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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
Bill Hagerty: Vehemently opposes taxpayer funds for abortion.
Bill Hagerty: Possible exceptions for rape/incest, "challenging" situation.
Gordon Ball: Opposes Amendment 1 banning abortion for rape & incest.
James Mackler: Woman's medical decisions should be between her & her doctor.
Marsha Blackburn: Ban abortion; ban public funds for Planned Parenthood.
Manny Sethi: A strong supporter of the Heartbeat Bill.
Manny Sethi: Opposed to exceptions for rape and incest.
Phil Bredesen: Keep abortion legal, but not high priority.
Terry Adams: Pro-choice.
Gloria Johnson: Women should be trusted to make their own medical decisions.
Marsha Blackburn: DOJ should investigate manufacturer of abortion pill.
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Budget & Economy
Bill Hagerty: Work to get government out of the way of business.
Bill Hagerty: Won't raise taxes; committed to cutting spending.
Bill Hagerty: Democrats plan to undo Trump's economic success.
Bob Corker: Adding $2T to deficit was fiscally irresponsible.
Gordon Ball: Balanced budget amendment to restore fiscal discipline.
Manny Sethi: Will fight out of control federal spending.
Marquita Bradshaw: Raise minimum wage to $15/hr; end "Right to Work".
Marsha Blackburn: Across-the-board federal spending cuts.
Gloria Johnson: New multicultural wave: focus on making life easier for all.
Bill Hagerty: The debt ceiling has become a tool to extract pain.
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Civil Rights
Gordon Ball: Pro-gay rights.
James Mackler: Fight for LGBT rights.
Lamar Alexander: Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act: heal ugly scars of the past.
Marquita Bradshaw: Against overturning rights, especially of LGBTQ+.
Marquita Bradshaw: Calling for unity without addressing racism is a band-aid.
Marsha Blackburn: Let people of faith withhold services to gay couples.
Phil Bredesen: Disallow withholding services to same-sex couples.
Terry Adams: Pro-gay rights.
Gloria Johnson: Disgusted with anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Tennessee.
Marsha Blackburn: Enforce Court decision ending college affirmative action.
Bill Hagerty: Voted against bill protecting same-sex marriage.
Marsha Blackburn: Urged NCAA to ban transgender athletes from women's sports.
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Corporations
Bill Hagerty: Stop the socialist agenda; cut corporate tax rate.
James Mackler: Trump's tax cuts make it easier for jobs to move overseas.
Phil Bredesen: As mayor, enticed the NFL's Oilers to relocate to Nashville.
Phil Bredesen: Pay for corporate tax cuts by closing loopholes.
Terry Adams: Democracy is hijacked by corporations & special interests.
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Crime
Bill Hagerty: Uphold the rule of law; stop ANTIFA.
Bill Hagerty: Supports death penalty for human trafficking.
Bill Hagerty: Use Insurrection Act against domestic terrorism.
Gordon Ball: Where do the little people go for justice?
James Mackler: Prosecutor JAG in military, and in criminal law afterwards.
Marquita Bradshaw: We need restorative justice & overhaul of justice system.
Gloria Johnson: FBI agent Dad investigated wickedness of Ku Klux Klan.
Marsha Blackburn: Make it illegal to dox federal law enforcement officials.
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Drugs
James Mackler: Legalize medical marijuana for PTSD and chronic pain.
Phil Bredesen: Let states decide on marijuana legalization.
Lamar Alexander: Combat Meth Act: fund law enforcement crack down.
Manny Sethi: Let local officials have more authority on opioid crisis.
Manny Sethi: Wants to promote faith-based recovery programs for addicts.
Marquita Bradshaw: Support the full legalization of recreational marijuana.
Marsha Blackburn: Don't loosen federal regulations marijuana.
Marsha Blackburn: Stiffer penalties for deceptively trafficking in fentanyl.
Phil Bredesen: Get tough on opioid prescriptions from pain clinics.
Gloria Johnson: 81% want cannabis reform, but state GOP won't allow a vote.
Gloria Johnson: Rated A by NORML: legalize marijuana, and tax it.
Marsha Blackburn: Rated D+ by NORM: rescheduling cannabis is irresponsible.
Bill Hagerty: Cannabis legalization will stimulate crime on the streets.
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Education
Bill Hagerty: Shift education spending to block grants to states.
Gordon Ball: I believe in public education.
Lamar Alexander: COVID: direct some relief funding to school choice programs.
Larry Crim: Children should have quality education minus crushing debt.
Larry Crim: Children should have quality education minus crushing debt.
Manny Sethi: Not government's role to wipe away college debt.
Marquita Bradshaw: Relieve current student debt, provide quality childcare.
Marsha Blackburn: Supports vouchers for private schools.
Marsha Blackburn: Don't lower student loan interest.
Phil Bredesen: Supports charter schools but "not wild about vouchers.
Phil Bredesen: Free community college tuition; lower student loan interest.
