REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

UK TV Election debate

POSTED BY: PEACEKEEPER
UPDATED: Friday, April 16, 2010 10:00
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VIEWED: 1713
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Monday, April 12, 2010 4:22 PM

PEACEKEEPER

Keeping order in every verse


This Thursday, for the first time in British political history, the 3 main party leaders will have a live televised debate.I'm not sure how I feel about that.The view has always been firmly held that the British public votes for a Government and not a President. Does this mean that our Prime Minister will be elected on the basis of his "Telegenity", rather than the policies of his cabinet and party?Let's face it, that is the prime reason for JFK's victory over Nixon in 1960.
On the other hand, is it inevitable that politics has to modernise and grab the attention of otherwise apathetic voters?
Gordon Brown versus David Cameron versus Nick Clegg, on TV. Brown is dour and older than the other two. Cameron and Clegg are younger,"prettier" and energetic. To me, this gives them an unfair advantage for TV purposes.
What do you guys think? Government based on policy or TV compatibility?

Peacekeeper---keeping order in every verse!!!

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Monday, April 12, 2010 8:44 PM

PIRATENEWS

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!


Will Queenie be in the debate too? How about Prince Hitler the Nazi? Why not invite your hereditary German dictators?


German Nazi Queen is a 17x Trillionaire of the 53-nation British Empire
www.whoownstheworld.com/about-the-book/largest-landowner/


Future King of England and the 53-nation British Empire


"In the event that I am reincarnated, I would like to return as a deadly virus, in order to contribute something to solve overpopulation."
-Nazi Prince Philip King of the British Empire in charge of bioweapons labs and husband of Queen Elizabeth Sax Coberg Gotha, If I Were an Animal; United Kingdom, Robin Clark Ltd., 1986
www.propagandamatrix.com/prince.html

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Monday, April 12, 2010 10:41 PM

MAGONSDAUGHTER


I think government should be more like Big Brother, the TV show not the Orwellian dictatorship. You get filmed 24/7 and voted out at any time the general population feels pissed off enough at your silly policy decisions/poor behaviour/incompetence/corruption.

Then they should be made to do a Wipeout style assault course, which would make much better tv than debating which is as exciting as watching cheese ripen, and probably about as informative on government policy.

I also think cream pies should be used in Parliament question time.

Liven it up, greymen.

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Monday, April 12, 2010 11:29 PM

LWAVES


Quote:

Originally posted by peacekeeper:
This Thursday, for the first time in British political history, the 3 main party leaders will have a live televised debate.I'm not sure how I feel about that.The view has always been firmly held that the British public votes for a Government and not a President. Does this mean that our Prime Minister will be elected on the basis of his "Telegenity", rather than the policies of his cabinet and party?Let's face it, that is the prime reason for JFK's victory over Nixon in 1960.
On the other hand, is it inevitable that politics has to modernise and grab the attention of otherwise apathetic voters?
Gordon Brown versus David Cameron versus Nick Clegg, on TV. Brown is dour and older than the other two. Cameron and Clegg are younger,"prettier" and energetic. To me, this gives them an unfair advantage for TV purposes.
What do you guys think? Government based on policy or TV compatibility?

Peacekeeper---keeping order in every verse!!!



I think you are right on all counts.
We are supposed to be voting for a party, not a person, but the leader has always been the figurehead, the one that is most visible and, frankly in my opinion, the one that will sway voters. I think that people already vote because of who that person is, not because of the other party members. Of course there are exceptions.
I'd consider our politicians to be very out of touch with the country. As you say a lot of people are very apathetic towards government. All they see is corruption, fraud, lies etc (nothing new there). So this is a way that they feel that they can get more directly in touch with voters that is more modern, even if it is just copying the US.
Cameron and Clegg have a definite advantage over Brown in the looks and personality department and that's just tough go-se for Labour. They could have ousted Brown as their leader and replaced him but I can't blame them for not doing it as who would want the job when they are going to lose. They'll wait till the election is over and then Brown will be gone. Personally I don't think he had any right to the role as he was never elected in to it, even by his own party. To me that goes against a basic principle of freedom of choice.
So the others have an advantage but I don't consider it an unfair one. If Labour/Brown had ran a genuinely decent term then it wouldn't have mattered what they looked like. Their policies and actions would have counted more. Instead they made a mess of everything.

