saxby Chambliss (R, incumbent) vs. Jim Martin (D)
• IL, Pres.-Elect Obama has resigned his Senate seat, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich will appoint his successor.
• MN, being recounted; scheduled completion Dec. 5th: Al Franken (DFL) vs. Norm Coleman (R, incumbent)

For all other Senate races, the new freshman class of the U.S. Senate is:
• CO: Rep. Mark Udall (D)
• ID: Governor Jim Risch (R)
• NE: Gov. Mike Johanns (R)
• NH: Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D)
• NM: Rep. Tom Udall (D)
• SD: St. Sen. Kay Hagan (D)
• OR: St. Rep. Jeff Merkley (D)
• VA: Gov. Mark Warner (D)
  
• Summary (excluding the three undecided races):
  6 new Senate Democrats
  2 new Senate Republicans

Meet Your New Cabinet: Nov. 11th, 2008

Pres.-Elect Obama has selected Rahm Emanuel as his White House Chief of Staff. Emanuel will assist in selecting the president's Cabinet.

Subsequent Cabinet picks (will be filled in over time):
• U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D, IL-5) - Chief of Staff (announced Nov. 11)
• Eric Holder - Attorney General (announced Nov. 18)
• Former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle (D, SD) - Secretary of Health & Human Services (announced Nov. 19)
• Gov. Janet Napolitano (D, AZ) - Secretary of Homeland Security (announced Nov. 20)

OnTheIssues Senate election prediction: Oct. 31st, 2008

We have a scary prediction for Halloween: Democrats will control the US House, the US Senate, and the US Presidency. We at OnTheIssues believe that hurts the "balance of powers", one of the core principles of the Constitution. But we believe this outcome will come about because the Republican Party did not learn the lesson of their 2006 election loss: the GOP continued pushing the same economic policy, and the same Iraq war policy, as before 2006, with the same predictable results in 2008. We believe that will be seen as an historical mistake; we only hope that the Republican Party will learn the lesson this time around, so that they can undo the gross imbalance of power in 2010.

Our predictions for Senate races in which the incumbent will lose, and an indication of the party of the incumbent seat: (see our full Senate page for details):
• AK, R: Mayor Mark Begich (D)
• CO, R: Rep. Mark Udall (D)
• ID, R: Governor Jim Risch (R)
• LA, D: John Neely Kennedy (R)
• ME, R: Rep. Tom Allen (D)
• MN, R: Al Franken (DFL)
• MS, R: Former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove (D)
• NE, R: Gov. Mike Johanns (R)
• NH, R: Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D)
• NM, R: Rep. Tom Udall (D)
• SD, D: Joel Dykstra (R)
• VA, R: Gov. Mark Warner (D)
  
• Summary:
  8 Senate seats change from Republican to Democrat
  2 Senate seats change from Democrat to Republican

OnTheIssues Election Prediction: Oct. 29th, 2008

Before you read this, you should know that OnTheIssues has predicted wrong in every presidential election since we were founded in 1999. With that in mind, we predict a small landslide for Barack Obama next Tuesday. Our detailed state-by-state prediction appears below (click for larger image).

We predict that Obama will gain "blue states" over Kerry's 2004 results in the following categories:

1. BIDEN STATES: Joe Biden is most popular in OH and PA, and will gain those for Obama. He MAY gain FL for Obama, but McCain will focus there in the final week and take it, we predict.
2. BLACK STATES: Heavy African-American turnout in VA, NC, GA, and AR will turn those formerly red states blue.
3. MOUNTAIN STATES: Demographic changes in will turn MT, CO, and NM blue -- but these changes are "permanent", because they represent changes in the entire electorate, compared to category #2's changes, which only apply to Obama.
4. ELECTION SURPRISES: We predict that one electoral vote from Nebraska will go to Obama (they split their electoral votes by district; we predict the Omaha district will go for Obama while the rest of the state goes for McCain). We also predict that NH will go for McCain. NH is too libertarian to vote for Obama and too idiosyncratic to predict accurately. New Hampshirites have loved McCain since 1999.

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OnTheIssues House election prediction: Oct. 21st, 2008

2008 appears destined to be as bad a year for the Republican Party in the US House as 1994 was for the Democratic Party. In 1994, Newt Gingrich oversaw a massive turnover of House seats based on the Contract With America. In 2008, the paired woes of the economy and the Iraq War will oust dozens of Republican House members, we predict. In 1994, the Republicans enjoyed a net gain of 54 House seats, capturing the majority by a 26-seat margin. In 2008, the Democrats may enjoy nearly as large a victory, expanding upon their existing 235-199 majority, a 36-seat margin.

