Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with bush

Searching for Schuster

king walnut — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:00:00 -0800

Looking for a segment composed by MSNBC's David Schuster in which he compiles a montage of clips showing Bush repeatedly insisting he would get warrants before eavesdropping on phone calls of American citizens. It was aired just before the big FISA circumvention story broke. Used to be on YouTube, but I can't find it now. Surely it's around somewhere?

Someone took a picture / of Kate Moss doing lines / Now she's being victimized / for imaginary crimes

TheNewWazoo — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:33:23 -0800

Does anyone have a good download link for the entirety of thepartyparty's tracks? I remember I used to have 8 or 9 different remixes, but the website seems to have whittled that down to only 5, and with no clean download links. I need my "Dick is a Killer"!

Has The Simpsons ever attacked President Bush directly?

Effigy2000 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:47:21 -0800

I haven't watched The Simpsons regularly since about season 12 or 13, but in those episodes I did happen to catch on TV, I have never seen them directly attack President Bush. I do remember back in the 'golden age' they used to regularly poke fun at Clinton (to name but one example, Clinton playing the sax and Moe telling him to "get back to work"). I'm wondering if regular watchers of The Simpsons can point me to episodes from season 13 onwards where they did directly parody or attack Bush.

What stereotypes do Americans have of Massachusetts and New England?

gregb1007 — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:49:43 -0800

What stereotypes do Americans have of Massachusetts and New England? Ever since hearing President Bush's derisive reference to John Kerry as a "Massachusetts" liberal, I've asked myself whether Americans who live far from the bay state have negative stereotypes of Mass (and New England) in general. I've also had some foreigners tell me that they think that Mass is overrun with rich wasps. (That impression apparently derived from viewing law sitcoms.) Anyhow, my question is: What stereotypes, if any, do Americans have of Mass?

Is the bear already in the house?

Funmonkey1 — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:35:36 -0800

I have just spent the afternoon watching stocks around the world decline partially based on sub prime market fallout. My question is how can things be so great when the Fed is handing out stacks of cash to keep things stable (34 Billion USD and counting, not including the international bail out)?

Hi-res Bush Photos

jpoulos — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:28:07 -0800

Where can I find hi-res images of George W Bush--especially candid pics? I've checked all the usual places (google images, whitehouse.gov, etc). I'd even pay a few bucks if necessary.

Removing stubborn bush from rear subframe on car

aqueousdan — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 08:23:16 -0800

How do I remove stubborn rear subframe bushes on my 2003 MK3 Ford Mondeo? I dont fancy using a blowtorch down there but any efforts with a sharp pointy tool are in vain as the old bush rubber pulls it back into place.

How to celebrate Dubya's birthday?

Ash3000 — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 08:59:02 -0800

Celebrating George W. Bush's birthday ironically - any ideas for party games, trivia questions or otherwise? Hey all,
I'm part of a group of progressives putting together a totally ironic birthday party tonight for President Bush, including party games like pin the tale on the donkey, bobbing for war rationalizations, etc., and I need your help. Part of the party will be a Bush trivia contest, hopefully with questions which are either multiple-choice or number-answers, and even better illuminating just how awful the Bush presidency has been, all while being not too tough, not too easy.

ANY trivia questions, ANY ideas for the party (there's still time), ANYthing else related would be much appreciated - thanks!

Executive Branch Power

jimmyjimjim — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 10:25:25 -0800

Why is the presidential administration working so persistently to bequeath extra powers to their likely Democrat successors? Though this question delves into sensitive political waters, the question itself is fairly neutral - it's about strategy rather than idealogy, and I hope people will respond as such (rather than launch diatribes):

The current administration has been doing everything it can to expand the power and autonomy of the executive branch. But why would they want this, when the executive branch is just as likely to be inhabited by Democrats? I can't imagine Bush/Cheney and Co. would be pleased to see a liberal president acting unchecked....so why this push, with its long-lasting implications?

I do understand that at the beginning of this administration, Republicans were confident they'd hold the executive branch for decades...so the play for executive power made sense at that time. However, the future is now considerably less assured. So why is this power play not just continuing but accelerating (e.g. Cheney's latest)?

I'd like to discourage replies ala "they're simply insane" and other such useless ranting.

Libby v. Nixon?

spiderwire — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 01:26:03 -0800

Is there a parallel between the Special Prosecutor problem in US v. Nixon and the commutation of a sentence imposed pursuant to a Special Prosecutor investigation, as in the case of "Scooter" Libby? [more inside] I've been asking this question around to anyone I thought could answer it -- to no avail -- so I decided I might as well bring it here, as well. I'm honestly curious what I'm missing here -- either the question is critical to the Libby issue, or I'm nuts, and if I'm nuts, I'd like to know why. I'd like to make it clear up front that I'm not trying to bait anyone here -- I'm going to be defending this position, and I need to test if its tenable.

