I read in the NYT last Sunday that McCain was proposing to adopt the practice of the Prime Minister's Questions of the UK and other government Parliamentary models based on it.

Basically, the POTUS would have to submit to questions asked by members of Congress of all stripes on a regular basis--such as each month--before Congress.

Personally, I think it would be a great idea. It would keep POTUSes on their speaking toes, more open and accountable to the public, etc.

What do you all think of the idea?

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Around 200,000 Irish immigrants served in the Union and Confederate armies in the American Civil War, often forming their own regiments and, at times, fought each other. At Fredericksburg, the Union’s Irish Brigade faced the Irish McMillan's Guards of Cobb's 24th Georgia entrenched in a sunken road behind a stone wall. Ordered to make a suicidal charge, it became one of the most famous events of the Civil War. The re-enactment portrayed in the movie Gods and Generals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qVCxEupPag

As long as the President isn't aware of the questions beforehand, I think that'd be a great idea...

I think they should of cross of gold stump style speeches head to head, one time keeper, no media boobs as moderators.

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Obama-e fungis nati homines....

I agree.

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"Bring the boys back home!"--Pink Floyd

NFA JJG 42-95

Free People/Free Markets

Following the Path of the Beam

20? I thought the PM was asked 6 questions Bere?

20 seems a lot, even for someone as well articulated as Tony Blair....

Having said that, i just saw Boris go through the first Mayoral questions (3 hours it went on for) and it was incredibly boring, Boris made it enjoyable to an extent, but can you imagine 3 hours like that listenning to McCain?

True, impromptu questions are better overall. Sometimes they are presubmitted so things like national security can be covered and other improper subject matter but so long as it remains a frank and fair inquisition instead of a sham it should be still a good idea.

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Around 200,000 Irish immigrants served in the Union and Confederate armies in the American Civil War, often forming their own regiments and, at times, fought each other. At Fredericksburg, the Union’s Irish Brigade faced the Irish McMillan's Guards of Cobb's 24th Georgia entrenched in a sunken road behind a stone wall. Ordered to make a suicidal charge, it became one of the most famous events of the Civil War. The re-enactment portrayed in the movie Gods and Generals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qVCxEupPag

I'll have to look at the article online if I can find it, but IIRC it was 20 he proposed.

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Around 200,000 Irish immigrants served in the Union and Confederate armies in the American Civil War, often forming their own regiments and, at times, fought each other. At Fredericksburg, the Union’s Irish Brigade faced the Irish McMillan's Guards of Cobb's 24th Georgia entrenched in a sunken road behind a stone wall. Ordered to make a suicidal charge, it became one of the most famous events of the Civil War. The re-enactment portrayed in the movie Gods and Generals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qVCxEupPag

Oh ok, i thought you meant other world leaders also face 20...but it just won't work.

In other countries, especially the UK, party leaders are generally fact based/very intricate on detail. Thus they debate well in the commons, our lot however are all about personality and style so it just wouldn't work.

McCain just isn't intelligent enough.

Might work for Obama though as he is fairly articulate and can think fast on his feet.

There really isn't a set number formally and each nation is likely a bit different. Opposition does get to aske questions are are allowed supplemental ones based on answers given in common form.

Yeah, McCain may not be anywhere near as eloquent as Obama but the process does provide much to analyse. That includes any bullshitting by a good talker when the answers get scrutinised.

I amended the thread title to make the subject more clear--the Q&A period practice itself.

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Around 200,000 Irish immigrants served in the Union and Confederate armies in the American Civil War, often forming their own regiments and, at times, fought each other. At Fredericksburg, the Union’s Irish Brigade faced the Irish McMillan's Guards of Cobb's 24th Georgia entrenched in a sunken road behind a stone wall. Ordered to make a suicidal charge, it became one of the most famous events of the Civil War. The re-enactment portrayed in the movie Gods and Generals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qVCxEupPag

Has anybody ever watched the PM question period? They play it on CSPAN, but I forget what day/time.

It is AWESOME. I would love to see something like that in this country. Could make up, partially, for the press pussyfooting.

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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

I don't know....somehow I believe this would be more of an "opportunity" for pundits to get on TV.

I guess I don't see how that (in and of itself) would be a bad thing.

__________________
"Bring the boys back home!"--Pink Floyd

NFA JJG 42-95

Free People/Free Markets

Following the Path of the Beam

press pussy footing?

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Obama-e fungis nati homines....

Unless the questions are going to be really simple or all about how the president, as an individual, feels about this or that, then I think things would go much better if they gave him some time to really figure out the answers and double check facts and figures.
Otherwise it will come down to how well the president has memorized facts, policies and figures about whatever the questioner is asking, and frankly, that's not the president's job; he has a staff for keeping track of things like that. I don't want the federal executive wasting time "cramming."

Demanding that the answers be created on the spot means they're likely to be less accurate and less useful. It's likely to tell us more about how good the president is at speaking than what's actually going on. It also would almost certainly devolve into a monthly game of "gotcha" played by hostile congressmen who had time to look up obscure inconsistencies in executive policy, and that would get old really fast.

I think the idea is a good one, but that the questions should be submitted at least a month in advance. The administration shouldn't be allowed to ignore questions they don't like, but they should be allowed time to figure out what the answers are.

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To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. -Theodore Roosevelt

Indeed.

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"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9