John,

Thanks.. Did the trick.

>Try this one:
>
>http://www.msnbc.com/news/483201.asp
>
>>Would you mind posting the URL. I couldn't find it. Perhaps others would like to take a peek?
>>
>>Thanks!
>>
>>
>>>There is a very good voting guide at www.MSNBC.com written by, of all people, Jesse Ventura.
>>>
>>>>>The US presidental election is on Tuesday and I still haven't decided who to vote for. I'm looking for websites that give the facts about each candidate. The reason I didn't use a search engine is because I'm looking for ones that are as accurate and unbiased as possible. That takes a judgement call, and I don't know any search engines that smart. :) I value the opinions of this group, so I thought I'd ask here.
>>>>>
>>>>>I don't want to start a political discussion, so _please_ don't post reasons why I should vote for your favorite. I'm just looking for URLs. I'm hoping to find something better to base my vote on than political commercials. :)
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>>Michelle
>>>>
>>>>Michelle,
>>>>
>>>>I'd agree with David on www.voter.com as being about as unbiased as it comes. While I have been accused of being to the right of Atilla the Hun I can't really concur since I don't know how conservative he was. <g>
>>>>
>>>>If I may, there are a couple of issues here that seem important to me in the education process I'd like to toss out just for fun.
>>>>
>>>>1) Educate yourself on the Candidates - That is, what do the candidates stand for and what positions do they take? Here I'd just go straight to their respective web pages. While the bilge content will still be fairly high <g> you can at least get a 'sense' of what they are saying this week. <g>
>>>>
>>>>2) Responsiblity - Ultimately, in our Republic (we're not a Democracy, ok? <g>), each member of our society with the right and priviledge of voting should be willing to take the effort to vote. Few things irritate more than the the whiney individual who complains about the results of elections and who also admits to not participating in the process. IOW, put up or shut up. <g>
>>>>
>>>>Please vote on Tuesday!
>>>>
>>>>3) Understand the process - That is (for example), learn what the Electoral College is all about. Why can someone have the majority of the popular vote and lose the election? Why was this set up this way? Does it have bearing for these days? (I think it does IMO)
>>>>
>>>>4) Issues matter - Again, where do the candidates stand? I tend to like to look at what the opposing is saying about their opponent. Why? They will always look for the weak spots and do their best to highlight them. Here's where I see where the vulnerabilities are. Places like www.newsmax.com and www.nationalreview.com for the conservative side and www.abcnews.com or www.cbs.com for the Liberal pov. <g> I like www.drudgereport.com as he has perfected the art of digging out the next 'hot' story. While ostensibly a conservative Matt Drudge is actually more like the older beat reporter than anything else. He's a gadfly and he does look for the angle. He also drives the current media establishment totally nuts (which I like) and is IMO an effective counterpart to them, much along the reasons of why we have a divided government.
>>>>
>>>>5) Read the classics - You will most likely not have time now but when you get a chance read "The Federalist Papers" and Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations" (I think this is the correct title - please correct if I'm wrong) and so forth. These will help give you an historic perspective and that matters.
>>>>
>>>>Also, some modern day classics to me at least have eminated from the pen of Dr. Thomas Sowell. Incredibly brilliant writings.
>>>>
>>>>6) Character IMO does indeed count - Where are the candidates on moral issues. There is a Liberal Shibbolth that statse, "You cannot legislate morality." and I respectfully reject that statement as being totally false. All laws are expresions of someone's moral code, whether or not you or I agree with it. Laws are entirely an expression of some moral position. So, if you can accept my position (and I know many do not) then you should think through the notion as to which candidate is closer to your point of view. While I'm a conservative (typically) I'd much rather vote for an honest Liberal than a dishonest Conservative. In my POV honesty and character matter a huge amount. I understand others don't care and that's their right I suppose. I do and that's mine. <g> To me character is a HUGE component.
>>>>
>>>>7) Biases are good - Why do we believe the notion that only the unbiased are good? I have a bias; I am a conservative. I am fully prepared to explain why I take a certain position and it is when I am challenged that I learn. The whole notion of not having a bias (read: position I have concluded something upon) is just plain dumb IMO. Does that mean that because I have them that I axiomatically hold the correct position? No, not at all. Nor the opposite. That's why the conflict of the process is so important. Again, I'd point you to the Federalist Papers right here for a complete reasoning of why I hold this position.
>>>>
>>>>8) Check your sources - Remember - There are no uninterested parties in the public side of these discussions. News outlets are not, for the most part, totally unbiased. Check out mine. Check out theirs. Take responsibility. Participate.
>>>>
>>>>Newspapers, Television networks, weekly and monthly magazines make a lot of money selling advertising space during the election cycles. They also endorse candidates. They rightfully take posisions. But, they are NOT unbiased.
>>>>
>>>>I suspect we Americans do not understand the unique and powerful priviledges and responsibilities we enjoy. Most other countries in the entire world have few of the opportunities to participate in the process like we.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Anyway, start with the URLs I've given and if you need more I can help out. I enjoy this process and find the human interaction facinating.