Underwater ad

Redistricting Game
This is a great way to help you students understand the redistricting process.

Hope and Change and Other Presidents
Click on the picture above to see how many other president mentioned hope and change (and how many times) in their inaugural speeches.

Sheeee's Back!
Did she ever go?! I am putting this up here because government students need to know that in deciding to run for president just two years ago, Obama was an exception. Sen. Edwards was speaking in Iowa in early 2005 and now Palin has her own website. She has not filed her papers yet, but has established the PAC in Arlington, VA which a lot of aspiring presidents do because there are no limits on collecting money in VA. More Above the picture is the an ad attacking Sen Harry Reid (D-NV) who is up for re-election in 2010. The ad was made by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (Picture from sarahpac.com)

Information on Every President
This site has presidential election results, cabinet members, notable events, internet biographies, historical documents, media resources for EVERY president. What more could you ask for in a presidential site!

Federalism Cartoon

VA Gubernatorial Race
Here is VA we have a governor's race as well as state legislative races (as does NJ). There is only one Republican running, Bob McDonnell, but Terry McAuliffe (of DNC fame), former state delegate Brian Moran (brother of US rep Jim Moran) and state senator Creigh Deeds (who interestingly holds the seat that Emily Couric - yes sister of Katie used to have before she died of cancer). While the Democratic primary isn't until June, we already have the first television ad out (see above).

Bush, in Pictures

The New York Times and documentary filmmaker Errol Morris put together some pics of President Bush with insightful commentary.

Great Movie on the 2006-08 Campaign
Yes, I did write 06-08 because Obama didn't jump into the campaign until 24 months ago, although McCain was in long before then. Go here for a great four part video on the election that includes "the landscape, the campaign, the voters and a president chosen." You can also go here to see a great interactive graphic for many (and all of the targeted) states that shows exit polling for many demographic groups (gender, race - except for Hispanics, age, schooling, etc.)

More on the Presidents
This site has very nice time lines, key achievements as well as pre and post presidential life for Hoover through Clinton.

The Media

A cartoon on the media.

Social Security Cartoon

Great cartoon on Social Security

Budget Game
One of the more complicated concepts we teach is the budget. Here is a way to help the kids understand it and learn at the same time. It is up to date enough to include Obama's platform and the kids have to include 2/3s of it in their budget.

Executive Orders and Gitmo
Here is the signing of the closing of Gitmo one year from today. The video is interesting as Obama clearly has not read the executive order (what president really does) and even asks his counsel about another forthcoming one.

Voter Turnout Analysis

Interesting analysis from the Monkey Cage blog.