Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with palin

Nude Sarah Palin framing suggestions

sharksandwich — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:52:53 -0800

I would like to frame a nude Sarah Palin poster

I was thinking something in the lines of them dogs playing poker type of frame.

Based on your suggestions, should I have the framing done in a mall? Anywhere else? I have no idea and obviously would not like being ripped off. Maybe $100 tops or the framing?

Make me Sarah Palin

inconsequentialist — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:14:38 -0800

Help me perfect my Sarah Palin costume. I am planning on dressing as Sarah Palin for Halloween. I've already perfected my impression and showcased it at a department party/VP debate watching party earlier this month. Right now I am trying to consider the various subtleties that would make the costume keen. I have the perfect black dress suit (may look for a red one as well), plans for the glasses, heels, flag pin(s), hairdo, makeup, etc.

I have also planned on carrying some pictures of my kids "Trak" and "Trig" which will, of course, be pictures of various running tracks and trigonometric figures, and will likely sport something to do with rape kits. I am looking for other things along similar lines to add to my costume, things that are centrally and readily identifiable as Palinesque, and that would be relatively easy to create or replicate and carry around all night.

They were laughing at what?

ejoey — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:04:38 -0800

Is there a video of people laughing at Biden's story about his wife during the US Vice Presidential Debate? I've read reports mentioning that this happened, but a search of Youtube, Google, Delicious, and the like don't turn anything up.

He said, she said...

TeachTheDead — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:02:54 -0800

Where or how could one go about getting the proper transcript from the VP debate held last week. My big concern right now is that I need it in paper or electronic form but I do not want to watch the debate over and write down each question and each answer. And a trillion zillion billion points for finding a free an/or immediate copy.

Whats the likelihood of a Palin "nu-cu-lar" Presidency?

hal_c_on — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:56:15 -0800

"Resolve an argument" filter: What to use to calculate the life expectancy of a 72yr old male? Yes, we are talking about John McCain. So my brother (currently an associate, but almost a "fellowshipped" actuary by exams) and I (last took calc as a college frosh, and stats as a jr) have been having an argument regarding calculating life expectancies.

When I asked him how I could calculate the life expectancy, or the likelihood of death in 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years...from today, he came back with a life table from the SSA site (duh), He told me that there's about a 14.4% chance of death within 4 years.

Yeah, I can do the same thing. I also know that life tables are awesome when looking at the aggregate, but horrible when looking at individuals. If I wanted to know how many 24 year olds out of 10,000 would die this year, that life table would be spot on. It won't really tell how likely one 24 year old is likely to die accurately.

He told me that the SSA table is the tool actuaries use. Ummm no. I don't buy it. Sure it may be an initial reference point, but there is no way that one studies math for decades only to rely on a chart to make all the decisions. To be fair, he doesn't do THIS kind of actuarial work.

I KNOW that I won't understand the *why* of how the math was arrived at, but how is life expectancy arrived at? What is the likelihood of death for John McCain while in office for the first term.

Although life insurance applications may seem HUGE, they don't ask that many questions (to get the variables that need to be plugged into a formula). They take a simple medical exam (I just went through one: questions, height/weight, blood pressure, and some blood).

Without having ALL the specifics of McCain's medical records, but being able to google a good portion of it, can someone calculate the likelihood of a Palin presidency contingent upon the Republicans winning the 2008 Presidential election?

I've seen some articles all over the place using basic math to arrive at a number (some as high as 40%[1 out of 2.5], and some as low as 0.3%[1 out of 333]), and I don't trust the math behind it. Sure this question has some political implications, but it is a STRICT MATHEMATICAL and SCIENTIFIC question. I don't want Obama supporters telling me that their pappy died at 71, so there's a 95% chance that he will die within the first year, and I don't want McCain supporters telling me that "71 is the new 30". I just want a straight answer.

VP Debates near the Smokies?

Science! — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:55:49 -0800

Where can I observe the vice-presidential debates next Thursday (10/2) near the Smokey Mountains (TN) or near Jonesborough (for the storytelling festival)? I will be near the Cades Cove area of the park on the day/night of the debates and I'd really like to watch the debate. Are there any places that will be showing the debate to the public near there? (Places that serve beer or food are a plus, but not required at all.)

I might also end up being at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough that night, so if there is a location there that fits the bill please let me know. (I won't know where I will be until that evening.)

Finally what radio stations in either area will be airing the debate, if I can't make it to a TV?

