2008+ELECTION

__U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES__


Ralph Nader President Candidate Party: Independant
 * Social Issues || Is opposed to offshore drilling. ||
 * Economic Crisis || "I propose public works programs to use those billions of dollars to repair and modernize schools, bridges, public transit systems, sewage systems and drinking water. That creates a lot of good local jobs to slow down the slide into a deep recession," The 74-year-old Nader said. ||
 * Health Care || Wants to get rid of private healthcare and instead have the federal government set up a single payer tax program so everyone can have healthcare. ||
 * Taxes/federal budget || Wants to have cuts on the military budget because that’s where our money is going anyways. ||
 * War || Wants to gradually withdraw all troops in 6 months. ||



Party: Republican

 * **Economic crisis/jobs** || He would eliminate taxes on unemployment benefits. Cut the capital gain tax to 7.5% for two years, government to buy shares in private banks until they are sound, Treasury Dept to guarantee 100% of all savings for six months. Bring jobs by trickle down effect. ||
 * **Health Care** || Promote payment reform; eliminate Medicare fraud and abuse, drug premiums for the wealthiest Americans are not being subsidized by the middle class. ||
 * **Taxes/ Budget** || Keep tax rates low. (do not tax entrepreneurs (35% at top), Cut Corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent. ||
 * **Social Issues** || Wants to overturn Roe v. Wade. (abortion to individual state), first step to ending abortion however. States should preserve the traditional family. Against gay marriage. ||
 * **War on Terror/ Iraq** || Morally essential to support Iraq does not want to withdraw troops until this has been met. Wants a counterinsurgency. Same insurgency policy in Afghanistan as well. ||  ||
 * **War on Terror/ Iraq** || Morally essential to support Iraq does not want to withdraw troops until this has been met. Wants a counterinsurgency. Same insurgency policy in Afghanistan as well. ||  ||

Party: Democratic

 * ===Economic crisis/Jobs=== || *He will increase investments in infrastructure, energy independence, education, and research and development; modernize and simplify our tax code so it provides greater opportunity and relief to more Americans
 * Implement trade policies that benefit American workers and increase the export of American goods. ||
 * ===Health Care=== || *The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans,
 * Make Health Insurance Work for People and Businesses - Not Just Insurance and Drug Companies.
 * Reduce Costs and Save a Typical American Family up to $2,500 as reforms phase in. ||
 * ===War on Terror/Iraq=== || *The removal of our troops will be responsible and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government
 * Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that the U.S. must apply pressure on the Iraqi government to work toward real political accommodation.
 * Under the Obama-Biden plan, a residual force will remain in Iraq and in the region to conduct targeted counter-terrorism missions against al Qaeda in Iraq and to protect American diplomatic and civilian personnel. ||
 * ===Taxes/Budget=== || *Cut taxes for 95 percent of workers and their families with a tax cut of $500 for workers or $1,000 for working couples.
 * Eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses
 * Dramatically simplify taxes by consolidating existing tax credits. ||
 * ===Social Issues=== || * 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 Court ||



Party: Constitution
• He feels it is the president’s responsibility to safeguard the lives of the pre-born, which include repealing Roe vs. Wade. • If congress refused to pass a bill protecting the sanctity of life, Baldwin would use his constitutional powers to deny funds that support abortion clinics. • United States Department of Education will be abolished under a Baldwin presidency because he believes in giving the decision to parents on how the deem best to teaching their children, whether this means home-schooling or religious schools. || • Under this act proposed by Ron Paul, the president would be given authority to respond with appropriate force to non-state sectors who oppose aggression to the United States while limiting his power to those only responsible for atrocities of the present day. • Believes the maintenance of a strong state of the art military on land, sea, and air is of the highest importance. • Strongly supports modernization of the armed forces, and believes if elected as Commander and Chief he will be able to lead the troops but never into combat without a declaration of war by Congress. || • IRS and Federal Reserve banned. • Abolish income taxes and compensate for the loss by generating a 10% tariff on all imports. • Wants to eliminate spending and money given to foreign aid. || • The constitution has no provision for federal government to restrict the freedom of the people to have access to medical care, supplies, and treatment. • Feels it is necessary to eliminate the Food and Drug Administration || • A Baldwin Presidency would signal an end to the stranglehold that modern day moneychangers have over the American Economy and provide the opportunity of rebirth for the American dream. ||
 * **Social Issues** || • Is a firm believer in pro-life.
 * **War on Terror/Iraq** || • Baldwin strongly supports the invasion and insurgence of Iraq, however it should have been done through Ron Paul's Marque and Reprisal Act of 2001.
 * **Taxes/Budget** || • Work to over-turn 16th Amendment, which established Congress’s authority to levy taxes.
 * **Healthcare** || • Supports employee controlled “family coverage” health insurance plan based on cash value insurance principles.
 * **Economic Crisis/Jobs** || • Favors a tariff based revenue system that would be a Constitutional step toward a fair trade policy that would protect American jobs, and at the same time, raise revenue for the national government.



