DEAN on the issues

[creativelcro]

Howard Dean on Abortion

Abortion is none of the government's business. (Nov 2002)
Partial birth abortion ok to protect the mother. (Nov 2002)
Favors abortion rights. (Nov 2002)


Howard Dean on Budget & Economy

Politicians promising everything causes budget deficit. (Sep 25)
Balance budget, even if unpopular. (Sep 25)
Republicans haven't balanced a federal budget in 34 years. (May 17)
Stand up to Bush for a balanced budget. (May 3)
Social justice with fiscal responsibility. (Nov 2002)
Fiscally to the right of "borrow-and-spend" Bush. (Nov 2002)
Regional transportation network to foster trade & economy. (Jul 2000)
Bankruptcy reform: limit Chapter 7; protect states' role. (Feb 2001)
Uphold commitments to states before other spending. (Sep 2001)


Howard Dean on Civil Rights

Passed civil unions, despite it being unpopular. (Sep 25)
Affirmative action counters built-in hiring biases. (Sep 9)
Profiling doesn't work. (Sep 4)
Patriot Act shows reckless disregard of civil liberties. (Jun 17)
Supported civil unions for same-sex couples. (Nov 2002)
Support principles embodied in the Equal Rights Amendment. (Feb 2001)


Howard Dean on Corporations

Corporate America is insensitive to plight of middle class. (Sep 25)


Howard Dean on Crime

Death penalty for extreme and heinous crimes. (Nov 25)
Apply death penalty fairly & strengthen protections. (Nov 25)
Supports death penalty for terrorism. (Jun 23)
Replace overzealous capital crime trials with fair trials. (Jun 17)
Re-evaluate and reform federal and state death penalty. (Jun 17)
Invest in social programs to avoid investing in prisons. (Nov 2002)
Supports flexible federal block grants for crime programs. (Sep 2001)


Howard Dean on Drugs

Treat drug abuse as a medical problem, not a judicial one. (Nov 17)
Smoked marijuana in the past, as did other Dems. (Nov 9)
Evaluate marijuana & legalize for valid medical purposes. (Aug 4)
Hammer the dealers; treat the casual users. (Jan 14)
More federal funding for all aspects of Drug War. (Aug 2000)


Howard Dean on Education

Bush's "No Child Left Behind" is an unfunded mandate. (May 17)
Don't let Congress dictate definitions of school prayer. (Nov 2002)
GOP education bill imposes an unfunded mandate on states. (Nov 2002)
Supported Act 60's controversial statewide education fund. (Nov 2002)
No-Child-Left-Behind is Every-School-Board-Left-Behind. (Nov 2002)
School Choice
Under no circumstances abandon the public schools. (Nov 2002)
Apply VT's limited standards for failing schools, not GOP's. (Nov 2002)
Improve and invest in public schools. (Aug 2001)


Howard Dean on Energy & Oil

Help developing countries reduce greenhouse gases. (Jan 14)
Our energy policy is one of our biggest security threats. (Nov 2002)
Voluntary partnerships reduce greenhouse gases economically. (Aug 2000)
Kyoto Treaty must include reductions by all countries. (Aug 2000)
Create Regional Emissions Registry for GHG trading. (Aug 2001)


Howard Dean on Environment

Free trade must include environmental standards. (Apr 15)
No need to poison ourselves in order to have growth. (Nov 2002)
Eliminate mercury releases by 2003. (Sep 2000)
More state autonomy on brownfields & Superfund cleanups. (Aug 2001)
Support State Revolving Loan Fund for flexible Clean Water. (Aug 2001)


Howard Dean on Families & Children

Think long-term to benefit our children. (Nov 2002)
Encourage fathers' participation in child-raising. (Sep 2001)
Federal funds & state involvement in fatherhood initiatives. (Aug 2001)


Howard Dean on Foreign Policy

Intertwine into alliances, to create international stability. (Jun 25)
Integrate China as our international community partner. (Jun 25)
Embrace nation-building over isolationism. (Nov 2002)


Howard Dean on Free Trade

I support NAFTA & WTO-but they need revision. (Sep 25)
Support NAFTA & WTO with level labor standards. (Sep 25)
Free trade based on labor and environmental standards. (Sep 4)
Trade tariffs to enforce labor & enviro standards. (Mar 26)
Free trade is in our long-term national security interest. (Mar 26)
WTO should care about human rights. (Feb 26)
Free trade must equal fair trade. (Nov 2002)
China
Use trade as basis for constructive engagement. (Mar 26)
Use trade to enforce morality on China. (Mar 26)
Develop an open North American energy market. (Jul 2000)
Foster globalization with New England & Eastern Canada. (Aug 2001)
More business cooperation between New England & East Canada. (Jun 1998)


Howard Dean on Government Reform

Reforms must respect state's rights to select electors. (Aug 2001)


