US President

This post is still in progress.

[_] Chuck Baldwin Constitution	Baldwin08.com: • "...disband the Department of Education." • "...keep your family safe and your country free, go buy a gun." • "...will use the constitutional power of the Presidency to deny funds to protect abortion clinics.... legalized abortion ends when I take office." • "...No foreign government or world government body or entity ...is allowed to own any portion of US ..."
[_] Bob Barr Libertarian	BobBarr2008.com: • "...America will be most prosperous and free when the government stops interfering with private economic decision-making...." • "...As for Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, government must emphasize private choice in health care and private retirement accounts...." • "...Congress should allow the exploration and production of America’s abundant domestic resources, including oil in the Outer Continental Shelf and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge . . ." • "...the Bush administration...has worked to gut ...the privacy rights and civil liberties of American citizens. The next administration must reverse course ..." • "...A continued U.S. presence in Iraq emboldens both insurgents and terrorists, and discourages the Iraqi government from taking control . . ." • "...America should not be the world’s policeman. The American purpose is to provide a strong national defense, not to engage in nation building or to launch foreign crusades..." • "...We must correct the deplorable state of health care provided to so many by the Department of Veteran's Affairs ..." • "...health care policy should be reformed based on the principle of consumer-oriented health care. Regulations which mandate insurance coverage ...should be eliminated. . ." • "...We must abolish the Department of Education, eliminate federal grants and regulations,..."• "...Allowing governments ...to confiscate property without a compelling justification represents a serious attack on fundamental liberty...." • "...I oppose any law requiring registration of, or restricting the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms . . ." • "...There are several alternative tax reform strategies. One would be to create a flat income tax ...Another option would be to replace the income tax ...with a consumption tax..." • "...The best policy would be to stop illegal immigrant flows while accepting more of the world’s economically productive who want to come to America." • "...Government should make no law that discriminates based on race, religion, sexuality or any other personal characteristic...." • "...Laws regulating marriage should be left to the states,..." • "...We should begin a debate over more far-reaching policy changes, including eliminating the federal government's control over the money supply, thereby leaving monetary policy under the control of the market rather than of politics...."
[_] John McCain Republican	For a supposed "straight talker" candidate, JohnMcCain.com seems anything but straight forward in it's writing. It has many broadly-worded statements that seem to have been processed with buzz words: JohnMcCain.com: • "...will lead the effort to develop advanced transportation technologies and alternative fuels to promote energy independence and cut off the flow of oil wealth to repressive dictatorships like Iran...." When did oil become an advanced technology? FackCheck.org: "He promised to increase use of "wind, tide [and] solar" energy, though his actual energy plan contains no new money for renewable energy. He has said elsewhere that renewable sources won’t produce as much as people think." • "...has a comprehensive economic plan that will create millions of good American jobs, ensure our nation's energy security, get the government's budget and spending practices in order, and bring relief to American consumers...." • "...believes it is strategically and morally essential for the United States to support the Government of Iraq to become capable of governing itself and safeguarding its people. He strongly disagrees with those who advocate withdrawing American troops before that has occurred..." • "...While still having the option of employer-based coverage, every family will receive a direct refundable tax credit - effectively cash - ...for families to offset the cost of insurance...." HA! Since when is a tax credit cash? McCain's plan involves taxing employer's health insurance and allowing insurance companies to provide less coverage (see: New England Journal of Medicine) • "...will fight for the ability of all students to have access to all schools of demonstrated excellence, including their own homes.. . ." • "...will establish a market-based system to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, mobilize innovative technologies, and strengthen the economy...." • "...top immigration priority is to finish securing our borders in an expedited manner.... will implement temporary worker programs ...All undocumented individuals will be required to enroll in a program to resolve their status." • "...believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned..." • "...Gun control is a proven failure in fighting crime..." • "...committed to ensuring that veterans' health care programs receive the funding necessary to provide the quality health care our veterans need and deserve..." • "...would shine the disinfecting light of public scrutiny on those who abuse the public purse, use the power of the presidency to restore fiscal responsibility, and exercise the veto pen to enforce it..." FactCheck.org: "He called for 'reducing government spending and getting rid of failed programs,' but as in the past failed to cite a single program that he would eliminate or reduce." • "...will strengthen the military, shore up our alliances, and ensure that the nation is capable of protecting the homeland, deterring potential military challenges, responding to any crisis that endangers American security, and prevailing in any conflict we are forced to fight. . ." local endorsements: • Victoria Taft • OR "Family" Council (pdf) (inferred: 7/7 rated)
[_] Cynthia McKinney Pacific Green	Not sure what the official campaign website is. McKinney2008.com forwarded me to McKinney-Clemente.org which was down. VoteTruth08.com was up, but didn't have an "issues" page like the other candidates.
