******** 2008 Presidential Election *********
What do you think? or do you even care? I may do a run down of the major candidates in this thread, havent decided yet.
*edit* Direct Link to information about candidates, more to come
Ron Paul
Barack Obama
Mitt Romney
Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton
Dennis Kucinich
Last edited by tony; 12-15-2007 at 08:57 PM.
The country is screwed no matter what
2006 Evo IX - Bolt ons
How so? We're screwed as is, someone would have to be really dumb to make it any worse.
Not one candidate really stands out for me. I lean on the democrat side and not one democrat candidate does it for me. SO i really dont know who I will vote for, b.c there is no way in hell I will vote for any republican that plays to the CRAZY RELIGION fan base (they all play to that crap)Originally Posted by tony
2006 Evo IX - Bolt ons
Ron Paul may appeal to you, he runs under the republican ticket but he is far from what is considered republican of today.. I think he sides more with the libertarian party than anything.
There are a few candidates who are running under one ticket but their actions do not reflect their party. Hillary Clinton is one, she is running as a democrat but believe me if you listen to her talk she is REALLY closer to being a Republican more than democrat.
Its hard to say one candidate will fix all of our problems, especially the ones who have a real chance of winning but what can you do?
Ron Paul
The political positions of Ron Paul, U.S. presidential candidate, have been called conservative, Constitutionalist, and libertarian. Paul's nickname "Dr. No" reflects both his medical degree and his insistence on "never vot[ing] for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution."Paul adheres to the Austrian school of economics and libertarian criticism of fractional-reserve banking, opposing fiat increases to [non-backed] money in circulation;[8] He has authored six books on monetary subjects, and has pictures of classical liberal economists Friedrich Hayek, Murray Rothbard, and Ludwig von Mises hanging on his office wall.
Nonintervention
Paul calls for a foreign policy of nonintervention.[42] This policy avoids entangling alliances with other nations, in the tradition of Washington, Jefferson, and Madison,[43] in order to avoid being drawn into wars not related to defense. He believes that war must be fought only to protect citizens, it must be declared by the U.S. Congress, and it must be concluded when the victory is complete as planned: "The American public deserves clear goals and a definite exit strategy in Iraq."[44] Paul advocates bringing troops home from U.S. military bases in Korea, Japan, and Europe among others.[45] He denies being an isolationist: he advocates "conducting open trade, travel, communication, and diplomacy with other nations".[46]National Journal rated Paul's foreign policy as 20% conservative in 2006 (28% in 2005).[47]
Secure borders and legal immigration
Paul believes that the government, neglecting a Constitutional responsibility to protect its borders, has concentrated instead on unconstitutionally policing foreign countries.[71] During the Cold War, he supported Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative,[72] intended to replace the "strategic offense" doctrine of mutual assured destruction with strategic defense.
Paul's immigration positions sometimes differ with libertarian think tanks and the official platform of the U.S. Libertarian Party.[73] He believes illegal immigrants take a toll on welfare and Social Security and would end such benefits, concerned that uncontrolled immigration makes the U.S. a magnet for illegal immigrants, increases welfare payments, and exacerbates the strain on an already highly unbalanced federal budget.[15] Paul's Congressional voting record earned a lifetime grade of B and a recent grade of B+ from Americans for Better Immigration.[74]
Lower taxes and smaller government
Paul believes the size of federal government must be decreased substantially. He supports the abolition of the Internal Revenue Service, most Cabinet departments, and the Federal Reserve.[89] Paul's campaign slogan for 2004 was "The Taxpayers' Best Friend!".[90] He would completely eliminate the income tax by shrinking the size and scope of government to what he considers its Constitutional limits, noting that he has never voted to approve an unbalanced budget; he has observed that even scaling back spending to 2000 levels eliminates the need for the 42% of the budget accounted for by individual income tax receipts.[19] He has asserted that Congress had no power to impose a direct income tax and supports the repeal of the sixteenth amendment.[91] Paul has signed a pledge not to raise taxes or create new taxes, given by Americans for Tax Freedom.[18] Paul has also been an advocate of employee-owned corporations (such as employee stock ownership plans).[92] In 1999, he co-sponsored The Employee Ownership Act of 1999, which would have created a new type of corporation (the employee-owned-and-controlled corporation) that would have been exempt from most federal income taxes.