The lists below indicate the vulnerable House seats for each party. (All challengers are detailed on our main House page). In summary, Republican incumbents have 58 vulnerable seats, while the Democrats have only 25 vulnerable seats. We categorize them as follows:

• Retirements: (incumbents: 29 GOP; 8 Dems)
  Predicted outcome: 17-22 GOP; 15-20 Dems (net loss to GOP: 7 to 22 seats).
  GOP House members are more likely to retire than their Democratic colleagues because they know they will return to a minority position (i.e., less power than when they were in the majority). In some cases, incumbents choose to retire rther than face a serious electoral challenge -- Republican members in mixed districts are more likely to retire for that reason too. We predict a higher-than-average party turnover on retirements because of the general public dissatisfaction with Congress. (Congress suffers from an approval rating even lower than Pres. Bush's record low!)
• Forced Retirements: (incumbents: 3 GOP; 1 Dem)
  Predicted outcome: 3 GOP; 1 Dem (net loss to GOP: 0 seats).
  Four incumbents lost their seats in contested primaries to fellow party members. We predict no party turnover here because all four are "safe seats" for the party in question -- the representative will change, but not the party. The one Democrat who lost his primary resigned (see "crybaby" category) and hence is in the Special Election category.
• Special Elections: (incumbents: 9 GOP; 6 Dems)
  Predicted outcome: 7-8 GOP; 7-8 Dems (net loss to GOP: 1 to 2 seats).
  15 members resigned or passed away during the 110th Congress. Some resigned to run for higher office; some resigned to capitalize as a "revolving door" lobbyist or corporate position; and some resigned as "crybabies" when they lost to a primary challenger. We denounce the lobbyists and crybabies by labelling them as such -- these are Members of Congress who did not fulfill their duty to serve their constituents. In fact, they cost their constituents a lot of money, because their resignations forced special elections, which the taxpayers must pay for. Since all of these replacement Members are already elected (some as late as June 2008), they face as low a likelihood of turnover as normal incumbents.
• Hotly Contested Elections: (incumbents: 16 GOP; 10 Dems)
  Predicted outcome: 5-10 GOP; 16-21 Dems (net loss to GOP: 6 to 11 seats).
  We review Congressional contests from the perspective of which organizations push for the election of challengers. Serious organizational support -- either in terms of volunteers or in terms of donations -- gives challengers a chance to oust incumbents. The supporting organizations include each party's Congressional committee; then range from the NRA and Club For Growth (on the right), to MoveOn.org and EMILY's list (on the left). We predict a higher-than-average party turnover in all contested races, because of voter dissatisfaction with the direction of the country. That dissatisfaction especially applies to Republican incumbents, because of voter dissatisfaction of Pres. Bush and his perceived responsibility for the negative direction of the country.
• Overall prediction: (incumbents: 57 GOP; 25 Dems)
  Surprises not counted above: 0 GOP; 1-2 Dems (net loss to GOP: 1 to 2 seats).
  Predicted outcome: 32-43 GOP; 39-50 Dems (net loss to GOP: 15 to 27 seats). We list below all the House races where we think it's possible for the challenger to win -- but we expect a couple of surprises too, most likely an unexpected Democratic victory in 1 or 2 districts. Stay tuned next week for our Senate and Presidential predictions!

Gen. Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama: Oct. 19, 2008

Colin Powell, the latest big figure to back Mr Obama, might have had a few kind words for his old friend and party colleague - but he's still voting for the Democrat. It is a decision which will come as a particular blow to John McCain. Mr Powell is, after all, a Republican, a lion of the party and a former general with impeccable national security credentials.

Powell served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the first Gulf War in 1991 and was then Secretary of State during George W Bush's first term in office. He is a big player in Washington and a contemporary of Mr McCain. His view that America needs the generational change which Mr Obama is in a position to offer will undermine his old friend's credibility.

The endorsement was offered during a thoughtful TV interview rather than on stage at an Obama rally. It is particularly damaging for the Republicans that Mr Powell suggested Sarah Palin's inclusion on the ticket and the negative tone of the campaign were major factors in his decision. The implication is clear - that his own party could have won his support, but failed to do so.

Mr Powell's views probably carry quite a bit of weight with the type of military veterans who are natural McCain voters and who distrust Obama - in part at least - because of his lack of international experience.

Third & final presidential debate: Oct. 15th, 2008

Last of three debates, in Hempstead, New York.

Abortion    Barack Obama: No litmus test; nominate to Court based on their fairness.    John McCain: I've never imposed a litmus test on Supreme Court nominees.    Barack Obama: Opposed born-alive treatment law because it was already law.    John McCain: Obama voted no on partial-birth ban & born-alive treatment.

Budget & Economy    Barack Obama: Fundamentals were weak BEFORE crisis; focus on middle class.    John McCain: Americans are innocent victims of Wall Street greed.    John McCain: $300B to buy up home mortgages; put a floor under it.

Civil Rights    John McCain: Equal pay for equal work case was a trial lawyer's dream.

Corporations    Barack Obama: We both cut taxes; but McCain offers $200B to corporations.

Energy & Oil    Barack Obama: Let's build a fuel-efficient car in America, not abroad.    John McCain: Energy independence will create millions of jobs.

Free Trade    Barack Obama: We export only 4,000 cars to Korea; that's not free trade!.    John McCain: Free trade with Colombia is something that's a no-brainer.

Health Care    John McCain: Mandated heath insurance is Big Government at its best.    Barack Obama: Zero fines & no mandate for small business.    John McCain: Get healthcare records online to reduce costs.

Jobs    Barack Obama: Solution to financial crisis is more job creation.

Principles & Values    Barack Obama: Bill Ayers is not & will not be involved with my campaign.    John McCain: I am not President Bush; so don't run against him!.    John McCain: Obama broke his word on public campaign financing.

