I'm beginning to like the British system better.

[Solomon]

How many of you are sick to death of the fake hypocritical decorum in the United States during the State of the Union addresses? I absolutely hate it when democrats feel they have to get up and clap at what the resident says. It makes me sick. I saw Hilary get up and clap with a sour look on her face. Why get up and clap if you don't agree with what the jerk says?

In England, when the bullshit flies you hear the opposition make noise. They don't support things they don't agree with. I couldn't believe it when Bush started on with the Weapons of Mass Destruction again. Why doesn't he leave that one alone? But what really disgusted me was that at the moment of his worse lies, the WMDs, I heard not a whimper from the democrats. Of all the things he said, that one made me yell at the tv screen.

[forgethell]

1. Senator Kennedy was looking

like he had swallowed hemlock. I tend to agree with you. Either express your displeasure openly, or be civil gracefully. Neither Senator Clinton nor Senator Kennedy did either, and I can'thelp but think it hurts their (our) party.

[Spentastic]

5. Impossible

With the media in their pocket and the party fully infiltrated by the right there is unfortunately little that can be done

Expressing displeasure openly would lead to people being accused of treason. They would be ejected from the party.

Being civil graciously would be portrayed as agreeing with il Duce.

The only effective response would be to organise the whole democratic party to boo throughout the speech. It will never happen.

[Wonco_the_Sane]

2. Dunno if I'd like the repugs screaming at Pres. Dean/Kerry

Clark/Edwards...etc that way, Although Dean would Scream back lol :)


The System would do wonders for the powdered whig business however

:)
:)

[tigereye]

4. love to see Dems yelling at * in that type of setting

I always feel that it keeps the powers that be more honest.

[Wonco_the_Sane]

9. That is probably true

Hope no one is regretting the Revolutionary War here LOL :)

[Solomon]

8. Yeah. You got a point. I didn't think of that.

Wouldn't it be civil however, to just not stand and clap? Even if we don't yell at him, can't we just not stand and clap?

[Wonco_the_Sane]

10. Yes.

We (Dems, like-minded Indy's) shoulda sat on our hands

[Exultant Democracy]

3. If we had the British system

we would have never gotten into this mess in the first place. The two party system is anathema to progress.

[dennis4868]

6. I dont think Bush...

could handle the British system where he would have to answer questions from the congress right on the spot without Rove and Cheney's flash cards...

[jobendorfer]

7. I don't know about the catcalling, but --

-- in the British system, the prime minister is *required*
to regularly appear at the parliament and answer questions
from the members. No teleprompters. No questions-in-advance.
No consulting with the spin controllers or PR handlers.
The floor fires, and the PM defends his/her policies on the fly,
in front of a gaggle of microphones.

Bush and Reagan would have *wilted* under this system.

J.

[Wonco_the_Sane]

11. love watching that stuff on C-Span

[Mercurius]

12. I think it's a good idea

I've always thought the British system was quite a bit more entertaining, to say the least.

What if Ted Kennedy had done exactly what he'd wanted to last night? He certianly did look sour.

[SoCalDem]

13. I think a parliament is inherently fairer

At least an AGENDA gets voted for, and then the pols must adhere to it, or they're out on their asses..

We would have a great parliament..

We could have...

Progressives
Social Liberals
Enviro-greens
Fundamentalist Christians
Moneygrubbing rat bastards
Fetus worshipers
Bloodthirsty proxy warriors (they don't actually GO, but they will gladly send YOUR kids)
Leave no Tree behind

so many possibilities..

[Zero Gravitas]

14. SOTU = Queen's Speech

The nearest equivalent in the UK system to the SOTU speech is the Queen's Speech at the opening of Parliament. Both houses gather in one place and the speech lays out the Government's agenda for the coming session. The speech, of course, is written by the Gov. the queens just reads it. The opposition doesn't heckle THAT speech, they save it for debates in the House of Commons.

I'd like to see a President's Question Time, Chimpy would have to go to Congress once or twice a week and answer questions about his policies. That would ensure his quick exit from national politics.

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. Social Promotion?

Maybe it's because our private school education system doesn't prepare their graduates for the harsh criticism of the real world. So they continue the bubble of false admiration in the CEO board rooms and in congress in order to protect their self-esteem?

[ignatius]

16. Amen to that. Even when Clinton was in

office I thought the applause was getting out of hand. I think Spacemonkey could have burped last night and would have gotten a thundering ovation. It is ridiculous and I agree, if you don't like what he says don't stand and applaud.

Course, if they don't, the "liberul" media will whale on them the next day. Remember 2 years ago when they panned Hillary for not clapping and stamping her GD feet like a trained monkey? If you don't kiss the Imperial Spacemonkey's bottom the media will get you.

I would like to see all applause held til the end, it would be more honest since half of the comments are ridiculous(with Bush,90%)

It is so easy to promise Americans the moon if you don't have to fund it. Tax cuts for everyone, insurance for everyone,job training for anybody who needs it,better education..blah,blah,blah..easy to say, difficult to produce.

Lies, bs, dishonest does not deserve applause, it deserves cat calls.