[_] Ralph Nader Peace	VoteNader.org: • "Adopt single payer national health insurance"; "Nader/Gonzalez favors a Canadian-style, private delivery, free choice of hospital and doctor, public health insurance system...." • "Cut the huge, bloated, wasteful military budget" • "No to nuclear power, solar energy first" • "Aggressive crackdown on corporate crime and corporate welfare" • "Open up the Presidential debates" • "Adopt a carbon pollution tax" • "Reverse U.S. policy in the Middle East"; "...Nader/Gonzalez proposes that a rapid negotiated withdrawal from Iraq, with UN sponsored elections, is the first step toward delivering peace to Middle East...."; "...will ...side with the strong and courageous Israeli/Palestinian peace movements who are working for a peaceful two-state solution." • "Impeach Bush/Cheney" • "Repeal the Taft-Hartley anti-union law" • "Adopt a Wall Street securities speculation tax" • "Put an end to ballot access obstructionism" • "Work to end corporate personhood" • "Defend, Restore and Strengthen the Civil Justice System" • "Adopt the National Initiative" (i.e. national ballot)
[X] Barack Obama Democrat	BarackObama.com: • "Civil Rights: Strengthen Civil Rights Enforcement; Combat Employment Discrimination; Expand Hate Crimes Statutes; End Deceptive Voting Practices; End Racial Profiling; Reduce Crime Recidivism by Providing Ex-Offender Support; Eliminate Sentencing Disparities; Expand Use of Drug Courts" • "Defense: Invest in a 21st Century Military; Build Defense Capabilities for the 21st Century; Restore the Readiness of the National Guard and Reserves; Develop Whole of Government Initiatives to Promote Security; Restore Our Alliances; Reform Contracting" • "Disabilities"; "...provide Americans with disabilities with the educational opportunities they need to succeed ...end discrimination and promote equal opportunity ...increase the employment rate of workers with disabilities ...support independent, community-based living for Americans with disabilities." • "Economy: Jumpstart the Economy; Provide Middle Class Americans Tax Relief; Trade; Job Creation; Support Small Business; Labor; Protect Homeownership and Crack Down on Mortgage Fraud; Address Predatory Credit Card Practices; Reform Bankruptcy Laws; Work/Family Balance" • "Education: "Zero to Five Plan; Expand Early Head Start and Head Start; Affordable, High-Quality Child Care; Reform No Child Left Behind; Address the Dropout Crisis; Expand High-Quality Afterschool Opportunities; Expand Summer Learning Opportunities; Support College Outreach Programs; Support English Language Learners; Recruit, Prepare, Retain, and Reward America's Teachers; Create the American Opportunity Tax Credit; Simplify the Application Process for Financial Aid" • "New Energy: Provide Short-term Relief to American Families; Eliminate Our Need for Middle Eastern and Venezuelan Oil within 10 Years; Create Millions of New Green Jobs; Reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 Percent by 2050" • "Ethics: Shine the Light on Washington Lobbying; Shine the Light on Federal Contracts, Tax Breaks and Earmarks; Bring Americans Back into their Government; Free the Executive Branch from Special Interest Influence" • "Fiscal: Restore Fiscal Discipline to Washington; Make the Tax System More Fair and Efficient" • "Foreign Policy": Iran - "Opposed Bush-Cheney Saber Rattling, Diplomacy"; "Talk to our Foes and Friends"; Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - "achieve the goal of two states"; "Fight Global Poverty"; "Strengthen NATO"; "Seek New Partnerships in Asia"; "Secure Loose Nuclear Materials from Terrorists"; "Strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty" • "Healthcare: Quality, Affordable and Portable Coverage for All"; "Lower Costs by Modernizing The U.S. Health Care System"; "Advance the Biomedical Research Field"; "Fight AIDS Worldwide"; "Improve Mental Health Care" • "Homeland Security: Protecting Our Chemical Plants; Keeping Track of Spent Nuclear Fuel; Evacuating Special Needs Population in Emergencies; Reuniting Families After Emergencies; Keeping Our Drinking Water Safe; Protecting the Public from Radioactive Releases" • "Immigration: Create Secure Borders; Improve Our Immigration System; Remove Incentives to Enter Illegally; Bring People Out of the Shadows"; "promote economic development in Mexico to decrease illegal immigration" • "Iraq: A Responsible, Phased Withdrawal; Encourage Political Accommodation; Surging Diplomacy; Preventing Humanitarian Crisis; The Status of Forces Agreement" • "Poverty: Expand Access to Jobs; Make Work Pay for All Americans; Strengthen Families; Increase the Supply of Affordable Housing; Tackle Concentrated Poverty" • "Rural: Ensure Economic Opportunity For Family Farmers; Support Rural Economic evelopment; Improve Rural Quality Of Life" • "Service: Enable All Americans to Serve; Integrate Service into Learning; Invest in the Nonprofit Sector" • "Senior & Social Security: Protect Social Security; Strengthen Retirement; Savings; Affordable Health Care; Protect and Honor Seniors" • "Technology: Ensure an open Internet; Create a transparent and connected democracy; Encourage a modern communications infrastructure; Employ technology to solve our nation’s most pressing problems; Improve America’s competitiveness" • "Urban Policy: Strengthen Federal Commitment to our Cities; Stimulate Economic Prosperity in our Metropolitan Regions; Housing; Poverty; Urban Education; Crime and Law Enforcement; Strengthen Homeland Security; Support Families" • "Veterans Affairs: Help for Returning Service Members; Improved Mental Health Treatment" local endorsements: • WWeek • Portland Mercury • The Oregonian • The Skanner • NARAL • Sierra Club

MY FIRST IMPRESSION: There's not a whole lot I can really add that hasn't been covered in the 24/7 campaign coverage. I can't imagine any Republican or undecided voter really believing McCain/Palin would actually inspire or lead the country in a new direction.

It has been interesting reading the minor party candidates' websites. It is sad that the once respected, consumer rights activist Ralph Nader has decided to become a joke. After eight years, it's surprising that Nader has been unable to lead the Green Party (or whatever third party he associates) to any significant victories in smaller elections. Now he has split off to form his own vanity ticket. What's the point? Even the Libertarian and Constitution tickets seem to have the goal of promoting their own fringe ideas, but Nader just seems to like having his own name on the ballot regardless of party.

However, I will admit that Nader's candidate website is much more coherent than the Green Party's odd collection of websites. If you're going to run for president, at least pretend and write like you have plan as president.