Starting a political web site, need any help I can get!

[BloodyWilliam]

Hi, everyone. I'm starting a political web site called Four Lights, at www.fourlights.org. I have the web space, I have the domain name, I have a great deal of ideas for stories and political analysis, but I'm completely boned when it comes to site design or graphics. I think I'm going to use a content management system or blog software like Php-Nuke or Nucleus, but it's all rather intimidating getting started. Does anyone have any tips, or want to contribute to Four Lights?

Why the name? Remember that Star Trek: TNG episode, Chain of Command, when Captain Picard is abducted by Cardassians and interrogated? He's constantly shown a set of four lights and told there are five. At the end, when he's released, he stands defiantly and shrieks, "THERE... ARE... FOUR... LIGHTS!!!" I figure it's geek-esoteric enough to be vague, yet defiant enough to be appropriate.

[brainshrub]

1. Use Drupal for your CMS.

My own site uses Drupal, it's great. Here's a short list of why you should go with Drupal:

1) It's Open Source.

2) Drupal may not look as pretty as some other CMS programs, but it's as solid as a rock. The sourcecode is well written and it's easy to track down problems or customize.

4) Drupal's admin interface is intuitive and simple to learn. The modules are easy to install.

5) Google likes Drupal. (Drupal's unique taxonomy makes it simple for Googlebot to find anything, you'll be amazed at how much Google will bless your site.

There are other reasons, but that's the short version.

I strongly suggest you experiment with different CMS programs first here:

http://www.opensourcecms.com