Kaffy Mintcake

Ah yes, Jerry Springer, a former mayor of Cincinnati (true) most well known for writing a check to a prostitute that bounced. He tried to feel out whether or not he could run for office in Ohio again, and was not well-received. Not sure why ...

AmerLisa

Well Bush's "fixed" "Town Meetings" come to mind.......

Kaffy Mintcake

Thank you! I knew there was something that slipped my mind!

Tootsie Frickensprinkles

Got distracted sorry, one of those nights.

I didnt really mean one off things, or the president alone.

Question Time is a weekly evening program where a panel of politicians, high brow socialites .. authors, editors and leaders of commerce etc etc are put in front of the cameras and field questions from the audience and public. It's hosted by Dimbleby which is what reminded me.

I wondered whether there was any sort of equivalent?

I would presume not, but don't like to do so.

Elvira

Sorry - I was thinking of PARLIAMENTARY Question Time, i.e. Prime Minister's Questions...

You can watch it on C-SPAN - often highly entertaining!

http://www.c-span.org/VideoArchives....ies,PMQ&Page=1

elfman

In theory. In practice the early state primaries basically usually dictate what follows.
See also Bill Clinton's election

Tootsie Frickensprinkles

Aye, twas your comment and Dear David that got me onto Question Time the program. Wednesday afternoons just wouldn't be the same on Capitol Hill with "real" question time.

simongb

He wouldn't last 2 minutes. What gets me about politics here is that it is so orchestrated, everyone knows it is and no one cares about it. It has been publicly acknowledged that President Bush hand picked the journalists and pre approved the questions for many of his pre Irag invasion 'ask the president' BS sessions. That would be a scandal in the UK, yet here it's just everyday. The other things is that to be from the south, Christian, and to be a white male means that you will go far in politics. Shrub's 'down on the farm' act is so annoying, yet the public lap it up. To be considered an intellectual is not a good thing. Why? I would rather have a Phd running the country than someone who chops down trees on his ranch... Are people from the south more trustworthy than someone from....NEW ENGLAND... Why do 'the american people' not trust people from NEW ENGLAND?? My other pet peeve is the way people here use the word LIBERAL as though you were accusing someone of being in the Nazi party! What is wrong with being a liberal? I have been here 15 years and I STILL don't get that!!! Why does the political debate in this country focus on God, Gays and Guns? Are there no other issues? The presidential debates center around who can manouever around these issues the best, but not solve them once and for all. The americans never tire of discussing the three G's. They are like trained dogs that yelp and bark whenever these issues are mentioned. Nothing ever changes and nothing moves forward. Just blows my mind. Anyway, done ranting for now.

simongb

If I were running for President this is how I would solve the three G's.

God-I would shut up about it. Do what you want and I will do what I want, but there is a separation of Church and state. So, keep your church out of the government's business.

Gays-It's a human rights issue, not a religious issue. This is the 21st century, not the 1700's.

Guns-Banned completely. You own a gun, you go to jail/get fined or both. We have a right to not be killed by some p***** off, drugged out teenager with an Uzi.

There...now what should we talk about? LOL

Kaffy Mintcake

Well - like I said the % of Americans who actually vote is quite disappointing. It's taken for granted and not viewed as a privilege. The vocal, right-wing group you're describing does vote - they make a point of making their voice heard, so the politicians (Republicans) court their vote. You have to get votes to get into office afterall. In the last election I heard many say that they disliked both candidates.

Bush probably pre-approves questions because he's not good at speaking on his feet - he'd make even more of a fool of himself than he already does if he didn't.

Not sure where you live - but I don't think of "liberals" as being evil or wrong. The majority of Americans are likely moderate - either moderate Republicans or Democrats as you have to declare a party to be able to vote in the primaries. You have extremes on both ends.

Tootsie Frickensprinkles

That's what I meant about accountability. I know about checks and balances etc etc. The President is largely inaccessible. That's wrong, in any system imo. Still, spose it was summed up in Simon's post.

cindyabs

I find the idea of running for the office of coroner ridiculous.

simongb

Thanks. I am ranting tonight. Sometimes I just get really mad at the futility of it all. I don't normally let loose on here, but sometimes I wonder what is going on in this country (and in the UK too for that matter). I want to yell, 'I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore'.

DollyLlama

elfman

just to illustrate your point:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Gannon

http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feat...air/index.html