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Books by and about 2020 presidential candidates |
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Crippled America,
by Donald J. Trump (2015) |
United,
by Cory Booker (2016) |
The Truths We Hold,
by Kamala Harris (2019) |
Smart on Crime,
by Kamala Harris (2010) |
Guide to Political Revolution,
by Bernie Sanders (2017) |
Where We Go From Here,
by Bernie Sanders (2018) |
Promise Me, Dad ,
by Joe Biden (2017) |
Conscience of a Conservative,
by Jeff Flake (2017) |
Two Paths,
by Gov. John Kasich (2017) |
Every Other Monday,
by Rep. John Kasich (2010) |
Courage is Contagious,
by John Kasich (1998) |
Shortest Way Home,
by Pete Buttigieg (2019) |
The Book of Joe ,
by Jeff Wilser (2019; biography of Joe Biden) |
Becoming,
by Michelle Obama (2018) |
Our Revolution,
by Bernie Sanders (2016) |
This Fight Is Our Fight,
by Elizabeth Warren (2017) |
Higher Loyalty,
by James Comey (2018) |
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2017) |
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Books by and about the 2016 presidential election |
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What Happened ,
by Hillary Clinton (2017) |
Higher Loyalty ,
by James Comey (2018) |
Trump vs. Hillary On The Issues ,
by Jesse Gordon (2016) |
Hard Choices,
by Hillary Clinton (2014) |
Becoming ,
by Michelle Obama (2018) |
Outsider in the White House,
by Bernie Sanders (2015) |
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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
Christine Hallquist: Protect a women's right to choose.
Keith Stern: Pro-life advocate but will not interfere with settled law.
Scott Milne: Pro-life; and no free birth control.
Bruce Lisman: Supports abortion rights and funding for Planned Parenthood.
Scott Milne: Pro-choice but exact positions are unknown.
Peter Shumlin: Assist companies doing stem cell research in Vermont.
John MacGovern: Don't require churches to provide birth control to staff.
John MacGovern: Opposes abortion in most cases.
Phil Scott: Abortion isn't a black-and-white issue, but I'm pro-choice.
Phil Scott: No taxpayer funding for abortion; but ok for family planning.
John MacGovern: Religious liberty trumps contraception health insurance.
Richard Tarrant: No litmus tests; majority don’t want Roe overturned.
Matt Dunne: Abortions should always be legally available.
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Budget & Economy
Lawrence Zupan: Build an opportunity economy, with growth for generations.
Bruce Lisman: Bring government spending in line with revenue.
Phil Scott: I won't sign a budget that exceeds reasonable limits.
Sue Minter: Government can partner with workforce to grow economy.
Phil Scott: We're spending beyond our means; but cuts instead of taxes.
John MacGovern: Budget deficit is a moral issue as well as economic issue.
John MacGovern: Our most serious problem is skyrocketing national debt.
Peter Shumlin: Get back to fiscal responsibility, post-stimulus.
Jim Douglas: $17M ARRA investment to expand Vermont employment.
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Civil Rights
Christine Hallquist: Wants Vermont to welcome all groups, including marginalized.
Phil Scott: Support peaceful march against bias & discrimination.
Phil Scott: Supports gay marriage and transgender bathroom rights.
Scott Milne: Opposes affirmative action.
Sue Minter: Economic security for women via livable wages and equal pay.
Scott Milne: Supported civil unions in 2000.
Jim Douglas: Declare Juneteenth an annual tribute to emancipation.
Jim Douglas: Veto defining marriage as "2 people" not "1 man & 1 woman".
Peter Shumlin: Define marriage as "two people" not "one man & one woman".
Peter Shumlin: Define marriage as "two people" not "one man & one woman".
Phil Scott: Ballot initiative ok; don't legislatively re-define marriage.
Shap Smith: Define marriage as "two people" not "one man & one woman".
Sue Minter: Define marriage as "two people" not "one man & one woman".
Greg Parke: Constitutional gay marriage ban is democracy in action.
Richard Tarrant: Don’t use Constitution on special interest like gay marriage.
Bernie Sanders: Bush’s tracking citizens’ phone call patterns is illegal.
Howard Dean: Egalitarianism implies the legality of gay civil unions.
Howard Dean: Gays deserve equal rights under the law.
Matt Dunne: Equal benefits for same sex couples.
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Corporations
Brooke Paige: Streamline regulations to make Vermont "business friendly".
Phil Scott: Agency of Economic Opportunity: help find qualified workers.