Freedom of the Internet
In 2006, a "Technology voter guide" by CNET awarded Paul a score of 80%, the highest score out of both houses of Congress. Paul has been criticized for voting against legislation to help catch online child predators, one of the votes used in the CNET guide. In response to critics, Paul said, "I have a personal belief that the responsibility of raising kids, educating kids and training kids is up to the parents and not the state. Once the state gets involved, it becomes too arbitrary." He also believed that the proposed law was unconstitutional.[131]
Right to keep and bear arms
The only 2008 presidential candidate to earn Gun Owners of America's A+ rating, Paul has authored and sponsored pro-Second Amendment legislation in Congress. He has also fought for the right of pilots to be armed.
I keep hearing good things about this Ron Paul guy, but I really dont want to see another republican in the office. Mainly b/c I see them staying on the right side when it comes to anything once they are in office. Nothing scares me more if another republican gets in the office and sides with the Christians' Nut jobs to keep them happy.
2006 Evo IX - Bolt ons
I oppose getting rid of the income tax, b/c I rather see my country reduce spending and use the surplus to pay down the country's debit. I am ok with reducing the income tax, if the government would do a better job at manging the money the federal gets
2006 Evo IX - Bolt ons
As far as the abolishment of the income tax goes, let me give a brief explanation of the Fair Tax which is the big proposal to do away with the Income Tax and the IRS:
There will no longer be a federal income tax, which simply means you will no longer have all those taxes taken out of your paycheck. Instead the "FairTax" would create a national 23% sales tax meaning that we would pay .23 on every dollar spent. BUT...you would get a prebate of your taxes spent on ALL items of necessities. All valid Social Security cardholders who are U.S. residents receive a monthly prebate equivalent to the FairTax paid on essential goods and services, also known as the poverty level expenditures. The prebate is paid in advance, in equal installments each month. The size of the prebate is determined by the Department of Health & Human Services’ poverty level guideline multiplied by the tax rate. This is a well-accepted, long-used poverty-level calculation that includes food, clothing, shelter, transportation, medical care, etc.
The FairTax:
Enables workers to keep their entire paycheck
Enables retirees to keep their entire pension
Reimburses the tax on purchases of basic necessities
Allows American products to compete fairly
Brings transparency and accountability to tax policy
Ensures Social Security and Medicare funding
Closes all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation
Abolishes the IRS
Yea I know, and I am totally against the Fair Tax.
2006 Evo IX - Bolt ons
What if I told you theoretically we have a greater chance of knocking down the debt we have through the fair tax?
O i know, b/c there would no limit and thats what I am worried about.
2006 Evo IX - Bolt ons
vote hillary if you would like to pay for everyone eles kids and healthcare! she is the one who could make it worse, the plans she wants to instate can't be undone after she is out of office in 2012.
ron paul FTW
the government doesnt do a good job of anything.... you havent realized that yet?
you are against the fair tax? have you researched the fair tax? apparently not if you are "totally against it"
EF SQUAD FTMFW!!!!
Ron Paul FTW
<---Click it.
I'm not really feeling just throwing out the IRS. I believe some changes should be made, but just totally doing away with would do more harm then good at first. If you're going to something major such as that, it should be a gradual process.
the countrys fu*ked... thanks to bush's dumbass... hopefully one of them can fix bush's mess
Agree and disagree. Its my opinion that the country could use less gov't in some sectors, but also the gov't is need in others
I understand it and thats why I don't believe it would work in this country. Since it is so great please explain and I would gladly debate it with you.
