Fancy Store-Bought Dirt

Rating Key Issues in the Campaign

Inspired by the graph that accompanied this post:

For each of the items on this list, identify whether it is (or is not) "one of the most important issues for [you] in choosing a presidential candidate." Also identify whether you "need more information" about that issue. My answers after the jump.

The war in Iraq
Global competitiveness
Terrorism
Education
Tax policy
Ethanol and renewable energy
Health care and health insurance
The nation's long-term debt
Relationships with other countries
Immigration
Abortion
National security
Faith and values
Global warming
Economy and jobs
Social Security
Judicial nominations
Trade policy
Gay marriage

Proceeding on the assumption that someone had asked me these by phone (so I didn't know what else was coming):

The war in Iraq - KEY ISSUE, NEED MORE INFORMATION
Global competitiveness - yes, but don't need more
Terrorism - yes, no
Education - no, no
Tax policy - yes, no
Ethanol and renewable energy - no, no
Health care and health insurance - no, no
The nation's long-term debt - yes, no
Relationships with other countries - no, no
Immigration - yes, no
Abortion - no, no
National security - yes, no
Faith and values - no, no
Global warming - no, no
Economy and jobs - yes, no
Social Security - yes, no
Judicial nominations - yes, no
Trade policy - yes, no
Gay marriage - no, no

To sum up, I need more information about the Iraq War (but nothing else); with two exceptions the issues I care about in the presidential election all relate to economic issues or global security. (Those exceptions are "immigration" (which you could argue relates to both) and judicial nominations.)