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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
Charlie Summers: Must consider incest or rape.
Angus King: Favors abortion rights; opposes defunding Planned Parenthood.
Chris Lyons: Oppose abortion as an unrestricted right.
Chris Lyons: Life is precious; abortion only if maternal life at risk.
Eric Brakey: Pro-life, and anti-ObamaCare.
Eric Brakey: Oppose funding Planned Parenthood; require parental consent.
Sara Gideon: Backed in primary by abortion-rights groups.
Sara Gideon: Protect & expand access to women's reproductive care.
Susan Collins: Joined Democrats to fund Planned Parenthood.
Susan Collins: End unfair copays charged to veterans for contraception.
Zak Ringelstein: Publicly-funded reproductive healthcare for women.
David Costello: Support efforts to protect the reproductive rights of women.
Demi Kouzounas: The Maine GOP is fighting to protect the lives of the unborn.
Angus King: Overturning Roe robs millions of women of fundamental right.
Demi Kouzounas: No national ban; abortion should come back to the states.
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Budget & Economy
Chris Lyons: Market-led recovery better than stimulus.
Eric Brakey: The government takes enough; we shouldn't raise taxes.
Eric Brakey: Not just for economic freedom but also personal freedom.
Matt Dunlap: Shore up availability of credit to stimulate job creation.
Matt Dunlap: Shore up availability of credit to stimulate job creation.
Sara Gideon: COVID: prioritize small business, bolster unemployment funds.
Susan Collins: We tried & failed in 2005 to tighten mortgage regulations.
Tom Allen: Bush administration's debt has failed middle-class America.
Tom Allen: Driving up debt & unbridled free market caused bank crisis.
Demi Kouzounas: ARPA is a $2 trillion tax hike proposal.
David Costello: Boost investments in transportation, energy infrastructure.
Demi Kouzounas: End inflationary spending punishing hardworking Mainers.
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Civil Rights
Angus King: Supports gay marriage.
Charlie Summers: Marriage is between a man and a woman.
Chris Lyons: Comfortable with same-sex marriage.
Chris Lyons: Education will achieve affirmative action, not law.
Chris Lyons: Government should have no say on same-sex marriage.
Eric Brakey: Leave transgender bathroom policy up to local school board.
Sara Gideon: Husband solicited to run for town council; she ran instead.
Sara Gideon: Support LGBTQ+ people everywhere.
Zak Ringelstein: People have the right to love who they want.
David Costello: Protect reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms.
Demi Kouzounas: Wants state party to be a little more inclusive and diverse.
Demi Kouzounas: Adults can be with whoever they want.
David Costello: Will support efforts to approve the Equal Rights Amendment.
David Costello: Reform agenda including tribal sovereignty.
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Corporations
Eric Brakey: Cut $400M in corporate welfare & return it to the people.
Susan Collins: Excess corporate pay rewards risk-taking over results.
Angus King: Close corporate tax loopholes: 15% corporate tax minimum.
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Crime
Chris Lyons: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime.
Eric Brakey: Being pro-life is why I oppose the death penalty.
David Costello: Focus increased resources on violent offenses.
Angus King: Defund localities that defund police .
Demi Kouzounas: We've lost respect for those that protect us.
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Drugs
Chris Lyons: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug.
Eliot Cutler: Legalizing marijuana sends message that drug use is OK.
Eric Brakey: Supports legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Mike Michaud: Real concerns about the impact of pot legalization on kids.
Paul LePage: Oppose legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Sara Gideon: Treatment for opioid addiction; hold big pharma accountable.
Sara Gideon: Voted to regulate marijuana legalization in Maine.
Shenna Bellows: Supports marijuana legalization.
Shenna Bellows: Three past presidents acknowledged use; legalize pot.
Susan Collins: Declines to take sides in marijuana legalization petition.
Angus King: Rated A- by NORML: legalize recreational marijuana.
David Costello: Increase funding for substance abuse, mental health services.
Demi Kouzounas: We need someone concerned about drugs, fentanyl addiction.
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Education
Angus King: Public schools are the idea at the heart of democracy.
Angus King: Simplify repayment & refinance student loans.
Chris Lyons: Vouchers for school choice.
Eric Brakey: Support private schools, charter schools, or homeschooling.
Eric Brakey: Competition will improve our schools.