I won't be watching it so it's no real bother to me.



"I don't believe in suicide, but if you'd like to try it it might cheer me up to watch."

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Monday, April 12, 2010 11:42 PM

FREMDFIRMA



And bring back the Jester, one for each party, who cannot be censured or otherwise reprimanded whatsoever for anything that comes out of his mouth.

Ridicule most CERTAINLY has a place in political debate, and an important one, since the original purpose of the Jester was to speak truths to power that no one else dared to.

-F

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010 5:32 AM

JONGSSTRAW




It's GOOD to be the King...or Prince...or whatever!

She looks thrilled beyond compare too!

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010 6:50 AM

NIKI2

Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...


I like Magon's idea...24/7...imagine what we'd catch them at!! Of course, they wouldn't do anything while being filmed, but I'd love it--and DEFINITELY cameras in those closed-door sessions!

I don't know, Peace; yes, they have to keep up with the times, but also yes, it's the personability that sways people, as there's no actual "debate", just "talking points". Think how many (I copied that one from the Nixon tapes, made it myself) there would be!

We've a long history of voting for the most "attractive" candidates in the states, and it's driven us into a ditch more than once!

It's not even the "party", in my opinion, it should be the ISSUES...but how do you get the truth on where they stand to come out of their mouths??? Maybe lie detectors should be standard issue for candidates...?

Good luck; I hope your people are more astute in discerning who is really what than we've been!!! Maybe they will be:
Quote:

Like reality TV contestants getting ready for a live final, the leaders of Britain's three main political parties are currently being put through their paces by some of the best experts in the business.

Labour and the Conservatives have both hired former aides to US President Barack Obama to help them prepare for the prime ministerial debates that look increasingly likely to dominate the forthcoming general election.

The Conservatives have signed up a Washington-based political consultancy, Squier, Knapp, Dunn Communications, which also counts New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg among its clients.

Senior partners Anita Dunn, who advised Barack Obama before his presidential campaign and was communications director at the White House until last year, and Bill Knapp, a former Obama and Clinton adviser, have already begun coaching Conservative leader David Cameron in how to get the better of his opponents - even though the first debate is still likely to be more than a month away.

Gordon Brown is also undergoing intensive preparation, aided by Obama's former polling chief Joel Benenson, who was on the team that helped the US president prepare for his 2008 campaign debates, and David Axelrod, Obama's chief campaign consultant.

Composure

The prime minister prides himself on being a master of policy detail - and will be hoping to make Mr Cameron appear inexperienced and shallow by comparison, but the Tory leader is by far the more relaxed of the two in front of the cameras and will no doubt be relishing the opportunity to take on Mr Brown on what he might see as home turf.

For Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg it will be an unparalleled opportunity to appear on an equal footing with the big two party leaders.

Televised presidential debates have been an established feature of the political process in the US for decades - but how much can Britain's party leaders really learn from them?

The emphasis is very much making the candidates appear presidential.

Observers say the key to Obama's success lay in his ability to radiate a calm, commanding presence.

"So much of the time I think it's the composure, the demeanour that counts in American politics," says CBS journalist Bob Scheiffer, who moderated the 2008 debates.

"I am absolutely convinced that Obama won not on substance, but on composure."

Obama did "not take a single note - he just kept looking McCain directly in the eye", Mr Scheiffer told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, while "McCain would squirm around when Obama was speaking, he'd be hastily taking notes and things like that".

Joel Benenson gave an insight into the sort of advice he might be giving to Mr Brown when he told Newsweek magazine that he repeatedly stressed two words to Mr Obama during three days of intensive preparation for his first TV debate: "Command and control."

