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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
Jim Abeler: Human life begins at conception.
Jim Newberger: 100% pro-life.
Jim Newberger: Require that doctor be in room when taking RU-486.
Jim Newberger: Abortion is not an unrestricted right.
Jim Newberger: De-fund Planned Parenthood.
Mike McFadden: Anti-abortion and pro-guns.
Mike McFadden: Make contraceptives available without a prescription.
Paula Overby: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right.
Tina Smith: Vice president of Planned Parenthood of MN/SD/ND.
Royce White: Praised overturning of Roe; accused of paying for abortion.
Steve Carlson: I am passionately pro-life and Christian.
Tina Smith: Stop Comstock Act from preventing mailing abortion material.
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Budget & Economy
Al Franken: Economy is "top down" and "rigged" in favor of the wealthy.
Jim Abeler: Led $3.8B in human services cuts to close MN budget gap.
Jim Abeler: Borrowing places our sovereignity at risk.
Jim Newberger: Market-led recovery better than stimulus.
Mike McFadden: We've been spending like a drunken sailor.
Paula Overby: Stimulus AND market-led recovery.
Royce White: Government works off a business model of death and debt.
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Civil Rights
Heather Johnson: LGBT persons are created with inalienable right to marry.
Jason Lewis: Prohibiting worship during lockdown restricts freedom.
Jason Lewis: HRC: 0 score in Congress, compared LGBTQ people to rapists.
Jason Lewis: Racism still is a problem, but it is not the chief threat.
Jim Abeler: Government shouldn't redefine marriage.
Jim Newberger: Rated 0% by Voices for Racial Justice.
Jim Newberger: Opposes same-sex marriage.
Karin Housley: Pitched for gay rights but no specifics.
Mike McFadden: Gay marriage ok; but I'm personally for traditional marriage.
Paula Overby: Supports same-sex marriage.
Roger Wicker: Worked to get Medgar Evers home declared national monument.
Steve Carlson: Proportional representation laws are unconstitutional.
Steve Carlson: Endorses Trump's efforts to reform elections.
Royce White: LGBTQ movement is the brainchild of radical feminists.
Peggy Flanagan: Helped found People of Color and Indigenous Caucus.
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Corporations
Al Franken: Oppo AdWatch: Franken limits free speech issue advocacy.
Al Franken: Block merger of biggest & 2nd biggest cable providers.
Heather Johnson: Don't use eminent domain for private companies' benefit.
Jason Lewis: Voted to roll back parts of Dodd-Frank.
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Crime
Heather Johnson: Don't punish victimless crimes like prostitution & gambling.
Jason Lewis: Public order is not a privilege, it is a right.
Jason Lewis: Without public order, the mob will control the neighborhood.
Jim Abeler: Major overhaul needed for sex offender laws.
Jim Newberger: Let's connect a new prison by rail to North Minneapolis.
Jim Newberger: Stricter punishment reduces crime.
Karin Housley: Rehabilitative programs in prisons cut down on recidivism.
Paula Overby: Oppose "tough on crime": it promotes autocracy.
Tina Smith: Supports comprehensive police-reform legislation.
Royce White: Will fight for the necessary funding and training for police.
Angie Craig: Double fines for fraud related to child nutrition programs.
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Drugs
Heather Johnson: Release prisoners convicted of marijuana possession.
Jason Lewis: Allow states to decide on marijuana legalization.
Jim Newberger: Marijuana is a gateway drug.
Karin Housley: Focus opioid resources on prevention, treatment, & education.
Paula Overby: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug.
Amy Klobuchar: Rated B by NORML: legalize marijuana, but leave it to states.
Steve Carlson: Rated B+ by NORML on marijuana reform.
Angie Craig: Hold social media companies accountable for drug sales.
Tina Smith: Remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act.
Angie Craig: Wasted hundred of billions enforcing antiquated drug laws.
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Education
Heather Johnson: Common Core is unconstitutional, and also underhanded.
Jason Lewis: No taxpayers should bear burden of defaulted student loans.
Jim Abeler: Oppose Common Core's centralized federal oversight.
Jim Abeler: Oppose nationwide Common Core standards.
Jim Newberger: Vouchers for school choice are possible.
Jim Newberger: Supports 529-college savings plans.
Karin Housley: Work together to improve the public school system.
Mike McFadden: Measure more; dictate reading lists less.
Mike McFadden: Repeal federal Common Core education standards.
Paula Overby: Vouchers are ok locally but not federally.
Royce White: Globalists intentionally control our education system.
