What are some powerful examples throughout history of public figures or concepts that have successfully united disparate people?
posted on May 23, 2008 - 24 answers 
Where can I find film footage of Richard Nixon bowling? [more inside]
posted on Apr 19, 2008 - 1 answers
Help me teach myself about the current political and social climate in Russia. [more inside]
posted on Mar 21, 2008 - 12 answers
Can you think of any examples of "jawboning" from history? [more inside]
posted on Mar 6, 2008 - 4 answers
Can anyone reccomend good books, or documentaries, about Australia (history, culture, politics) written by people from outside Australia? [more inside]
posted on Feb 7, 2008 - 11 answers
I'm looking for book suggestions for a radical reading group. [more inside]
posted on Jan 29, 2008 - 24 answers
Where can I find a downloadable version of Michael Murphey's classic, "Temple of the Sun" to download? Of course I am willing to pay for the copyrighted, legal, etc. version. But I would rather not have to buy the entire Swans Against the Sun CD to get this one song.
Also, HUGE Bonus Points if you can lead me to similar(?) songs which might interest my sons (see inside for more on this challenge). [more inside]
posted on Jan 7, 2008 - 8 answers
Books about Burma? [more inside]
posted on Nov 19, 2007 - 17 answers
Deforestation. Extinction. Soil depletion. Toxicity. Mental illness. Mass imprisonment. Neocolonialism. Etceterugh. What should one read for a better comprehension of just what the hell we're doing to the planet, ourselves, and eachother? [more inside]
posted on Sep 21, 2007 - 45 answers
I always hear that blogging and YouTube are (and/or will be) revolutionary in American politics. Is this true? How so? Can you recommend recent books, academic articles, extended blog posts and other media that demonstrate (or argue against) the effects of blogging, citizen journalism, social networking web sites and YouTube on American politics? Differing viewpoints would be appreciated!
posted on Aug 11, 2007 - 8 answers
Why did George Romney get outed from the 1968 presidential race? [more inside]
posted on May 21, 2007 - 7 answers
Help me devise a quiz testing my students (college fresh-people) on fundamental knowledge of current events, history, and culture. [more inside]
posted on Apr 13, 2007 - 34 answers
Help me find illuminating, educating, eye-opening articles on immigration for a class I'm teaching at the Kennedy School of Government. [more inside]
posted on Apr 11, 2007 - 5 answers
What books should I read to get a crash course in US political history? [more inside]
posted on Apr 2, 2007 - 26 answers
What is the origin of the phrase "mistakes were made" - who said it, and in reference to what? [more inside]
posted on Mar 13, 2007 - 14 answers
What is a GOC? [more inside]
posted on Mar 5, 2007 - 4 answers
I find that I don't read enough news. When I look at the headlines I am lost about the history of the situation. Does anyone know of a news site that has the news with good historical link-outs to give me a broader understanding of the situation?
posted on Feb 13, 2007 - 18 answers
Why has democracy, at least our version of it in the west, proven so difficult a system of government to maintain in the third/developping world? [more inside]
posted on Oct 27, 2006 - 35 answers
Can anyone recommend any good documentaries? Bonus points if its history or culture related. [more inside]
posted on Aug 23, 2006 - 38 answers
Bibliophiles: I want to read a book on every US president for my summer reading project. Recommendations? [more inside]
posted on May 24, 2006 - 17 answers
Good U. S. Supreme Court histories? I really like the Supreme Court. I like to hear about it and read about it. I love the place it occupies in our national politics, the deliberative position it holds. I'm interested in reading books of history about it, how it has evolved, major trends, what it used to be like. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted on Jan 25, 2006 - 15 answers
Please help me find this interview with former House Appropriations Chairman Jamie Whitten of Mississippi. [more inside]
posted on Dec 6, 2005 - 3 answers
Good books to read before wandering about Central and South America for a few months? [more inside]
posted on Nov 11, 2005 - 19 answers
I'm looking for some timelines that chart recent/current events - for instance, a timeline that logs the major news stories in the months leading up to the 2004 election; or, a timeline that charts important stories in the war on terror since/before 9/11. Doesn't have to be links, could just be headlines. thanks for any suggestions
posted on Aug 30, 2005 - 9 answers
I'm over 30 and probably know as much or less about history, politics/ gov, and current events as my 7 year old niece. Now, I want to be aware and don't know where to begin. I've tried just "merging in" but the references, terms, and names are lost on me. I need a starting point that will give me a framework or bird's eye view to start from and build on. [more inside]
posted on Jul 24, 2005 - 27 answers
Curiosity struck and I'm looking for a year-by-year breakdown of the number of times the filibuster has been used. A chart with further breakdowns of senator, state, party, duration, cause, and whether the filibuster was ended via cloture would be even nicer. [more inside]
posted on May 17, 2005 - 7 answers
What accomplishments have been achieved by the current Bush administration? [more inside]
posted on Feb 19, 2005 - 25 answers
Out of curiousity (I'm not trying to be political), has it been the standard MO of popularly elected dictators, or any dictator, to tout the freedom of their people? Was the subject of liberty just ignored by leaders of Germany, Italy, Spain, et. al?
posted on Jan 21, 2005 - 13 answers
What's so great about the U.S. constitution? From a political science perspective, a legal perspective, a historical perspective? Non-USians without a written constitution especially invited to reply.
posted on Dec 4, 2004 - 33 answers
Who is Karl Rove's historical counterpart? Is there any figure in history that can match his level of cunning intellect and political expertise?
posted on Nov 9, 2004 - 26 answers
What is the name for the people who were allowed to sit outside the Roman Senate and shout their opposition to whatever was going on inside?
posted on Nov 6, 2004 - 2 answers
Why is there such a seething hysteric hatred from Republicans over Bill Clinton? I've never read or seen anything like it in modern political history.
posted on Jun 21, 2004 - 51 answers
AskMefi provided some great answers a few weeks ago to my solicitation for book recommendations. Now for a similar but unrelated question. I have a friend at law school who is an exchange student from Europe. He has had none of the mandated high school U.S. history curriculum that had been drilled into the heads of the rest of us years ago. As such, he would like some background on American political history to supplement our constitutional law lectures and McCloskey and Levinson's The American Supreme Court, which has been assigned for the class. Any suggestions?
posted on Feb 5, 2004 - 5 answers
