Aside from an intense dislike of the company, what are some logical reasons to oppose the Comcast-NBC merger? [more inside]
posted by codacorolla on Dec 3, 2009 - 28 answers

Could you give me an example of a group of average (American) people getting into a fight (an actual brawl) over politics? [more inside]
posted by kylej on Sep 19, 2009 - 25 answers

How to deal with a bullying uncle who hates liberals. [more inside]
posted by samsaunt on Jul 23, 2009 - 58 answers

Can you ID these short stories and help me find them? I think there were at least two, they were written by Keith Laumer, and they appeared in a paperback IF anthology that I can't find. They are about the right of revolution (one may be titled something like that) and take place on a mining colony on another planet. I think the first is about the miners who revolt and are led by an Ayn-Rand-character-like person (his name is John Ralt or something). The second is about the 'ARcl' person who is now in charge and must deal with dissenters who contest his moral and political authority. And were there any more stories in this vein, or just two?
posted by Mr. Justice on Jul 8, 2009 - 5 answers

Can a former US President serve in a powerful capacity in a subsequent administration? They clearly wouldn't be able to serve as VP, but could they hold some other high office such as Secretary of State? If not, do those of you living in the US regard this as a desirable or undesirable attribute of your political system?
posted by Lolie on Jun 27, 2009 - 18 answers

Get me off my high horse: how can I work with Republicans without losing my cool? [more inside]
posted by oinopaponton on Jun 16, 2009 - 59 answers

I'd like to buy a replica (but smaller) of the "Mission Accomplished" banner that President Bush stood in front of on the U.S.S. Lincoln. [more inside]
posted by davextreme on May 27, 2009 - 1 answer

I'd like a laymen's answers to how the european elections work in the UK and how the outcome effects British life on a daily basis.
posted by nam3d on May 11, 2009 - 4 answers

Looking for indepth online. Where do you go for indepth analysis and information? The online versions of most Current Affairs print magazines are known to me. I want more Glenn Greenwald, Daily Beast; Andrew Sullivan or Informed Comment. What are the best blogs out there for political and international analysis; not neccessarily UScentric? For instance where do I find out more about the convoluted craziness of Iran or Eritrea? There are a lot of highly intelligent, inquiisitive people around these parts; where do you go to find out what the informed opinion for your interests are? Please don't limit this to just political or current affairs; the best of anything is always worth reading.
posted by adamvasco on Apr 23, 2009 - 16 answers

Please explain the Republican Party to me. [more inside]
posted by triggerfinger on Apr 19, 2009 - 50 answers

I've noticed that often the current U.S. President is often referred to as "Mr. Obama" in the news, whether online, radio, or TV (and, it seems to me, moreso in foreign media) -- but I don't seem to remember this for "Mr. Bush" or "Mr. Clinton", who were always "President Bush" and "President Clinton" in my recollection. Did I miss this all along, or is it a new convention of the media?
posted by AzraelBrown on Apr 13, 2009 - 22 answers

Who are the best magazine and newspaper feature writers, past and present? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Apr 8, 2009 - 20 answers

In 2008 Australia's PM offered an apology to Australia's indigenous population for, well, for all sorts of imperialist shit. Have any other inheritors-of-imperialism ever apologised for anything? (and how was that received?)
posted by pompomtom on Apr 6, 2009 - 10 answers

What responsibility does the Bush administration bear for the current financial crisis? [more inside]
posted by Lownotes on Mar 25, 2009 - 28 answers

What was the reason that the leaders of most western countries (such as America, Australia and the UK) stopped wearing facial hair from around 1910 onwards? [more inside]
posted by Effigy2000 on Feb 14, 2009 - 18 answers

So when did Karl Rove claim that we were on the verge of a 'permanent Republican majority?' [more inside]
posted by Tomorrowful on Dec 29, 2008 - 5 answers

Recent dramas have used (without ambiguity) the name and image of real living figures and events in fiction and film. How this is legally possible? Is it covered by Fair Use? [more inside]
posted by Hugobaron on Nov 5, 2008 - 17 answers

What are the domain names that are linked to in the "Yes on Proposition 8" ads running on Google's ad network? [more inside]
posted by Mo Nickels on Nov 3, 2008 - 9 answers

S.F./Bay Area bars with election coverage and/or election night parties? [more inside]
posted by UrineSoakedRube on Oct 29, 2008 - 8 answers

On November 4th, I intend to spend the evening watching election returns on TV and refreshing as many election-y tabs on the laptop as possible. What websites should I have loaded and ready to go? [more inside]
posted by rtha on Oct 24, 2008 - 25 answers

Where can I find non-partisan analysis of the presidential polls? [more inside]
posted by hazyspring on Oct 23, 2008 - 18 answers

My grandmother wants to watch Obama and McCain in the Smith dinner again (and again!) She has dialup internet, and is about as net savvy as one would expect. Can the hivemind help? [more inside]
posted by pointystick on Oct 17, 2008 - 7 answers

I'm in the US and want to follow the Canadian parliamentary election returns. Will any US TV station, cable or otherwise, have election coverage?
posted by Kattullus on Oct 13, 2008 - 7 answers

I want to play "the race card." Where can I print one out? [more inside]
posted by scission on Oct 13, 2008 - 4 answers

I'd honestly like to know why half of America voted for George W. Bush in 2000: what their reasoning was. [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Aug 25, 2008 - 100 answers

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.
posted by Effigy2000 on Feb 14, 2008 - 19 answers

A few years ago (possibly in or around the year 2000), while channel surfing, I remember catching parts of a TV show on Australia's ABC which was set in Australia's federal Parliament House. I don't have a clue what it was called though, and my searching has turned up nothing. I think it might have been a comedy, too. Anyone know what show this is?
posted by Effigy2000 on Oct 8, 2006 - 10 answers

What are the fundamental differences, if any, between US and UK political lobbyists? [more inside]
posted by Mutant on May 8, 2005 - 4 answers