I love how nobody is allowed to have their own opinion these days
2006 Evo IX - Bolt ons
I'm just curious what the IRS does that is so great?
i never said you werent allowed to have your own opinion.
It provides a flat tax rate of 23% which applies to EVERYONE since it is applies to the purchase of NEW goods. it doesnt apply to used goods. you take home your entire paycheck which allows you to save money. It gets rid of the governments personal leech, the IRS. You would, in actuality, end up spending the same amount of money, or close to it, with obvious exceptions. (some people spending way more or way less.)
when people have more money they spend more money, and since consumer spending is what drives the economy, it will greatly help the economy to flourish.
yes you can have your own opinions. why wouldnt it work????
things that dont work are:
National healthcare(socialized medicine)
FEMA
the Government
EF SQUAD FTMFW!!!!
Care to explain how the current condition of this country is souly Bush's fault?
imo bush is the one that wanted to go to war and to me, that war is just straight pointless... im pretty sure we're not getting anything out of it and he's just sending a hell load of people over there.. taxes arent going to what they are suppose to and its mostly fundin the war...correct if im wrong or anything but thats what i think. but what do i know? lolpolitics isnt my thing, all i know is since bush came into office a bunch of sh!t been happenin to the country.. it probably just because the gas prices that pisses me off lol
imo bush is the one that wanted to go to war and to me, that war is just straight pointless... im pretty sure we're not getting anything out of it and he's just sending a hell load of people over there.. taxes arent going to what they are suppose to and its mostly fundin the war...correct if im wrong or anything but thats what i think. but what do i know? lol
congress is allowed to bring the troops home after 90 days or something like that. they didnt.
the people of this country who hate bush so much can vote him out of office. they didnt.
bush ****ed up a lot, but not EVERYTHING is his fault. some things he has no control over....
EF SQUAD FTMFW!!!!
well thats something i can agree with...
I dont know why people even choose Bush's dumbass for president anyways. Bill Clinton FTW. Are the gas prices ever gonna go down? Atleast do a dollar something? Bush screw everything up. He didnt help this country not 1 bit.
Bush doesn't control gas prices, OPEC does.
where did u get this Tony? Also do a rundown of Obama
The political positions of Ron Paul, U.S. presidential candidate, have been called conservative, Constitutionalist, and libertarian. Paul's nickname "Dr. No" reflects both his medical degree and his insistence on "never vot[ing] for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution."Paul adheres to the Austrian school of economics and libertarian criticism of fractional-reserve banking, opposing fiat increases to [non-backed] money in circulation;[8] He has authored six books on monetary subjects, and has pictures of classical liberal economists Friedrich Hayek, Murray Rothbard, and Ludwig von Mises hanging on his office wall.
Nonintervention
Paul calls for a foreign policy of nonintervention.[42] This policy avoids entangling alliances with other nations, in the tradition of Washington, Jefferson, and Madison,[43] in order to avoid being drawn into wars not related to defense. He believes that war must be fought only to protect citizens, it must be declared by the U.S. Congress, and it must be concluded when the victory is complete as planned: "The American public deserves clear goals and a definite exit strategy in Iraq."[44] Paul advocates bringing troops home from U.S. military bases in Korea, Japan, and Europe among others.[45] He denies being an isolationist: he advocates "conducting open trade, travel, communication, and diplomacy with other nations".[46]National Journal rated Paul's foreign policy as 20% conservative in 2006 (28% in 2005).[47]
Secure borders and legal immigration
Paul believes that the government, neglecting a Constitutional responsibility to protect its borders, has concentrated instead on unconstitutionally policing foreign countries.[71] During the Cold War, he supported Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative,[72] intended to replace the "strategic offense" doctrine of mutual assured destruction with strategic defense.
