CreateDebate


Debate Info

37
29

Mike Thompson (D)


Zane Starkewolf (R)

Debate Score:66
Arguments:12
Total Votes:73
More Stats

Argument Ratio

side graph
 
 
Mike Thompson (D)
(7)
 
 
Zane Starkewolf (R)
(5)

Debate Creator

CreateDebate(732) pic



Who should I vote for in the 2008 California House of Representatives Race?


Mike Thompson (D)

Side Score: 37
VS.


Zane Starkewolf (R)

Side Score: 29
6 points

Mike Thompson has been a solid member of the house for ten years, building relationships with fellow congressmen, local businessmen, and all those necessary to get things done for his district- a truly vast district that reaches from the north Bay Area all the way to the Oregon coast. His opponent is a wolf in sheeps clothing, espousing most of the same views as Mr. Thompson, but in a watered down, Republican-lite sort of way. Just go to both of their web sites and you'll see what I mean. Mike Thompson's site is http://mikethompson.house.gov/

and his opponents is http://www.zane2008.com/issues/issues.html.

If you're choices are a democrat who has been if office for ten years on a proven record, or a republican who seems to want the same things as said democrat but hasn't had ten years to build the connections needed to get things done, the choice is clear: Thompson.

Side: Mike Thompson
Zane2008(1) Disputed
4 points

RKMcAllister - While experience does count in Washington, it is important that we have someone in Congress that will listen and represent the people. I will represent the people and will focus on fiscal responsibility, protecting constitutional freedoms, and clean renewable energy.

Mr. Thompson, a supposed fiscal conservative, recently voted for the $700 billion bailout. He switched his vote from no to yes, even after receiving thousands of phone calls and emails asking him not too. His own office admits that after the first vote, 9 people out of 10 who called asked him to vote NO. He went and did the opposite after receiving a $100 million dollar tax credit for international speedways, which happens to be one of his largest contributors (Infinion Speedway in Sonoma). This is indicative of his "representing" the people of this district.

I don't follow party lines but since you are a democrat, I will provide you another example. In the presidential primary in February 2008, this district voted 46% for Obama and 43% for Hillary. Regardless, of how who you think should have won the nomination, it is the responsibility of a US Representative to support the will of the majority of the district. However, for the next 3 crucial months, he adamantly supported Hillary Clinton. He does not represent the will of the people, but his own corporate and political interests.

I have many more examples. If you would like to discuss his failing, or how I will support this district please email me at [email protected], or visit my updated website: http://www.zane2008.com

Side: Zane Starkewolf
4 points

Representative Mike Thompson is currently pushing legislation through the House that urges oil companies to drill for oil on the nearly 90 million acres of federal land they have on lease instead of resorting to tapping into our shorelines or wildlife preserves.

The "Use It or Lose It" bill (HR 6251) offers incentives for oil companies to the potential oil resources on the lands available to them. Thompson is arguing against the failed logic behind exploring new areas to drill when oil companies are presently sitting on up to 70 million acres of untouched oil lands on their leases.

“Utilizing existing leases is only one part of a much-needed comprehensive energy policy. We also need to consider other short-term solutions like releasing a small portion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and cracking down on unregulated oil speculators who are artificially inflating the price of oil.”

Thompson's legislative priorities are focused on investigating alternative renewable energy resources. Yet, he understands the short-term economic relief that drilling on existing oil lands can offer to the American people.

Supporting Evidence: Drill on Own Land (mikethompson.house.gov)
Side: Drill on own land
4 points

Between 1963 and 1973, American soldiers were used by the federal government as test subjects for biological weaponry in a project known as "Project 112. The DoD now admits that the projects included testing VX Nerve and Sarin gas, and also involved exposing unknowing military personnel to E. Coli, Rabbit Fever and Q Fever during their inlistment.

Though the government denied the tests at first, the DoD and other involved agencies admit now that the testing may have caused the serious health complications that ex-military are currently facing.

Eager to set things right with US veterans, Thompson has been working in tandem with The House Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs to provide assistance with health complications and medical expenses encurred by the secret testing of Project 112 and SHAD.

“We can’t change the past, but we can begin to right this wrong by giving these men the proper healthcare and compensation they earned.”

To that effect, Thompson has authored HR 5954 which states that the government recognizes the veracity of occuring tests and gives the soldiers a “Presumption of Service Connection.” This means that, if certain soldiers who served during the decade between 1963 and '73 are currently experiencing adverse health defects related to biological warfare, the government will assume culpability and the soldiers will become eligible for medical benefits.

Supporting Evidence: Mike Thompson stands up for guinea pig veterans (mikethompson.house.gov)
Side: Mike Thompson
4 points

Thompson points out that the US only has about 3% of the world's oil reserves and yet consumes about 25%. This inconvenient fact provides a major dilemma for those Republicans who believe that the immediate answer for America's energy crisis is to drill until the coffers are empty.

Thompson believes that instead of simply drilling until we can drill no longer, Washington must first figure out a way to decrease the amount of fossil fuels we as Americans consume by strengthening the CAFE ( Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards to save millions of barrels of oil a year.

Thompson:We have the technology to do this. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) found that existing technology can improve automobile and light truck fuel economy with net savings to consumers. Moreover, NAS stated that technologies not considered in their study, such as diesels and hybrids, could provide a 20-40 percent improvement in fuel economy in existing models.

Supporting Evidence: Thompson fixing our oil consumption (mikethompson.house.gov)
Side: Mike Thompson
4 points

“Our district’s coast is rich in marine resources that have tremendous value to our local economy. An oil spill would be devastating to the coastal economy and its unique ecosystem. In addition, the rocky terrain would make a spill almost impossible to clean up. Despite new drilling technology, there is still a significant risk of spills, especially during transport."