Party: Green Party

 * **Economic crisis/jobs** || Proposes more regulation, nationalization of Federal Reserve, and government assistance to small ||  ||   ||
 * **Iraq War/ War on terror** || Calls for an immediate cease funding on both wars, the prosecution of persons guilty of committing war crimes, and the distancing of the U.S. from all foreign, military conflicts. ||
 * **Healthcare** || Universal access, single payer, health care system. Negotiations for cheaper drugs, specifically from other countries. ||
 * **Taxes/Budget** || Repeal Bush tax cuts, stop all military spending, and investigate corporate welfare and eliminate waste in pentagon defense budget. ||
 * **Social Issues** || Full reproductive rights for women, including abortion and morning after pill. Supports full visitation rights and civil unions. ||  ||   ||

Party: Libertarian
- America needs to investigate the money spent and tactics used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that allowed them to abuse public trust. - Those responsible for this problem need to be held accountable and not given special access. - Incentives to businesses create jobs and raise wages. || - However, government intervention in health care would lead to a huge burden on taxpayers. - Believes in a reform of the current health care system: - Regulations which mandate insurance coverage and raise premiums should be eliminated. - Governmental controls that restrict competition, such as the inability to purchase health care across state lines, should be ended. - Against nationalizing health care. || - Welfare should be cut, entitlements should be reformed. - Military spending reduced. - There should be a wall between the government and the economy, the government should stop trying to manage the free market. - Tax reform is needed, starting with a reduction in government spending. - A flat income tax should be adopted. || - The Iraqi government is relying too heavily on American forces to maintain control of its country, costing American taxpayers money. - Voted for the Patriot Act of 2001, which gives authorities the ability to search people's private records (email, telephone, etc.) in order to fight Terrorism. For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act || - Education: Governmental control on education should be turned over to the parents. A governmental system of education should switch to a private system of education. - Marriage: The federal government should not regulate marriage. This decision should be up to state governments. Whether or not same-sex marriage is allowed is up to state governments. - Abortion: Strongly opposes Roe v. Wade decision of 1973. Abortion should be banned nationwide. ||
 * **Economic Crisis/Jobs** || - The reason behind the crisis was the irresponsible mortgage lending by government-backed enterprises, most notably Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
 * **Health Care** || - Affordable, quality health care is an objective.
 * **Taxes/Federal Budget** || - Drastically cut spending.
 * **War on Terror/Iraq** || - Withdrawal of troops from Iraq as quickly as possible, without announcing a timetable.
 * **Social Issues** || - Veterans: America must support its veterans for their sacrifice during war.

=__U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES __ =



Tom Allen- Democrat- Senate
• Wants to establish a deadline to bring troops home; has repeatedly voted against measures for funding that do not include a clause about withdrawal or a deadline • Wants to increase funding for veteran health care || • Ensure people are able to choose their doctor • Wants to reduce burden of health care costs on small businesses- wants to provide owners and employees of small businesses with the small health care coverage available to members of Congress • Reform Medicare’s prescription drug plan || • Wants to end trade deals that help national business but put a burden on Maine workers and businesses • End tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas, benefits for companies that create jobs here || • Tax credits to middle class Maine families to help with cost of heating oil || • Endorsed by Planned Parenthood • Wants to expand research on stem cells ||
 * War on terror/Iraq || • Wants to end involvement in war
 * Health care || • Wants to create a plan for universal health care: allow people to keep insurance providers they already have, but provide insurance for those that cannot afford it
 * Economic crisis/jobs || • Six- part plan: improve infrastructure, invest in manufacturing, improve education system, invest in Maine small business, create more rural economic development, reduce middle class taxes
 * Taxes || • Tax cuts for middle class families and small businesses
 * Social issues || • Pro- choice



