More websites for you

I've added a number of websites over in the list to the right, most of them quite entertaining (especially PolitiFact with its "Truth-O-Meter" settings).

But I especially want to draw your attention to the more substantive webpage, GovTrack.us. It won't give you any information about Governor Palin because it is dedicated to tracking legislation through Congress. But as such, it can give you a good idea of the focus and interests of the two candidates for president, both how they vote (which is pretty straight ticket voting), but perhaps more revealingly, what bills they sponsor or co-sponsor.

John McCain's summary page is here. You will find out that he is the ranking member on the Armed Services Committee (and a member of various subcommittees), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (and various subcommittees), and a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Statistics: John McCain has sponsored 537 bills since Jan 21, 1993, of which 340 haven't made it out of committee and 31 were successfully enacted. McCain has co-sponsored 1232 bills during the same time period.

Some of McCain's most recently sponsored bills include...
S. 722: Walnut Canyon Study Act of 2007 (to suggest an area of AZ be designated a national monument)
S. 2172: Saffron Revolution Support Act of 2007 (related to Burma, supporting democracy and condemning its current repressive regime)
S. 32: Defense Acquisition Reform Act of 2007
S. 1255: Indian Arts and Crafts Amendments Act of 2007 (making it illegal to falsely label non-Indian made arts as Indian)

None of these ever came to a vote, BTW.

Barack Obama's summary page is here.

He serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, along with subcommittees for all but the last.

Statistics: Barack Obama has sponsored 136 bills since Jan 4, 2005, of which 122 haven't made it out of committee and 2 were successfully enacted. Obama has co-sponsored 659 bills during the same time period.

Some of Obama's most recently sponsored bills include...
S. 2030: A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (to require reporting relating to bundled contributions made by persons other than registered lobbyists)
S. 2111: Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act
S. 2066: Back to School: Improving Standards for Nutrition and Physical Education in Schools Act of 2007

None of these came to a vote either.

Oh, for the heck of it, here's Joe Biden's details:

He's the chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, co-chair of the United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and a member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Statistics: Joseph Biden has sponsored 287 bills since Jan 21, 1993, of which 158 haven't made it out of committee and 15 were successfully enacted. Biden has co-sponsored 1407 bills during the same time period.

Some of Biden's most recently sponsored bills include...
S. 3061: William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (William Wilberforce! Yay!)
S.Res. 328: A resolution condemning the assassination on September 19, 2007, of Antoine Ghanem, a member of the Parliament of Lebanon who opposed Syrian interference in Lebanon. (This passed in the Senate)
S.Res. 320: A resolution recognizing the achievements of the people of Ukraine in pursuit of freedom and democracy, and expressing the hope that the parliamentary elections on September 30, 2007, preserve and extend these gains and provide for a stable and representative government. (as did this)

Yes, it's not as much fun as partisan squabbling, but these webpages may give you a better idea of what these candidates are like when they're not on the campaign trail giving stump speeches. You can also read their floor speeches, check their voting records, and link to their homepages. It's a great resource.

Dig in, and enjoy.