War & Peace    John McCain: Biden's plan to partition Iraq was a cockamamie idea.

Excerpts from Change We Can Believe In: Posted Oct. 13, 2008

Budget & Economy    Clinton left behind a surplus; Bush squandered it.

Civil Rights    Legalized discrimination meant blacks could not amass wealth.

Crime    Reformed death penalty by listening & compromising.    We need more cops; but we also need more families.

Education    $10 billion to guarantee early childhood education for all.    Pay for college education for those who commit to teaching.

Energy & Oil    Harness homegrown, alternative fuels like ethanol.    $150B over 10 years to establish a green energy sector.

Families & Children    I know what it means to have an absent father.    Reward fathers who pay child support with larger EITC.

Foreign Policy    In Berlin: proud citizen of US; fellow citizen of the world.    In Cold War, we won hearts & minds; now do same to world.

Free Trade    Impossible to turn back globalization; we'd be worse off.    Global trade is unsustainable if it favors only the few.

Government Reform    Use technology to shine a light on spending.

Health Care    Universal health care by of first term.

Homeland Security    Wrote law to secure & destroy world's deadliest weapons.    Seek the peace of a world without nuclear weapons.

Principles & Values    We are choosing hope over fear.    We've never really worked through complexities of race.

Tax Reform    Middle class tax cut helps offset rising cost of gas & food.

Technology    Broadband in heart of inner cities and rural towns.    National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank: $60B in 10 years.

Welfare & Poverty    Welfare policies contributed to erosion of black families.

Second presidential debate: Oct. 7th, 2008

Second of three debates, at Belmont University, in a "Town Forum" format.

Budget & Economy    Barack Obama: I sought re-regulation; McCain boasts he's a deregulator.    John McCain: We've laid a $10 trillion debt on our young people.    John McCain: Buy up bad mortgages so people can stay in homes.    John McCain: I suspended my campaign to help resolve financial crisis.

Energy & Oil    Barack Obama: $15B to free us from foreign oil in 10 years.    Barack Obama: Nuclear power ok, as one component of energy mix.    John McCain: All of the above: nuclear, wind, tide, solar, gas, coal.    John McCain: Nuclear power is the best way to fix climate change.

Government Reform    John McCain: We need a reformer because system in Washington is broken.    John McCain: I fought earmarks even in defense spending.

Health Care    Barack Obama: No exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

Homeland Security    Barack Obama: Serving America doesn't mean going out shopping.

Social Security    John McCain: Future retirees cannot get what current ones get.    John McCain: It's not that tough to fix Social Security, if bipartisan.

Tax Reform    Barack Obama: My plan cuts taxes for most small businesses & 95% of people.    John McCain: Keep tax rates the same; let's not raise anybody's taxes.

Vice presidential debate: Oct. 2th, 2008

First and only V.P. debate, between Gov. Sarah Palin (R, AK) and Sen. Joe Biden (D, DE)

Civil Rights    Joe Biden: No on gay marriage; yes on equal treatment.    Sarah Palin: Non-support of anything but traditional marriage.

Energy & Oil    Joe Biden: I have supported clean coal for 25 years.    Joe Biden: Cause of global warming is clearly Man-made.    Sarah Palin: I do support capping carbon emissions.    Sarah Palin: Exxon & Conoco are not my biggest fan.    Sarah Palin: Nonsensical to leave domestic supply untapped.    Sarah Palin: Cyclical temperature changes affect climate change.

Families & Children    Joe Biden: I've been a single parent; I know the difficulties.

Foreign Policy    Joe Biden: Time to sit down and talk, talk, talk to enemies.    Sarah Palin: Some dictators hate America & what we stand for.

Government Reform    Joe Biden: Led fight against Bork based on ideology.    Sarah Palin: Agrees with Cheney that VP as executive is flexible.

Health Care    Joe Biden: McCain health plan is ultimate Bridge to Nowhere.    Sarah Palin: $5,000 tax credit for families to buy their own coverage.

Homeland Security    Joe Biden: We spend same in 3 weeks in Iraq as 7 years in Afghanistan.    Sarah Palin: Economic sanctions on North Korea for nukes.

Principles & Values    Joe Biden: As VP, I'll be point person in Congress.    Joe Biden: Cheney has been most dangerous VP in history.    Sarah Palin: By working with all parties, never had to compromise.

War & Peace    Joe Biden: We will end Iraq War; McCain has no end in sight.    Joe Biden: My push for Bosnian intervention saved 1000s of lives.    Sarah Palin: No white flag of surrender on Iraq.    Sarah Palin: Divest from Sudan; enforce no-fly zone in Darfur.

First presidential debate: Sept. 26th, 2008

First of three debates, at the University of Mississippi, took place three days after Sen. McCain suspended his campaign due to the financial crisis.

Budget & Economy    Barack Obama: The lax regulation that Bush favored got us in this disaster.    John McCain: Have no doubt about the magnitude of financial crisis.

Corporations    Barack Obama: We need Wall Street responsibility BEFORE financial crises.    John McCain: Warned about corporate greed & excess; supports bailout.

Government Reform    Barack Obama: Eliminating earmarks isn't enough; but I'll ceck every line.    John McCain: Get earmarks under control to deal with the financial crisis.