The question is: How does commuting Libby's sentence square with U.S. v. Nixon? According to the GAO, Fitzgerald's appointment by Comey reads:

"By the authority vested in the Attorney General by law, including 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, and 515, and in my capacity as Acting Attorney General pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 508, I hereby delegate to you all the authority of the Attorney General with respect to the Department's investigation into the alleged unauthorized disclosure of a CIA employee's identity, and I direct you to exercise that authority as Special Counsel independent of the supervision or control of any officer of the Department.

In February 2004, Acting Attorney General Comey clarified Special Counsel Fitzgerald's delegation of authority to state that the authority previously delegated to him is plenary. It also states, 'Further, my conferral on you of the title of Special Counsel' in this matter should not be misunderstood to suggest that your position and authorities are defined and limited by 28 CFR Part 600.'"

That seems to me to directly track Nixon, which reads, in relevant part:

"So long as this regulation is extant it has the force of law. In United States ex rel. Accardi v. Shaughnessy, 347 U.S. 260 (1954), regulations of the Attorney General delegated certain of his discretionary powers to the Board [418 U.S. 683, 696] of Immigration Appeals and required that Board to exercise its own discretion on appeals in deportation cases. The Court held that so long as the Attorney General's regulations remained operative, he denied himself the authority to exercise the discretion delegated to the Board even though the original authority was his and he could reassert it by amending the regulations. ...

Here, as in Accardi, it is theoretically possible for the Attorney General to amend or revoke the regulation defining the Special Prosecutor's authority. But he has not done so. So long as this regulation remains in force the Executive Branch is bound by it, and indeed the United States as the sovereign composed of the three branches is bound to respect and to enforce it."

That was the rationale for why Nixon couldn't escape the Special Prosecutor's investigation -- I don't see why the same rationale doesn't apply here, particularly given that Knute and a few other cases explicitly limit the pardon power when it interferes with vested rights, which Fitzgerald has under Nixon and Marbury at the very least.

But this can't be right. I haven't seen this discussed elsewhere in the Libbystorm. What am I missing here? I'd like to go talk with some of my profs about this later in the week, so for the sake of my preparation, any pontifications y'all have are most welcome.

Durable Tropical cotton pants

birchhook — Tue, 15 May 2007 09:52:14 -0800

Are there any good quality, tropical weight, 100% cotton pants for close to $50? My father has been wearing Willis & Geiger Bush Poplin Cotton chinos for the last 30 years or so. I just visited him in Venezuela and noticed that his last pair (he’s had them for 10 years) has finally worn through the thigh. Ever since W&G was sold, I’ve been searching for the perfect tropical chino, but I can’t find anything that looks as good or wears as well as the ones I’ve seen my dad wear.

Bush Poplin was made for WW2 soldiers, from lightweight poplin, but woven tightly to 340 threads per inch. It's so tight that it repels mosquito bites and light rain.

I don't have to have those exact pants, but it seems that when I find a good quality pair they are either heavyweight cotton twill or $100, like Bill's khakis. They need to be just standard chinos (no cargos, etc) and medium khaki color.

Thanks

Where can I find the most thorough indictment of the Bush administration and its activities to date?

Lockeownzj00 — Mon, 14 May 2007 12:33:21 -0800

In light of a recent mefi post, I'd like to ask a question I've been meaning to ask for a long time. Where can I find the most thorough indictment of the Bush administration and its activities to date? I'm looking for a complete rundown of the crimes and corruption of the administration (and the GOP). I'm looking for where they've been taking this country and why it's the wrong way. I'm looking for what they're doing right under everybody's noses.

I'm looking for something that goes beyond making fun of Bush's funny face or stuttering or what have you. I want to dig deep and get my hands dirty with this stuff, but I don't want to read dense paragraphs of technical language and minor discrepancies in laws. I want it to be systematic, with as little extrapolation (that is to say, as much hard evidence) as possible. I want it to be relentless and scathing, but not obstinate or unreadable.

And I don't want it to be too long (man, am I idealistic or what?).

What I mean to say is, preferably something I could find online. I'm pretty swamped as far as books go. Obviously you can't do all this in a paragraph--but I don't want a 500 page book on my hands right now . I'm thinking more, "exposé of anywhere from 10 to 30 pages."

So, ask mefi: where can I go? Where can I turn? Maybe it would be a compilation of sources? Help!

Is Laura Bush a smoker or what?

Mister_A — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:29:00 -0800

Does Laura Bush really smoke cigarettes? Did she ever? Did she quit then start again? Evidence please. I need to win, or at least start, a bar argument.

