2010: Take Back America, by Dick Morris & Eileen McGann


(Click for Amazon book review)

Here instead Morris is a prognosticator, along with his wife, Eileen McGann. The book was first published in April 2010, before most primaries were decided, so he has to look deep into a crystal ball for the many months ahead. Sometimes he gets it right; sometimes he gets it wrong.

One recalls his admonition for the 2008 election: that Hillary Clinton was the inevitable Democratic nominee, and that the Republicans must nominate Condoleezza Rice to counterbalance Hillary and have any chance of winning the White House. (See our excerpts from "Condi Vs. Hillary"). That did not prove true in either major party, but it makes for interesting reading then, and this current book makes for interesting reading too. After the election, we can see how much proved true.

-- Jesse Gordon, editor, OnTheIssues.org, August 2010

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Betsy Markey: Supports federal funding of abortion.     Frank Kratovil: Supports federal funding of abortion.     Mark Schauer: Supports federal funding of abortion.     Mary Jo Kilroy: Supports federal funding of abortion.

Budget & Economy     Andrew Cuomo: OpEd: 2001 HUD Fannie/Freddie policy led to mortgage crisis.     Barack Obama: OpEd: Goal is to redistribute wealth via expanded government.     Bill Clinton: 1995-97: Cutting capital gains tax helped eradicate deficit.     Blanche Lambert Lincoln: Supported banks by opposing usury limits on credit cards.     George W. Bush: OpEd: 2008 stimulus checks went to savings, not spending.     Hank Paulson: Banks getting TARP funds should give stock to government.     Newt Gingrich: 1995-97: Pushed for (and got) capital gains tax cut.     Newt Gingrich: Insure banks rather than pass out checks.     Tim Geithner: Banks getting TARP funds must pass "stress test".     Walt Minnick: Voted for HR 4173 regulating the financial industry.

Corporations     Barack Obama: OpEd: Establish power to seize companies "too big to fail".     Barney Frank: Seize or dismantle banks whose failure poses risk to economy.     Bill Clinton: Downsizing is part of transition to information economy.     Harry Reid: Helped Jack Abramoff clients' Indian tribe casinos.     John Carter: Challenges constitutionality of GM & Chrysler takeover.     Kirsten Gillibrand: Nine years as Philip Morris defense counsel.     Tim Geithner: Set actual dollar limits on executive pay.     Tim Geithner: Seize or dismantle banks whose failure poses risk to economy.

Energy & Oil     Barack Obama: OpEd: Cap-and-trade is little more than carbon emissions tax.     Barack Obama: Slash emissions from 5,972 mmt in 2005 to 4,957 mmt.

Environment     Harry Reid: 2006: Earmarked $18M for bridge to NV near his own land.

Foreign Policy     Barack Obama: OpEd: Goal is One World with limited US sovereignty.     Glenn Nye: Served in foreign service in Iraq, Afghanistan, & Gaza.

Government Reform     Arlen Specter: 2009: sponsored Notice Pleading Act to make it easier to sue.     Barack Obama: OpEd: shunning Fox News is like Nixon's 1960s Enemies List.     Barbara Boxer: 2009 Ethics chair: 125 allegations; only 1 admonition.     Blanche Lambert Lincoln: #1 recipient of campaign donations from agribusiness.     Harry Reid: Sons work as Senate lobbyists; later blocked from his staff.     Richard Nixon: 1960s Enemies List: 20 journalists & public officials.     Robert Byrd: Challenges constitutionality of appointed "czars".     Roland Burris: Received admonition letter from Senate Ethics Committee.

Gun Control     Kirsten Gillibrand: Track data on illegal gun traffickers.     Mike Bloomberg: Enact common-sense measures to keep guns away from criminals.

Health Care     Barack Obama: OpEd: Obamacare decides when life is worth preserving.     Barack Obama: Add 2,000 new primary-care residency spots.     Barack Obama: OpEd: authority to require private insurance purchases?     Barack Obama: OpEd: Slices $500B from Medicare; repeals Medicare Advantage.     Ben Nelson: Obamacare has $100M in Medicare expansion for Nebraska.     Blanche Lambert Lincoln: Cut $42M from Medicare home health-care benefits.     Blanche Lambert Lincoln: Supported government option but not as sole funding source.     Harry Reid: OpEd: Bribed members to get votes for Obamacare.     John Adler: Voted against ObamaCare but for the stimulus.     Tom Daschle: Expanding coverage will overwhelm emergency rooms.

Homeland Security     Barack Obama: OpEd: Promised to close Guantanamo but it's still open.     Bill Clinton: 1993: treated WTC attack as a crime, not as terrorism.     Eric Holder: Try 9/11's Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in NYC court.     Janet Napolitano: 2009: system worked to avoid Christmas bomber.     Rudy Giuliani: Try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a military tribunal.

Immigration     Kirsten Gillibrand: Opposed amnesty; opposed driver licenses; required English.

Jobs     Barack Obama: OpEd: GM & Chrysler takeover put union needs ahead of others.

