Joshua Micah Marshall, a former Washington Editor of the American Prospect, has some good insider dirt on Washington politics. His "Talking Points" website examines "astroturf" organizing, "op-ed payola" and other schemes used to manipulate the media and elected officials. It also provides viewable access to actual strategy documents from PR firms and lobbyists, such as a 1991 plan developed by van Kloberg & Associates for then-Zairian dictator Mobutu, and a 1992 plan developed by Jefferson Waterman International to help the Republic of Croatia get away with ethnic cleansing.

When Marty Jezer got a letter and survey in the mail from "Citizens Against the Shutdown of Vermont Yankee," he guessed right away that the group was a front for his local nuclear power plant. "Vermont Yankee has always presented its side of the nuclear story with vigor," he says. "They have a public relations staff trained to do that job. So why the front group? Why the transparently ridiculous attempt to show grassroots support?"