How can Bush fund the surge if Congress won't appropriate the funds?

willie11 — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:30:56 -0800

[AppropriationsFilter] If the Democrats vote *against* funding the troop escalation, what recourse does the President have to follow through with his plan? Pres. Bush has come up with some creative accounting these last 6 years. I think both D's and R's can agree on that point.

He has also said on record that he doesn't care what Congress does. He will continue on with the surge no matter what.

Assume that the President cannot go through with the surge if Congress refuses to fund the escalation.

What ways could he come up with the money necessary to fund the additional combat and support troops?

Who Said This About El Salvador?

maryh — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:19:04 -0800

Some time during the past few years, I'm sure I read a quote from someone connected with the Bush administration, but I can't seem to find it now. Something along the lines of "El Salvador's current government is the political ideal." Can anyone point me to the quote, and some context for it?

Bush and Civics

SBMike — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:05:48 -0800

How do civics teachers handle their jobs? I'm a bit curious how high school (or otherwise) civics teachers have been teaching their classes since the Bush administration came to power. How do you deal with explaining checks and balances, fourth amendment rights, freedom of/from religion, the constitution, etc. given the administration's somewhat divergent interpretation of these ideas? Has your teaching style changed over the last few years? Do you find your students are saavy about what's going on in American politics today? Do they make your job difficult? Or does the wealth of controversy make your job more interesting and stimulate engaging conversations in your classes? Do people even take civics classes any more?

Find that cartoon

hwestiii — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 10:31:46 -0800

Trying to track down a couple of Doonesbury cartoons. I'm trying to track down a couple specific Doonesbury cartoons that I really liked.

One appeared some time in past several years in which Mike vents about Starbucks' particular and somewhat misleading drink sizing nomenclature (a small drink is classified as "tall", etc.).

The second is from late 2004 or early 2005 and has soldiers in Iraq discussing high ranking Bush administration members' sense of personal responsibility for Iraq. The punchline is something like "Bush doesn't think, he only believes things. It keeps him from being conflicted with reality".

Can anyone identify the specific publication dates of each or whether they appear in one of the periodic paperback collections, and which?

Does US Prez take own car on overseas trips?

priorpark17 — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 23:01:09 -0800

Does the US President take his own car on overseas trips and how? President Bush is visiting Vietnam at the end of this week. As I was passing through Ho Chi Minh airport last night I saw a massive US Air Force C-17 parked up (tail number 55150). A fellow passenger told me that it contained the presidential car and a presidential helicopter. Is this true?

Did President Bush swear today?

pwally — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:56:37 -0800

Did President Bush swear today during his speech? Part of his answer to a reporters question was bleeped out today on the radio, and it was close to a five second bleep. If he didn't swear, do you know what the cause of it was?

Is my bush worth anything?

stockaholic — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 13:16:09 -0800

We have 2 mature boxwood bushes (about 10 years old) that are roughly 5 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter. My wife hates them because they obscure our front door. She wants me to cut them down and trash them. Being the cheapskate I am, I would like to dig them up (difficult, I know) and sell them. My question - is there a market for these and roughly how much do they sell for? It looks like small ones sell for $10-$20, but I couldn't find any large ones. Thanks for helping settle this marital dispute.

What kind of bush is this?

cocoagirl — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 06:23:07 -0800

Any help identifying this plant? It's a shrub about 10' high and the photo shows what it looks like in October in New England. Bonus points if you can provide a reference about whether it's poisonous or not.

Know any good Bush jokes?

wfrgms — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 06:50:33 -0800

So George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, and Kim Jong-Il walk into a bar... Do you know any good Bush jokes or funny anecdotes?

For a project I'm presenting a funny story or anecdote told from Bush's perspective to a fictional audience of world leaders.

I don't know where to start so I thought I'd try to string together several jokes or stories into one narrative. Raunchy, and offensive is fine - topical is even better.

(FYI, I'm not purposely trying to snark on the president via this question.)

Machinehead

blim8183 — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:31:53 -0800

I was at a restaurant recently and they were playing a foreign language cover of Bush's "Machinehead." The cover version was much slower but the melody was recognizable and every once in awhile the singer would say "machinehead" in english. Does anybody have any idea who this is by?

Bush leaks again?

andywolf — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 17:00:23 -0800

I heard a snippet on the radio about Bush naming the General that was responsible for capturing Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Turned out the General's involvement and association to anything was highly confidential, his name not even being listed at the base he worked out of. Anyone Know of something to back that up? I can't find anything.

Response to: "If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about"

WetherMan — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 10:18:47 -0800

I'm getting pretty tired of hearing the line "if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about" in regards to what's happening right now in Washington. I've heard some long articulate responses to this, but what's a good one or two sentence response that succinctly points out the error in this line of thinking?