Election 2004  -  What's your platform???

Issues
Foreign policy - Iraq, Africa, Latin America, Middle East
Homeland Security - civil liberties, effectiveness, cost
Energy/Environment - drilling for oil, hybrid cars, price of oil
Health care - health insurance, Medicare, prescription drugs
Education - No Child Left behind, teacher salaries, standards, school vouchers,
Military - defense initiatives, troop size and salaries, health benefits, veterans
Economy - deficit, taxes
Employment - jobs, outsourcing, union vs. non-union, social security
Specific populations - immigrants, women, senior citizens, unemployed

Information needed
definitions, statistics, facts, opinions
reports, research, surveys, data
media influence or perception

Questions to be asked?
Who would benefit or prosper  from your position?
Why would any one oppose your view? Who is the opposition?
Where would you get the facts to support your position?
Is there more than one way to accomplish your goal?
What is the compromise point of view ?
What is the strongest  support you have for your platform?
What is the weakest part of your platform?

Sources for Information
Databases for news coverage. Be sure to log in if you want to access from home.
InfoTrac -  good source for full text magazine articles
ProQuest  - best place for 9 national newspapers full text

Web Sites:
Librarians Index to the Internet  good collection of annotated links
US Census election related reports 
Democrat National Committee
Republican National Committee
Ralph Nader
Fact checker -as mentioned in USA Today  4/6/04
CNN election coverage