Congressman Mike Thompson (D) speaking against the option of offshore drilling as a viable initiative for creating energy independence or reducing gas prices. Thompson is concerned with the consequences the coastal economy in California would have to suffer should the oil industry be allowed to infiltrate or possibly contaminate the coastline in the case of an accident.

He questions the Bush Administration's insistence on drilling off American shores when they've "had eight years to develop a national energy plan" but have failed to suggest anything until now (when it seems so politically convenient.)

Thompson lays out a three point plan, which (he claims) will be quicker and more effective at offering American's financial relief. His plan reads as follows:

"Allow for additional withdrawals from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to increase domestic supply. The SPR is currently at 98% capacity, and reducing it slightly to 90% would immediately increase supply, reduce prices and still maintain a substantial amount of reserve;

Work with Congress to take aim at speculators who are artificially increasing the cost of oil, and;

Require oil companies to use existing oil and gas leases, which according to the Department of Interior covers nearly 70 million acres – roughly the size of Colorado – and are estimated to have billions of barrels of recoverable oil."

Supporting Evidence: Three Point Relief (mikethompson.house.gov)
Side: Three Point Relief
4 points

This Wednesday the disaster relief package that the Bush Administration promised to the salmon fishing industry along the West Coast fell short by as much as $70 million than what was originally intended.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez maintained that "This disaster aid package of $100 million will help them get back on their feet."

Rep. Mike Thompson was quick to criticize the Bush Administration for failing to give the total $170,000 million originally agreed upon by Congress to supplement the damages done to the Pacific Coast Salmon industry, which resulted from "the sudden collapse of the chinook salmon run in California's Sacramento River, where the salmon return to spawn", according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Bob Lohn, the administrator of the NOAA Fisheries, insisted that the money was not diverted but merely delayed and will be distributed with the new budget year.

Thompson responded, ""It's just a terrible thing, and it's going to hurt a lot of people." He noted the economic impact of the disaster on the fishermen and their families stating, "They were caught in a disaster, Congress responded, and the Bush administration has once again failed the American public."

Thompson, along with other Democratic leaders, have suggested that the funds were diverted towards supporting Republican Sen. Gordon Smith's tight race against Jeff Merkley (D) in Oregon.

Republicans are discrediting the Democratic congressman's claims as mere conspiracy theories.

Thompson persists in his fight to have the $70 million promised to the fishermen delivered immediately as originally intended.

He says, "Maybe, we should go to OMB (the White House budget office) and withhold over 30 percent of their salaries and tell them, 'Don't worry. In time you'll get it back.' "

Supporting Evidence: Thompson for the Fishermen (www.sfgate.com)
Side: Thompson for the Fishermen
4 points

Mike Thompson has not only been very vocal in the needs of the first district since he was voted into office in 1998, but he's a lifelong resident of the first district (Napa). He’s worked hard to be a voice for the entire North Coast, even securing $170 million in relief for California, Oregon, and Washington's devastated Salmon Fisheries. He introduced the farmland bill that offered landowners an incentive for protecting wildlife habitat, farmland and open spaces. He is o the Congressional Wine Caucus as well as a wine grape grower himself, so he knows first hand at the troubles and needs of winegrowers in Napa and the surrounding counties, and how vital it is to the local economy. In July Thompson introduced legislation to begin deploying troops from Iraq. He is also a member of the Ways & Means committee where he helped drafted legislation to extend health care. He believes fiscal responsibility should be emphasized in the federal budget, and is a proponent of the pay-as-you-go budgeting process in congress. He’s not only an asset to congress, but he’s an incredible asset to the communities of the first district.

Supporting Evidence: Mike Thompson's Official Site (mikethompson.house.gov)
Side: Thompson for the Fishermen
7 points

Mike Thompson is an Obama supporter and may face an uphill challenge from Starkewolf, who is called a "green" Republican but seems to be taking some stances that used to be part of the Republican tradition: He has supported the war in Iraq but believes it has been won and now wants our troops brought home; supports term limits; and seems to be more of a noninterventionist.

Side:
Zane Starkewolf (R)
6 points

Zane Starewolfe, the "Green" Republican candidate for the House of Representatives is setting out to defeat the incumbent Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson in a state well-known for its Democratic congressmen.

Zane considers the Trinity River and Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement to be the most pressing issue to be addressed by the impending Representative of California's First District. While he applauds the water usage agreement reached between the farmers, Indian tribes, government agencies, fishermen, and conservation groups in the area, Zane see it as the first step in a long process of providing the much-needed energy to the region. He is calling for more government spending to help and kick-start the initiatives that will address the concerns regarding the removal of the dams necessary while deliberating a resolution between the divided constituencies.

Supporting Evidence: Water Usage (www.eurekareporter.com)
Side: Water Usage Agreement
6 points

Many Republicans are starting to go back to their "roots" and follow traditional Republican stances. Mr. Starkewolfe is now one of them. With his support of troop withdrawal of U.S. forces in Iraq and his support of immigration reform makes him a top candidate of the Republican Congressional races.

A lot of Republicans are now discussing the problem of U.S. outsourcing jobs and Mr. Starkewolfe is one of the leading advocates of stopping this problem, which has been going on since the mid-90s when President Clinton was sending tens of thousands of jobs overseas.

Also with the Sarbanes/Oxley bill passed earlier this decade, it will be interesting to see if the Green Republican will challenge this bureaucratic and horrendous bill for the private sector.

Side: Zane Starkewolf
6 points

Congressman Thompson has joined the majority of the House by breaching the Constitution with his vote on the revised Wall Street bailout bill. Starkewolf would certainly never approve of such spending after stating his awareness that the value of the dollar has already gone down with the war in Iraq even though he has supported this part of Bush's agenda.

Side:
Zane Starkewolf (R)