Patrick Leahy: Amend Constitutional to declare corporations are NOT people.
Matt Dunne: State manager to help each manufacturer navigate rules.
John MacGovern: Don't demonize private sector that produces jobs & growth.
Peter Shumlin: Getting credit to entrepreneurs when they need it grows jobs.
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Crime
Keith Stern: Convicts should serve in same state where sentenced.
Christine Hallquist: Address racial bias in criminal justice system.
Brooke Paige: Establish uniform sentencing and incarceration guidelines.
Phil Scott: Address racial disparities in criminal justice.
Phil Scott: Close Windsor prison; expand home detention monitoring.
Scott Milne: Supports the death penalty.
Phil Scott: Private prisons needed because full cost borne by state.
Sue Minter: Phase out the use of private prisons altogether.
Peter Shumlin: Help keep non-violent offenders out of jail.
Jim Douglas: Mandatory 25 year minimum sentence for child sexual abuse.
Matt Dunne: More prisons, but more rehab programs too.
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Drugs
Christine Hallquist: Treat opiate crisis as a public health issue.
Christine Hallquist: Tax retail marijuana for clean water and public education.
Brooke Paige: Legalize and commercialize marijuana, but not "hard drugs".
Phil Scott: Make low-level marijuana possession legal for adults.
Keith Stern: Send drug addicts to treatment & dealers to boot camp.
Phil Scott: Address opiate addiction via prevention & enforcement.
Scott Milne: Does not support the legalization of marijuana.
Bruce Lisman: No legalization now; let's see what happens in other states.
Matt Dunne: Legalize marijuana quickly; prohibition hasn't worked.
Phil Scott: No legalization at this time; but I'm not saying never.
Scott Milne: Pass tougher drug laws instead of decriminalizing.
Sue Minter: Supports legalizing marijuana.
Sue Minter: Addicts need treatment, not jail time.
Bruce Lisman: Decriminalization, but not legalization, of recreational pot.
Matt Dunne: Create a trusted Vermont brand of legalized marijuana.
Peter Shumlin: Time to make marijuana well-regulated legal substance.
Peter Shumlin: Prioritize reducing opioid misuse.
Peter Shumlin: Address drug addiction as a public health crisis.
Phil Scott: Supports growing industrial hemp in Vermont.
Peter Shumlin: War on recidivism: $300,000 for methadone treatment.
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Education
Keith Stern: Give education control back to the local districts.
Keith Stern: Technical schools train for well-paying, in-demand jobs.
Christine Hallquist: Supports public schools; does not want them privatized.
Brooke Paige: Reject Common Core; protect local control.
Lawrence Zupan: High tuition costs pay for facilities; learn online instead.
Phil Scott: Statewide funding inserts Montpelier into school decisions.
Phil Scott: Realign funding toward early care and trades training.
Phil Scott: $4M to state colleges; low tuition increases thru 2021.
Phil Scott: Preserve school choice; improve Act 46 school consolidation.
Scott Milne: Rethink how government funds education.
Sue Minter: Universal pre-K via public-private partnerships.
Bruce Lisman: Give school districts flexibility on resources and spending.
Peter Shumlin: Publicly fund a college savings plan for each child.
Peter Shumlin: Provide free college courses for low income people.
Shap Smith: Larger school districts improve quality & control costs.
Peter Shumlin: Dual enrollment for high school students to state college.
Phil Scott: Age-appropriate sex education in schools.
Larry Drown: Strong Public Education.
Matt Dunne: More funding for public schools & teachers.
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Energy & Oil
Keith Stern: Goal to convert to 75% renewable energy will hurt Vermont.
Christine Hallquist: Supports Solar Pathways plan of 90% renewable energy by 2050.
Brooke Paige: Develop alternative energy if affordable and reliable.
Phil Scott: Tax holiday on hybrids, electric vehicles, & green products.
Sue Minter: Keep electric rates low to compete in New England.
Patrick Leahy: Human-caused climate change is accelerating.
Phil Scott: Combat climate change & reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
Bruce Lisman: Moratorium on industrial scale solar and wind projects.
Shap Smith: More programs for LIHEAP and home weatherization.
Phil Scott: Supports renewable energy investment.
Larry Drown: Don’t drill for oil in our national parks.
Matt Dunne: Promote alternative fuels and renewable energy.
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Environment
Christine Hallquist: Advocate of environmental protections and mass transit.
Brooke Paige: Fund program for fertilizer runoff to reduce water pollution.