Sara Gideon: Access to high quality K-12 education for every family.
Sara Gideon: Tackle student debt crisis; expand trade, technical training.
Shenna Bellows: Voucher programs siphon public school money.
Susan Collins: Allow employers to help pay employee student debt.
Zak Ringelstein: Refinance student loans at lower rates.
David Costello: Provide universal pre-kindergarten and aftercare.
Demi Kouzounas: Concerned about transgender identity video for children.
Demi Kouzounas: Forgiving student loans costs money & inflation.
Demi Kouzounas: Oversaw platform that would effectively end sex education.
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Energy & Oil
Charlie Summers: Off-shore exploration for oil, plus nuclear and coal.
Chris Lyons: Oppose prioritizing green energy.
Cynthia Dill: Encourage conservation and renewable energy.
Matt Dunlap: Invest in weatherization programs and maintain LIHEAP.
Sara Gideon: Bold, immediate action on climate change.
Sara Gideon: Passed aggressive goals reducing carbon emissions in Maine.
Sara Gideon: Rejoin Paris Agreement; invest in clean energy.
Shenna Bellows: Green energy solutions instead of nuclear energy.
Susan Collins: Double funding for low-income home weatherization programs.
Tom Allen: 1%-interest loan for home weatherization projects.
Zak Ringelstein: Curb emissions & return to Paris Agreement.
David Costello: An aggressive national, science-based climate action plan.
David Costello: Reallocate fossil fuel subsidies to clean energy initiatives.
David Costello: Funding to mitigate the growing impacts of climate change.
Angus King: We are fiddling while the planet burns.
Demi Kouzounas: Opposes wind energy; opposes carbon reduction.
Demi Kouzounas: Radical Democrats support the Green New Deal.
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Environment
Angus King: Support EPA brownfield program for industrial cleanup.
Chris Lyons: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach.
David Costello: Enact more stringent air and water quality regulations.
Angus King: Phase out single-use plastic and foam .
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Families & Children
David Costello: Provide universal pre-kindergarten and aftercare.
Demi Kouzounas: It's child sexual abuse to teach kids multiple genders.
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Foreign Policy
Chris Lyons: Oppose American Exceptionalism.
Eric Brakey: Crazy that we have our troops in 177 different countries.
Eric Brakey: Deposing secular dictators in Mid-East empowers our enemies.
Susan Rice: Didn't want to be pigeonholed as "black working on Africa".
David Costello: Expand military and intelligence gathering alliances.
David Costello: Engage more fully and responsibly in world affairs.
Demi Kouzounas: China planned pandemic to harm Trump's re-election.
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Free Trade
Charlie Summers: I support free trade, but protect shoe factories.
Chris Lyons: Support & expand free trade.
Cynthia Dill: Keep tariffs against foreign products that compete unfairly.
Eric Brakey: I don't think tariffs are a good thing.
Shenna Bellows: NAFTA damaged our manufacturing sector; so will TPP.
Susan Collins: Some trade agreements have resulted in more tariffs.
Susan Rice: US beneficiary of free trade; don't cede leadership to China.
Tom Allen: Review existing trade agreements that damaged US economy.
David Costello: Strengthen trade and foreign policy agencies and agreements.
Demi Kouzounas: Bring jobs back by adding a little bit more tariffs.
Janet Mills: Broad tariffs increase prices, cause havoc to economy.
Susan Collins: Voted with Democrats to undo tariffs on Canadian goods.
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Government Reform
Betsy Sweet: Only Democrat to use Maine's taxpayer-funded election system.
Betsy Sweet: Publicly funded federal election system.
Charlie Summers: OpEd: Pushes for voter registration, with his name on ballot.
Chris Lyons: Make voter registration easier.
Eric Brakey: Independent redistricting & automatic voter registration.
Sara Gideon: $500 fine for campaign finance ethics violation.
Sara Gideon: Worked in Maine to pass automatic voter registration.
Sara Gideon: End influence of big money on our elections and officials.
Shenna Bellows: Funding her campaign $5 at a time from local events.
Susan Collins: Outrageous for IRS to target Tea Party groups.
Susan Rice: Supports National Voter Registration Day.
Zak Ringelstein: Independent redistricting & automatic voter registration.
Zak Ringelstein: Overturn Citizens United; disclose campaign donations.
