The Democrats Gloat Thread

dlowan wrote:

It is stunning to foreign eyes, too, that there is almost no way of getting rid of a president, except impeachment.

This is "stunning"? We've had our Constitution for over 200 years.

Finn wrote:
"The stakes of the modern press conference are amazingly high for the president. Almost every reporter in attendance is trying to make the news by asking a question which will illicit a controversial or stupid answer. These sessions are not a way for the American people to learn about what the president thinks or is doing, they are a way for the hounds of the press to bait the presidential bear in his den."


There is some truth in that!!

Vindicated!

I often think of the press as something I laud in concept (given their role in society) but loathe in practice. There IS a horrible sensationalism to a lot of coverage.

It is almost as though there is a contest, sometimes, between hunter (press) and prey (politicians) as to who can become least substantial and meaty.

Nonetheless, there is a fine press remaining in your country, and even in mine, amongst the scum. It is easy enough, I would have thought, for Bush to find good, probing interviewers, if he was of a mind to dare to speak for himself about weighty matters.

Well, he has subjected himself, at least, to interviews by both Barbara Walters and Britt Humes.

I know, I know...Walters is a lightweight and Humes is a partisan. So who would you accept as a serious interviewer?

Jim Lehrer (who I enjoy quite a bit) who let Clinton bald faced lie to the American people without challange?

Peter Jennings who (God rest his soul) was a classic cynical Liberal who could not imagine a positive trend that didn't flow from the Left?

Bill Moyers? Yeah, there's a journalist without an ideological ax to grind.

Dan Rathers who humiliated himself by skewing the news to serve his partisan ends?

Just who might fit the bill?

Larry King?
Joooooooooooooooooooking...
(I hate Larry King's guts)

Dunno. Ain't a Yank.


I am sure there is someone...

nimh wrote:

Lash wrote:

Are you suggesting other Presidents don't have advance notice of what questions they will be asked?

Of course not!

Well, Putin probably does ... which should tell you something, I suppose.
...

I think this just was a trick question, and Lash was pulling our leg

Walter Hinteler wrote:

nimh wrote:

Lash wrote:

Are you suggesting other Presidents don't have advance notice of what questions they will be asked?

Of course not!

Well, Putin probably does ... which should tell you something, I suppose.
...

I think this just was a trick question, and Lash was pulling our leg

It never ceases to amaze that you guys snicker about what you consider to be my naivete...

nimh wrote:

Lash wrote:

Are you suggesting other Presidents don't have advance notice of what questions they will be asked?

Of course not!

Well, Putin probably does ... which should tell you something, I suppose.
...

It never ceases to amaze that you guys snicker about what you consider to be my naivete...

But at least they consider you a moderate...

Hon, when there's a political crisis of sorts Prime Minister Balkenende gets thronged by groups of journalists with cameras who assail him while he's walking from one place or another and ask him questions in random, quickfire sequence - thats not the kind of scene that would allow for pre-discussed question-setting. Or for a careful selection by intermediates of who gets to ask a question and who doesnt.

Wow ... throngs of reporters assailing him while he's trying to work. Sounds like a great system.

Wow ... throngs of reporters assailing him while he's trying to work. Sounds like a great system.

Ticomaya wrote:

Wow ... throngs of reporters assailing him while he's trying to work. Sounds like a great system.

I realise that you face a kind of special situation with George Bush in charge, but for most heads of state walking from one place to another isn't actually considered hard "work".. ;-)

nimh wrote:

Hon, when there's a political crisis of sorts Prime Minister Balkenende gets thronged by groups of journalists with cameras who assail him while he's walking from one place or another and ask him questions in random, quickfire sequence - thats not the kind of scene that would allow for pre-discussed question-setting. Or for a careful selection by intermediates of who gets to ask a question and who doesnt.

Wow ... throngs of reporters assailing him while he's trying to work. Sounds like a great system.

nimh wrote:

I realise that you face a kind of special situation with George Bush in charge, but for most heads of state walking from one place to another isn't actually considered hard "work".. ;-)

I didn't say it was hard work. Would you stop mischaracterizing what I say all the time? :wink:

Ticomaya wrote:

Wow ... throngs of reporters assailing him while he's trying to work. Sounds like a great system.

I realise that you face a kind of special situation with George Bush in charge, but for most heads of state walking from one place to another isn't actually considered hard "work".. ;-)

Lash wrote:

nimh wrote:

Lash wrote:

Are you suggesting other Presidents don't have advance notice of what questions they will be asked?

Of course not!

Well, Putin probably does ... which should tell you something, I suppose.
...

It never ceases to amaze that you guys snicker about what you consider to be my naivete...

Hon, when there's a political crisis of sorts Prime Minister Balkenende gets thronged by groups of journalists with cameras who assail him while he's walking from one place or another and ask him questions in random, quickfire sequence - thats not the kind of scene that would allow for pre-discussed question-setting. Or for a careful selection by intermediates of who gets to ask a question and who doesnt.

Course, some questions he will dodge and others he will talk around; politicians. But to prevent people from even asking undesired questions - from presuming he was in a position to do so - no way.

It goes with the whole debate thing. You know, four party leaders in discussion with each other, in direct interaction, none of your two-minutes-for-you and two-minutes-for-you stuff, or two by two where they ask each other questions and directly follow-up; no pre-formulated questions there either.

Like I said, the really scary thing, the real Big Brother thing, is that people like you have come to sincerely belief that it's normal for Presidents to not allow anything but pre-agreed questions or insist at least on picking-and-choosing who gets to ask any. That they've indoctrinated you to the point where you smugly reject any suggestion that it might be done otherwise.

Finn d'Abuzz wrote:

But at least they consider you a moderate...

If Lash is a moderate then so is everyone on this forum. Apart from the actual loony fringe (the Gunga, Chrissee type), practically everyone would be a moderate. She's on the far right of the furthest right parties in most of our countries, actual fascists excluded.