Royce White: Course curriculum will highlight our American Exceptionalism.
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Energy & Oil
Heather Johnson: Federal legislation has limited alternative energy.
Jim Abeler: No subsidies for wind and solar.
Jim Newberger: Defended coal-burning Xcel plant in Becker.
Jim Newberger: Don't prioritize green energy.
Jim Newberger: Does not believe climate change is man-made.
Karin Housley: Diverse portfolio of energy: wind, solar, fossil fuels.
Mike McFadden: Approve Keystone; faster permits for gas plants.
Paula Overby: Pursue green energy aggressively; it is the future.
Steve Carlson: Want to see much more science on climate change linkages.
Royce White: We control prices by being energy independent.
Al Franken: Delay Keystone pipeline; but if built, use American steel.
Royce White: Energy security helps our nation function more reliably.
Royce White: We pay a price for not being energy independent.
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Environment
Al Franken: Prevent invasive species Asian carp in Great Lakes.
Amy Klobuchar: Open PolyMet copper-nickel mine in the Iron Range.
Jim Newberger: Get government & extreme environmental Left off our backs.
Jim Newberger: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach.
Karin Housley: Unequivocal support for PolyMet copper-nickel mine.
Mike McFadden: Supports PolyMet mining project in Hoyt Lakes.
Mike McFadden: Develop our natural resources AND protect the environment.
Paula Overby: Protect natural resources from exploitation.
Tina Smith: Open PolyMet copper-nickel mine in the Iron Range.
Tina Smith: Supports EPA agreement on St. Louis River contamination.
Al Franken: Ok the PolyMet copper mine only after 9-year review.
Angie Craig: EPA should update standards for homegrown biofuels.
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Families & Children
Heather Johnson: Politics is not my passion; it's my God, my kids & family.
Angie Craig: First openly LGBTQ mother and grandmother in Congress.
Peggy Flanagan: Proud state enacted free meals for school children.
Royce White: Educated women are more likely to divorce men.
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Foreign Policy
Al Franken: OpEd: Campaign website devoid of views on foreign policy.
Jason Lewis: China is responsible for this pandemic.
Jason Lewis: 2013: GOP support of Israel shows "dual loyalties".
Jim Newberger: Prevent MN from implementing policies set by UN Agenda 21.
Jim Newberger: Support American Exceptionalism.
Mike McFadden: Inaction abroad sends message that US will do nothing.
Mike McFadden: OpEd: Campaign website devoid of views on foreign policy.
Mike McFadden: Crisis in Ukraine came about due to Obama's indecisiveness.
Paula Overby: Oppose American Exceptionalism.
Steve Carlson: Pull out of the United Nations.
Royce White: Called for 2M Uyghurs to be freed from concentration camps .
Royce White: Israel is the lynchpin of the New World Order.
Angie Craig: I will work to strengthen our relationship with Israel.
Tina Smith: Voted for partial arms embargo on Israel.
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Free Trade
Amy Klobuchar: Supports tariffs on foreign steel & aluminum.
Jason Lewis: Punish China, bring our supply chains home.
Jason Lewis: America First: end outsourcing to China, Buy American.
Jim Newberger: Support & expand free trade.
Mike McFadden: Use Chinese steel over U.S. steel if the import was cheaper.
Paula Overby: Expand free trade but not economic exploitation.
Steve Carlson: Tariffs are necessary to make the world play fair.
Steve Carlson: Tariffs make world play fair, & bring jobs back to America.
Royce White: Globalism enslaves free people & destroys businesses.
Royce White: Don't bastardize our citizenship through globalism.
Tina Smith: Farmers worried about losing their access to markets.
Angie Craig: Tariffs are killing my bean and corn producers right now.
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Government Reform
Heather Johnson: Term limits for Congress, local officials, and judges.
Jason Lewis: Abolish FISA court which violates civil liberties.
Jim Abeler: Photo ID for voting.
Jim Newberger: No need to make voter registration easier.
Jim Newberger: Opposes regulation of political contributions.
Karin Housley: Supports Citizens United: let corporations participate.
Paula Overby: Make voter registration easier.
Tina Smith: Restore voting rights to ex-felons.
Steve Carlson: Voter quotas resulted in unrepresentative officials.
Mike McFadden: Effective but limited government, stressing "limited".
Royce White: We need term limits & the filibuster.
Peggy Flanagan: Campaign is powered by people, not corporate checks.
Royce White: Go to a single-day, paper ballot, personal ID requirement.
Angie Craig: Require carbon monoxide detectors in every hotel room.
