NationStates Jolt Archive

Well did anybody see the BBC Question Time show broadcast from Shanghai last night?

News of it is here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/4335687.stm)

And the programme itself is available by following the link on that page or by clicking here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/shared/player/player.stm?title=Question Time from China&clipurl=http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/news_web/video/40914000/nb/40914173_nb_16x9!asx&cs=news), be aware it's the whole programme and well worth watching.

I found it quite fascinating to see Ministers of the Chinese government in open debate for once and having to try to hold their own on some subjects they clearly weren't too happy talking about. Groundbreaking political tv as far as I'm concerned.

To sum up, if you've got any interest whatsoever in China and its politics you should watch this.

big up da beeb!

bump

While I can't watch the video right now, I read the article, and it sounds fascinating.

How open is the discussion, and how does it relate to what you might see on television in the US?

The Thursday question time that the opposition gets on the UK Prime Minister is something I believe should be part of every government.

Even if you don't like Tony Blair, you have to come out of watching just one of those sessions, and know for a fact that he's smarter on his feet than just about anyone we've had for President in the US.

Our Presidential debates before the election look like wuss contests by comparison. And the UK Prime Minister does this every week.

No wonder Thatcher was such a hardass. Anyone who could survive a constant barrage of crap and have to defend it on the spot with their own wits (no Powerpoint presentations allowed, sorry) from people who DO have an axe to grind (opposition politicians - not reporters) has to be smart.

The Thursday question time that the opposition gets on the UK Prime Minister is something I believe should be part of every government.

Is it Thursday now? I thought it was Wednesday, man I'm getting out of touch with UK politics.

Even if you don't like Tony Blair, you have to come out of watching just one of those sessions, and know for a fact that he's smarter on his feet than just about anyone we've had for President in the US.

Our Presidential debates before the election look like wuss contests by comparison. And the UK Prime Minister does this every week.

No wonder Thatcher was such a hardass. Anyone who could survive a constant barrage of crap and have to defend it on the spot with their own wits (no Powerpoint presentations allowed, sorry) from people who DO have an axe to grind (opposition politicians - not reporters) has to be smart.

Although AFAIK PMQs used to last longer and happen more often, but Blair shortened it.

Admittedly, there is nothing actually making him have it. He does it out of the goodness of his heart.

PS. Thanks for the links, I missed it.

Is it Thursday now? I thought it was Wednesday, man I'm getting out of touch with UK politics.

Although AFAIK PMQs used to last longer and happen more often, but Blair shortened it.

Admittedly, there is nothing actually making him have it. He does it out of the goodness of his heart.

PS. Thanks for the links, I missed it.

It's Thursday by the time I hear it.

It's Thursday by the time I hear it.
Of course, :D

Didn't think about that.

Prime Ministers Questions is great, although i havent seen it in a while.

Youre right, its easy to see that Blair is a very intelligent guy when you watch it, unlike with the US Presidential debates - if Bush had to do what Blair does every week he wouldnt come out well

Of course, :D

Didn't think about that.

Tony sounds soooo fucking smart.

If he had been in the Presidential Debates this past fall, he would have made Kerry and Bush look like ignorant pissants.

Actually, as far as I remember, Blair is told the questions beforehand. it's the supplementary questions that come after the main one that actually test his knowledge. I like prime ministers questions... just don't give him too much credit. He's had 2 days *if I recall* to prepare his answers.


As for the prog... damn 56k... I meant to watch it yesterday, and forgot.

Actually, as far as I remember, Blair is told the questions beforehand. it's the supplementary questions that come after the main one that actually test his knowledge. I like prime ministers questions... just don't give him too much credit. He's had 2 days *if I recall* to prepare his answers.


As for the prog... damn 56k... I meant to watch it yesterday, and forgot.

Even if you gave either Kerry or Bush the answers (not just the questions) beforehand, they would be flat on their faces in the first 30 seconds.

While I can't watch the video right now, I read the article, and it sounds fascinating.

How open is the discussion, and how does it relate to what you might see on television in the US?

The discussion is pretty open, in fact I've NEVER seen anything with Chinese government ministers engaged in unplanned debate before, so that alone makes it groundbreaking. None of the questions were pre-approved or discussed, and the questions themselves were coming from a mix of Chinese citizens, foreigners working there (yes, there's an American gets his say too) and members of the panel. The discussion itself was pretty much as open as you could imagine, though it's funny watching when they reach a point where the party people are clearly getting panicy and wanting to brush over or move on. Thing is, it only really happens once.

Compared to the standard of US political debate on TV? Well in comparison to the Kerry/Bush extravaganzas it's a lot more free moving and interesting. I've not got the greatest amount of experience of seeing more cutting edge political debate programmes from the states, so I can't really compare, but Question Time the programme does have a very good reputation in Britain for very open and honest debate. This isn't Prime Ministers question time from the house of commons, but it tends to take a similar, we've got a few issues and then it's open to all type approach, albeit with a larger panel to answer and make the questions and always involving the audience too. It's never been shy about holding back and more than a few people have been exposed as completely incompetent on it in the past or have had major revelations come out on it thanks to them not being able to hide behind poorly told lies.

All in all, if you've got the connection to enable you to watch it, do it. Free debate, with the chinese public engaging their own ministers (one of whom holds his own and is pretty sorted it seems and the other looks like a bit of a blustering fool of the old style party)...Whoah!