Susan Collins-Republican-Senate

 * **Economic Crisis/ Jobs** || Senator Collins voted for increasing minimum wage to $7.25. Voted against a bill to limit on employer interference in union organizing. ||
 * **Health Care** || Supported programs to expand access to health care and improve health care, particularly for citizens living in rural areas. She also coauthored the Access to Affordable Health Care Act which takes significant strides toward the goal of universal health coverage . ||
 * **Taxes/ Budget** || Vote NO to pass a bill that reduces federal spending by $40 billion over five years by decreasing the amount of funds spent on Medicaid, Medicare, agriculture, employee pensions, conservation, and student loans. The bill also provides a down-payment toward hurricane recovery and reconstruction costs. ||
 * **Social Issues** || Voted NO on prohibiting minors from crossing state lines for Abortion. ||
 * **War on Terror/ Iraq** || Voted for the Iraq war in 2003. She was also against the troop withdrawal from Iraq by July, 2007 and again on a second date of March, 2008. ||



Herbert Hoffman-Independent-Senate
> industries, and new opportunities." The source of these funds, he said, should come from a rescinding of the Bush tax cuts for the super wealthy, and from cuts of the bloated military budget. || 
 * **Economic Crisis/ Jobs** || Maine's Congressional delegation will make a serious mistake if they remain in "panic mode" and rush to pour $700 billion in taxpayer money into a bailout of Wall Street without more through analysis and planning.
 * "The first order of business," he said at the time, "needs to be focused on rescuing the homes of our citizens and using treasury funds to provide a true economic stimulus that will create new jobs, new
 * **Health Care** || The only candidate running for the US Senate in Maine who supports a universal, single-payer, not-for-profit health care system
 * all residents of the U.S. fully covered for medical, dental, vision, mental health, and long-term care
 * no deductibles
 * no co-pays
 * no denial of coverage for treatment of needed procedures and conditions
 * provider of choice ||
 * **Taxes/ Budget** || NO INFORMATION PROVIDED ||
 * **Social Issues (abortion, same-sex marriage, etc.)** || * Opposes overturning Roe vs. Wade
 * Supports same-sex marriage ||
 * **War on Terror/ Iraq** || The Hoffman Peace Initiative-8 point plan
 * Sponsor a companion bill to HR 1234, a 12 point plan which includes calling for the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq and Afghanistan immediately and replacing them with UN Peacekeepers.
 * Support our returning veterans with expedited access to medical facilities and disability benefits for treatment of physical injuries and emotional stress as a result of their military service.
 * Support HR 808, a bill to establish a Cabinet level Department of Peace.
 * Seek a diplomatic solution to resolve tensions between the US and Iran.
 * Hold Israel accountable under the Geneva Conventions as an occupying power in the Palestinian Territories and advocate for a just peace between the two duly elected governments; sponsor legislation that would remove the United States from the position of mediator/negotiator between the Israeli and the Palestinian governments.
 * Renounce torture as an instrument of policy and close the illegal prison on Guantanemo Bay.
 * Close numerous overseas military bases, bring home our troops, replenish and refurbish the National Guard and make our nation more secure.
 * Work collaboratively with Russia, China, and our NATO allies to reduce world tensions and avert a new cold war. ||

**Party: Republican**

 * **Economics:** || wants less government spending, thinks the government wastes to much tax payers money. ||
 * **War on Terror** || Believes in protecting America, also believes in veteran affairs ||
 * **Taxes** || Wants tax relief for all Mainers ||
 * **Heath Care** || Wants affordable health care for all americans ||
 * **Social Issues** || Believes in the second amendment, work on education, and supports small businesses ||



**Party: Democrat**
Protection for tax payers (pay back the American public) negotiate better terms || Abortion: pro- choice || she believe that we should stop funding the war, and start to fin a way out rather than a way to “win” ||
 * **Economic Crisis** || Limit executive pay and stock
 * **Health Care** || Provide Health insurance for every American citizen. Wholesale revision of health care system ||
 * **Taxes/Budget** || Repeal of the bush tax cuts for the highest income Americans. Tax cuts for the working familys, help pay for highter education, child care cost, and tax policies that do not punish wage earners. ||
 * **Social Issues** || Support same-sex marriage
 * **War on Terror/Iraq** || “we must end the war now”