Prime Minister Question Time—In The U.S.A.

[Lemur]

We should do this sort of thing more often. As you probably know, the House Republican caucus invited the President to speak at their meeting, and they allowed cameras in. The Q&A session quickly turned into something that looked a heck of a lot like the British system of Question Time, which totally rocks.

This should become a tradition. Having a President and his political adversaries face each other and debate is utterly and completely cool.

[Subotan]

PMQ's isn't a great form of keeping the PM accountable as it's so short and not very formalised. It's amazingly fun though, as shown byy

[Aemilius Paulus]

Mmm, I regularly watch PMQ, even though I live in US, but I doubt it would fare too well in US. For one, US is not used to it. Secondly, well, the Republicans, especially in their current state... Their methods of debate are... well...

And I have a low opinion of the average Americans viewing such a program (no offence to the US Orgahs, who are generally well above the average of political IQ). Theoretically, the British should not be too different, but I find that difficult to believe... So many of the modes of argumentation, especially by the Republicans, are so flawed, even in their basic method - I mean logical fallacies - not just the facts. Whatever...

[Subotan]

It'd be like if the President was Questioned by howler monkeys

[CrossLOPER]

This is a very good idea, and I'm surprised that it's not common place already.

[spmetla]

I've always enjoyed watching PMQs and have always thought that something similiar is needed in the US. It'd need a few rules so that it's somewhat productive and not just a soapbox for people to say "yeah, I really hounded the president about this or that." Still it might deter some of the more daft "candidates" out there from running if they knew that every week they'd have to publicly own up to whatever they'd been up to.

[Crazed Rabbit]

You can learn more from a couple minutes of that than whole hours of pundit cable programming.

CR

[Strike For The South]

They were not respectful at all and that really stuck in my craw.

It's like they watch Glenn Beck and take talking points from that.

I'm not even talking presidential level respect (which Obama deserves) but just regular people respect. It's truly disgusting to me when people can't use there inside voices and talk like adults.

[InsaneApache]

Respectful? Politicians? We tolerate them. We loath them. We hope that they will fry in the fires of Hades but respect, never.

[Aemilius Paulus]

Respectful? Politicians? We tolerate them. We loath them. We hope that they will fry in the fires of Hades but respect, never.

Heh, interesting you say so. I remember reading Audacity of Hope and Obama remarking that while the approval ratings of Congress are stunningly low, in general, most Congressmen are quite popular in their own districts, at least as a person - and in any case, with average approval ratings much higher than the average approval rating of Congress as a whole.

Once again, this does not say a good thing about the general public...

[Lemur]

PMQ's isn't a great form of keeping the PM accountable as it's so short and not very formalised. It's amazingly fun though, as shown byy

See, to me that looks like a real debate. I would love to see that sort of spontaneous back-and-forth in our government. Bring on Question Time! Seriously, this should be how we do things.

[Subotan]

Respectful? Politicians? We tolerate them. We loath them. We hope that they will fry in the fires of Hades but respect, never.

Right, because all politicians are Machiavellian monsters out to enslave a poor, naive populace.

See, to me that looks like a real debate. I would love to see that sort of spontaneous back-and-forth in our government. Bring on Question Time! Seriously, this should be how we do things.

I guess I'm forgetting the nature of American politics. Lots of "debate", filibustering, pork barrelling etc. Prime Minister's Questions might work better in a state with separation of the powers.

[Lemur]

Well, between our politicans' fear of a gaffe, and the soundbyte nature of cable news, it's freakin' rare to hear anything spontaneous and human come out of an elected official's mouth. A free-rolling debate would be just the thing to shake these creatures up. And in a lovely Darwinian sense, it would help expose those lawmakers who are dumber than a box of rocks. It's win win win.

[Duke Malcolm]

I have to say, I agree. Every politician ought to be able to stand up and argue his case against questions from his opposition. I've always though those "TV debates" that seem so popular lack any real sense of spontaniety and wit. And while the PM/President can prepare for the major issues, they can never prepare fully for what might be thrown at them. True rhetoric, wit, and linguistic mastery shine out - the speechwriters have little or no say over the questions and answers. And it gives the obscure politicians a chance to make a name for themselves on a bigger playing field if they manage to outdo the PM.

