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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
Antoine Pierce: Protect women's rights & autonomy.
Bill Cassidy: Religion plays vital role; this includes protecting unborn.
Thomas Clements: Supreme Court has ruled on abortion.
Luke Mixon: I would vote to codify Roe and protect women's health care.
Bill Cassidy: FDA slow-walking Mifepristone study & should prioritize it.
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Budget & Economy
Bill Cassidy: Stimulus bill includes extraneous items.
Bill Cassidy: Stimulus package opposed; will hurt economy.
Bill Cassidy: Stop out-of-control spending & end earmarks.
Bill Cassidy: Eliminate blatant waste, fraud & abuse that plagues country.
Bill Cassidy: Supports bipartisan proposal for $500 billion in state aid.
Charles Melancon: Stimulus package will avoid God-awful recession like 1980s.
Charles Melancon: TARP package will avoid depression from doing nothing.
David Vitter: Stimulus package won't lead to significant job creation.
David Vitter: TARP package will expand power & role of federal government.
Gary Chambers: Has been an advocate for Biden's Build Back Better plan.
John Neely Kennedy: Be concerned about economy, but not scared.
John Neely Kennedy: Balanced budget amendment to restore fiscal responsibility.
Luke Mixon: Infrastructure spending is not "stupid," it's what's needed.
Mary Landrieu: Opposed $700 billion bailout; not enough taxpayer safeguards.
Luke Mixon: I support the bipartisan infrastructure deal.
Bill Cassidy: Congress needs to fix Washington's spending problem.
John Fleming: I don't think we should raise the debt ceiling.
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Civil Rights
Adrian Perkins: Business district must demonstrate black lives do matter.
Adrian Perkins: Racism is one of the heaviest issues in our community.
Adrian Perkins: Supported welcoming environment for LGBTQ West Point cadets.
Antoine Pierce: End voter suppression policies & Citizens United.
Antoine Pierce: Supports ratification of Equal Rights Amendment.
Antoine Pierce: Protests on race & police: risk lives to save lives.
Bill Cassidy: Feds should not get involved in state action on religion.
Bill Cassidy: Laws preventing religious discrimination are "intimidation".
Bill Cassidy: Racism has no place in American life.
Charles Melancon: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act fights women's discrimination.
David Vitter: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was a trial lawyer bonanza.
Foster Campbell: Oppose same-sex marriage, but respect Supreme Court ruling.
Gary Chambers: Regrets using "homo" in 2011 tweet, now in different place.
Thomas Clements: Support Equal Rights Amendment.
Thomas Clements: Get government out of marriage business.
Luke Mixon: I support marriage equality, would vote to make it law.
John Fleming: Concerned about firms with diversity, equity and inclusion.
Bill Cassidy: Urged NCAA to ban transgender athletes from women's sports.
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Corporations
Bill Cassidy: Opposed Obama stimulus; supported Bush's bank bailout.
Charles Melancon: Supported $30 billion small-business lending fund.
David Vitter: Small Business Tax and Lending Bill is a government bailout.
John Neely Kennedy: Disallow bank getting so big that its failure wrecks economy.
Thomas Clements: Eliminate corporate tax to create jobs & avoid more debt.
Bill Cassidy: Taxes on manufacturers induces them to move to Asia.
Bill Cassidy: Taxes on manufacturers induces them to move to Asia.
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Crime
Adrian Perkins: Police should have guard-in mindset, not military mindset.
Adrian Perkins: Repealed "saggy pants" law targeting people of color.
Antoine Pierce: Pass criminal justice reform.
Antoine Pierce: End qualified immunity for police; redirect funding.
Foster Campbell: Death penalty yes; alternatives yes; mandatory minimums no.
Thomas Clements: Unconstitutionally strict punishment is a problem.
Luke Mixon: We need to invest in police departments, improve training.
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Drugs
Antoine Pierce: Favors recreational & medical marijuana legalization.
Charles Boustany: Consistently votes against marijuana reform.
Gary Chambers: Smoked marijuana in campaign ad to promote legalization.
Gary Chambers: More than half of drug arrests for marijuana possession.
