The issues that are important to me.

As I commence my earnest search for a presidential candidate this upcoming year, I will be looking at a few things, including, but not exclusive to, these:

Children and education: What is the candidate's stance on child health care? pre-school programs like Head Start? No Child Left Behind? school funding reform? delinquency policies? vouchers? bussing? scholarships? foster care?

The "morality" (I use that term loosely and a bit pejoratively) issues, like abortion and homosexuality. AKA, how invasive will they prove to be in our personal lives?

In the economy, how pro-corporation will they be? Will they discontinue the trend of raping unionization? Will they stop giving big business and the rich tax breaks? Will they try to decrease the effects of the military-industrial complex and the iron triangle? (This last one is sort of a throwaway... nothing will be done, but it's still good to hope, neh?)

And, most importantly, when the fuck are we getting out of Iraq? What is their stance on how to reduce the massive deficit?