Health Care    Barack Obama: Health tax credit is bad idea; it will cost taxpayers more.    John McCain: $5,000 refundable tax credit for every family.

Jobs    Barack Obama: End incentives that move jobs overseas.    John McCain: Cut business taxes so companies will keep jobs in US.

Tax Reform    Barack Obama: Yes, earmarks are abused, but small compared to tax cuts.    John McCain: Worst thing in bad economic climate is to raise taxes.

Senate candidate bill sponsorships: Posted Sept. 19th, 2008

Signature issues by Senate candidates, as indicated by bill sponsorships.
AK	Stevens on VOIP: 08-S2919
AL	Sessions on energy security: 08-S3240 Sessions on border prosecution: 08-S2709
AR	Pryor on lead toy ban: 08-S2663
CO	Schaffer on conserving grassland: 01-H1689 Udall on veteran mental health: 08-H6268
DE	See Biden's V.P. list
GA	Chambliss on Reserve pay: 07-S2836
IA	Harkin on veterans suicide: 08-S2899
ID	LaRocco on forest emergency: 93-HR229
IL	Durbin on Juneteenth: 08-SR584 Durbin on Darfur Peace: 08-SR455
KS	Roberts on Reserve feeding: 08-S3337 Slattery on water contaminants: 93-H3392 Slattery on TV advisories: 93-SR122 Slattery on super collider: 93-H1009
KY	McConnell on offshore drilling: 08-S3202 McConnell on Burma trade ban: 07-SJR16
LA	Landrieu on Charter Schools: 07-SR556 Landrieu on Youth Conference: S2771
MA	Kerry on ANC terrorism: 08-S2979
ME	Collins on Seeds of Peace: 08-SR536 Collins on H-1B visas: 08-S2839 Allen on veterans' PTSD: 08-H5448 Allen on automatic IRAs: 08-S1288
MI	Levin on Great Lakes compact: 08-SJR45
MN	Coleman on army chiropractors: 08-SCR75
MS	Wicker on fetus protection: 08-S3111 Wicker on traditional marriage: 08-SJR43 Cochran on Diabetes: 08-S2742
MT	Baucus on mental health: 08-S3101
NC	Dole on English-only: 08-S2719
NH	Sununu on Internet tax ban: 07-S2128
NJ	Zimmer on Megan's Law: 95-H2137 Zimmer on luxurious prisons: 95-HR663 Lautenberg on beach pollution: 08-S2844
NM	Pearce on solar energy: 08-H5805 Pearce on child slavery: 08-H5652 Udall on rare canids: 07-H1464
OR	Smith on condemning Iran: 08-SR449
RI	Reed on childhood cancer: 07-S911
SC	Graham on veterans education: 08-S2938
SD	Johnson on Argentine meat ban: 08-S3238
TN	Alexander on bald eagles: 08-SR583
TX	Cornyn on troop voting: 08-S3073 Cornyn on estriol access: 08-SCR88 Cornyn on Syria sanctions: 08-S2917
WY	Barrasso on CO2 sequestration: 08-S2614 Enzi on insurance pooling: 08-S2818

Sarah Palin's record: Sep. 12, 2008

Interested in reading where Sarah Palin stands on the issues? The mainstream media does a great job telling all about Palin's high school nickname and details about her lipstick. In contrast, OnTheIssues.org has excerpted a complete record of Gov. Palin's issue stances from the following sources:

• ABC News interview with Charlie Gibson
• Speech at the Republican National Convention
• Press releases & proclamations from the Alaska Governor's Office
• Series of debates against Gov. Tony Knowles
• Candidate profiles in Anchorage Daily News
• 2006 gubernatorial campaign booklet

Joe Biden's Senate record: Sept. 5, 2008

Vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden has been in the U.S. Senate for 35 years. To understand Sen. Biden's priorities, one should look at his bill sponsorships. These bills are the issues that Biden cares most about, and on which he spends most of his legislative time and energy.

Crime:

• COPS Improvements Act (S.368/H.R.1700): Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program (Jan-07)
• Second Chance Act (S.1060/H.R.1593): Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance (Mar-07)
• Domestic Violence Attorney Network Act (S.1515/H.R.6088): Establish a domestic violence volunteer attorney network (May-07)

  Drugs:

• S.3351: Enhance interdiction by criminalizing unflagged submarines (Jul-08)
• Recognizing Addiction as a Disease Act (S.1011): Rename "Drug Abuse" institute as "Diseases of Addiction" (Mar-07)
• Drug Sentencing Reform & Kingpin Trafficking Act (S.1711): End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine (Jun-07)

  Domestic policy:

• S.RES.30/H.CON.RES.104: Sign on to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (Jan-07)
• Child Protection Improvements Act (S.2756/H.R.5606): Permanent crime database for volunteers with kids (Jul-08)
• American Automobile Industry Promotion Act (S.1055/H.R.1915): Fund nanomaterial research project for car batteries (Mar-07)

  Foreign policy:

• Resolution on South Ossetia (S. RES. 550): Condemns Russia for provocative statements to Georgia (May-08)
• National Security with Justice Act (S.01876): Apply habeas corpus to Guantanamo detainees (Jul-07)
• Bipartisan Resolution on Iraq (S.CON.RES.2 ): No troop surge: no military escalation in Iraq (Jan-07)
• Resolution on Darfur (S.RES 276): Deploy UN multinational peacekeeping force in Darfur (Jul-07)

McCain chooses Gov. Sarah Palin (R, AK) for vice president: Aug. 29, 2008

I am honored to announce that I have chosen Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska as my choice for the Republican nominee for Vice President. As a father with three daughters, I can't express how proud I am to choose the first female Republican Vice-Presidential nominee.

