Sen. John McCain has proposed the adoption of an American version of the Prime Minister Question Session where he would appear before the Senate regularly for unscripted exchanges. I have long advocated such a tradition in the United States and it was the subject of a NPR story.
It is interesting that McCain would propose such a change. Some of us have advocated the change due in part to the alleged incapacity of Ronald Reagan from age. McCain is brilliant in promising that he would not hide behind aides, but would guarantee total transparency in his abilities and views. There is no evidence that McCain is diminished in any respect and his mother has shown how old age does not always reduce one’s mental capacities or cognitive abilities.
Under the English system, the Prime Minister meets for a half of an hour every Wednesday. It is not entirely unscripted. The questions alternate between the parties and the first question is always the same and the answer is basically the same. The first formal question is raised as “Number One, Mr Speaker” and asks for his schedule that day. The Prime Minister replies:
“This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I will have further such meetings later today.”
The backbenchers can ask questions by submitting their names on the Order Paper, which are placed in random order to be called upon by the Speaker of the House of Commons. MPs can also seek to be recognized by “catching the eye” of the Speaker by standing and sitting immediately before the Prime Minister gives an answer.
McCain is notably not proposing the use of the House of Representatives as the closest American body to the House of Commons. That would appear a bit too lively and unpredictable. Nevertheless, it would be a welcomed reform.
My interest in the session was sparked during the final Reagan term when it was widely believed that Reagan had greatly diminished capabilities. Indeed, some believe that Reagan was incompetent on occasions. The 25th amendment deals with such allegations of presidential disability poorly. Reagan’s aides were able to shield him from public view, even turning off the lights in the Oval Office when he began to gap during interviews.
In the absence of an amendment to the Constitution on disability and removal, this is one change that would offer some protection for the public by exposing any diminished capacity. Notably both Justices Thurgood Marshall and William Brennan were shown to be highly diminished through public appearances — triggering calls for their resignations.
George Bush also has shown added reasons for the tradition. His notorious appointment of enablers and sycophants proved to be one of the contributors to the abuses and scandals of his administration. While these sessions would not have likely changed his mind, theywould have forced him to hear dissenting voices. They would guarantee that, at a minimum, he would be forced to deal with questions that were clearly not being asked in the White House. Moreover, with his Administration refused a wide range of documents and information to the legislative branch, it would give Congress a direct avenue to raise such questions and objections.
Finally, as I noted in the NPR interview above, these sessions tend to cut against the notion of an imperil presidency. Prime Ministers are reminded every Wednesday at noon that they are not royals and must be prepared to deal with citizens and their questions.
Tony Blair was obviously the master of such sessions. For the U.S., it would be a great advantage to simply force our presidents out of their controlled environments and off script for one day a week.
This is the reason I love jonathanturlye.org. Unbelievable post.
http://hypnotisemosing.blogspot.com/
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Ok but lets do it like the Gong Show.
If they get a wrong answer they get gonged.
😀
Maybe a trap door or a cane to pull them off stage.
Rafflaw wrote:
Jill,
they would have to have a satellite dish on Bush’s head in order to feed him enough information to get through a “Citizen Interrogation” session.
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True, but I’m going to substitute “citizen cross-examination” for “interrogation” here. I can’t help it, the I word just has too many disturbing connotations for me, including its close connection to the T (torture) word.
rafflaw,
Your laptop idea is excellent. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY!!! Moderators really could do instant fact checking and they could put the correct information on a GIANT screen above the candidates head, sort of a high tech Sword of Damocles.
Jill
And if that wasn’t bad enough check this out.
Ok, I found link to an partial copy of the film. Its been edited, so it seems sh. I don’t know if it will post though. For some reason my links to seem to post.
If it doesn’t post, just google “McCain\Viagra” and you’ll see it.
Unfortunately the copies I found on YouTube, all have been oddly enough, edited, showing only his uncomfortably 8 second pause. If you watch, you’ll notice in the beginning McCain tells the reporter he doesn’t want to “talk about that”. Then the film breaks, and suddenly his hand is on his chin.
Well, its the part between that and the hand on the chin I was hoping to show you. Keith Olberman showed the full video on Countdown, and it was much worse than what we are seeing now on YouTube.
I am now even more suspicious about his possible condition given this part was edited out, as if someone didn’t want everyone to see the rest of his little 30 second trip to the Bahamas. Anyway I’ll post the link, if it doesn’t work, just google McCain\Viagra.