Royce White: Supports single-day; paper ballot; personal ID requirement .
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Gun Control
Jim Abeler: Opposes more gun restrictions.
Jim Newberger: Supports 2nd Amendment rights.
Jim Newberger: Absolute right to gun ownership.
Karin Housley: No background checks nor buyers' waiting periods.
Mike McFadden: Open to looking at expanding background checks.
Mike McFadden: Expand background checks; close gun show loophole.
Paula Overby: I don't support an absolute right to gun ownership.
Tina Smith: Endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety for gun-sense majority.
Royce White: 2nd Amendment safeguards the freedoms of country's citizens.
Royce White: Never infringe on 2nd Amendment; it safeguards freedoms.
Peggy Flanagan: First time gun owner, supports common sense gun laws.
Royce White: 2nd amendment safeguards the freedoms of citizens.
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Health Care
Amy Klobuchar: Allow sick people to obtain insurance.
Jason Lewis: Enhanced medically screening of all international travelers.
Jim Abeler: Big companies benefit from ObamaCare but not regular people.
Jim Abeler: Preventative care; coordinated treatment; low-income clinics.
Jim Abeler: ObamaCare risks access to care, ironically.
Jim Newberger: Repeal ObamaCare, by any method.
Jim Newberger: Opposes ObamaCare.
Jim Newberger: Opening up Medicare for anyone would cost $32 trillion.
Karin Housley: Buy health insurance like we do our car insurance.
Mike McFadden: We need an alternative to ObamaCare, not just repeal.
Paula Overby: Oppose ObamaCare; Medicare for all is a better path.
Robert Fitzgerald: Opposes single-payer coverage because it's a liability.
Robert Fitzgerald: Sever health care coverage from employment.
Steve Carlson: Help people with pre-existing conditions.
Royce White: Demanded NBA spearhead conversation on mental health.
Royce White: COVID vaccine mandates violate religious freedom.
Steve Carlson: Protect rights of cancer patients from losing coverage.
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Homeland Security
Al Franken: Worked since 2009 on fighting ISIS recruitment in Minn.
Jason Lewis: Maintain military strength to eradicate threat of terrorism.
Jim Abeler: Our friends don't trust us; our enemies don't fear us.
Jim Newberger: Part of what makes our nation great is our military.
Jim Newberger: Expand the military.
Mike McFadden: Combat propaganda & recruiting by the Islamic State.
Paula Overby: Shift military spending to social and economic development.
Steve Carlson: Build up defense and rebuild defense industries.
Steve Carlson: We must build up our defense industries.
Tina Smith: Preserved funding for state-owned National Guard facilities.
Royce White: Ex-military pols only interested in the military itself.
Al Franken: Let companies reveal how much data NSA has gathered.
Mike McFadden: We need a national strategy against ISIS, and don't have one.
Angie Craig: Strengthen the benefits we owe our servicemembers.
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Immigration
Al Franken: Apologize for stripping citizenship for marrying foreigners.
Amy Klobuchar: No amnesty for companies hiring illegal immigrants.
Amy Klobuchar: Path to citizenship for people who have been law abiding.
Jason Lewis: Opposes open borders, abolishing ICE, sanctuary cities.
Jim Abeler: Protect the borders; prevent illegal entry.
Jim Newberger: Immigrants must accept American law.
Jim Newberger: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens is possible.
Jim Newberger: We must build the wall; we must secure our border.
Karin Housley: Supports path to legal status for DREAMers.
Mark Kennedy: Good fences make good neighbors.
Mike McFadden: Status quo is not acceptable; we need to find a solution.
Mike McFadden: Secure the borders & then find way to grant citizenship.
Paula Overby: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
Robert Fitzgerald: Show me 50-foot border fence, I'll show you 51-foot ladder.
Robert Fitzgerald: Making bogeymen of illegal immigrants doesn't address issue.
Steve Carlson: Defend our borders and our people.
Steve Carlson: Defend our border; build the Wall.
Steve Carlson: ICE should not be abolished; work with Mexico.
Royce White: Open borders in conflict with the value of my citizenship.
Mike McFadden: Secure the borders, then conditional path to citizenship.
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Jobs
Heather Johnson: Oppose increase in the minimum wage.
Jason Lewis: Supports local right-to-work laws, not national law.
Jason Lewis: Minimum-wage hikes cost jobs among least-skilled people.
Jim Newberger: Opposes affirmative action.
Jim Newberger: 2014: Voted against raising state minimum wage to $7.75.
Mike McFadden: Gender-based pay equality & minimum wage? "Wrong questions".