Obama is said to have prepared for the debate as if studying for an exam, spending hours pouring over policy details and endlessly rehearsing attack and counterattack lines with aides on a mocked-up TV set.

Mr Brown is said to be taking a similarly thorough approach and his team are taking heart from the fact that Obama's Republican opponent, John McCain, was initially seen as the more impressive TV debater, having got the better of Obama in one early encounter.

One of the big differences between the US and Britain is that the main party leaders already go head-to-head on live TV nearly every week.

But there is a world of difference between the knockabout atmosphere of prime minister's questions, where the debate often descends into taunts and name calling, and the more sterile, unforgiving glare of the TV studio.

There is also the question of the format for the 90-minute debates, which will see the leaders open with a one-minute statement, then take questions from the audience, studio and public via e-mail.

They will have a minute to answer the question, a minute to react, and four minutes of free debate.

"There is quite a bit to learn because of the format being so different," said an aide to David Cameron.

She said preparations for Mr Cameron's appearance had begun "in earnest" but would not go into any further detail at this stage.

Anita Dunn is an increasingly frequent visitor to Conservative campaign headquarters, but it is likely that Mr Cameron is also being coached by his regular circle of advisers such as ex ad man Steve Hilton, former News of the World editor Andy Coulson and shadow education secretary Michael Gove, who often plays the part of Gordon Brown when they are preparing for prime minister's questions.
___________

We asked what your advice to the three leaders would be, ahead of the TV debates. Here is a selection of your comments.

My advice to the party leaders would be to stop trying to convince us of anything other than your genuine integrity and selfless wish to bring this country up off it's knees. The hiring of these presentation experts to gain one over the opponents reeks of more spin to come and does not bode well for the advancement of wise, long-term government strategies in the making.

Also please do not try to convince us that you are presidential candidates, we want to see cabinet government, not one self-obsessed leader with a charisma by-pass and plainly short of good judgement, trying desperately to improve things which don't need attention and otherwise ruling over everything in sight.
Idiot from the West, Oxford

My advice: tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I'm fed up of spin, spin on spin, and wonky interpretations of statistics. I want to hear what you are going to do to "fix Britain". I want to hear what vision you have for Britain. I want to know how we can become a nation that creates/produces wealth - not one that shops till it drops.
Paul McGrath, Egham, Surrey

My advice for them would be to not lower themselves to the name calling and taunting we are so used to seeing. A leader with a bit of integrity would be nice. But they all think that they are right 100% of the time, so fat chance.
Daisy Chain, Leeds, UK

Show yourself - not who your aides suggest. Spend time to explain your beliefs. Don't waste my time dissing the other guys, I can make up my own mind about him. I want to vote for you (rather than not vote for them).
Steve Edwards, Hampton

Insist that the leaders stick to their own policies, suggestions, thoughts etc.. rather than turn this into a backbiting, pathetic shambles: "His party said this, and so the world is going to end if you elect them.." "his party in the past did this that and the other, cos its really relevant to what they may (or may not) do if elected" Lets get down to the essential nitty gritty - I want to see who can hold their own under intense scrutiny, rather than who is the most elouant and media savvy.
Colin, Leeds, UK

Thankfully, Nick Clegg is going for the honest WYSISWYG approach, whilst the other two misguidedly go for the transparent American gloss of presentation over substance. I don't think the British voting public is so gullible.
Phil Sears, Dorking UK.

(more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8561683.stm)

Then again, if they're using the guys who groomed OUR politicians for debates...

Who knows? I just hope you guys aren't as gullible as we've been...


"I'm just right. Kinda like the sun rising in the east and the world being round...its not a need its just the way it is." The Delusional "Hero", 3/1/10

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Friday, April 16, 2010 10:00 AM

CITIZEN


Quote:

Originally posted by Fremdfirma:

And bring back the Jester, one for each party, who cannot be censured or otherwise reprimanded whatsoever for anything that comes out of his mouth.


The Tories already have Boris.

--------------------------------------------------

If you play a Microsoft CD backwards you can hear demonic voices. The scary part is that if you play it forwards it installs Windows.

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