My judgement is impaired: Sell me your candidate!

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

I am out of sorts and not thinking straight. I'm watching the Game Show network. What horrible turn of events could be responsible? My candidate dropped out today! Boo hoo!

But lucky you, you now have the opportunity to take advantage of my despair and sell me your guy. I have one caveat though...

There were specfic issues that, as an MD, I felt Howard Dean was uniquely qualified to address. For one thing, I think that the global spread of AIDS has the potential to ravage the entire world if current "standards" of care and education continue as they are. I am pretty convinced that had Dean made it to the White House, he would have recognized this and made it the priority I believe it is. Also, since I suffer from clinical depression, I think he would have done a lot as an advocate for mental health treatment --- just like with AIDS, the current climate of care, education, funding, etc., are just not acceptable to me.

Those are two of my major pet issues. I am already aware of where the candidates stand on the war, taxes, healthcare, etc., but I don't know where they stand on these issues. I'm sure they're all sympathetic, but I'm curious which of them would be likely to make these issues the priority that I feel they need to be.
If there are resources for each of the remaining candidates that lay out their positions in any kind of detail I'd appreciate it.

Thanks, and congratulations on making it this far.

[codegreen]

1. Kucinich is more progressive and more anti-war than any other candidate

(i discount Sharpton because of his lack of experience and lots of baggage)

[codegreen]

4. quote from Dennis on AIDS:

"AIDS is a global epidemic. The United States must commit our full resources to fighting this growing global crisis. To do anything short of that is unacceptable. In the name of justice, humanity, and for the protection of the global community we must seek ways to increase, not decrease, funding to fight this epidemic."

[Paulie]

2. Everything you want to know about Dennis

www.kucinich.us/issues

Two quickies:

Would you support increased funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and research?
Yes. The AIDSVote.org platform spells out multiple approaches to increased funding including a healthcare system that will fully address the medical needs of people living with HIV/AIDS; full support of effective science-based prevention efforts that reduce new HIV infections; larger national investment in objective science research on HIV/AIDS; at least $30 billion to fight global AIDS over the next four years.


Dennis Kucinich believes that mental health care is a right, not a privilege. As President, he will ensure that everyone has access to the treatments and counseling they need, as part of his not-for-profit universal health care plan. This fundamental change in our health care system will provide full coverage, including mental health, to every American, both working and unemployed.

[JVS]

3. See if you can still vote for Dean

[dweller]

5. here's a thread you might read

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=359632

peace,
dp

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. I don't want to get you in a weak moment

But when you feel like reasing it, Kerry's plans for the global spread of AIDS/HIV begins by depending on actual science to combat it as opposed to faith based healing and underfunded programs.

It includes a program to bring newer technology to the field, to continue to work towards a vaccine and make it affordable in other nations where the disease is taking off, and decrease the amount of time it takes for funds to reach those nations.

He also plans to fully fund programs to deliver these promises with a 30 billion dollar program that involves cooperation by other nations and by corporations as well to reach the goal of 30 billion in funding by 2008.

He plans on icreasing the number of people getting treatment by working with guidelines set by the WHO.

He also focuses on other deadly diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria that are making comebacks in drug resistant forms as well. These diseases are just as deadly as AIDS.

He will further put pressure on nations ignoring the AIDS crisis for political gain or other customs and will remove ideological ties to funding global AIDS battles.

He goes a step further in a plan to train healthcare workers in the US thereby increasing the available people to meet the needs of the ill.

He has proposed trade policy in the area of drugs that does NOT use the US power to undermine WHO's goal regarding treatment and proposes the use of bulk purchase deals to further reduce costs to poorer nations.

His programs are also aimed at providing further education and actual protection from AIDS to women and shildren, the fastest growing disease sector and especially to children orphaned by AIDS around the world.

Here is a an article praising his proposals on mental healthcare but also his site addresses his healthcare proposals including a Patient's Bill of Rights that IIRC addresses this.

http://www.bazelon.org/newsroom/9-12-03kerry.htm

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

7. Now is fine

Keep 'em coming.