What can I do to win the election for my candidate?

davebug — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:52:22 -0800

To the undecideds, or those who believe they can put themselves in the undecided's shoes: What might persuade you towards a particular candidate, particularly in the form of anything a volunteer might be able to do? Would someone coming to your door help, or hurt? Phone calls? Voter registration campaigns, or offers of rides to the polls? Signs in yards and clever bumper stickers? Blog posts? Emailing everyone I know with video clips and transcripts? What can be done to positively affect your decision in the presidential election? In short, how might I, as a volunteer, most effectively turn you into decided for my candidate. (Note, if there's no way at all anyone or anything can change your mind, you're not undecided, but it is valid to say no volunteer could do anything to possibly affect your decision in any positive way.)

Explain "Churchy Spice"

ryanrs — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:14:20 -0800

Explain "Churchy Spice". It's a nickname for Sarah Palin, but I don't get the joke.

Talking points for BBC TV interview on role of Internet in U.S. politics

camworld — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:11:11 -0800

I've just been asked to be interviewed for a popular show on BBC TV to talk about the role of the Internet in U.S. politics for this campaign cycle. What are some succinct and intelligent talking points I can follow without sounding like I'm talking out my arse. My role in the 2004 campaign cycle is fairly well-known. I was heavily involved in the Wesley Clark campaign during the primaries and built the first campaign web site for Clark04 and then proceeded to build the innovative (at the time) Clark Community Network that allowed every campaign supporter to be a blogger for Clark and have a voice in the campaign.

After the Clark campaign I proceeded to consult for the Kerry campaign but left after 6 weeks because I refused to play the backstabbery game that most campaigns are chock full of. Side note: It's kind of ironic that political campaigns have some of the most screwed up office politics I have ever witnessed.

I also wrote some proposals for the DNCC, proposing they build an online community that allowed the delegates, remote bloggers, the political activists and journalists to communicate with one another -- basically break down the barriers that have been in place at every political convention for the past 100 years.

This cycle, I am mostly uninvolved with politics but am paying close attention to the polls and the proposed policies of each candidate. I'm impressed with the online efforts of the Obama campaign and know a few of the people who helped put that together.

So, if you were in my shoes, what talking points would you stick to? Should I take the opportunity to throw in a few digs at the McCain/Palin campaign? I'm obviously a strong Obama supporter, if only because I think McCain is walking death and Palin is the most unqualified person to ever be this close to the White House (even trumping George W. Bush's ignorance and mismanagement).

Debate party ideas?

Lizc — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:00:16 -0800

Need help/ideas on politically inspired appetizers for the upcoming 2008 Presidential Debates. Like the previous two threads (which were great!) - I'm looking for themed easy appetizers/finger foods for the Obama/Mccain & Biden/Palin debates. No special dietary requirements either, just tasty and funny.

Thanks!

How to support McCain-Palin in NYC?

BobbyVan — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:11:59 -0800

I'm a recent transplant to NYC, and a Republican. I need to find the best ways to support McCain-Palin in what can be a somewhat inhospitable environment. Yes, it's pretty clear that New York's electoral votes will go for Obama this time around. But NYC is also a place from which one can be influential in terms of influencing the national debate.

I don't want to be unnecessarily provocative (as in, I'm not trying to stir up the opposition or make people angry), but I would like to raise the profile and be effective in supporting my ticket.

This would include rebutting smears against McCain and Palin in a civil way, making convincing arguments against Obama-Biden, and at least getting people to have an open mind about my side.

Any clever ideas?

Thanks to all.

How can the band Heart legally stop McCain/Palin from using "Barracuda"?

kongg — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:30:16 -0800

The band Heart sent a cease and desist letter to the McCain/Palin campaign for using the song "Barracuda". What is the legal basis for that? I'm a musician and familiar with the basics of entertainment law. It seems if the RNC has a license from ASCAP (that in turn pays publishers, and in this case Ann and Nancy Wilson) to play music in their catalog, they can play pretty much whatever they want.

Clubs generally have to buy ASCAP/BMI licenses if they are playing covered songs in their establishments (whether on a jukebox or a band playing live). I would think similar rules apply for playing a song at a convention.

I guess maybe the political nature of the event could change things. It could imply that Heart endorses McCain/Palin. Perhaps it could be argued that the RNC is using Heart's "name and likeness".

Still, I kind of get the feeling it's mostly about the Wilson sisters letting the world now they aren't happy about this, and hope the McCain campaign chooses something else, even if there is no legal recourse.

In the link above, some people try to answer that question, but it's drowned out in partisan bickering. While I'm (way) sympathetic to the Wilson sisters on this one, I just wonder that the legal basis is.

Previously on ask MeFi: "How does Rush Limbaugh get to use the Pretenders as his theme music?"