Brooke Paige: Farmers are unfairly blamed for fertilizer pollution.
Lawrence Zupan: New farming technologies improve water quality.
Phil Scott: $50M for clean-up of our impaired waterways.
Scott Milne: Lake Champlain is a natural treasure we must preserve.
Sue Minter: Protect our state's waters, farmland, and forests.
Bruce Lisman: Restore our lakes and protect our ridgelines.
Peter Shumlin: VT should divest from coal and ExxonMobil.
Sue Minter: Led efforts in Climate Preparedness & catastrophic flooding.
Shap Smith: Our waterways are under threat from decades of pollution.
Phil Scott: Support local agriculture; they're stewards of our land.
Phil Scott: Reduce chemicals in consumer goods, when evidence warrants.
Peter Shumlin: Clean up Lake Champlain: federal waivers & local flexibility.
Matt Dunne: Supports open space preservation & brownfield cleanup.
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Families & Children
Christine Hallquist: Pass paid family and medical leave insurance.
Lawrence Zupan: Cost of paid family leave burden falls on small businesses.
Keith Stern: Paid family leave and $15 hour wage would hurt his business.
Phil Scott: $800,000 for Guardians ad Litem for kids of drug addicts.
Phil Scott: $7.5 million for Child Care Financial Assistance.
Matt Dunne: Paid leave insurance policy to fund FMLA maternity leave.
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Foreign Policy
Scott Milne: US out of the UN, and UN out of the US.
John MacGovern: Developed energy projects in China and Southeast Asia.
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Free Trade
Phil Scott: Buying local isn't just for hippies anymore.
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Government Reform
Keith Stern: Term limits will slow down path to lobbying.
Christine Hallquist: Work with state & locals to fix campaign finance system.
Brooke Paige: Implement ethics and transparency rues for state government.
Scott Milne: Washington gridlock results from too-long incumbency.
Sue Minter: Call for transparency and accountability in state agencies.
Peter Shumlin: Elect President by popular vote, not Electoral College.
Phil Scott: Keep Electoral College instead of presidential popular vote.
Jim Douglas: Vetoed campaign donations restrictions & identifying donors.
Peter Shumlin: Restrict campaign donations and publicly identify donors.
Phil Scott: Restrict campaign donations and publicly identify donors.
Shap Smith: Restrict campaign donations and publicly identify donors.
Sue Minter: Restrict campaign donations and publicly identify donors.
Larry Drown: Bring back honesty and openness into government.
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Gun Control
Keith Stern: Supports 2nd Amendment; but some people will commit crimes.
Christine Hallquist: Ban assault weapons; regulate guns like cars.
Keith Stern: Vermont won't be Vermont with all this gun legislation.
Christine Hallquist: Regulate guns like we regulate automobiles.
Phil Scott: Enforce existing gun laws; Vermont is no gun trafficker.
Sue Minter: Universal background checks; ban assault weapons.
Sue Minter: Gun violence has reached a crisis point; more gun safety.
Bruce Lisman: Protect the Vermont Sportsmen's Bill of Rights.
Scott Milne: Rated 50% by Gun Owners of Vermont.
Matt Dunne: Strengthen restrictions on the purchase & possession of guns.
Matt Dunne: Strengthen enforcement of existing state gun restrictions.
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Health Care
Keith Stern: Healthcare the community way through medical cost sharing.
Christine Hallquist: Wants to lay groundwork for universal healthcare system.
Brooke Paige: Reject single-payer healthcare and Vermont Health Connect.
Lawrence Zupan: End mandate; start interstate competition.
Phil Scott: Replace dysfunctional Vermont Health Connect with subsidies.
Scott Milne: Promises of cost savings are likely a pipe dream.
Sue Minter: Focus on containing costs in Vermont Health Connect.
Bruce Lisman: Repeal the mandate to purchase insurance.
Phil Scott: Affordable health care? Yes; single-payer? No.
John MacGovern: Dislikes President Obama's health care act.
Larry Drown: Healthcare that works for everyone.
Matt Dunne: State should provide universal access to health care.
Howard Dean: Universal access for all Vermonters; insure the last 6%.
Howard Dean: Keep “community rating”: insure older people at same rates.
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Homeland Security
Lawrence Zupan: Government doesn't provide veterans with proper health care.
Phil Scott: $500,000 for college scholarships for veterans at UVM.
Patrick Leahy: End the NSA's bulk collection program.
John MacGovern: No new F-35 fighter jets at Burlington Airport.