Paul's immigration positions sometimes differ with libertarian think tanks and the official platform of the U.S. Libertarian Party.[73] He believes illegal immigrants take a toll on welfare and Social Security and would end such benefits, concerned that uncontrolled immigration makes the U.S. a magnet for illegal immigrants, increases welfare payments, and exacerbates the strain on an already highly unbalanced federal budget.[15] Paul's Congressional voting record earned a lifetime grade of B and a recent grade of B+ from Americans for Better Immigration.[74]
Lower taxes and smaller government
Paul believes the size of federal government must be decreased substantially. He supports the abolition of the Internal Revenue Service, most Cabinet departments, and the Federal Reserve.[89] Paul's campaign slogan for 2004 was "The Taxpayers' Best Friend!".[90] He would completely eliminate the income tax by shrinking the size and scope of government to what he considers its Constitutional limits, noting that he has never voted to approve an unbalanced budget; he has observed that even scaling back spending to 2000 levels eliminates the need for the 42% of the budget accounted for by individual income tax receipts.[19] He has asserted that Congress had no power to impose a direct income tax and supports the repeal of the sixteenth amendment.[91] Paul has signed a pledge not to raise taxes or create new taxes, given by Americans for Tax Freedom.[18] Paul has also been an advocate of employee-owned corporations (such as employee stock ownership plans).[92] In 1999, he co-sponsored The Employee Ownership Act of 1999, which would have created a new type of corporation (the employee-owned-and-controlled corporation) that would have been exempt from most federal income taxes.
Freedom of the Internet
In 2006, a "Technology voter guide" by CNET awarded Paul a score of 80%, the highest score out of both houses of Congress. Paul has been criticized for voting against legislation to help catch online child predators, one of the votes used in the CNET guide. In response to critics, Paul said, "I have a personal belief that the responsibility of raising kids, educating kids and training kids is up to the parents and not the state. Once the state gets involved, it becomes too arbitrary." He also believed that the proposed law was unconstitutional.[131]
Right to keep and bear arms
The only 2008 presidential candidate to earn Gun Owners of America's A+ rating, Paul has authored and sponsored pro-Second Amendment legislation in Congress. He has also fought for the right of pilots to be armed.
"I'm not a gynecologist... but I'll take a look."
Clinton FTW!! Her husband did a good job in leading this country in economic growth as will she.
Zoom-Zoom bitch
huckabee ftw.... only because of the video add he made with chuck norris....
first of all, i'm sure if you don't vote huckabee at this point... chuck norris will potato sack you to death....
I'll get to Obama when I get home.. most of the info is a culmination of stuff from Wikipedia and the candidates websites.
Senator Barack Obama
Barack Obama is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential election. He is the fifth African American Senator in U.S. history, and the only African American currently serving in the U.S. Senate.[2]
Born to a white American mother and a black Kenyan father, Obama grew up in culturally diverse surroundings. He lived for most of his childhood in the majority-minority U.S. state of Hawaii and spent four of his pre-teen years in the multi-ethnic Indonesian capital city of Jakarta. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer, university lecturer, and civil rights lawyer before running for public office. He served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004, launching his campaign for U.S. Senate in 2003.
Energy policy
Obama and other Senators introduced the BioFuels Security Act in 2007. "It's time for Congress to realize what farmers in America's heartland have known all along - that we have the capacity and ingenuity to decrease our dependence on foreign oil by growing our own fuel," Obama said.[8] In a May 2006 letter to President Bush, he joined four other midwest farming state Senators in calling for the preservation of a $0.54-per-gallon tariff on imported ethanol.[9]
Regarding the domestic use of nuclear energy, Obama has expressed support: "...it is reasonable – and realistic – for nuclear power to remain on the table for consideration."[10]
Health care
On January 24, 2007 Obama spoke about his position on health care at Families USA, a health care advocacy group. Obama said, "The time has come for universal health care in America [...] I am absolutely determined that by the end of the first term of the next president, we should have universal health care in this country." Obama went on to say that he believed that it was wrong that forty-seven million Americans are uninsured, noting that taxpayers already pay over $15 billion annually to care for the uninsured.[11]
Taxation
Obama spoke out in June 2006 against making recent, temporary estate tax cuts permanent, calling the cuts a "Paris Hilton" tax break for "billionaire heirs and heiresses."[13] Speaking in November 2006 to members of Wake Up Wal-Mart, a union-backed campaign group, Obama said: "You gotta pay your workers enough that they can actually not only shop at Wal-Mart, but ultimately send their kids to college and save for retirement."[14]
Immigration
Obama supports a guest worker program.[29] Obama has said that he "will not support any bill that does not provide [an] earned path to citizenship for the undocumented population."
