I love his idea for an American version of Prime Minister's Question Time. Not only would it be more democratic, but it would be damn entertaining (ever seen the British version?) And besides, if Bush had had to stand for PMQT, he'd likely have been impeached in the first six months.
I'm iffy about it. I love PMQ, but an American president doing something similar raises possible separation-of-powers problems that just don't exist in the UK (where the PM is a member of the House of Commons).
Posted by: Dave J at May 19, 2008 05:53 PMAnd besides, if Bush had had to stand for PMQT, he'd likely have been impeached in the first six months.
Nah. Only possible if members of Congress had the inclination and ability to ask a pointed question. Most of them would give speeches and not let Bush talk. If it did get a little rough, they would have outfitted him with a receiver like the one that produced the bulge under his jacket during the debate with Kerry. And after 9/11 Bush just wouldn't have shown up, and no one would have done anything to compel him
Posted by: Mithras at May 19, 2008 06:53 PMI've been saying this since 2000, when I was studying abroad in London and Bush wasn't even President yet.
Posted by: Jeremy at May 20, 2008 02:30 AMQuestion Time has been my favorite TV show for over a decade now. It may be uncivilized, loud, rude, futile and not really help the progress of government, but...wait, those are pretty much all the reasons I love it so much.
Posted by: Emily at May 20, 2008 09:50 AM