U.S. Senate

Jack Carter

Age: 59

Hometown: Las Vegas

Family: Father former President Jimmy Carter, mother: Rosalynn Carter, wife: Elizabeth Carter; sons: Jason Carter and John Chuldenko; daughters: Sarah Carter, Sarah Reynolds; grandson: Henry Carter

Political background: Democrat, first run for political office

What is your position on the administration's handling of the war on terror?

This administration knows how to talk the anti-terrorism talk, but it has no idea how to walk the walk. I supported our invasion of Afghanistan to break the back of the people who attacked us on September 11. Unfortunately, this administration failed to capture Osama bin Laden even after he'd been cornered. They declared victory after chasing the enemy into the hills, rather than finish them off and put an end to his terrorist threat.

President Bush got distracted in an unnecessary and disastrous war in Iraq, which left the Taliban time to regroup. Now they're back. Meanwhile, Iraq has become the largest and best training ground and recruitment opportunity for our enemies. The administration rejected their military commanders' advice, thinking they could fight a war on the cheap. They have made our real enemies stronger. Now they talk about attacking Iran - again, with no sense of the consequences and no plan to win. We need Senators who will exercise oversight on this incompetent, shortsighted and irresponsible behavior.

The national debt has risen to record levels in the past six years and is still climbing. How do you propose getting the budget deficits under control and bringing the debt down again? Or is that important?

The debt hasn't just risen to record levels: it has doubled. Half of all the money this country owes has been put on our tab since the Bush Administration began - and this after the Clinton Administration left a budget surplus. Vice President Cheney famously said that "deficits don't matter" - he was dead wrong and we're all paying the price.

Our Grandson Henry, born Sept. 2nd, is paying a birth tax, every child born will inherit this administration's debt and failures. The U.S. Army is literally bankrupt - in default. They are financing our deficit with markers to our strongest economic competitors, China and Japan. Meanwhile, this administration has funneled as much money as they can into the pockets of those special interests who least need it.

Getting out of the hole they have dug us into will get harder every year that Congress refuses to put a brake on this administration's policies. For starters, I would move every tax break for the wealthy back to Clinton Administration levels. The wealthy were doing pretty well then; the difference is that back then the rest of us were also.

Contact information

Telephone: Northern Nevada (775) 851-2722

Southern Nevada (702) 309-5225

Web site: www.Carterfornevada.com

John Ensign

Age: 48

Hometown: Las Vegas

Occupation: U.S. Senator, veterinarian

Family: Wife Darlene Sciaretta; children: Trevor, Siena and Michael

Political background: Republican, represented Nevada in the U.S. Senate since 2000; Served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-99.

What is your position on the administration's handling of the war on terror?

We need to remember that we are fighting radical Islamic extremists who want to destroy the world as we know it. If we do not aggressively pursue them where they hide we will be fighting them on our homeland. That is the lesson of Sept. 11, 2001.

Having visited our troops twice in Iraq, I have seen first hand the sacrifice the men and women of America's military are making every day as they fight to defend our freedoms. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I am committed to providing our troops with the support they need both on the front lines and here at home.

The national debt has risen to record levels in the past six years and is still climbing. How do you propose getting the budget deficits under control and bringing the debt down again? Or is that important?

I believe Congress needs to start practicing fiscal discipline and working to bring down the federal deficit, which is why I have cosponsored the Stop Over-Spending Act. By reforming the budget process this bill will help eliminate wasteful government spending.

I took the lead to cut government spending in order to offset the tens of billions of dollars being spent on hurricane relief in the Gulf Coast region.

As a former small-business owner, I have not lost sight of the need to keep our state's small businesses strong and our taxes low. That combination will help ensure a booming economy that creates new jobs, increases revenue, which can be used to pay down the debt, and will keep Nevada strong.

Contact information

Telephone: (702) 269-5479

E-mail: info@JohnEnsign.org

David K. Schumann

Age: 67

Hometown: Minden

Occupation: Retired

Family: Married with one married son.

Political background: Independent American Party

What is your position on the administration's handling of the war on terror?

They have been too politically correct right up until the last month or two. Finally, they are calling it what it is, a worldwide jihad which has been going on, to my personal knowledge for at least 30 years. When I worked in the Philippines 30 years ago, the people told me then that they had been battling Islamic terrorism since WWII. Same story in India and on the Malay Thai border. Anyone who is not a Muslim, is, in the eyes of the jihadists, a blasphemer who needs to have his head cut off. I think Bush has finally realized what we are up against. He is at least trying which is more than many in D.C. are willing to do.

The national debt has risen to record levels in the past six years and is still climbing. How do you propose getting the budget deficits under control and bringing the debt down again? Or is that important?

It is very important and the way to do it is to severely cut nondefense spending. We are getting far more government that we need or want.

Contact information

Telephone: (775) 220-8497

E-mail: DKSCHUMANN@Charter.net