Obama doesn't believe that twelve million illegal immigrants can be sent back. He said "It's not going to happen. We're not going to go round them up ... We should give them a pathway to citizenship."[30]
In September 2006, Obama voted for the Secure Fence Act, authorizing the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the United States–Mexico border.[31]
Iraq
Senator Obama was an early opponent of Bush administration policies on Iraq, when other Democratic leaders supported the legislation that led to the war. Obama was not in the United States Senate, and was therefore unable to vote during the Iraq Resolution of 11 October 2002, authorizing the use of force against Iraq. During a fall 2002 anti-war rally at Chicago's Federal Plaza, while still an Illinois State Senator, and in a speech alongside Jesse Jackson, Obama stated: "I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. [...] You want a fight, President Bush? Let's finish the fight with Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings."[38] He also speculated about the sectarian violence in Iraq after the fall of Saddam, and talked about the need for a strategy to stabilize Iraq and hand over power to the Iraqis in an interview in 2002.[citation needed] Speaking before the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in November 2006, he said: "The days of using the war on terror as a political football are over. [...] It is time to give Iraqis their country back, and it is time to refocus America's efforts on the wider struggle yet to be won." In his speech Obama also called for a phased withdrawal of American troops starting in 2007, and an opening of diplomatic dialog with Iraq's neighbors, Syria and Iran.[39]
During a July 2004 interview on Meet the Press when asked how he would have voted on the Iraq resolution in 2003, Obama answered "What would I have done? I don't know...There's not much of a difference between my position on Iraq and George Bush's position at this stage." Obama defended his words on a later edition of Meet the Press saying that he made the statement because it was during the middle of an election in which his party's presidential nominees had both voted to authorize the war and noting that he was openly opposed to the war as early as 2002.[40]
On January 30, 2007, Obama introduced the Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 into Congress. Among other things, the Act calls for capping the level of troops in Iraq at January 2007 levels, and for commencing a phased redeployment of US forces from Iraq "with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008, a date that is consistent with the expectation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.[41][42] Announcing the act on the Senate floor, Obama stated that "no amount of American soldiers can solve the political differences at the heart of somebody else's civil war."[43]
Obama has not, however, consistently supported cutting funding to the war as a way to end U.S. involvement in the conflict.[44]
Abortion and contraception
In his write-in response to a 1998 survey, Obama stated his abortion position as: "Abortions should be legally available in accordance with Roe v. Wade."[45]
While serving in the Illinois Senate, Obama had a 100 percent rating from the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council[46] due to his consistent voting in favor of abortion rights, family planning services, and having female contraceptives covered by health insurance.[47] Since his election to the United States Senate Obama has maintained a 100 percent rating from Planned Parenthood (as of 2007) and NARAL (as of 2005).[48] While serving in the Illinois State Senate, Obama opposed legislation that required "medical care for aborted fetuses" because the legislation's wording defined the fetus as a child -- a measure he said would "essentially bar abortions."[49]
Gun control
As a state legislator in Illinois, Obama supported banning the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic firearms, increasing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms and requiring manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.[59] He sponsored a bill in 2000 limiting handgun purchases to one per month. He also voted against a 2004 measure allowing a self-defense exception for people charged with violating local weapons bans by using a gun in their home.[60]
Obama was also a board member[61] of the Joyce Foundation which funds and maintains several gun control organizations in the United States.