John Fleming: OpEd: One of few remaining "reefer madness" legislators.
Thomas Clements: Marijuana is a benefit to people's health.
Luke Mixon: Supports Biden's move to review how marijuana is classified.
Bill Cassidy: Reclassify fentanyl as a Schedule I drug.
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Education
Antoine Pierce: Support universal pre-K.
Antoine Pierce: College graduates should not have to drown in debt.
Bill Cassidy: College Transparency Act: address why so much student debt.
Foster Campbell: Fight for public schools with $1 billion Excellence Fund.
Thomas Clements: Supports homeschooling and vouchers.
Luke Mixon: Make quality, affordable Pre-K available to every child.
Bill Cassidy: I support school choice to give parents the power.
Bill Cassidy: College Transparency Act will give families info they need.
John Fleming: Would eliminate the Department of Education.
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Energy & Oil
Antoine Pierce: Subsidize renewable energy sources.
Charles Melancon: Funnel BP oil-leak penalties into coastal restoration.
Charles Melancon: Congressional trip to Antarctica to study global warming.
Foster Campbell: Charge 6.25% oil refining tax and wipe out income tax.
Foster Campbell: Build Keystone pipeline; no farcking regulation for now.
Foster Campbell: Regulate greenhouse gases; incentivize reducing emissions.
Gary Chambers: Supports Green New Deal as good for environment, jobs.
John Neely Kennedy: Incentives for non-petroleum automobiles are a tax increase.
John Neely Kennedy: More domestic drilling, including in Gulf of Mexico & ANWR.
Mary Landrieu: Member of bipartisan "Gang of 10" for comprehensive oil plan.
Mary Landrieu: Voted against allowing exploration in oil shale in Colorado.
Mary Landrieu: Proud of expanding oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
Thomas Clements: No cap and trade; no taxing carbon emissions.
Luke Mixon: Louisiana will continue to be an oil and gas state.
Bill Cassidy: Don't pick winners & losers in energy market.
Bill Cassidy: The Left's 'energy' agenda betrays working Americans.
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Environment
Adrian Perkins: Renegotiate EPA consent decree that nearly tripled in cost.
Bill Cassidy: Top priority is coastal restoration.
David Vitter: Introduced bill to extend National Flood Insurance Program.
Gary Chambers: Increase penalties for emissions violations.
John Neely Kennedy: Wetlands will wash away before 2017 coastal protection.
Rob Maness: Reject Katrina aid bill if pork-laden with other projects.
Thomas Clements: States should deal with water quality not federal EPA.
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Families & Children
David Vitter: Prostitute was "serious sin" but made me a better family man.
Luke Mixon: Parents should have access to affordable child care.
Luke Mixon: Make daycare more affordable so both parents can work.
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Foreign Policy
Foster Campbell: U.S. should remain in the United Nations.
Foster Campbell: Keep allies involved, but heed advice of military experts.
John Fleming: Defund the Syrian refugee influx.
John Neely Kennedy: Radical Islamic fundamentalists despise our core values.
Thomas Clements: Foreign aid spending only to protect US interests.
Luke Mixon: Navy experience helps in understanding policy consequences.
John Fleming: Be careful about foreign aid, but support Israel, Taiwan.
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Free Trade
Charles Boustany: Yes to Ex-im bank; Yes to fast-track.
Charles Boustany: 2013: Supported TPP; 2016: too many concessions.
Foster Campbell: TPP is skewed to the advantage of big business.
John Fleming: No to Ex-im bank; No to fast-track.
John Fleming: TPP means open season on American jobs.
John Neely Kennedy: TPP lacks safeguards against currency manipulation.
Joseph Cao: No trade deal with Vietnam due to human rights abuses.
Rob Maness: Criticized TPP for its closed-door negotiations.
Thomas Clements: No restrictions on trade, but no corporatism.
Luke Mixon: Time to rely on American workers more than foreign nations.
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Government Reform
Foster Campbell: 10 year ban on lobbying for ex-members of congress.
John Neely Kennedy: No pay-for-play; campaign contributions notwithstanding.
Mary Landrieu: I have delivered for Louisiana; send me back for more.