Howard Dean on Gun Control

Endorsed by NRA eight times as VT governor. (Oct 31)
Supports assault weapons ban and Brady bill. (Apr 10)
Get guns off the national radar screen: no new federal laws. (Nov 2002)
No more federal gun laws; leave them to states. (Nov 2002)


Howard Dean on Health Care

Build senior Rx program on Vermont program. (Sep 25)
Bush's Rx program is a political trap: looks good, bad plan. (Sep 25)
Wrong to compare any Dem to Gingrich: I support Medicare. (Sep 25)
Join every other industrialized country on health care. (Sep 4)
Bush prescription: take 2 tax cuts and see me in the morning. (May 17)
As doctor, knows health system; and knows how to pass plan. (May 17)
Subsidize health care for small businesses, not corporations. (May 3)
96.4% of Vermonters are covered; deliver that to America. (May 3)
Guarantee health ins. like other industrialized countries. (Nov 2002)
Three-tiered coverage: state, federal, and private. (Nov 2002)
Patient Bill of Rights is hot air: get people insured. (Nov 2002)
Full access first, then tackle reform afterwards. (Nov 2002)
Universal access for all Vermonters; insure the last 6%. (Jan 2001)
Keep “community rating”: insure older people at same rates. (Jan 2001)
No federal pre-emption of employee health plan regulation. (Oct 2001)
Protect state tobacco settlement funds from federal seizure. (Apr 1999)


Howard Dean on Homeland Security

Redirect military spending rather than reduce defense budget. (Aug 11)
Shift $1B per year from missile defense to threat reduction. (Jul 2)
Focus Pentagon budget on military personnel's needs. (Jul 2)
Focus war budget on protecting vital infrastructure. (Jun 17)
Anti-war, but has national security experience as governor. (May 3)


Howard Dean on Immigration

If immigrants work & pay taxes, give them citizenship. (Nov 25)
Poor treatment of Muslim immigrants is ethnic profiling. (Oct 19)
Concerned about immigrants dying in desert crossings. (Oct 8)
The Americas are more important than War on Terror. (Sep 4)
No automated entry-exit control system; allow free flow. (Jul 2000)
Share costs of legal immigration between states & federal. (Feb 2001)
Federal government should deal with criminal repatriation. (Feb 2001)


Howard Dean on Infrastructure

Invest in rural broadband to replace lost farm jobs. (May 17)
Cooperate with Canada on regional info tech workforce. (Aug 2001)
Level playing field for Main Street vs. Internet sales tax. (Aug 2001)
Create International Northern and Biotechnology Corridor. (Jun 1998)


Howard Dean on Jobs

Trade helps some but has hammered the Midwest. (Sep 25)
Reduce minority unemployment by investing in small business. (Sep 9)
We're exporting jobs if we trade with no labor standards. (Sep 4)
Invest in small businesses & renewable energy. (Sep 4)
Supports living wage via subsidies for kids & housing. (May 17)
Trade should strengthen labor unions in foreign nations. (Mar 27)


Howard Dean on Principles & Values

This campaign is about patriotism-flag belongs to everyone. (Sep 25)
Appeals $76 late fee on property tax; known as a tightwad. (Sep 20)
Favorite song: Wycliffe Jean, "Jaspora.". (Sep 9)
Restore US dignity in eyes of people around the world. (Sep 9)
Democrats are as angry at Dems as at GOP. (May 17)
Rule by hope instead of rule by fear. (May 17)
I want to change the Democratic Party, and change America. (May 3)
Give people a reason to vote, & we'll take our country back. (May 3)
Distrusts political extremism & ideologues. (Nov 2002)
Turned to medicine and politics after family tragedy. (Nov 2002)
Let's say what we think and get away from being poll-driven. (Nov 2002)
Religious affiliation: Protestant. (Nov 2000)
Member of Democratic Governors Association. (Aug 2001)
Member of New England Governors Conference. (Aug 2001)
Member, National Governors Association/Economic Development. (Jan 2001)


Howard Dean on Social Security

Reverse Bush tax cuts to shore up trust fund-don't privatize. (Nov 16)
Considered raising retirement age to 70-now keep it at 67. (Sep 25)
Maintain long-term solvency of Social Security and Medicare. (Aug 2001)


Howard Dean on Tax Reform

Middle class received no benefit from Bush tax cut. (Sep 25)
Tell the truth on taxes: can't afford tax cuts. (Sep 25)
People would rather health care than a tax cut. (Sep 4)
Bush's tax cuts made $10,000 debt for every child. (May 17)
Repeal Bush's tax cuts and invest in social programs. (Nov 2002)
Bush tax cuts were hooey; don't trust GOP with our money. (Nov 2002)
No national sales tax or VAT. (Feb 2000)
Let states independently determine estate taxes. (May 2001)