Bernie Sanders: F-35 fighter planes OK at Burlington Airport.
John MacGovern: No noisy F-35 fighter planes at Burlington Airport.
Larry Drown: Maintain strong Armed Forces.
Richard Tarrant: We must sacrifice some rights & privacy in times of war.
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Immigration
Lawrence Zupan: Stronger immigration controls; enforcement essential.
Keith Stern: Supports Trump's crack down on undocumented immigrants.
Scott Milne: No immigrant benefits; no DREAMers; no amnesty.
Scott Milne: Opposed to the EB-5 program due to poor regulation in VT.
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Jobs
Christine Hallquist: Unions are crucial to the balance of power.
Christine Hallquist: $15 minimum wage, plus job retraining for displaced workers.
Phil Scott: Deal with Vermont's shrinking workforce population.
Patrick Leahy: Raise minimum wage & eliminate gender pay gap.
Scott Milne: Focus on creating new jobs by changing Vermont's reputation.
Peter Shumlin: Create Innovation Zones targeted to regional job needs.
Peter Shumlin: Vermont unemployment rate, 5.3%, is among lowest in America.
Larry Drown: Jobs in America based on alternative energy industry.
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Local Issues
Phil Scott: Protect Northeast Kingdom economy from EB-5 fallout.
Peter Shumlin: Tropical Storm Irene recovery: we rebuilt faster & smarter.
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Principles & Values
Lawrence Zupan: Running on principles of life, liberty and private property.
Christine Hallquist: Monthly town halls and weekly audio broadcasts as governor.
Brooke Paige: Nominee for Secretary of State (won 4 other nominations too).
Phil Scott: The right leader at the right time.
Peter Shumlin: Retiring after three terms to return to the business world.
Bernie Sanders: Lost campaigns in 1972, 1974 & 1988 before winning in 1990.
John MacGovern: Runs the Hanover Institute, a Dartmouth alumni group.
John MacGovern: Served four terms in the Massachusetts legislature.
John MacGovern: Raised on an organic communal dairy farm.
Larry Drown: America needs a change in culture as well as politics.
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Social Security
Jim Douglas: Fully fund teacher retirement fund.
Sue Minter: Fully fund teacher retirement fund.
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Tax Reform
Christine Hallquist: Revamp tax structure and increase taxes on the wealthy.
Brooke Paige: Vermont should not be the "Land of Endless Taxes".
Keith Stern: Holding the line won't work; cut taxes and fees.
Keith Stern: Supports new tax reform and wants Vermont to cut taxes also.
Phil Scott: Balanced budget without raising taxes.
Scott Milne: Cap the state-wide property tax in first two weeks.
Bruce Lisman: Stop taxing retirement benefits & other new taxes & fees.
Bruce Lisman: Reset our finances and no new taxes.
Phil Scott: Property taxes shouldn't grow faster than property values.
Peter Shumlin: Avoid raising taxes; balance budget by cuts & efficiencies.
Shap Smith: Avoid raising taxes; balance budget by cuts & efficiencies.
Peter Shumlin: Raise state budget reserve from 5% to 8%, for tough times.
Greg Parke: Completely eliminate federal estate tax.
Richard Tarrant: Raise the estate tax exemption but don’t eliminate it.
Bernie Sanders: Capital gains & dividend tax cuts are giveaways to the rich.
Richard Tarrant: Extend capital gains and dividend tax cuts.
Matt Dunne: Increase taxes on high earners; decrease property taxes.
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Technology
Keith Stern: Cut spending by $100M and put half into infrastructure.
Christine Hallquist: Grow the economy by connecting all to fiber optic cable.
Christine Hallquist: Invest in transportation infrastructure, give access to all.
Phil Scott: Reform alternative utility regulation; no executive bonuses.
Sue Minter: Utility rate goal: transparent process & affordable rates.
Peter Shumlin: Connect VT: $53M for rural broadband & cell service.
Peter Shumlin: $106M to improve 65 bridges; plus high speed rail.
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War & Peace
John MacGovern: No nation-building in Afghanistan or Iraq.
Sue Minter: Immediate withdrawal from Iraq instead of surge.
Richard Tarrant: No specific deadline, but out of Iraq as soon as possible.
Richard Tarrant: Iraq war is over extending the country’s financial resources.
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Welfare & Poverty
Phil Scott: $35 million housing bond for full spectrum of housing.
Matt Dunne: Guide corporate partnerships with nonprofit & public sectors.
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