You Mean Shenanigans?

"Hey Farva what's the name of that restaurant you like with all the goofy shit on the walls and the mozzarella sticks?"

(I know it's been quite a while, but I've been yelling at my TV too much lately to have the time to type here.)

[NOTE: If the layout of this post is fucked up, I'm sorry, the 'Post Blog' thing is wacky spacing today.]


You have your choices for President, I have mine. I will say yours is wrong, as will you - lest you agree with me, as you probably should. But this is little to do with who you should choose versus who you shouldn't. It's really a comparison of all the major candidates' for president web sites. Or, the introduction page, to be more specific. I will point out the differences and similarities between them and an amateur analysis of why they are set up this way.

Most of the candidates sites start with an introduction page that allows you to fill in some information and sign up for notifications from the candidate and/or party. What I will be pointing out is the quite different (and similar) methods undertaken for these introduction pages, and how they are presented to the visitor.


This analysis will start with three numbers from 0-10 (zero to ten):

Appeal: is this an appealing page? Does it look professional?
(0: my mom laid this out; 10: this must have cost a fortune)

Usability: Can I sign up quickly and easily? Is everything presented in a quick-to-find format and easy to read?
(0: ahh, seizures; 10: clicky, clicky)

Hidden: This is the sole reason I started this "analysis." Is the "continue to site" link easy to find and readable?
(0: where the fuck is it, 10: OMG there it is)


The candidates I chose to include in this analysis (yea right!) were all the Major Candidates listed on the Project Vote Smart site that have an introduction page on their web site. Here's the names and major party affiliation (these candidates will not appear on all ballots in all states):

• Robert L. Barr Jr. - Libertarian
• John S. McCain, III - Republican
• Ralph Nader - Independent
• Barack H. Obama, Jr. - Democratic

Robert L. Barr Jr. - Libertarian

Appeal: 9
Usability: 7
Hidden: 7
Total: 23

This site only has two options: "sign up" and "continue." In this case, both links are right next to each other and not separated by anything prominent. The "continue" link is easy to find and takes you right to the site. The "sign up" link is a red - albeit classy - button that stands out but doesn't scream at me.Note: this is one of two that actually have the candidates picture on the intro page.




John S. McCain, III - Republican
Appeal: 8 Usability: 9

Hidden: 8
Total: 25



This page has multiple options: the normal "continue" and "sign up," as well as "Why John McCain," "Recruit Friends," and "Call Voters." The sheer number of options on this simple page warrants the higher Usability rating. All are topics and things that a campaign needs from the people to succeed. Two of these options take you to other sign up pages, and the "why" page provides a text and video summary of the candidate.

A video is provided on this into page, giving the visitor an option to hang around a while and watch. Very good, in my opinion, as this will give a longer view of the contents, and could lead to more contacts for the candidate.

Note: This is the only page with a video. Is that a plus? I don't know.




Ralph Nader - Independent

Appeal: 6
Usability: 6
Hidden: 3
Total: 15

This page contains five (5) separate options for the visitor; "sign up," "continue," "contribute," and two I didn't see at first, "volunteer," and "spread the word." Not being one of the two (2) "major parties" in US politics, actually getting on the ballot in all fifty states is a priority.

The main problem with this page is the odd layout and weird blue and black map. I can see this confusing some of the "less-intelligent" (and that's being polite) Americans who look at it as a electoral map.

"Sign up" and "contribute" are the major options on the page. But, as is common with others, the "sign up" is the most prominent, in an odd green star burst hanging on the corner of the main section. The "continue" link is there, but is simply text on the page background and blends in so as to not look like anything important. This is most likely on purpose to get more sign ups from visitors not paying complete attention.

Note: This is the only candidate listed here not yet on the ballot in all 50 states.

Barack H. Obama, Jr. - Democratic

Appeal: 7

Usability: 6Hidden: 0.5Total: 11.5Of all the sites 'analyzed' here, this one is by far the worst. The layout is good, logo at the top, [propaganda] slogan in huge letters at the top of the candidates picture - with his family - sign up link beneath that with the big 'ol button. The only other color on the page is red, and this color is completely contained within the "sign up" button. This button, at first glance, appears to be the only option on this page, and has probably fooled many a [democratic, read: stupid] visitor into giving up their information when not necessary. It does draw your eye right to it though, which is the point of most of these sites.

Here we come to the very reason for this analysis in the first place. Go ahead and try to find the "continue" link on that page.... I'll wait........ really........... go ahead...................... what? you can't find it? Look again, it's there, I promise.............. find it yet? Well, if you didn't, it's on the bottom right of the box and it says, "Skip sign up, go to the website." I bet you couldn't find it at first...

The reason for hiding this link so blatantly speaks a lot for this specific candidate and his interactions with the people. (That's as far as I'll take that for now.)

Note: Don't vote for this candidate, you will get change, but not the way you think.



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I would welcome an official psychological analysis/discussion as to why one candidate would make this link so much harder to find than another. My 'analysis' is merely a subjective observation, but I think it shows what each candidate expects from visitors to their site and how they decide to truely interact with them.


Some candidates apparently believe visitors are intelligent people who can handle themselves whichever option they decide to go with. Others, however, feel they need to guide the visitor to the correct place, either by accentuating one part, or blatantly hiding others.


Do I believe the intro page will change the mind of 'undecided' (read: stupid) voters? No, they're already dumb enough, if a pretty web site is all it takes for them to make up their mind, then fuck 'em.


God bless a country where the dumbest among us can sway the decisions that affect hard-working intelligent (read: conservative) Americans. :-\




Next Point: Remember "The Empty Suit?" Oh yea, he's next.