Rafflaw wrote:
Bartlebee,
I agree that McCain has shown signs of mental weakness or confusion. I don’t know if it is dementia, but it would sure scare me to have McCain’s shaky finger on the button.
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Rafflaw, I agree with the above, and the idea of McCain’s being President scares the heck out of me too.
rafflaw
1, July 26, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Bartlebee,
I agree that McCain has shown signs of mental weakness or confusion. I don’t know if it is dementia, but it would sure scare me to have McCain’s shaky finger on the button
I’ll give a specific example. Its only one, of many on camera lately, but this is one of the best ones.
Keith Olberman showed a clip of McCain being asked a question that had something to do with sex. I don’t remember the exact question, the reporter kinda dragged it out but McCain instead of giving his usual joking responses seemed to sort of “daze out”.
He was clearly confused, and seemed disoriented and for a moment, seemed to forget he was on camera, or around people. His facial expressions were changing rapidly, showing a very confused man. And what was so remarkable about this particular footage, was the duration of this “episode”, which seemed to last close to a minute.
If I find the clip, I’ll try to link to it.
This thing eats my links though.
Let me put it this way.
If I were his kid I would be seriously concerned right now, that the doctors he’s seeing are…well… lets just say slightly biased towards showing us a healthy man.
After all, as an attorney, you are fully aware there is no shortage of doctors who tend to be biased towards showing a not healthy man, in other circumstances, like where personal injury is concerned for example.
If I were his kid, I’d be noticing dads looking really, really confused on camera lately, and is taking some extremly long pauses on camera when responding to questions that are not that difficult to respond to.
I’d be concerned that a man, entering an age of onset for Alzheimers and age related dementia is clearly showing some signs of increasing forgetfulness, confusion over simple things, small fits of anger, these are easily signs of the onset of Dementia and possibly even Alzheimer’s. As I’m sure you know the age where the onset of Alzheimer’s begins is around 65, an age John McCain saw several moons ago.
So I’m no doctor, but its usually not doctors that first figure out dads got the Big A. Its the kids.
Bartlebee,
I agree that McCain has shown signs of mental weakness or confusion. I don’t know if it is dementia, but it would sure scare me to have McCain’s shaky finger on the button.
Jill,
I agree that we wouldn’t have a debate. I just want an honest question and answer and if I don’t like the answer, I want a follow up. I want the moderator to have his/her laptop there and every answer checked for accuracy. That is one way to keep them on their toes and let them know that BS answers will no longer be allowed.
😀
Unless of course you’re saying he was like that already.
The one symptom I am having difficulty gauging his the telling of the same stories over and over.
😐
Since politicians do this regularly on the campaign trail, like comedians it makes them hard to spot.
JT said…
There is no evidence that McCain is diminished in any respect and his mother has shown how old age does not always reduce one’s mental capacities or cognitive abilities.
I have to differ with this opinion. I’ve been watching McCain over the last year, and he’s clearly showing me the same early signs of dementia I’ve seen in two relatives who were of similar age.
The rapid blinking of the eyes, the repeated moments of confusion, and seeming “blank outs” as he slowly gathers his confused thoughts, the constant forgetting of names, places and events, particularly ones he has spoken of enough times to not make such mistakes, all of these things to me, say early Alzheimers and progressing age related dementia. In fact, both relatives I saw displaying these same symptoms grew severly worse within 2 years, and were unable to operate motor vehicles or care for themselves any longer without assistance.
I am not trying to pick on him here, I am just pointing out that to this blogger, he appears to be showing the same signs I’ve seen all too often already.
And thats not someone who needs his finger on the button.
JT Said…
For the U.S., it would be a great advantage to simply force our presidents out of their controlled environments and off script for one day a week.
Heck, one day a month would be better than the ivory tower they’re living in now. Yes, this is a good idea. Coming from McCain though it is an odd move. I’m wondering if he’s consigned himself to a loss, and is just trying to make life more difficult for Obama. I cannot imagine John McCain going to the Congress every week to answer questions if he got elected, but it would be wonderful if we could compell our presidents to do this.
zakimar,
I worked on the attempted recount in Ohio. I am very familiar with the machinations that went on, just in this one state. Bush was not reelected. He cheated into the presidency all the way.