David Costello: Mandate automatic voter registration, early and mail voting.
David Costello: U.S. Senate is obscenely undemocratic.
Demi Kouzounas: Deeply concerned about possibility of election fraud.
David Costello: Substantial reforms to overcome partisan gridlock.
David Costello: 24-year term limits for Congress; retirement age for judges.
Demi Kouzounas: Declare electronic voting machines unconstitutional.
David Costello: Restructure Senate based on state population.
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Gun Control
Angus King: Supports gun rights.
Chris Lyons: Absolute right to gun ownership.
Eric Brakey: Bipartisan Republican leads the charge to less gun control.
Eric Brakey: The second amendment is essential for liberty.
Eric Brakey: Oppose background checks for individual gun transfers.
Sara Gideon: Endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety for gun-sense majority.
Shenna Bellows: Was NRA member, but left because they became too extreme.
Zak Ringelstein: Most Americans wants gun control but NRA stops it.
David Costello: Strengthen our nation's gun safety laws and regulations.
Angus King: Implement red flag laws; expand background checks.
Demi Kouzounas: Very concerned with gun rights.
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Health Care
Chris Lyons: Oppose ObamaCare.
Chris Lyons: Insurance companies benefit from ObamaCare; people don't.
Cynthia Dill: Medicaid and Medicare programs need to be strengthened.
Eric Brakey: Apply principles of freedom to broken healthcare system.
Eric Brakey: Do better than backdoor deals that led to ObamaCare.
Matt Dunlap: ObamaCare individual mandate is constitutional.
Sara Gideon: Public option for Medicare, but not Medicare-for-All.
Sara Gideon: Complete the work started under Affordable Care Act.
Sara Gideon: Reduce prescription costs; protect pre-existing conditions.
Sara Gideon: Let government negotiate to lower cost of drugs.
Sara Gideon: Strongly oppose raising Medicare eligibility age.
Sara Gideon: Let Medicare negotiate drug prices; allow imports.
Shenna Bellows: Supports ObamaCare & universal health coverage.
Susan Collins: Helped pass law lowering drug prices, speeding generics.
Susan Collins: Improve advance transparency on medical billing.
Susan Collins: Authored law letting pharmacists help patients save money.
Susan Collins: Strong supporter of home care.
David Costello: Offer Medicare, including dental/vision, to all who want it.
Angus King: Resources to LGBTQ youth for mental health/ prevent suicide.
Demi Kouzounas: ObamaCare will bring rationing of healthcare.
Susan Collins: Extend ACA tax credits, but also need some reforms.
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Homeland Security
Chris Lyons: Don't expand the military.
Cynthia Dill: Cut military spending such as weapons systems.
Cynthia Dill: Opposes unlimited detention of terror suspects.
Eric Brakey: Apply limited government philosophy to the military.
Sara Gideon: Make sure that services vets have earned remain available.
Shenna Bellows: No spying on foreign leaders NOR on ordinary Americans.
Shenna Bellows: Snowden was a whistle-blower, not a criminal.
Shenna Bellows: We cannot afford to be the world's policemen.
Shenna Bellows: NSA should target only based on individualized suspicion.
Susan Collins: No justification for spying on Germany's chancellor.
Susan Collins: Cuts in defense are very troubling to me personally.
Susan Collins: Mass surveillance justified by national security.
Susan Collins: Mass unwarranted surveillance is never justified.
Susan Collins: Increase transparency of NSA but keep NSA programs.
David Costello: Expand military and intelligence gathering alliances.
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Immigration
Chris Lyons: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
Eric Brakey: We must put our citizens first.
Sara Gideon: Urged support for DREAM Act.
Susan Collins: Co-sponsored bill for path to citizenship for DREAMers.
David Costello: Comprehensive reform, resolve nation's worker shortages.
Demi Kouzounas: Illegal immigrants, drugs, and guns are crossing our border.
Demi Kouzounas: DACA is unconstitutional executive action (oppose DREAMers).
Susan Collins: Allow foreign religious workers to stay in the U.S.
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Jobs
Angus King: Keep 900 shoe factory jobs in Maine.
Angus King: Protected jobs in forests & Bath Iron Works.
Angus King: Supports federal minimum wage increase; but not $15.
Chris Lyons: Oppose affirmative action in hiring.
