Extra Credit
You've registered. You've researched. Citizen Jane, you're ready to vote!
But if you feel like you've just seen the tip of the political iceberg, here is where you can learn more about what lies beneath the surface of American politics....
C-SPAN.org
You know about C-SPAN's coverage of the House floor, and yes, maybe it does remind you of paint drying. But check out the reams of other great stuff from C-SPAN. From unguarded moments on the campaign trail to debates for your state's Senate seat to the actual audio recordings of LBJ in the White House, this site is a treasure trove for the political nerd in you.
FactCheck.org
“Wow, Candidate X really IS a terrible person. He even pulls the wings off butterflies!” That’s how most political commercials paid for by Candidate Y are supposed to make you feel. But before you believe everything you see, go to this independent and well- researched site to see if it’s even true.
FEC.gov
The Federal Election Commission's "People Finder" will tell you who is giving to which federal campaigns. Curious if your neighbor, boss or BFF is a Leftie or a Rightie? Find out here, along with what the campaigns do with all that money.
Nick Olsen’s Deal Hunter Blog
This nook on Domino magazine’s web site is not at all political, but there’s no other place to find out about design on the cheap while also reading things like: “Cause of death? Chicness.”
OpenSecrets.org
If the FEC’s site is the map of money in American politics, OpenSecrets is its Google Map. Drill down through the numbers to see the stories they tell. But be warned- it’s not pretty.
RealClearPolitics Poll Page
RealClearPolitics Poll page - Who’s up in the polls? Who’s down? Although I’m not a fan of focusing on polling, this site keeps the polls straight and gives you a handy average of all of them. Keep in mind the advice I got recently from a pollster, however: an average with a bad poll is a bad average.
The SCOTUS Blog
SCOTUS is not something you catch, it's the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS- get it?), and the SCOTUS Blog breaks the latest news and analysis about the Court every day. Huge issues related to your local community (like property rights or race in education) ultimately get decided by the Court, so ignore this co-equal branch of the government at your own peril.
Stateline.org
Funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, Stateline publishes daily, state-by-state political and policy news. If you have a local issue in your community, like bridges in need of repair, Stateline shows you if other states are going though something similar and what they're doing about it.
Thomas.gov
Who requested the Bridge to Nowhere? Has your congressman EVER passed a bill? Who voted against the Iraq War? The Library of Congress' Thomas website (named for Thomas Jefferson) lets you search bills, votes, treaties, committee reports and lots of other documents.
The Truth-o-Meter
Is there any better punishment for a politician lying than getting the dreaded “Pants on Fire” rating? I don’t think so. Enjoy this gem from the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly now and thank me for telling you about it later!
USA Today's Political Match Game
The EHarmony of politics. Find out which candidate shares your values, hopes, dreams and plans for a Cap ‘n Trade policy for the United States. My results surprised (or frightened?) me, but like dating, sometimes fate knows us better than we know ourselves.
Women's Voices. Women's Vote
The voting segment you will hear more about than any other in 2008 is that of unmarried women. WVWV has the deepest and broadest research into who makes up this group, why many are not voting, and what it will take for candidates to get them to the polls. I rarely look to interest groups for research, but this is the best anywhere.