Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with presidential

Do other countries allow the Head of Government to pardon people convicted of crimes the way the USA does?

edavidoff — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:06:36 -0800

Do other countries allow the Head of Government to pardon people convicted of crimes the way the USA does? The President of the United States can pardon any person who has committed a federal crime, except in cases of impeachment, as outlined in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution.

Do any other more-or-less democratic countries give their Head of Government or, where such a position exists, the Head of State, to overrule the courts by granting a pardon to anybody they like?

Don't Stop Believin

mwhybark — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:21:06 -0800

How common has it been in US history for a Presidential election to prompt celebrations in the streets across the country? I was bemused and pleased by the spontaneous street parties that erupted Tuesday night, and am now curious: how often do we run out into the street to cry with joy, hug one another, wave the American flag, and sing the national anthem (or Journey) as a spontaneous collective reaction to the victory of a Presidential candidate? Please note, I am not asking how often Presidential campaign workers engage in said behavior. I was thinking back through the elections in my lifetime and beyond; the only thing that I can think of that remotely relates is the out-of-hand celebrations associated with the inauguration of Andrew Jackson. Hope me, historians of MeFi!

How are the duke boys gonna get outta this little pickle?

Old Man Wilson — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:29:49 -0800

Good presidential stand-up? I'm hosting a comedy program on the radio tonight, and I'm hoping to play some presidential humour tonight - I haven't decided whether or not to stick with Bush era routines, so I'm pretty much open to anything...

I know Patton Oswalt has some pretty solid stuff on his two records - where else should I be looking?

Thanks!

Is the world watching the US elections?

nikkorizz — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:33:07 -0800

Is the world watching the United States 2008 presidential elections? Who are they routing for? I've heard that, for example, people in Kenya are paying close attention to the elections simply because of Obama's ancestral heritage, but I'm wondering if other countries are interested in the US elections for something other than curiosity, candidate heritage, or just wanting to see George W. Bush out of office.

I'd like to know of some examples of non-Americans living outside the U.S. routing for one presidential candidate over the other.

Personal stories are great, but links to articles are preferred.

Inauguration Tickets

Brennus — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:46:38 -0800

How does one get tickets for the Presidential Inauguration? Everything I find on Google is kind of sketchy. What is the official distribution mechanism for inauguration tickets and how can I get them?

I missed it!

platinum — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:25:11 -0800

Ack! I completely missed the presidential debate tonight. Any idea where I can find the full video online? CNN only has clips and nothing's been posted on Youtube as of yet. Thanks a million!

I want the debates to be annotated after the fact, a la pop-up video.

vytae — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:08:30 -0800

Has anyone seen a pop-up-video style version of the presidential or VP debates that checks facts and names? If not, is there any organization I could suggest this to with any reasonable hope of having them implement it? I know FactCheck.org and other various news agencies have published lists of selected falsehoods and mistakes, but I would really love to have "true"/"not true"/"his real name is..."/"the actual number was..." info show up on my screen as I watch the recorded version of each debate. I feel like this idea would have enough mass appeal that somebody on the internet (if not a major news outlet) should have done it already, but my searches turn up nothing. Have you seen this anywhere? Can you think of anyone I could suggest this to, who could put this kind of thing together? (I'm half hoping that someone like CNN would love to make this happen, they just haven't come up with the idea yet. Maybe I'm crazy.)

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?

No TV! Online streaming for the presidential debate?

stance — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:39:39 -0800

Where can I watch the presidential debate online? I don't have a TV! Can I stream the debate online? Video feed preferable.

Where can I find streaming news videos with captions?

spaceman_spiff — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:13:06 -0800

Where can I find streaming news videos with captions? I want to watch the debate tonight on my laptop, but I need captions or subtitles. Does anyone know if any of the sites streaming it will have captions? And generally, if any major news organizations have begun putting captions on their streaming videos?

Where can I get drunk and watch the debate?

Beardman — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:23:02 -0800

Anybody know of any bars in Toronto that are screening the presidential debate on Friday? (Assuming McCain doesn't cut and run.)

Beer & Debates

Sreiny — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:12:35 -0800

Bars that will be showing the Presidential Debate next Friday in Chicago. I'd like to have some friends out for my birthday next Friday, which happens to be the first presidential debate. I don't want to miss them, and I don't want to make people choose, does anyone know where we can drink and watch the debate? Thanks!

Predicting the winner of the US Presidential Election.

clearly — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:24:55 -0800

How can I accurately predict the overall winner of the 2008 US Presidential Election. I would also like to know the best methods of accurately predicting the winner of the electoral votes of each individual state. I am familiar with the Iowa Electronic Markets as a fairly good indicator of predicting the national election, but what are some other good indicators or predictors of which candidate will win each individual state. These may be past voting trends, current registered voters by party, and others. Please lead me to these resources.