Eric Brakey: Oppose increasing minimum wage; it takes out the bottom rung.
Sara Gideon: Prioritize needs of small businesses; raise minimum wage.
Sara Gideon: Co-sponsored bill to give unions access to public employees.
Shenna Bellows: Increase minimum wage to make it a living wage.
Susan Collins: For Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act.
Zak Ringelstein: Increase minimum wage to $15/hour & tie to inflation.
David Costello: Increase federal Child and Earned Income Tax Credits.
Demi Kouzounas: Keep bureaucrats off our lobster boats & fishing waters.
Demi Kouzounas: Supports right-to-work laws.
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Principles & Values
Chris Lyons: Keep God in the public sphere.
Chris Lyons: Personal belief in God is fine; government action is not.
Sara Gideon: Public service is about improving the lives of people.
Sara Gideon: Courts pushed to the right, favors independent judiciary.
Shenna Bellows: Calls herself a progressive libertarian.
Susan Collins: Focuses on seniority & forging bipartisan solutions.
Susan Collins: Nine is good number for seats on Supreme Court.
Susan Rice: Fierce love of country should override disagreements.
Demi Kouzounas: Donated time for dental care for children, needy, elderly.
Demi Kouzounas: Former chair of Maine GOP.
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Social Security
Charlie Summers: Remove disability coverage from Social Security.
Chris Lyons: Privatize Social Security.
Cynthia Dill: Stop raiding Social Security Trust Fund.
Matt Dunlap: Remove cap on earnings to sustain system.
Sara Gideon: Protect Social Security, Medicare from cuts & privatization.
Sara Gideon: Raise the earning cap so wealthiest pay their fair share.
Scott D`Amboise: Option to invest in private retirement program.
Shenna Bellows: Scrap the cap; apply payroll tax over $113,700.
Shenna Bellows: Scrap the Cap: highest-paid Americans pay their fair share.
Susan Collins: Foundation of retirement income for most Americans.
David Costello: Raise FICA tax cap, increase benefits to low-income retirees.
Janet Mills: Recommit to the promise of the Social Security Act.
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Tax Reform
Chris Lyons: Oppose higher taxes on the wealthy.
Cynthia Dill: Require the wealthy to pay their fair share.
Eric Brakey: Voted against raising the lodging tax to 10.5%.
Eric Brakey: No additional 3% tax on income above $200,000.
Sara Gideon: Roll back Trump tax cuts; breaks for hardworking families.
David Costello: Ensure tax fairness via progressive tax reforms.
Demi Kouzounas: Inflationary spending that is punishing taxpayers.
Janet Mills: Legislature must act on conforming to federal tax changes.
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Technology
Eric Brakey: Net Neutrality is heavy-handed government control.
Shenna Bellows: Total Information Awareness undermines our democracy.
Zak Ringelstein: Create federal law protecting net neutrality.
David Costello: Require social media to adhere to strict privacy rules.
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War & Peace
Charlie Summers: Iraq & Afghanistan have taken a turn for the positive.
Chris Lyons: Avoid foreign entanglements.
Cynthia Dill: Afghanistan is not as irresponsible as was Iraq.
Eric Brakey: Learn from the past: we don't need another Mideast war.
Eric Brakey: Ok to withdraw from Iran nuke deal so Trump can negotiate.
Matt Dunlap: We cannot stand by while Syria slaughters its citizens.
Matt Dunlap: Iraq war was poorly thought out and enormously expensive.
Sara Gideon: Congress must provide oversight over military action.
Scott D`Amboise: Time to bring our troops home from Afghanistan.
Susan Collins: Exert economic pressure on Iran to stop its nuclear program.
Susan Rice: Benghazi investigations became "gotcha" game.
Susan Rice: We sold out the Kurds in Syria.
Susan Rice: National security endangered by lack of communication.
Susan Rice: Small U.S. military presence in Syria fought ISIS threat.
Tom Allen: We need strong economic sanctions against Iran.
Zak Ringelstein: Favors diplomacy against potential nuclear threats.
Demi Kouzounas: Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East.
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Welfare & Poverty
Eric Brakey: Disallow using food stamps to purchase junk food.
Shenna Bellows: No one in Washington stands up for people who are hurting.
Angus King: increase government investment in the economy.
Demi Kouzounas: Ensure American Dream by reducing inflation.
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