Gloria Johnson: Fed up with pols attacking public school students & teachers.
Marquita Bradshaw: High quality public education pre-k-12.
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Energy & Oil
Bill Hagerty: Fight socialist fracking bans, repeal fuel standards.
Gordon Ball: Supports construction of the Keystone pipeline.
Gordon Ball: Transition from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewables.
Gordon Ball: Commercial solar & wind, and also clean coal.
Marquita Bradshaw: First Senate candidate in TN to sign Green New Deal Pledge.
Marsha Blackburn: Climate change isn't settled; withdraw from Paris Accord.
Phil Bredesen: Green energy will be of vast importance and growth.
Gloria Johnson: Opposes repeal of law driving investment in clean energy.
Gloria Johnson: I believe in science, and I believe in global warming.
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Environment
Bill Hagerty: Eliminate senseless EPA interference on farmers.
Gordon Ball: Class-action lawsuits against paper companies' dumped waste.
Gordon Ball: No one has the right to pollute America's air and water.
Marquita Bradshaw: Grew up near Superfund Site, can't afford to be sick.
Marquita Bradshaw: I'm an environmental justice activist at my core.
Marsha Blackburn: Cut budget of Environmental Protection Administration.
Phil Bredesen: Supports environmental regulation by government.
Gloria Johnson: Criticized Supreme Court for limiting EPA and Clean Air Act.
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Foreign Policy
Bill Hagerty: Ensure our allies support us and enemies fear us.
Bill Hagerty: US has moral obligation to protect Israel.
Bob Corker: Russia a bad actor, not moral equivalent to US.
Gordon Ball: Promote human rights as cornerstone of US foreign policy.
James Mackler: Don't reduce funds for State Department nor reduce diplomacy.
Lamar Alexander: Russia out to destabilize western democracies.
Gloria Johnson: Supports aid to Ukraine & ceasefire in Gaza.
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Free Trade
Bill Frist: Increase trade by designating Tri-Cities as port of entry.
Bill Hagerty: Stand with Trump on being firm with China.
Bill Hagerty: Decrease our strategic dependency on China.
Bob Corker: Supports free trade, but anomalies need to be addressed.
Gordon Ball: Fair trade is vital; but don't ship jobs overseas.
James Mackler: Trade war with China is a disaster.
Lamar Alexander: Increase trade by designating Tri-Cities as port of entry.
Manny Sethi: Need a second Industrial Revolution to bring jobs back to US.
Marsha Blackburn: Trump's tariifs are a bad deal for Tennesseans.
Phil Bredesen: Trump's tariifs are same as a new tax on Tennesseans.
Gloria Johnson: Strengthen trade partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region .
Bill Hagerty: Criticized Walmart for claiming tariffs raised prices.
Marsha Blackburn: Doesn't believe tariffs will lead to price increases.
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Government Reform
Bill Hagerty: Constitutionalist judges who won't legislate from the bench.
Bill Hagerty: Protect Constitution; support Congressional term limits.
James Mackler: Doesn't accept corporate PAC contributions.
Joe Carr: Reduce crossover voting in Tennessee primary elections.
Lamar Alexander: The Era of the 1,000-Page Bill Is Over.
Marquita Bradshaw: Overturn Citizens United; outlaw gerrymandering.
Marsha Blackburn: Require presidential candidates to show birth certificates.
Gloria Johnson: Gerrymandering limits number of Democrats in legislature.
Bill Hagerty: Public doesn't care who does background checks on nominees.
Bill Hagerty: The CFPB has been out of control for some time.
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Gun Control
Bill Hagerty: The threat to gun rights is real.
Gordon Ball: Second Amendment protects Americans from tyranny.
Joe Carr: 30,000 people respond to raffling off a Beretta 92A1.
Manny Sethi: Red-flag laws are unconstitutional.
Marquita Bradshaw: For background checks, red flag laws, CDC research on guns.
Marsha Blackburn: Get background checks working, but no other gun regulations.
Phil Bredesen: Close gun show loophole & ban bump stocks.
Gloria Johnson: Demanded gun safety measures after mass school shooting.
Gloria Johnson: Tennessee Three: targeted for expulsion for gun reform zeal.
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Health Care
Bill Hagerty: Return health care to patient choice in free market.
Bill Hagerty: Trump administration did a great job on COVID-19.
Bill Hagerty: Government run health care model failed in China.
Gordon Ball: ObamaCare is over the top, but keep the good parts.
James Mackler: Keep rural hospitals, to serve thousands of Tennesseans.
Larry Crim: Constituents should have a seat at the table on health care.
Larry Crim: Constituents should have a seat at the table on health care.
Manny Sethi: We need less government involvement in healthcare, not more.
Manny Sethi: Against government required vaccinations.
Marquita Bradshaw: Medicare for All is a good place to start.
Marsha Blackburn: Health savings accounts instead of ObamaCare.
