January 2012
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2011 has been alright. 2012 will be better. ...
December 2011
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Looks like we've been getting a nice amount of...
(This podcast, by the way.)
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Here we go, kids!
The first podcast is here, but...
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nhaler asked: Has Al Gore ever swam naked in the Potomac? What about Nixon?
Anonymous asked: What do you think of the movie "Bobby"?
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kristinimartini asked: To my boyfriend's dismay I tried to be witty and named my new iPod Theodore Roosevelt referring to his ocular problems. He didn't understand the humor.
Any ideas for the podcast title?
you've escaped: 2011 in 25 stories
youveescaped:
I thought that I didn’t write much this year because I wrote less for other places than in years past and felt sort of off my game creatively but the writing tag (which has other things not included here) was full of some things written this or reworked for this year that really formed what was this long year. Not really in order except that the best stuff is near the top of the...
Anonymous asked: Great blog btw, but what are your predictions for the IA caucus top three perhaps? I don't think Santorum's supposed poll rise is a surprise considering the time he has spent in the state.
jheath asked: What's with the new biography on Nixon claiming he was secretly gay? Is this complete sensationalist garbage or is there actually something to that?
jphistory asked: OK, so obviously you're into presidents, but do you have any interest in the ancient Roman Emporers and leaders?
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Thanks a lot, everyone.
After the overwhelming encouragement from my readers to take the leap and watch Mad Men, it is now 3:00 AM and I can’t bring myself to turn it off and go to sleep. Obviously, I’m about four years late to the Mad Men party, but now I understand why everyone annoyingly sang its praises back when it came out. I’m so late to the party that I’m not even jumping on the...
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Anonymous asked: The other night Jeopardy was on TV and the question was "Which president used to go skinny-dipping in the Potomac River?" Do you know?
emotionally-stable asked: "U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant smoked cigars heavily, an estimated up to 12 a day. In late 1884, Grant was diagnosed with an oral cancer consisting of malignant squamous cell carcinoma. With his health failing, Grant devoted his time to his autobiography; five days after finishing it, he became the only U.S. president to die of cancer." (Wiki) I remember someone asking of Presidents...
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Don’t laugh at me…I’m usually about six years behind on this stuff, but do you guys think I’ll like “Mad Men”? Because it was $9 for each season at Target and I figured I should check it out. Is it worth watching?
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My Top 5 Longreads of 2011
I’m a big fan of Longreads and I figured I’m important enough to share my Top 5 Longreads of 2011.
Now, as much as I would love to include my own work in the Top 5, I am not going to rank articles of mine such as “Crossover: The Unique Appeal of Jon Huntsman” or “Rick Perry’s ‘Oops’ Moment: How Bad Was It?” from AND Magazine, or “Thank...
Anonymous asked: Which stereotype is more true: All Republicans are Rednecks or All Democrats are Hippies?
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Send In Your Podcast Questions →
I’m going to tape the podcast tomorrow afternoon, so I’m looking for some good questions to answer with my sexy voice instead of my brilliant writing. Anyway, if you have something you want answered on the podcast, send them in and add “(Podcast)” to your question.
I’m thinking I’ll also use the podcast to give you my prediction for the Iowa Caucuses. ...
bbkld asked: Kind of a weird question: Do you think 9/11 was the most unexpected and devastating moment for a presidency (and the country)? When Lincoln and FDR took office, the country was engaged in the rebellion or there were war signs on the horizon. Ike, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, and Ford were involved in Vietnam. Even Madison knew we were probably going to be in another war with the Brits. Maybe the closest was...
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“They pick corn in Iowa. They pick Presidents in New Hampshire.”
– JON HUNTSMAN
Can we make him President now? And he shops at Trader Joe’s, too.
Anonymous asked: Who was the most responsible for Al Gore's loss in 2000 between Bill, Monica, Chief Justice Rehnquist, Ralph Nader, George W. Bush, and Gore himself?
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By the way, if we were smart and had more money and time and support and motivation, we could just organize ourselves, go to Iowa for the actual Caucuses, and weight them in a way so that an acceptable candidate would win.
If Santorum does win, and we can’t get a gang together to burn down Iowa (unlikely…seems like a lot of support for the idea), then we should probably make sure that...
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Santorum and Iowa
If Santorum wins Iowa, I’m getting a gang together, crossing the Missouri River like Jesse James, riding through northern Missouri, and BURNING THE ENTIRE STATE OF IOWA. Then, after the fire is put out, I’m going to kick over all of the burned-up corn stalks.
Anonymous asked: Santorum is gaining in Iowa - what do you think?
socioeconomics asked: I'd be interested in your response to this article about Jon Huntsman: vice 'dot' com/read/nobody-likes-you-jon-huntsman
lenxo asked: Lakers vs sack kings
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Anonymous asked: you should write something romantic
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Anonymous asked: What do you think of Eisenhower? He is the only red I respect aside from my mixed feelings about Lincoln.
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bloodsweatandmurder asked: What is the best presidential moment in the last 50 years?
gumplr asked: So you're saying press secretary is out...
gumplr asked: On the NBA tip, where would Jeff Van Gundy fit in the Bergen Administration?
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kriskristoffersonsbeard asked: Which former NBA stars would've made the best presidents?
luxetveritas94 asked: Merry Christmas! I hope Santa brought you something nice :)
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Anonymous asked: How do you think Hubert Humphrey would do in 1960 against Nixon?
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Anonymous asked: Was Johannes Gutenberg the most important person of the last 1,000 years?
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nedzissou asked: Do you think Huntsman would be a good VP? Do you see anyone picking him as a running mate?
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Christmas In The White House
The Blue Room of the White House annually features the official indoor Christmas tree of the President and his family. The Blue Room Christmas Tree normally stands between 18-20 feet tall (the tree is so tall that the Blue Room’s chandelier is removed during the holidays) and is donated by the National Christmas Tree Association which chooses a tree from a grower determined in a NCTA...
Anonymous asked: happy holidays! I'm stumped. What was the name of the elderly leader you were recently asked about? I know it was o an African country but the name of the country and leader escaped my memory.
jordanrecorded asked: You're like google for presidents trivia.
trxfreely asked: Almost as a supreme consolation, how many of the Justices are Catholic?
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Elvis: Blue Christmas (Live from the ‘68...
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Anonymous asked: There's tons of Catholics in America, but there's only been one Catholic president. Why is that?
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xtrace asked: How often has the Vice Presidential candidate made a significant impact on the outcome of an election, whether to the benefit or deficit of their running-mate? Have you found any potentially formidable pairs in your "opposition research"?
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Anonymous asked: Did any of the presidents have both a wealthy backround and accomplished military services?