Sarah Palin is a trailblazer and a reformer. As the first female governor of Alaska, she challenged a corrupt system and has been a tireless advocate for reform - passing a landmark bill on ethics reform. She has taken on the old politics in Alaska and reformed the state's energy industry. She rejects wasteful pork barrel spending. She's fearless - exactly the type of leader I want at my side and the type of leadership we will bring to Washington.

My friends, together Sarah Palin and I make the strongest presidential ticket and I know that she joins me in asking for your support as we head into our Convention week in Minnesota. We're shaking things up in this campaign - and Governor Palin and I are ready to bring real reform to Washington.

Speeches at Democratic Convention: Aug. 26-28, 2008

Speeches at Denver convention:

Civil Rights    Barack Obama: Keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work.

Education    Barack Obama: Invest in early childhood education and higher education.

Energy & Oil    Barack Obama: Drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution.

Families & Children    Barack Obama: Help families with paid sick days and better family leave.

Foreign Policy    Joe Biden: The US is less secure and more isolated in recent history.    Joe Biden: Even Bush recognizes we should talk to Iran.

Government Reform    Barack Obama: Eliminate government programs that no longer work.

Health Care    Barack Obama: Ban insurance companies from discriminating against the sick.

Principles & Values    Barack Obama: The Ownership Society really means "you're on your own".    Barack Obama: Measure progress by observing how ordinary people are doing.    Barack Obama: The destiny of all Americans is inextricably linked.    Hillary Clinton: Confidence and optimism enable us to meet our challenges.    Hillary Clinton: McCain and Bush are awfully hard to tell apart these days.    Hillary Clinton: Have faith in God, in our country, and in each other.    Joe Biden: Failure is at times inevitable but giving up is unforgivable.    Joe Biden: Everyone is your equal, and everyone is equal to you.    Joe Biden: We should embrace change just like the previous generations.

Tax Reform    Barack Obama: Tax cut for 95% of all working families, not corporations.

War & Peace    Barack Obama: You don't defeat a terrorist network by occupying Iraq.    Barack Obama: I will only send our troops into harm's way when necessary.    Joe Biden: Al-Qaeda & the Taliban have regrouped due to Bush's neglect.

Source: Speeches in Denver Colorado at 2008 Convention
Click for complete records of Joe Biden's and Barack Obama's issue stances & voting record.

Obama chooses Sen. Joe Biden (D, DE) for vice president: Aug. 23, 2008

Barack Obama announced his vice presidential pick by text message (automated phone calls) at 3 AM -- harkening back to the "3 AM phone call" ads run by Obama and Hillary Clinton back in the February primaries. Clinton's ad implied Obama was not ready for the inevitable 3 AM phone call on some international emergency. Obama's new reply implies, "We are ready for anything, and we work at full-tilt, even at 3 AM."

Joe Biden ran for president in 1988, and also in 2008, dropping out on January 4th, after the Iowa caucuses. He has been in the Senate since 1972. He chairs the Foreign Policy Committee and serves on the Judiciary Committee.

As usual, OnTheIssues.org recommends that voters ignore the mainstream media's coverage of Biden. After a week of the mainstream media breathlessly speculating about Obama's vice presidential pick, the mainstream media this week will breathlessly speculate about how Biden affects Obama's and McCain's campaign. We remind voters that breathless speculation does not vote -- only you do.

Our coverage of Joe Biden includes a full Senate voting record; a set of excerpts from his biography; and excerpts from all his major debate appearances. If you want to get to know Joe Biden, read our book excerpts and our issue coverage -- then you'll know more relevant information than anything you'd learn from the breathless pundits. Following is our book review of Biden's book:

Biden focuses on what he considers his key achievements (which will likely be news to most voters!). Biden considers his lead accomplishment in his Senate career to be passage of the Violence Against Women Act in the 1990s. His other signal accomplishments include: successfully pushing Pres. Bill Clinton to bomb Serbia to free Kosovo; successfully urging Pres. Bush to return to Washington on 9/11; and successfully opposing the nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court.

Biden spends substantial ink in this book on the Iraq War, which he now describes as a "neocon fantasy." While Biden sounds legitimately against the war in Iraq now, his current analysis has some level of self-justification to it -- because he voted for the war in 2002. He justifies that vote now as a means for avoiding the war in Iraq, and blames the neoconservatives and Bush for going to war and for turning the war to negative results.

More than Biden informing the voters about his issue stances, this book informs voters about Biden's personal history. That personal history is likely even less known to voters than his issue stances -- and certainly makes Sen. Biden seem a more intriguing character to this analyst. Many people know Biden's history with plagiarism, from his 1988 presidential race -- he explains that as media over-hyping here. And those people more familiar with Senate history know that Biden's wife and daughter were killed in a car crash days after his election to the Senate in 1972. Clearly those two events were formative in Biden's current presidential race. But this book explores several other less-known formative events: from overcoming childhood stuttering; to his 1988 brain surgery.