Phil Bredesen: Support ObamaCare, with fixes, and some Medicare-for-All.
Gloria Johnson: Every family should have access to affordable health care.
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Homeland Security
Bill Hagerty: Give military tools to complete their missions; repair VA.
Gordon Ball: Ensure our troops receive the support & resources they need.
James Mackler: Allow transgender people to serve in the military.
James Mackler: Let immigrants serve in military, as they always have.
Larry Crim: Provides spiritual counseling to help America's Veterans.
Larry Crim: We honor our veterans by keeping their care a priority.
Larry Crim: We honor our veterans by keeping their care a priority.
Manny Sethi: Agrees with Trump that Antifa is terrorist organization.
Marsha Blackburn: Supported military spending bills in Congress.
Terry Adams: Men & women in uniform are victims of catastrophic neglect.
Marsha Blackburn: Make sure our enemies fear us.
Bill Hagerty: End USAID funding to UNRWA, which funds Hamas.
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Immigration
Bill Hagerty: Opposes amnesty, DACA, and sanctuary cities.
Gordon Ball: Fair and just path to citizenship.
James Mackler: Don't separate kids from parents crossing border illegally.
Joe Carr: AdWatch: Border crisis was created by giving amnesty to 11M.
Manny Sethi: We're giving away our nation.
Manny Sethi: We need a merit-based system to admit immigrants.
Manny Sethi: End birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants.
Marquita Bradshaw: Support DACA, pathway to citizenship for undocumented.
Marsha Blackburn: No amnesty for DREAMers; it makes illegal immigration surge.
Phil Bredesen: Deporting DREAMers would be un-American.
Gloria Johnson: Approach reform in a compassionate, humanitarian way.
Marsha Blackburn: Completely appropriate for local police to work with ICE.
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Jobs
Marsha Blackburn: Minimum wage is a federal mandate; let competition decide.
Phil Bredesen: Minimum wage should keep pace with inflation.
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Principles & Values
Bill Hagerty: Endorsed by President Trump for nomination.
Bill Hagerty: Must stand up to radical liberals and their socialist agenda.
Bill Hagerty: America, greatest country, at risk from radical Left.
James Mackler: Wife is a rabbi at Congregation Ohabai Sholom.
James Mackler: Change broken system with Jewish tradition "Tikkun Olam".
Joe Carr: Endorsed by Tea Party Patriots on anti-amnesty grounds.
Lamar Alexander: Declined to debate in Republican primary.
Manny Sethi: Work to fight for our Christian values.
Marquita Bradshaw: One job away from middle class, one loss away from poverty.
Marquita Bradshaw: Lost election but will continue to build grassroots movement.
Marquita Bradshaw: Lost but will continue to build grassroots movement.
Phil Bredesen: 1960s scholarship to Harvard; millionaire businessman at 43.
Marquita Bradshaw: Native of Tennessee; graduate of University of Memphis .
Marsha Blackburn: Grateful for the work done by Christian media leaders.
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Social Security
Bill Hagerty: Don't "cut" social programs, make them more efficient.
Gordon Ball: No scare tactics: system is solvent for next 20 years.
Larry Crim: Don't touch Social Security funds.
Gloria Johnson: We need to keep Social Security intact and solvent.
Marsha Blackburn: Strengthen Social Security by rooting out waste & fraud.
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Tax Reform
Bill Hagerty: Trump's tax cuts are working; for balanced budget amendment.
Gordon Ball: Simplify and streamline the tax code with flat tax.
Manny Sethi: Reduce regulation; cut taxes for long-term growth.
Larry Crim: Lower tax rates; close loopholes.
Marsha Blackburn: Support President Trump's tax cuts.
Gloria Johnson: Tax cuts need to be for working families & middle class.
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Technology
Bill Hagerty: Work with both parties to close digital divide in Tennessee.
Gordon Ball: We send too little on infrastructure.
Joe Carr: Cell phone ban should be addressed by airlines, not feds.
Lamar Alexander: No cell phone conversations on planes; email and texting ok.
Larry Crim: Our interstates and highways need our tax dollars now.
Larry Crim: Our interstates and highways need our tax dollars now.
Marsha Blackburn: Opposes Net Neutrality; it's government-controlled internet.
Phil Bredesen: Empower TVA to bring rural broadband internet access.
Phil Bredesen: Supports Net Neutrality: equal access for everyone.
Bill Hagerty: Thank God Elon Musk bought Twitter & exposed spending bill.
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War & Peace
Bob Corker: Countries must pony up for NATO; alliance is important.
Gordon Ball: Time for our service members to come home from Afghanistan.
Gordon Ball: Critical to avoid nukes in North Korea and Iran.
Larry Crim: Oppose President Obama's disastrous Iran Deal.
Manny Sethi: Improve VA hospitals; provide quality mental health care.
Marsha Blackburn: Iran nuke deal puts future security in jeopardy.
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