Thomas Clements: Term limits for Congress; but voter ID too.
John Neely Kennedy: 2020 election had a lot of tomfoolery and shenanigans .
Luke Mixon: Pass John Lewis Voting Rights Act; combat voter suppression.
John Fleming: Has no idea if Biden won 2020 election over Trump.
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Gun Control
Adrian Perkins: Urge Senate to act on gun safety legislation.
Adrian Perkins: Focus on reducing number of illegal guns in city.
Bill Cassidy: Our 2nd Amendment freedom is in danger.
Bill Cassidy: Right to bear arms should not be infringed.
Foster Campbell: Generally opposes additional gun control measures.
Foster Campbell: Enforce the gun laws we already have on the books.
John Fleming: Perennial A rating from the NRA.
Thomas Clements: Second Amendment is the law of the land.
Luke Mixon: Calls for background checks on all gun sales.
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Health Care
Antoine Pierce: For universal coverage; no limits on preexisting conditions.
Antoine Pierce: Supports Medicare-for-All with option for private insurance.
Antoine Pierce: Supports Medicare for All.
Antoine Pierce: Need to address the structural racism in healthcare system.
Bill Cassidy: AdWatch: propose ObamaCare-lite plan in state legislature.
Bill Cassidy: Coronavirus racial disparity not result of systemic racism.
Charles Melancon: ObamaCare costs too much & does too little for middle-class.
Charles Melancon: Opposed healthcare bill because it didn't work for America.
Charles Melancon: Supports kids on parents' insurance policies until age 26.
David Vitter: ObamaCare injects government into private decisions.
David Vitter: Pushed to allow re-importation of Rx drugs from Canada.
David Vitter: Opposes SCHIP; it subsidizes wealthy states.
David Vitter: I fought ObamaCare & I'm still fighting it.
David Vitter: Introduced legislation to repeal ObamaCare.
Gary Chambers: Supports extending Medicare coverage to everyone.
John Fleming: If Supreme Court bans ObamaCare subsidies, let them die.
Luke Mixon: Healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Mary Landrieu: Let consumers keep health plans, but only if told options.
Mary Landrieu: AdWatch: Targeted by RNC robocalls for support of ObamaCare.
Mary Landrieu: AdWatch: Promised wrongly that all can keep insurance.
Mary Landrieu: Mandatory quarantine for returning Ebola healthcare workers.
Rob Maness: ObamaCare is hurting the folks it's trying to help.
Thomas Clements: Cost is the only thing that has expanded under ObamaCare.
Luke Mixon: Life-saving drugs should be affordable.
Adrian Perkins: COVID19: Mandatory mask order & penalties for non-compliance.
Bill Cassidy: I've seen how government-run health care fails patients.
Bill Cassidy: Fierce proponent of vaccines, but voted for RFK Jr for HHS.
Bill Cassidy: Vaccines are safe; vaccines do not cause autism.
Bill Cassidy: Proposes Health Savings Accounts within ObamaCare.
Bill Cassidy: Reduce ObamaCare deductible from $6000 via tax-free accounts.
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Homeland Security
Gary Chambers: Cut military budget to pay for Medicare for All.
John Neely Kennedy: Increase size of the military; increase spending for defense.
Luke Mixon: My desire to serve was inspired by my grandfather.
Thomas Clements: Why do we need military bases in the Phillipines?
Bill Cassidy: Focused on improving veteran access to quality health care.
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Immigration
Charles Melancon: Supports SCHIP, despite insuring illegal immigrant kids.
Charles Melancon: I have been a staunch hawk on immigration.
David Vitter: TV ad: Melancon puts out a welcome sign for illegal aliens.
Foster Campbell: Grant citizenship to children of illegal immigrants.
Foster Campbell: No pathway to citizenship without exiting US first.
Gary Chambers: Open to abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
John Neely Kennedy: Biden's immigration policy people are "pink-haired 'wokers'".
Rob Maness: Send unaccompanied minors back to their country of origin.
Thomas Clements: Annex Mexico economically to avoid immigration issues.
Bill Cassidy: Our immigration system rewards those who break the law.