Biden's book explores his lesser-known issue stances in some detail too, including their connection to his personal history. If every candidate wrote a book like this, the voters would be well-served.

Joint appearance by McCain & Obama:Aug. 16th, 2008

Back-to-back speeches by John McCain and Barack Obama at the Saddleback Civil Forum, hosted by Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.

Abortion    Barack Obama: FactCheck: Abortions HAVE gone down under Pres. Bush.

Government Reform    Barack Obama: FactCheck: Worked with McCain on ethics, but bill fell apart.

Health Care    John McCain: FactCheck: McCain's $5,000 health tax credit would be taxed.

Tax Reform    John McCain: FactCheck: $7,000-per-child tax EXEMPTION, not tax CREDIT.

Click for Speech excerpts from 99th NAACP conference.

John Edwards admits extramarital affair: Aug. 8, 2008

The former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards admitted Friday to an extramarital affair while his wife was battling cancer. He denied having fathered the woman's daughter. Edwards told ABC News that he had lied repeatedly about the affair with 42-year-old Rielle Hunter. He said he had not taken a paternity test but knew he was not the father because of the timing of the affair and the birth. A former Edwards campaign staff member said he was the father, not Edwards. Hunter's daughter, Frances Quinn Hunter, was born Feb. 27, 2008, and no father's name is given on the birth certificate filed in California.

The National Enquirer first reported on the affair in October 2007, and Edwards denied it. "The story is false," he told reporters. "It's completely untrue, ridiculous." He professed his love for his wife, Elizabeth, who had an incurable form of cancer, saying, "I've been in love with the same woman for 30-plus years and as anybody who's been around us knows, she's an extraordinary human being, warm, loving, beautiful, sexy and as good a person as I have ever known. So the story's just false." Last month, the Enquirer carried another article stating that its reporters had accosted Edwards in a Los Angeles hotel where he had met with Hunter after her child's birth. Edwards called the account "tabloid trash," but he generally avoided reporters' inquiries, as did his former top aides. In the interview, scheduled to air on ABC News' "Nightline," Edwards said the tabloid had been correct when it reported on his meeting with Hunter at the Beverly Hills Hotel last month. Most mainstream news organizations refrained from reporting the story

David Bonior, Edwards's campaign manager for his 2008 presidential bid, said Friday he was disappointed and angry after hearing about Edwards' confession. "Thousands of friends of the senators and his supporters have put their faith and confidence in him and he's let them down," said Bonior, a former congressman from Michigan. "They've been betrayed by his action." Asked whether the affair would damage Edwards's future aspirations in public service, Bonior replied: "You can't lie in politics and expect to have people's confidence."

In 2006, Edwards' political action committee paid $100,000 in a four-month span to a newly formed firm run by Hunter, who directed the production of just four Web videos, one a mere 2½ minutes long. The payments from Edwards's One America Committee to Midline Groove Productions started July 5, 2006, five days after Hunter incorporated the firm in Delaware. At the time Hunter was compiling the videos in 2006, Edwards was preparing a run for president.

OnTheIssues third party coverage: Aug. 1st, 2008

Today we finalize our selection of third-party candidates for our presidential and senatorial coverage. To add additional candidates to his list, please advise us of the candidate's website, and get the candidate to answer our 20-question VoteMatch quiz.

Third Party Presidential Candidates: Constitution: Chuck Baldwin  Libertarian: Bob Barr   (former Representative, R-GA) Green: Cynthia McKinney  (former Representative, D-GA) AIP: Alan Keyes  (American Independent Party) PSL: Gloria La Riva  (Party for Socialism and Liberation) NAIP: Frank McEnulty  (New American Independent Party) Socialist: Brian Moore  Independent: Ralph Nader  US Taxpayers / Constitution Party Candidates for Senate: OR: Dave Brownlow MI: Mike Nikitin MN: James Niemackl Green Party Candidates for Senate: AR: Rebekah Kennedy IL: Kathy Cummings MN: Michael Cavlan NE: Steven Larrick TN: Chris Lugo TX: Tom Davis (failed ballot access)

Libertarian Party Candidates for Senate: GA: Allen Buckley IL: Larry Stafford MA: Bob Underwood MI: Scotty Boman NH: Ken Blevens TX: Scott Jameson TX: Jon Roland (lost primary) Independent Candidates for Senate: ID: Rex Rammell MN: Dean Barkley MN: Jesse Ventura (withdrew in July) OR: John Frohnmayer (withdrew in June) SC: Mark McBride TN: Bo Heyward Party Platforms: Constitution Party Libertarian Party Green Party

Source: OnTheIssues.org Senate race page
Click for all Senate races.