He supported several gun control measures, including restricting the purchase of firearms at gun shows and the reauthorization of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.[62]
While in the US Senate, Obama has voted against legislation protecting firearm manufacturers from liability.[63]
are you kidding, Clinton is the anti-christ. as soon as she decides that she won't be leaving office (which is december 21, 2012) the world is going to ****ing end. even the mayans predicted this to happen so many years ago.
Tony you're the man --- I wanna see Romney next - keep the ideas coming people.
"I'm not a gynecologist... but I'll take a look."
Biden FTMFW
Correct Fitment Crew CEO2012 Hyundai Veloster / 1960 Fiat 600D
Because Only Turds Should be Dumped and Flushed.
congress was controlled by republicans at the time.
some thought he would do better to avoid being labeled a lame duck, but he really didn't care so that is his label and will be his legacy.
more than 75% are his fault and the others he has no control over is still his fault because they came about by the decisions he made.
The University of Florida Gators 2008 Football National CHOMPions.
that issue ALONE loses his vote from me, not to mention all the other things i dont agree with....
Senator Barack Obama
Gun control
As a state legislator in Illinois, Obama supported banning the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic firearms, increasing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms and requiring manufacturers to provide child-safety locks with firearms.[59] He sponsored a bill in 2000 limiting handgun purchases to one per month. He also voted against a 2004 measure allowing a self-defense exception for people charged with violating local weapons bans by using a gun in their home.[60]
Obama was also a board member[61] of the Joyce Foundation which funds and maintains several gun control organizations in the United States.
He supported several gun control measures, including restricting the purchase of firearms at gun shows and the reauthorization of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban.[62]
While in the US Senate, Obama has voted against legislation protecting firearm manufacturers from liability.[63]
these stupid asses and their socialized medicine
EF SQUAD FTMFW!!!!
I knew someone would point out his position on gun control, I dont agree with it much myself
TONY - what's up w/ the Romney info??
and LOL@ people who think that guns is one of the top REAL issues facing our nation.
"I'm not a gynecologist... but I'll take a look."
Governor Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American, businessman, and politician from the state of Michigan and later Massachusetts. Formerly the 70th Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Romney is currently seeking the Republican nomination in the 2008 United States presidential election.[1]
Romney is a former CEO of Bain & Company, a management consulting firm, and the co-founder of Bain Capital, a private equity investment firm. After a life in business and as the CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Romney was elected as Massachusetts Governor in 2002. Romney served one term and did not seek re-election in 2006; his term expired January 4, 2007.
Abortion
Romney's current stance, as described on his campaign Web site, effectively calls for a repeal of Roe v. Wade, saying that "the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate."[16] Romney reasserted this stance at the second Republican Presidential debate in South Carolina, stating that "Roe v. Wade has gone to such an extent that we've cheapened the value of human life." He followed by saying "the people should make [the abortion] decision, not the court."[17] ABC News reported that Romney supports the pro-life plank of the GOP platform, which means he would support establishing legal personhood for all unborn children in all 50 states.[18]
Energy
Romney wants to become independent of foreign sources of oil, and that the way to do that is a combination of developing alternative sources of energy such as biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear, and coal gasification, and finding more domestic sources of oil such as in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Outer Continental Shelf.[31]
"We're using too much oil," Romney said. "We have an answer. We can use alternative sources of energy -- biodiesel, ethanol, nuclear power -- and we can drill for more oil here. We can be more energy independent and we can be far more efficient in the use of that energy."[32]
Gun Control
Romney has said "I support the right of individuals to keep and bear arms as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution",[53] though in past campaigns he has described himself as a proponent of moderate gun control, supporting a ban on semi-automatic firearms, which he still supports.[54] However, it is further reported that "Romney had taken steps to support gun rights as governor, including his signing of an NRA-backed bill last year[...]."[55][54]
For Romney's 1994 US Senate campaign, he supported the Brady Bill, which imposed a five-day waiting period on gun sales, and a ban on particular semi-automatic rifles.[54] In a 2002 debate during Romney's campaign for governor of Massachusetts, Romney said: "We do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them. I won't chip away at them; I believe they protect us and provide for our safety."[56] As governor, Romney signed a 2004 measure instituting a permanent Massachusetts ban on semi-automatics, to take the place of a Federal ban, which was then about to expire. The bill made Massachusetts the first state to enact its own such ban on semi-automatics, and Romney supported the law with the comment: "These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people."[57] As Governor Romney extended the term of firearm licenses from four to six years, reinstated a 90-day grace period for citizens renewing their gun licenses, and signed a law providing free replacement licenses.