Paula Overby: Oppose affirmative action.
Steve Carlson: Continue and improve Trump initiatives to create jobs.
Tina Smith: Sponsored bill against states passing right-to-work laws.
Angie Craig: Reintroduced Protecting the Right to Organize Act.
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Principles & Values
Amy Klobuchar: This election is about change; crowd in charge won’t do it.
Jason Lewis: Appoint Constitutional conservatives to the courts.
Jason Lewis: Founders weren't trying to ban religion; it was the opposite.
Jim Abeler: Former investment banker; outsider with no voting record.
Jim Abeler: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework.
Jim Newberger: Keep God in the public sphere.
Paula Overby: Don't empower human institutions with authority of God.
Robert Fitzgerald: Millionaire 60-year-olds cannot legislate for young families.
Steve Carlson: Models are Jesus Christ, Christmas, and the Holy Bible.
Steve Carlson: Member of Tea Party; but won Independence Party primary.
Steve Carlson: Fake news exists; as a journalist I know real news.
Amy Klobuchar: Father was a popular columnist at Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Royce White: Replace rampant corruption with sacred honor in government.
Royce White: World is dominated by materialism; it's an abject failure.
Royce White: Ready to fight for The Free People of America.
Steve Carlson: Ran for president in 2015 but follows Donald Trump.
Steve Carlson: The Bible is an amazing source of all history.
Royce White: Reach out to disenfranchised Democrats AND Trump supporters.
Royce White: What's wrong with taking care of Americans first?
Royce White: We must take a stand for God, Family, and Country.
Peggy Flanagan: Tribal name means 'speaks in a loud and clear voice woman'.
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Social Security
Jason Lewis: Guarantee Social Security benefits through economic growth.
Jim Newberger: Social Security must be protected.
Jim Newberger: Don't privatize Social Security.
Mike McFadden: Discuss raising the eligibility age for social security.
Paula Overby: We need a safe way to save for retirement.
Tina Smith: Raise payroll cap; no to raising eligibility age.
Tina Smith: Allow public servants to get full Social Security payments.
Angie Craig: We need to keep Medicare and Social Security fully funded.
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Tax Reform
Amy Klobuchar: Roll back tax cuts on people making over $336,000 a year.
Jim Newberger: Simplify our tax code; the IRS has become too powerful.
Jim Newberger: Opposes higher taxes on the wealthy.
Mark Kennedy: Tax relief promotes job growth.
Mike McFadden: Wouldn't vote for tax increases.
Paula Overby: Wealth does not trickle down.
Robert Fitzgerald: Bush tax cuts will be paid for by young people in the future.
Royce White: I want to cut taxes for as many Americans as possible.
Royce White: I want to cut taxes for as many Americans as possible.
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Technology
Al Franken: Apply oil subsidies to upgrade transportation infrastructure.
Amy Klobuchar: Opposes recent FCC decision to eliminate net neutrality.
Royce White: Use anti-trust to break up big tech, social media companies.
Royce White: Big tech and social media companies must be broken up.
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War & Peace
Amy Klobuchar: Work together with other countries to solve Iraq problem.
Amy Klobuchar: Iraq has devolved into a civil war; get US troops out.
Jim Newberger: Avoid foreign entanglements.
Karin Housley: Supports Trump's prioritizing of American interests abroad.
Mark Kennedy: Must focus on victory in Iraq, not on retreat.
Mark Kennedy: Listen to military in Iraq, not politicians in Washington.
Mike McFadden: Lack of anti-ISIS strategy makes world more dangerous.
Paula Overby: I support the Powell doctrine, not foreign entanglements.
Robert Fitzgerald: Iraq conflict can no longer be solved with military action.
Robert Fitzgerald: Iraq war being fought with other's people's children.
Steve Carlson: Eliminate Korean nuclear weapons by diplomacy or military.
Steve Carlson: Denuclearization of North Korea will be end of Korean War.
Tina Smith: No War with Iran without Congressional OK.
Tina Smith: Voted to remove US armed forces from Yemen.
Al Franken: Supported airstrikes in Syria to fight ISIS.
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Welfare & Poverty
Al Franken: Pay in full for school lunches instead of partly subsidizing.
Heather Johnson: Regulate but advocate for independent charity.
Jason Lewis: People on government assistance are parasites & scoundrels.
Jason Lewis: Supports end of "fair housing rule" promoting affordability.
Mike McFadden: Let states decide school lunch payments, not feds.
Peggy Flanagan: Peggy's childhood home from Section 8 housing voucher.
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