Howard Dean on War & Peace

Israeli security fence cannot be permanent. (Oct 19)
Yes on $87B for Iraq-repeal Bush tax cut to pay it. (Sep 25)
If we abandon Iraq, it'll become a terrorist haven. (Sep 9)
Keep relationship with Israel but be a credible negotiator. (Sep 9)
My position on Israel is exactly the same as Bill Clinton's. (Sep 9)
Iraq: Admit we humiliated our allies and get UN help. (Sep 4)
Iraq: Bush lied about al Qaeda, about nukes, and about WMDs. (Sep 4)
Bring US troops home. (Sep 4)
Tear up the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war. (Jun 17)
Happy that Saddam is gone; keep a strong military; but... (May 3)
Afghanistan requires more than military victory. (Nov 2002)
Deal with terrorism as a joint federal-state responsibility. (Feb 2001)
Include states in anti-terrorism planning. (Sep 2001)


Howard Dean on Welfare & Poverty

Churches may provide social services if no discrimination. (Jun 26)
Promote the next generation of welfare reform. (Aug 2001)
Maintain federal Social Services Block Grant funding. (Sep 2001)
Maintain flexibility & funding levels for TANF block grants. (Sep 2001)


http://www.issues2002.org/Howard_Dean.htm

[SlavesandBulldozers]

1. More federal funding for all aspects of Drug War. (Aug 2000)

I find this most disturbing that a doctor actually believes in carrying on with this tremendous attack on civil liberties, this gigantic waste of money.

[KaraokeKarlton]

9. It's not a waste of money, it's a matter of how the money is used

If Dean uses some of the money to provide treatment for addicts rather than use it to prosecute them it would be a positive thing. This is how Dean typically does things, too. When funding things he always works in prevention aspects and funds them through the same monies. He has said he'd do the same thing with the defense budget, using a bunch of money to fund the development or alternate energy sources to curb our dependence on oil that dictates foreign policy that puts us at risk.

[mzmolly]

13. Clarification...

Howard Dean on Drugs

Treat drug abuse as a medical problem, not a judicial one. (Nov 17)
Smoked marijuana in the past, as did other Dems. (Nov 9)
Evaluate marijuana & legalize for valid medical purposes. (Aug 4)
Hammer the dealers; treat the casual users. (Jan 14)
More federal funding for all aspects of Drug War. (Aug 2000)

[Julien Sorel]

2. You should have added an asterisk:

Dean on the issues*





*Until something better comes along.

[creativelcro]

3. go the site and contact the sysadmin for that

[HFishbine]

8. Of course

you have the option of skipping the snide comments and posting an equally comprehensive list of Clark's positions.

[creativelcro]

11. Don't you have fingers ? You can copy it and post it, no ?

[HFishbine]

15. I see

too bad for those who missed it, I guess.

[mzmolly]

14. Or until someone else steals his positions almost verbatim...

:hi:

[molly]

4. What a great synopsis! Do you have links?

[creativelcro]

6. yes, the site is listed at the end of the post

http://www.issues2002.org/Howard_Dean.htm

This is a good site for summaries on all candidates (I found it because Will Pitt posted the synopsis for Kerry some time yesterday).

[delhurgo]

5. In any other election in recent times, Dean would make...

... a good candidate. He's good on civil liberties and seems reasonable on economic issues. He's no lefty. The problem is that were under the threat of terrorism now and Im not sure voters will be willing to take a chance on a gov of a small northeastern state - especially one who has aligned himself with the peaceniks. He's gonna have to conveince people that he's not a pacifist and is willing to use the military when necessary - and that he'll literally 'kill the terrorists'. The other problem he has is on the tax issue. Im sure he believes they all need to be repealed, but politically that will likely be very costly. The way he's run in the primaries he really has positioned himself as McGovern on defense, and Mondale on taxes. The general is a different ballgame though, so hopefully he'll be able to reassure voters on these two big issues.

Heres how I'd rank him compared to other 'recent' Dem candidates, from best to worst: JFK, Clinton, Carter, Gore and DEAN (tie), Dukakis, Mondale. Thats as of today; I could see him ranking maybe third if he runs in the general the way he governed Vermont. That may be enough to win, but if things (Iraq, economy) don't look too bad it would be a HUGE upset if he did.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

7. "The problem is that were under the threat of terrorism now"

From whom? And if so what got us there in he first place?

I think those are some very important questions to be asked. Once again the idea in America is to find a solution to the result of a problem, rather than start at the cause of the problem.

:shrug:

TWL

[HFishbine]

10. 'kill the terrorists'

You've been brainwashed.

[SahaleArm]

12. Why not just link to DFA? *nm*

[creativelcro]

16. because this site has a comprehensive comparison among

candidates. Or at least the info for people to make such a comparison by themselves, if they want to. People should get the facts straight first, then discuss.