Thanks.

US-election filter: are felons allowed to vote?

krautland — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 05:08:06 -0800

US-election filter: are felons allowed to vote? I saw a movie last night in which the protagonist implied he had previously committed at least one felony. ("that's right, I'm down to one. just one more felony away from child services taking you.") he, a resident of new mexico, then went on to vote in a presidential election.

I was under the impression that many US states prevent felons from voting and that this could either be until reinstated after a certain number of years or for life.

am I mistaken or did the screenwriters (Richman, Stern - I'm looking at you) miss a hole in their plot?

Book on the 1968 Democratic Presidential Nomination Process?

katyjack — Sun, 11 May 2008 07:54:16 -0800

Can anyone recommend a book about the 1968 presidential campaign -- particularly one that focuses on how Humphrey became the nominee and what really happened at the Democratic convention? I've read and heard on TV that this democratic presidential nominee process has the potential to become as contentious as the '68 race, where Humphrey ended up as the nominee even though he didn't run in any of the primaries. I'd like to find a book about this race so I can compare what is happening now with what happened then. Unfortunately, all I've been finding are books on all of 1968 or on the campaign after both candidates have been selected and I'm interested in the race prior to that point. Can anyone recommend a book that will educate me?

Do two wins make you the nominee?

cjoh — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:22:02 -0800

How many US presidential candidates, democrat or republican, have lost the first two primary/caucus contests and come back to become their party's nominee? The only one I can name off the top of my head is Bill Clinton, who lost both New Hampshire and Iowa but came back obviously to win his party's nomination in 1992.

Focus on the Issues

bove — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:32:42 -0800

What are the major issues for the 2008 presidential race, and what are the best links that support your view of those issues? My family has been having some fun debating some issues over email. Most recently we have been discussing issues related to global warming and methane emissions of animals.

What I would like to do is send out an email with all of the major issues of this presidential race, along with my view on those issues in order to spark further discussion and debate. I would also love to provide links that support some of my views. For instance, I like this recent editorial in the NYTimes about how the government should not be involved in legitimizing marriages.

Presidential Speech Terms Cloud

meta.mark — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:26:02 -0800

Does anyone know the link to a website that displays a list of terms that are used by the president at speeches as a sort of cloud? For example: blah blah blah blah blah WAR blah blah TERROR blah blah TAX I've seen it before, I just can seem to find the link. The website also archives terms used in past speeches. Thanks! It's supposed to reflect the current state of the nation.
(It might be classified as a histogram)

Doing my homework

anonymous78 — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:20:04 -0800

I could offer excuses, but I won't. I'm unacceptably uninformed about the presidential hopefuls. Are there any good sites/articles offering summaries, breakdowns and/or analyses of the candidates' views/opinions on key issues? I'm primarily, but not exclusively, interested in the Democratic candidates.

SC Debates

greta simone — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 19:49:04 -0800

How can I get into the SC debates? So I have Monday off. I realize it might be a little too late in the game, but I was wondering how one might go about getting in to watch the CNN YouTube Dem Pres debates in Charleston this coming Monday. I'm driving distance and I really want to go! Even if it is too late to go this coming Monday, how does one get into one of these events? Invite only? First come first serve? Ridiculously expensive tickets? I'm pretty ignorant because I've never considered going before. I've always watched at home with friends while playing drinking games.

Is there some kind of political youtube out there?

carpyful — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 01:31:46 -0800

Where can I find presidential candidate debates online? I'm interested in following the debates that have been and are going to be held, but I usually miss them on TV.

Is there any website or source that has the whole debates (instead of clips)?

It doesn't matter if it's video or just audio.

The whole primary debate online?

thrako — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:28:35 -0800

So I missed the presidential primary debate yesterday. Is it available in its entirety somewhere online? MSNBC seems to only have clips. Audio only would be just fine.

Debate Downloads

punishinglemur — Sat, 09 Oct 2004 08:41:58 -0800

Where can I download a somewhat high quality video of last night's debate?

Rule for when U.S. Presidential Election is held?

Seth — Tue, 14 Sep 2004 08:12:05 -0800

US election question: The US Presidential election is being held Nov. 2, 2004. Last election was on Nov. 7th. I was confused last time and this time because I swear that I remember learning that elections are always held on the second Tuesday of November. Anyone aware of whether that second Tuesday thing is a rule, and, if so, is there some historical origin to it? If it is a rule, anyone know why the last two elections were held on the first Tuesday of November?

Presidential Inauguration: Walk or Limo?

john — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 13:59:25 -0800

History question: January 21, 1977. "The afternoon of infamy" for people in the limousine business. After having just been inaugurated, Jimmy Carter decides to exit his limo and walk with his family (and a large crowd) down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. What has been the trend since?