OnTheIssues Senate voting records posted: July 25th, 2008

Today we add our spring/summer batch of House voting records. These comprise recorded votes by House members, on contested topics relevant to the upcoming election. Rollcall 455 on Jun 25, 2008 extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income Rollcall 448 on Jun 24, 2008 defining "energy emergency" on federal gas prices Rollcall 437 on Jun 20, 2008 retroactive immunity for telecoms' warrantless surveillance Rollcall 417 on Jun 18, 2008 overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill Rollcall 401 on Jun 11, 2008 investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq Rollcall 400 on Jun 11, 2008 $9.7B for Amtrak improvements and operation thru 2013 Rollcall 344 on May 21, 2008 tax incentives for energy production and conservation

Source: United States Library of Congress, Congressional Record
Click for all previous House voting records.

OnTheIssues Senate voting records posted: July 18th, 2008

Today we add our spring/summer batch of Senate voting records. These comprise recorded votes by Senators, on contested topics relevant to the upcoming election. Rollcall 151 on Jun 18, 2008 overriding presidential veto of Farm Bill Rollcall 150 on Jun 17, 2008 tax incentives for energy production and conservation Rollcall 132 on May 15, 2008 addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China Rollcall 111 on Apr 24, 2008 cutting $221M in benefits to Filipinos who served in WWII US Army Rollcall S081 on Mar 14, 2008 defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP Rollcall S078 on Mar 13, 2008 allowing AMT reduction without budget offset Rollcall S071 on Mar 13, 2008 prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion Rollcall S069 on Mar 13, 2008 continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities" Rollcall S064 on Mar 13, 2008 increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million Rollcall S063 on Mar 13, 2008 means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium Rollcall S058 on Mar 13, 2008 terminating legal challenges to English-only job rules

Source: United States Library of Congress, Congressional Record
Click for all previous Senate voting records.

Joint appearance by McCain & Obama: July 12th, 2008

Back-to-back speeches by John McCain and Barack Obama at the 99th annual convention of the NAACP.

Budget & Economy    John McCain: Can't pass trillions of dollars of debt to our children.

Corporations    Barack Obama: We still need corporate ethics & vigilant government.

Crime    Barack Obama: Job training for ex-offenders, to avoid return to crime.

Education    Barack Obama: Fight for social & economic justice begins in the classroom.    John McCain: Vouchers and school choice for all.

Families & Children    Barack Obama: Parents provide guidance by turning off TV & video games.

Health Care    Barack Obama: Give more help to those denied a life of dignity & respect.    John McCain: Large tax credit for families to buy their health care.

Jobs    John McCain: Raising taxes eliminates jobs.

Principles & Values    Barack Obama: We have to demand more from ourselves.

Tax Reform    Barack Obama: Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit.    John McCain: Double the personal tax exemption for every dependent.

War & Peace    Barack Obama: $10 billion a month spent in Iraq should be spent in the US.

Welfare & Poverty    Barack Obama: Still denying decent wages, good benefits, & fair treatment.

Click for Speech excerpts from 99th NAACP conference.

OnTheIssues bill sponsorships posted: July 11th, 2008

Today we add our spring/summer batch of House & Senate resolutions and sponsorships. These comprise bills co-sponsored by members of Congress, on topics relevant to the upcoming election. We collected as many as were relevant with Hillary, Obama and McCain as co-sponsors. S2956 on May 1, 2008 on corporate financial disclosure SR533 on Apr 24, 2008 on the political situation in Zimbabwe S2819 on Apr 7, 2008 on preserving access to Medicaid S-CHIP progam SR504 on Apr 7, 2008 condemning the violence in Tibet SJR28 on Mar 5, 2008 on broadcast media ownership S2634 on Feb 13, 2008 on setting forth the global strategy to fight Al Qaeda S2636 on Feb 13, 2008, the Foreclosure Prevention Act S2619 on Feb 8, 2008 on guns in National Parks SR439 on Jan 31, 2008 on Georgia and Ukraine entering NATO S2554 on Jan 24, 2008 on reaffirming the Civil Rights Act of 1964 S2555 on Jan 24, 2008 on states controlling greenhouse gas emissions S2544 on Jan 22, 2008 on temporary extended unemployment compensation

Source: United States Library of Congress, Congressional Record
Click for all previous Congressional bill sponsorships.

Barack Obama books excerpted by OnTheIssues: July 4, 2008

What better way for a Democrat to spend the Independence Day holiday than reading about Barack Obama? Our book excerpts make it possible to learn all about Obama's issues stances and personal history. Detailed enough to make you an Obama expert; short enough to read it all before the Democratic Convention.
• Should Barack Obama Be President? by Fred Zimmerman
• Obama: From Promise to Power, by David Mendell
• Barack Obama: The Improbable Quest, by John K. Wilson
• Hopes and Dreams: The Story of Barack Obama, by Steve Dougherty
• Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance, by Barack Obama
• The Contenders, by Laura Flanders, et al.
• A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win, by Shelby Steele
• The Blueprint for Change, Obama's campaign platform booklet
• The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, by Barack Obama

John McCain books excerpted by OnTheIssues: July 4, 2008

What better way for a Republican to spend the Independence Day holiday than reading about John McCain? Our book excerpts make it possible to learn all about McCain's issues stances and personal history. Detailed enough to make you an McCain expert; short enough to read it all before the Republican Convention.
• Citizen McCain, by Elizabeth Drew
• Hard Call, by John McCain & Mark Salter
• Man of the People, by Paul Alexander
• Worth the Fighting for: A Memoir, by John McCain
• John McCain: An American Odyssey, by Robert Timberg
• Why Courage Matters, by John McCain
• Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir, by John McCain
• Bill Bradley & McCain discuss Campaign Finance Reform
• McCain: The Myth of a Maverick, by Matt Welch

