Baron Von PWN wrote:You might not like that. It would mean Obama would be able to directly propose legislation and be directly involved with passing the bill in congress. Basically he would be a Congressman with the responsibilities of running the government.
I wasn't referring to "crossing the streams" as it were. I was referring to having the chief executive stand up for questions every week. In the US basically the cabinet can basically refuse to be at any committee meeting and the President only gives an address (and even then all he really needs to do is send a letter) once a year.
Currently the president does "propose legislation" (the biggest is called the "budget") and does lobby congress to pass bills. This president is ... how shall I put it ... too stupid is one way ... too narcissistic is another ... to get involved at level other than ...
"Behold, my plan dices and slices, supplies all your needs and reduces the deficit."
"But you don't have a plan!"
"Details, details."
My understanding of the US system was that the President couldn't directly propose legislation, other than the budget and in fact isn't even allowed in Congress unless invited. I thought he needed to get a congressman to do it for him.
Anyways having some sort of question period for the executive in the US would be a good idea.
Baron Von PWN wrote:You might not like that. It would mean Obama would be able to directly propose legislation and be directly involved with passing the bill in congress. Basically he would be a Congressman with the responsibilities of running the government.
I wasn't referring to "crossing the streams" as it were. I was referring to having the chief executive stand up for questions every week. In the US basically the cabinet can basically refuse to be at any committee meeting and the President only gives an address (and even then all he really needs to do is send a letter) once a year.
Currently the president does "propose legislation" (the biggest is called the "budget") and does lobby congress to pass bills. This president is ... how shall I put it ... too stupid is one way ... too narcissistic is another ... to get involved at level other than ...
"Behold, my plan dices and slices, supplies all your needs and reduces the deficit."
"But you don't have a plan!"
"Details, details."
My understanding of the US system was that the President couldn't directly propose legislation, other than the budget and in fact isn't even allowed in Congress unless invited. I thought he needed to get a congressman to do it for him.
Anyways having some sort of question period for the executive in the US would be a good idea.
Prime Minister's question time is one of the best parts of UK politics. It should be introduced in any functional democracy that doesn't have an equivalent already.
the world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it- Albert Einstein
The whole point of question time is couched in the idea that the Prime Minister is answerable to the House of Commons, the source of his mandate.
The U.S. President is not answerable to Congress as the source of his mandate is the College of Electors. He can not be compelled to testify before either Congress or the courts, which would leave leave any so-called question time as a purely voluntary exercise. All voluntary exercises descend, ultimately, into meaningless political stunts.
This would only make any sense at all if Question Time occurred with the President being questioned by the College of Electors. Since the Electors have yet to assemble as a single body, this would be logistically difficult and slightly insane.
Last edited by saxitoxin on Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Pack Rat wrote:if it quacks like a duck and walk like a duck, it's still fascism
saxitoxin wrote:The whole point of question time is couched in the idea that the Prime Minister is answerable to the House of Commons, the source of his mandate.
The U.S. President is not answerable to Congress as the source of his mandate is the College of Electors. He can not be compelled to testify before either Congress or the courts, which would leave leave any so-called question time as a purely voluntary exercise. All voluntary exercises descend, ultimately, into meaningless political stunts.
The U.S. already has plenty of meaningless political stunts.
Well, he is a member of the house of commons, but it's not exactly mandatory.
Still, would be nice to see politicians go one on one with the Preseident, and if not, certainly the house leader or the VP.
the world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it- Albert Einstein
saxitoxin wrote:The whole point of question time is couched in the idea that the Prime Minister is answerable to the House of Commons, the source of his mandate.
The U.S. President is not answerable to Congress as the source of his mandate is the College of Electors. He can not be compelled to testify before either Congress or the courts, which would leave leave any so-called question time as a purely voluntary exercise. All voluntary exercises descend, ultimately, into meaningless political stunts.
The U.S. already has plenty of meaningless political stunts.
Well, he is a member of the house of commons, but it's not exactly mandatory.
Still, would be nice to see politicians go one on one with the Preseident, and if not, certainly the house leader or the VP.
Convention produces equivalencies to statutory requirement.
The responsibilities of the Speaker of the House and the Vice-President are parliamentary, not policy, so questioning them would be a futile exercise. In the words of the American's former President John Adams, the office of U.S. Vice-President is "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived." In emphasis of this, the Vice-President under Abraham Lincoln, Hannibal Hamlin, left Washington DC on the outbreak of Civil War in 1861 and enlisted as a private in the Maine Coast Guard. His office as Vice-President of the United States was so utterly insignificant that the government of Maine wouldn't even give him an officer's commission.