[tibilicus]

I personally feel any healthy democracy would benefit and should use some form of question time. Here I present two of my favourite clips:

These aren't my favourites because they show a high level of good clean debate, they're my favourite as they show how new Labour used to be and how it is now. From competent political party to well, what it is now..

[Louis VI the Fat]

Nothing will ever even come close to the House of Commons.

[Lemur]

Well, Louis, we gotta start somewhere, and I think the Prez taking unscripted questions from the opposition party is a great start. As many LOLcats have asked, may I have some more, please?

[Louis VI the Fat]

Sorry, I wasn't so much dismissing any efforts to bring more direct debate into the US system - which is great, as merely expressing my fondness of the British parliamentary debate tradition.


British MP's behave like drunk hooligans. In fact, they are, save for mostly not being hooligans. British pubs differ not that much from the HoC in the excited tone of conversation, the cheers, the jeering. There is a culture at large behind the fanciful debating style of the HoC.

[InsaneApache]

Interesting about the HoC. When they re-built it in the 19th centuary they deliberately designed it so that if all the MPs attended there wouldn't be enough room for them all, witness important QT. Bodies sat in the aisles, hanging off chandaliers.....you get my drift.

It makes for a febrile atmosphere. A bit like my old schools speech day. Think Millwall at home to Spurs and you get the general idea. Unlike a Millwall match though the commons is also designed that the two front benches are just over two sword lenths apart. The idea being that if you wanted to run your oppo through you'd have to stand up and move towards him. Therefore giving the victim a chance of escape. They don't do politics like that anymore. More's the pity.

[KukriKhan]

President's Question Time would be entertaining and informative to watch. The trouble is: POTUS is not the Chief Legislator of the country, like the Prime Minister, he is the separate-but-equal Chief Executive.

When they take the oath, I want my President to stop being a Democrat or Republican, and just be MY President.

This event was a political stunt that backfired on the Repub caucus; it's as if they "dared" Mr. O to show up to prove his claimed desire to be bipartisan. Show up he did, and showed them much more respect than they showed him. And gave excellent answers to meandering, politically-charged so-called questions. They're gonna regret having filmed that event. They did not come off well.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Interesting about the HoC. When they re-built it in the 19th centuary they deliberately designed it so that if all the MPs attended there wouldn't be enough room for them all, witness important QT. Bodies sat in the aisles, hanging off chandaliers.....you get my drift.

It makes for a febrile atmosphere. A bit like my old schools speech day. Think Millwall at home to Spurs and you get the general idea. Unlike a Millwall match though the commons is also designed that the two front benches are just over two sword lenths apart. The idea being that if you wanted to run your oppo through you'd have to stand up and move towards him. Therefore giving the victim a chance of escape. They don't do politics like that anymore. More's the pity.

Yes, even more interesting is the fact that there have always been sword racks outside the chamber and no MP enters while armed. This rather highlights the implication of the gesture and the white lines drawn on the ground.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

President's Question Time would be entertaining and informative to watch. The trouble is: POTUS is not the Chief Legislator of the country, like the Prime Minister, he is the separate-but-equal Chief Executive.

When they take the oath, I want my President to stop being a Democrat or Republican, and just be MY President.

This event was a political stunt that backfired on the Repub caucus; it's as if they "dared" Mr. O to show up to prove his claimed desire to be bipartisan. Show up he did, and showed them much more respect than they showed him. And gave excellent answers to meandering, politically-charged so-called questions. They're gonna regret having filmed that event. They did not come off well.

Well, maybe it will cause them to raise their game a little. I'm not sure "Question Time" would work in the US though, the Prime Minister (Blair not withstanding) is not a presidential entity.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Well, maybe it will cause them to raise their game a little....

That WOULD be nice, and not too difficult given the current "par."

[spmetla]

President's Question Time would be entertaining and informative to watch. The trouble is: POTUS is not the Chief Legislator of the country, like the Prime Minister, he is the separate-but-equal Chief Executive.

When they take the oath, I want my President to stop being a Democrat or Republican, and just be MY President.

This event was a political stunt that backfired on the Repub caucus; it's as if they "dared" Mr. O to show up to prove his claimed desire to be bipartisan. Show up he did, and showed them much more respect than they showed him. And gave excellent answers to meandering, politically-charged so-called questions. They're gonna regret having filmed that event. They did not come off well.