Hillary Clinton books excerpted by OnTheIssues: July 2, 2008

Hillary has dropped out -- but we all still want to KNOW about her, right? Below is our collection of excerpts from books by and about Hillary Clinton. Some include our book reviews; all include insights into Hillary's issues stances and character.
• A Woman in Charge, by Carl Bernstein
• Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy, by Amanda Carpenter
• A Portrait in Her Own Words, by Claire Osborne
• Talking It Over, columns while First Lady
• It Takes a Village, 2006 edition, by Hillary Clinton
• Partners in Power: The Clintons and Their America, by Roger Morris
• For Love of Politics: Bill and Hillary Clinton: The White House Years, by Sally Bedell Smith
• Living History, by Hillary Rodham Clinton
• Hillary's Choice, by Gail Sheehy
• Her Way, by Jeff Gerth & Don Van Natta Jr.
• God and Hillary Clinton: A Spiritual Life, by Paul Kengor
• The Extreme Makeover of Hillary (Rodham) Clinton, by Bay Buchanan
• The Contenders, by Laura Flanders, et al.
• Condi vs. Hillary: The Next Great Presidential Race, by Dick Morris

Joint appearance by McCain & Obama: June 28th, 2008

Back-to-back speeches by John McCain and Barack Obama at the 25th annual conference of the National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials.

Budget & Economy    Barack Obama: Latinos & blacks are hardest hit by housing & gas crises.

Civil Rights    Barack Obama: Has stood together with Latino leaders for last 20 years.

Corporations    John McCain: Government should be on businesses' side, not in their way.

Education    John McCain: Shake up failed school bureaucracies with competition.

Energy & Oil    John McCain: Address both the supply and demand sides of imported oil.    John McCain: Lexington Project: invest to achieve energy security.

Free Trade    John McCain: When have Americans ever been afraid of foreign competition?.

Immigration    Barack Obama: America has nothing to fear from today's immigrants.    Barack Obama: We need comprehensive reform, like McCain used to support.    Barack Obama: Recognize the humanity of immigrants: Todos somos Americanos.    John McCain: Restart comprehensive reform only after securing borders.

Principles & Values    Barack Obama: ¡Sí se puede! Yes, we can!.

Tax Reform    John McCain: Terrible mistake to raise taxes during an economic downturn.

Click for Speech excerpts from 25th NALEO conference.

SenateMatch quizzes posted: June 20th, 2008

Our coverage of 35 Senate races in 33 states begins officially today. Click here to match your issue stances against the Senate candidates, or click below to see how each one answers the VoteMatch quiz individually.

AK:Stevens v.Begich v.Cuddy v.Sikma AL:Sessions v.Figures AR:Pryor v.Kennedy CO:Schaffer v.Udall DE:Biden v.O`Donnell GA:Chambliss v.Cardwell v.Jones v.Buckley IA:Harkin v.Reed ID:Risch v.LaRocco IL:Durbin v.Sauerberg v.Stafford KS:Roberts v.Jones v.Slattery KY:McConnell v.Lunsford LA:Landrieu v.Kennedy MA:Kerry v.O`Reilly v.Beatty ME:Collins v.Allen MI:Levin v.Hoogendyk MN:Coleman v.Franken v.Ventura v.Cavlan v.Pallmeyer MS4:Wicker v.Musgrove MS6:Cochran v.Fleming

MT:Baucus v.Kelleher NC:Dole v.Hagan NE:Johanns v.Kleeb v.Raimondo NH:Sununu v.Shaheen NJ:Lautenberg v.Zimmer NM:Wilson v.Pearce v.Udall OR:Smith v.Merkley v.Frohnmayer OK:Inhofe v.Rice RI:Reed SC:Graham v.Cone SD:Johnson v.Dykstra TN:Alexander v.Padgett v.Tuke v.Lugo TX:Cornyn v.Noriega v.Jameson VA:Gilmore v.Warner v.Marshall WV:Rockefeller v.Wolfe WY4:Barrasso v.Carter WY6:Enzi v.Rothfuss

Source: OnTheIssues.org VoteMatch quizzes
Click for all 33 SenateMatch quizzes.

Hillary Clinton withdraws: June 7, 2008

18 million of you from all walks of life – women and men, young and old, Latino and Asian, African-American and Caucasian, rich, poor and middle class, gay and straight – you have stood strong with me. And I will continue to stand strong with you, every time, every place, and every way that I can. The dreams we share are worth fighting for.

I entered this race because I have an old-fashioned conviction: that public service is about helping people solve their problems and live their dreams. I’ve had every opportunity and blessing in my own life – and I want the same for all Americans. Until that day comes, you will always find me on the front lines of democracy – fighting for the future.

The way to continue our fight now – to accomplish the goals for which we stand – is to take our energy, our passion, our strength and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States.

Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him, and throw my full support behind him. And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me.

Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it. And the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time. That has always been the history of progress in America.