list
The Swamp has assembled the best and worst of all things politics: political heroes, zeros, and instances of corruption from way back when 'til today.
Little Known Facts You've Never Heard About WWI
Everyone knows about World War II, down to the little facts and trivia about the guns used and the soldiers who fought, but many remain in the dark about the Great War: WWI. For a whole generation, World War I proved to be the most explosive, destructive conflict in man's history. Over the course of four bloody years, WWI crushed empires, carved lakes into the Earth, and left countries carpeted by fields of corpses rasping out their last through blood and gas.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in The Swamp
How Social Media Would Have Destroyed Our Political Heroes. Top Story - March 2017.
Social media has only held sway over three presidents in American history, and, in that time, it has reshaped the political landscape. Presidents have risen and fallen thanks to the internet's influence. Information and misinformation have reached countless ears. Entire social movements have been born on the internet, and reached the White House to influence policy—or resist policy that can harm countless people.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in The Swamp
Craziest Wire Taps in US History
Electronic communication has permeated modern society; it's no wonder that wire tapping has become almost expected in the US. The Patriot Project normalized wire tapping for an entire generation. It is baffling to imagine a time in history where wire tapping was not only rare but actually illegal.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in The Swamp
Must See Movies About Politics
Often when we look at the political theater, it almost seems like the political maneuvers senators and generals pull are facelifted from the latest cinematic political thriller, almost as though real life is following a movie script. Still, Hollywood can't be beaten when it comes to entertaining political madness (as opposed to real life's soul crushing political madness). Cinematic politicians speak with unmatched eloquence, dressed to impress, and don't look like melted ice cream sundaes stuffed into a suit. Politicians in the movies may be sometimes corrupt, but oftentimes they fight for the American ideal. Or other times, we see the man--normal people, outside the political theater--fighting for the American way. That’s what audiences long for: a movie that can be at once thrilling, exciting, and inspiring. The very best political movies leave us breathless, leave us inspired, and leave us with an impression about what this country could be if only the cards fell just into place.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in The Swamp
10 Pieces of Fake News and Their Sources from Before 1978
This current election has brought the idea of fake news from the dusty racks along supermarkets to the mainstream. For many growing up in the 80s and 90s, when one heard "fake news," they thought of the National Enquirer, with articles "confirming" not only Elvis' continued survival into the present, but also that he, in actuality, was an alien from Alpha Centauri. Obviously, a ridiculous story.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in The Swamp
Infamous Presidential Sex Scandals
Presidential sex scandals are something of an American past time. These affairs have been going on as far back as Thomas Jefferson's presidency, though with the advent of paparazzi and the digital age, the leaders of the free world have found it increasingly more difficult to hide their scandals.
By Glenn Bushinski9 years ago in The Swamp
Infamous Bill Clinton Scandals
Bill Clinton is by all accounts something of a political Houdini; it seems the politician, philanthropist, and almost first First Gentleman has more or less managed to escape punishment over the decades, no matter what controversy befalls him. Sure, each scandal leaves him with some scarring—a tarnished reputation here, an investigation there—but no amount of salacious or questionable activity seems to be quite enough to ensure total destruction. Should you want to know how to spot one of these Clinton-Gates for yourself, the hallmarks of the many Bill Clinton scandals typically feature a questionable detail to start, which leads to an investigation, that ultimately concludes the detail is innocuous while also uncovering a tangential questionable detail in the process–And so the cycle continues...
By Lynne Shumaker9 years ago in The Swamp
Best Political Films Ever Made
Political films help us to comprehend the often murky world of politics. We are all obsessed with politics, but we don’t always understand them. George Orwell said that political language is designed to make lies sound truthful. Is it any wonder that we get lost among the rhetoric sometimes? Political cinema gives us a sneak peek behind the scenes. The scandals, the damage control, the back room deals, the campaign trail, the idealists, the spin-doctors, and everything else we love and love to hate about politics. Get informed by watching this great selection of political films.
By Stephen Hamilton9 years ago in The Swamp
Mysterious Political Decoy Cases
We have all seen that person on the street that strikes an eerie resemblance to someone we know. Wondrous appearance similarities have dazzled many minds throughout time, and the phenomenon has even coined its own phrase, doppelgänger; a German phrase that translates to “double goer.”
By Glenn Bushinski9 years ago in The Swamp
Most Narcissistic Politicians
The definition of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which is no longer used as a diagnosis because too many people have it, is, “a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this make of ultra confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.”
By Banji Ganchrow9 years ago in The Swamp
Greatest US Presidents of All Time
Every election season, the US must reflect on what it actually takes for a candidate to become president, and a good one at that. After all, history has shown that when the greatest US presidents first set foot in the oval office, their work was just beginning. These presidents worked across party lines, changed policies, and made the American people proud to live in their country. We've had bad leaders and good leaders, but this list suggests that it's something very different to go down as one of the very greatest US presidents.
By Parag Patel9 years ago in The Swamp
Best Political Documentaries to Watch
In teaching us about their chosen subjects, documentaries prompt us to look within and draw conclusions about ourselves. With stories spanning from Los Angeles, California to Chengdu, China, these political documentaries are essential to watch in the face of an uncertain global future.
By Patricia Sarkar9 years ago in The Swamp