Perhaps it'd be good to have the VP do question time seeing as he's President of the Senate. It would make the picking of a VP far more important because he would then represent the President's agenda in the Senate. Though I'd actually prefer a question time to happen in the House of Representatives due to the quantity of legistlators there as well as that's usually the realm of the up and coming politicians instead of some of those crusty old guys that are waiting to die in the Senate.

[JAG]

I have just spent like 3 hours watching old clips at various PMQ's - from Thatcher to Blair and to present day. For one this shows how much of a politics geek I am that I would find it amazingly interesting and enjoyable but also it is so interesting to see the various styles of debate and the various changing themes, Brilliant. Just thought I would say cheers, as it is due to this thread I had such a fascinating morning.

As to the subject, A PMQ's in the States just wouldn't work. The President for a start isn't in the same legislative position as the Prime Minister over here and also US politics as a whole is formed in such a different way that it would not really make a whole heap of sense. But the point really is that nowhere has debate quite like we do over here in the House of Commons, it is quite brilliantly unique.

[drone]

Perhaps it'd be good to have the VP do question time seeing as he's President of the Senate. It would make the picking of a VP far more important because he would then represent the President's agenda in the Senate. Though I'd actually prefer a question time to happen in the House of Representatives due to the quantity of legistlators there as well as that's usually the realm of the up and coming politicians instead of some of those crusty old guys that are waiting to die in the Senate.

The problem I see with this is the constitutional position of the VP. Dick Cheney already tried to pull shenanigans with his position in both branches, this would only reinforce that. There would need to be better clarification on the VP's role added to the Constitution before allowing this.

[spmetla]

The problem I see with this is the constitutional position of the VP. Dick Cheney already tried to pull shenanigans with his position in both branches, this would only reinforce that. There would need to be better clarification on the VP's role added to the Constitution before allowing this.

I wouldn't mind a redefing of the VPs role. The Constitution is a working document anyhow, besides it's not like we let the runner up be V.P. like it was originally. I'd prefer the V.P. to be more involved in representing the President's policy anyhow, that way there'd be more of a point to the V.P. than being a spare President. I'd also be happy to see President's choose V.P. for the capability and not to satisify a demographic (cough, Palin).

As for people saying that the US has not history of debating quite like Britain, well I'll agree but you've got to start somewhere. It's a travesty that the only time anyone seems to be able to debate the President is when he's running for reelection, he should be constantly challenged by opposition. Merely issuing a statement to address some soundbite is not enough for me. A weekly or probably more practical monthly debate would help to do this. I don't think it would distract from his duties and though at first it would be misused by the various talking heads it would become normal and expected. While in the past it would have been unnnecessary seeing as the US President wasn't as important to a citizen as say their Governer was but with the increase of importance of the President I feel there needs to more ways to question and check his power. During the Bush Presidency I was constantly pissed off at his lack of accountability and how inaccessable he was. The way he and his cronies were always able to get away with answering everything by saying they were not authorized to disclose this or did not have the information to talk about that.

I also think that it would definately improve the quality of the person running for President, a shut in President that only issues statements via the Press Secretary would be no more. Also, it would help undue the current good speech trend, Obama is a clever guy and it was good seeing him have to answer questions on the go instead of reading off a script.

[miotas]

But the point really is that nowhere has debate quite like we do over here in the House of Commons, it is quite brilliantly unique.

Hey, we have question time too. I quite like watching our pollies get all riled up and rip into each other

[JAG]

Hey, we have question time too. I quite like watching our pollies get all riled up and rip into each other

Yeah I have seen it, doesn't quite hit the mark like ours does for me though. Just seems a little less gritty and organised.

[Lemur]

Seems I'm not the only one who thinks Question Time should become a U.S. tradition. Check this out:

[S]o we call on President Barack Obama and House Minority Leader John Boehner to hold these sessions regularly — and allow them to be broadcast and webcast live and without commercial interruption, sponsorship or intermediaries. We also urge the President and the Republican Senate caucus to follow suit. And we ask the President and the House and Senate caucuses of his own party to consider mounting similar direct question-and-answer sessions. We will ask future Presidents and Congresses to do the same.

It is time to make Question Time a regular feature of our democracy.

Please join us by signing the Demand Question Time petition.