Principles & Values     Arlen Specter: 2009: gave Democrats critical 60th vote in Senate.     Barack Obama: OpEd: Transformative from individualism to collectivism.     Barack Obama: 2008 HQ phone greeting: "What can you do for us?".     Barbara Boxer: 2005: Asked general to call her "Senator" instead of "Ma'am".     Bill Clinton: Don't go to sleep with an unanswered negative out there.     Bill Clinton: 1990: opponent's ad repeated Bill stating "raise and spend".     Bill Clinton: 1986: Made mocking bumper stickers "For First Lady".     Bill Foster: Won Denny Hastert's seat in close race in swing district.     Bill Owens: 2009: First Dem elected in district since 1872.     Ed Rendell: Early scandal: $1000s in unpaid parking tickets.     Mike McMahon: 2008: Opponent lost due to drunk driving scandal.     Rand Paul: Son of Rep. Ron Paul; endorsed by Sarah Palin.     Robin Carnahan: Daughter of Senator & Governor; sister of US Rep.     Suzanne Kosmas: 2008: Opponent lost due to $5000 free trip scandal.     Tom Perriello: 2008: Opponent lost due to staff gay film scandal.

Social Security     Barack Obama: OpEd: Eliminating FICA ceiling means rich won't spend.

Tax Reform     Barack Obama: 2011 budget calls for top bracket of 39.6% to replace 35%.     Barack Obama: 2011 budget proposed to raise Death Tax to 45%.     Charles Rangel: Additional surtax of 5.4% on top tax bracket.     George W. Bush: Death Tax scheduled to drop to zero in 2011.     George W. Bush: In 2001, richest 1% paid $301B; by 2006 they paid $408B.     Jim Himes: Supports tax increases & Obamacare.     Nancy Pelosi: Millionaire surtax on top bracket instead of Bush tax cuts.     Nancy Pelosi: Additional surtax of 5.4% on top tax bracket.

Technology     Harry Reid: Helped interests in Las Vegas oppose Internet gambling.

War & Peace     Alan Grayson: Made his name fighting against contractor fraud in Iraq.     Arlen Specter: Opposed 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.     Barack Obama: OpEd: Conservatives happy Obama is staying in Afghanistan.     John Kerry: OpEd: War hero unlikely role for former antiwar activist.

Welfare & Poverty     Andrew Cuomo: 2001 review: Focused HUD on poor working-class families.     Kirsten Gillibrand: Served briefly under Clinton as Special Counsel for HUD.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Alan Grayson Democratic Senate candidate Florida Andrew Cuomo New York Democratic Governor Arlen Specter Former Democratic incumbent (elected as Republican) Pennsylvania Barack Obama Democratic President (elected 2008) Barbara Boxer Democratic Jr Senator (retiring 2016) California Barney Frank Democrat (Retiring 2012) U.S. Rep Massachusetts-4 Ben Nelson Democratic Sr Senator (Retiring) Nebraska Betsy Markey Former Democrat (until 2010) U.S. Rep Colorado-4 Bill Clinton Democrat Bill Foster Democrat U.S. Rep Illinois-11 Bill Owens Democrat (retiring 2014) U.S. Rep New York-21 Blanche Lambert Lincoln Former Democratic Senator Arkansas Charles Rangel Dem./Lib. (retiring 2016) U.S. Rep New York-13 Ed Rendell Pennsylvania Former Democratic Governor (2002-2010) Eric Holder Cabinet Frank Kratovil Democrat (until 2010) U.S. Rep Maryland-1 George W. Bush Republican Glenn Nye Democrat (until 2010) U.S. Rep Virginia-2 Hank Paulson Cabinet Secretary of the Treasury Harry Reid Democratic Sr Senator (Retiring 2016) Nevada Janet Napolitano Cabinet Jim Himes Democrat U.S. Rep Connecticut-4 John Adler Democrat (until 2010) U.S. Rep New Jersey-3 John Carter Republican U.S. Rep Texas-31 John Kerry Cabinet Kirsten Gillibrand Democratic Jr Senator New York Mark Schauer Michigan Democratic Challenger for Governor Mary Jo Kilroy Democrat (until 2010) U.S. Rep Ohio-15 Mike Bloomberg New York Mayor of NYC Mike McMahon Democrat (until 2010) U.S. Rep New York-13 Nancy Pelosi Democrat U.S. Rep California-12 Newt Gingrich Republican Rand Paul Republican 2016 Primary Challenger Richard Nixon Robert Byrd Former Democratic Senator West Virginia Robin Carnahan 2010 Democratic Senate Challenger; Secretary of State Missouri Roland Burris Democratic Jr Senator (retiring 2010) Illinois Rudy Giuliani New York Former Mayor of NYC Suzanne Kosmas Former Democrat (until 2010) U.S. Rep Florida-24 Tim Geithner Tom Daschle Cabinet Tom Perriello Virginia Democratic candidate for Governor Walt Minnick Former Democrat (until 2010) U.S. Rep Idaho-1