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Jobs
Antoine Pierce: Raise the minimum wage.
Antoine Pierce: Repeal Right to Work.
Antoine Pierce: Higher minimum wage; strengthen unions.
Foster Campbell: Raise the federal minimum wage.
Luke Mixon: Critical to guarantee right to join or form a union.
Luke Mixon: Increase the minimum wage so people are fairly compensated.
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Principles & Values
Adrian Perkins: Family taught me faith and hard work leads to accomplishment.
Adrian Perkins: Bring Louisiana values of service, honesty, courage to DC.
Adrian Perkins: Launched run for mayor while at Harvard Law School.
Adrian Perkins: Welcomes pastors praying during protest over police violence.
Adrian Perkins: Awarded Sam Cooke apology; posthumous Key to the City.
Adrian Perkins: Hosted online interfaith prayer service.
Antoine Pierce: Community organizer who understands real challenges.
Antoine Pierce: Running because I have a heart for humanity.
Bill Cassidy: AdWatch: Receives ad money from billionaire Koch brothers.
Bill Cassidy: No-show at Senate debate.
Bill Cassidy: Agrees to one runoff debate; more if Obama visits.
Bill Cassidy: Despite church-vs-state, religious beliefs guide convictions.
Charles Melancon: Ran based on Vitter's integrity issue from call-girl scandal.
Charles Melancon: OpEd: Vitter broke the law, and lied about it, with DC Madam.
David Vitter: OpEd: robo-response to "Did you break the law" with DC Madam.
John Fleming: Passionate conservative: Obama doesn't share our values.
John Neely Kennedy: Ran for US Senate in 2004 as Democrat; & endorsed John Kerry.
John Neely Kennedy: I speak my mind, & some politicians call me a troublemaker.
John Neely Kennedy: Belief in Jesus informs every decision I make.
John Neely Kennedy: I will not let you down--I'd rather drink weed killer.
Joseph Cao: First Vietnamese-American to serve in Congress.
Luke Mixon: In military had a little mantra: God, Family, Country.
Luke Mixon: I am country first, I am a very moderate person.
Luke Mixon: Instilled with ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty.
Rob Maness: Support Tea Party challenger for Senate Majority Leader.
Rob Maness: Call out those who don't have interests of US & her citizens.
Thomas Clements: Why not keep God in the public sphere?
John Fleming: I will fight to put America and Louisiana first.
John Fleming: Haven't seen evidence anyone harmed in Jan. 6 insurrection.
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Social Security
Bill Cassidy: Strengthen the trust fund and preserve it for the future.
Foster Campbell: I do not support privatization of Social Security.
John Neely Kennedy: Endorses voluntary private retirement savings accounts.
Mary Landrieu: Credit immigrants for FICA paid while status was illegal.
Thomas Clements: Privatize Social Security at birth for newborns today.
Bill Cassidy: Republicans don't want to take away benefits Americans need.
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Tax Reform
Antoine Pierce: Tax cuts for poor & middle class.
Bill Cassidy: Co-sponsored tax simplification for Gold Star families.
Charles Melancon: Tax increase on wealthiest taxpayers but not middle-class.
David Vitter: Permanent extension of all Bush tax cuts.
Foster Campbell: Make sure the super-rich pay their fair share.
John Neely Kennedy: Cut taxes & stop deficit-spending, to fight economic crisis.
Thomas Clements: Flat rate tax with across-the-board reduction.
Bill Cassidy: Inflation Reduction Act raises taxes on middle class.
Bill Cassidy: Inflation Reduction Act raises taxes on middle class.
John Fleming: Wants state to get rid of state personal income tax entirely.
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Technology
Adrian Perkins: Test technology innovations in smaller cities.
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War & Peace
Bill Cassidy: Work with partners like Israel to combat terrorist threats.
Foster Campbell: No American intervention in Iraq & Syria beyond air support.
Thomas Clements: Help prevent genocide abroad, but not with U.S. lives.
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Welfare & Poverty
Adrian Perkins: Supports UBI as "Mayors for a Guaranteed Income".
Antoine Pierce: Advocate for universal basic income.
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