There was a rivalry between the parties, of course, but in Potter's account, it was more like the rivalry between Cal and Stanford than that between today's Republicans and Democrats. The parties had somewhat different constituencies and pledged fealty to a different set of men, but each attempted to encompass as much of the political spectrum as possible rather than merely half of it. The story of the 1850s, by these lights, is about how this changed.

With reference to David M. Potter's The Impending Crisis, Adam Cadre surveys the four antebellum presidents. [more inside]
posted by Iridic on Oct 22, 2009 - 23 comments

Mark Wagner makes money into art.
posted by grapefruitmoon on Jun 15, 2009 - 17 comments

I Am Babycakes , created by Creased Comics' Brad Neely (who did that "Washington" video seen some time ago), is the good-natured, incredibly dark musings of a man-child who lives with his dad/wizard, roleplays ("I had described to my friends the most beautiful demon"), writes songs, and fills both his diary, and his days, with emptiness. Alternating funny, then sad, then cool as one turns it over in the mind. Or I think so anyway. Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 (All links NSFW due to language.)
posted by JHarris on Feb 23, 2007 - 15 comments

I’ve been president twice now, and I didn’t want to do it either time.
From the "blag" of the wonderful webcomic xkcd.
posted by Anything on Feb 3, 2007 - 29 comments

George Washington once threw a knife into heaven, and other little-known facts about our first (and pimpest) President. (Link goes to an NSFW YouTube video, because George Washington doesn't care about your petty little workplace rules.) This important fact-filled documentary was created by comic book artist Brad Neely, also known for Wizard People, Dear Readers, his unauthorized soundtrack to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
posted by yankeefog on Jun 6, 2006 - 25 comments

"Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience." George Washington's Rules of Civility.
posted by nthdegx on Sep 12, 2005 - 21 comments

Philadelphia's Masonic Temple looms enigmatically near city hall. Visit, and marvel at the Corinthian Hall, the Renaissance Hall, the Egyptian Hall, the Oriental Hall, the Norman Hall, the Gothic Hall, and the Ionic Hall. Untangle the inscrutable symbology of George Washington's Masonic Apron. Browse the extensive library (if you're a mason). Even bring home a spoon.
posted by deafmute on Jan 27, 2005 - 16 comments

Washington's Farewell Address, from The Papers of George Washington.
posted by hama7 on May 22, 2004 - 4 comments

Founding fathers quotations about religion. Sick of hearing fundie pundies say "the US was founded on a vision of Christianity"? Let TJ and the crew speak for themselves.
posted by condour75 on Oct 14, 2003 - 37 comments

George Washington made his own whiskey, and at its peak his distillery produced 11,000 gallons a year. America's first president was also a successful entrepreneur. Now some scholars want to reconstruct the distillery and start making whiskey again. The reconstruction might be done by 2006. If they chose to sample their handiwork, I hope they remember the 98th and 99th rules of decent behavior.
posted by homunculus on Jun 23, 2003 - 7 comments

FBI Discovers Bill of Rights after 138 years. No word on whether they will sell it or use it.
posted by flagrante_delicto on Mar 19, 2003 - 5 comments

The First State of the Union Address - Here is President George Washington's State of the Union Address from January 8, 1790. Have things really changed that much in 213 years?
posted by Argyle on Jan 28, 2003 - 15 comments

The First Eight Presidents
John Hanson (November 5, 1781 - November 3, 1782), Elias Boudinot (November 4, 1782 - November 2, 1783), Thomas Mifflin (November 3, 1783 - June 3, 1784), Richard Henry Lee (November 30, 1784 - November 22, 1785), John Hancock (November 23, 1785 - June 5, 1786), Nathaniel Gorham (June 1786 until January 1787), Arthur St. Clair (February 2 , 1787 - January 21, 1788), and Cyrus Griffin (January 22, 1788 – April 29, 1789)--under The Articles of the Confederation.
Everything you know is wrong--George Washington was the 9th President
--or 8th, depending on how you call it on John Hancock's term. [More inside]
posted by y2karl on Nov 7, 2002 - 28 comments

The Other Monument to the Father of Our Country has its own particular -- albeit weird -- appeal. I've been there twice and I'm impressed by how good a sense of its aesthetic you can get from this website and virtual tour. Of course, the "universally enjoyed" miniature Shriner parade has to be seen to be believed, but the pure American extravagance of the whole thing is nicely documented here.
posted by BT on Jun 26, 2001 - 24 comments