Health care
As Governor of Massachusetts, Romney signed legislation that required that nearly all Massachusetts residents obtain health insurance coverage by establishing means-tested state subsidies for people without adequate employer insurance, by directing funds designated to compensate for the health costs of the uninsured, and also specified penalties for those who fail to obtain coverage.[61][62][63] Legislation, effective on July 1, 2007, requires health insurance for all state residents, provided a plan is available to the individual that is deemed affordable according to state standards. Employers with eleven or more employees are mandated to offer approved insurance plans for employees.
Romney had vetoed eight sections of the health care legislation, including a $295 per person fee on businesses with 11 employees or more that do not provide health insurance.[64][65] Romney also vetoed provisions providing dental and eyeglass benefits to low income residents on the Medicaid program, and providing health coverage to senior and disabled legal immigrants not eligible for federal Medicaid.[66][67] However, the state legislature overrode all of the vetoes.[68]
Stem cell research
Romney has said that research using human embryos created during fertility treatments is ethical but opposes using federal funds to support it.[69] He opposes research using cloned embryos created by implanting human DNA into donated eggs.[69] When he ran for governor in 2002, Romney strongly advocated stem-cell research in general terms, and he promised to lobby George W. Bush to embrace such research. [69] During his presidential campaign, however, Romney renounced his 2002 position and said that he now agrees with Bush's decision to ban federal funding for research on excess embryos. [69]
Taxation
Romney has signed the anti-tax pledge put forth by Americans for Tax Reform, pledging no new taxes or increases of existing taxes; in 2002, Romney refused to sign an anti-tax pledge because he considered them "government by gimmickry."[76]
In Romney's 2007 Iowans for Taxpayer Relief and Iowa Republican Straw Poll speeches, he advocated eliminating the capital gains tax.[84][85] Romney has since stated that he favors eliminating any taxes related to capital gains or other investments on all individuals or families who make less than $200,000 per year.
Immigration
Romney favors increased immigration to the United States and opposes illegal immigration, saying "I want to see more immigration in our country, but more legal immigration and less illegal immigration."[91] In a speech to the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, Romney said "I want to make sure we continue an open door in immigration."[92]
Romney is against amnesty for illegal aliens, but also said, "I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country." He would like to see illegal immigrants register with the government, pay taxes, and apply for citizenship,[93] but that they should not be given any priority or special treatment over immigrants who have applied for citizenship legally.
Iraq War
In his speech announcing that he would run for president, Romney said, "so long as there is a reasonable prospect of success, our wisest course is to seek stability in Iraq, with additional troops endeavoring to secure the civilian population."[105] He argued that instability in Iraq could lead to civil war and that "Iraq's Sunni region could become a base for al-Qaeda; that its Shia region could be seized by Iran; that Kurd tension could destabilize Turkey; and even that the broader Middle East could be drawn into conflict." [105] He says that this "could mean a future with far more military involvement and far more loss of American life."[105] Romney said that he was willing to break with the Bush administration's policy on Iraq as other Republicans have now done, presumably if the troop surge did not prove successful, though he said it is still too early to gauge its success.
next one needs to be john edwards and then mike huckabee
The University of Florida Gators 2008 Football National CHOMPions.
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