Last edited by saxitoxin on Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Pack Rat wrote:if it quacks like a duck and walk like a duck, it's still fascism
saxitoxin wrote:The whole point of question time is couched in the idea that the Prime Minister is answerable to the House of Commons, the source of his mandate.
The U.S. President is not answerable to Congress as the source of his mandate is the College of Electors. He can not be compelled to testify before either Congress or the courts, which would leave leave any so-called question time as a purely voluntary exercise. All voluntary exercises descend, ultimately, into meaningless political stunts.
The U.S. already has plenty of meaningless political stunts.
Well, he is a member of the house of commons, but it's not exactly mandatory.
Still, would be nice to see politicians go one on one with the Preseident, and if not, certainly the house leader or the VP.
Convention produces equivalencies to statutory requirement.
The responsibilities of the Speaker of the House and the Vice-President are parliamentary, not policy, so questioning them would be a futile exercise. In the words of the American's former President John Adams, the office of U.S. Vice-President is "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived."
Mr Dick Cheney disagrees.
the world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it- Albert Einstein
saxitoxin wrote:The whole point of question time is couched in the idea that the Prime Minister is answerable to the House of Commons, the source of his mandate.
The U.S. President is not answerable to Congress as the source of his mandate is the College of Electors. He can not be compelled to testify before either Congress or the courts, which would leave leave any so-called question time as a purely voluntary exercise. All voluntary exercises descend, ultimately, into meaningless political stunts.
The U.S. already has plenty of meaningless political stunts.
Well, he is a member of the house of commons, but it's not exactly mandatory.
Still, would be nice to see politicians go one on one with the Preseident, and if not, certainly the house leader or the VP.
Convention produces equivalencies to statutory requirement.
The responsibilities of the Speaker of the House and the Vice-President are parliamentary, not policy, so questioning them would be a futile exercise. In the words of the American's former President John Adams, the office of U.S. Vice-President is "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived."
Mr Dick Cheney disagrees.
Mr. Joe Biden doesn't.
Pack Rat wrote:if it quacks like a duck and walk like a duck, it's still fascism
saxitoxin wrote:The whole point of question time is couched in the idea that the Prime Minister is answerable to the House of Commons, the source of his mandate.
The U.S. President is not answerable to Congress as the source of his mandate is the College of Electors. He can not be compelled to testify before either Congress or the courts, which would leave leave any so-called question time as a purely voluntary exercise. All voluntary exercises descend, ultimately, into meaningless political stunts.
The U.S. already has plenty of meaningless political stunts.
Well, he is a member of the house of commons, but it's not exactly mandatory.
Still, would be nice to see politicians go one on one with the Preseident, and if not, certainly the house leader or the VP.
Convention produces equivalencies to statutory requirement.
The responsibilities of the Speaker of the House and the Vice-President are parliamentary, not policy, so questioning them would be a futile exercise. In the words of the American's former President John Adams, the office of U.S. Vice-President is "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived."
Mr Dick Cheney disagrees.
Mr. Joe Biden doesn't.
Mr Sym thinks that things aren't quite as clear as Mr Saxi suggested,
the world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it- Albert Einstein
Well, I shall remember to say hi next time I'm at Tesco.
(SAX ATTAK!)
Thanks, Sym!
- Saxitoxin
For recognition's sake, I'll be the naked Japanese guy holding the flower.
You're okay, Sym. Given our IRL history I wasn't sure about you at first but you've won me over with your strident self-confidence and unblushing sassiness. My housekeeper, Sasparilla, has a precocious young boy - Jiminez - of whom you remind me.
Thanks, Sym!
- Saxitoxin
Pack Rat wrote:if it quacks like a duck and walk like a duck, it's still fascism
Well, I shall remember to say hi next time I'm at Tesco.
(SAX ATTAK!)
Thanks, Sym!
- Saxitoxin
For recognition's sake, I'll be the naked Japanese guy holding the flower.
You're okay, Sym. Given our IRL history I wasn't sure about you at first but you've won me over with your strident self-confidence and unblushing sassiness. My housekeeper, Sasparilla, has a precocious young boy - Jiminez - of whom you remind me.
Thanks, Sym!
- Saxitoxin
Hopefully you don't treat the poor lad with threats of reports to the authorities. You don't do you?
the world is in greater peril from those who tolerate or encourage evil than from those who actually commit it- Albert Einstein
Well, I shall remember to say hi next time I'm at Tesco.
(SAX ATTAK!)
Thanks, Sym!
- Saxitoxin
For recognition's sake, I'll be the naked Japanese guy holding the flower.
You're okay, Sym. Given our IRL history I wasn't sure about you at first but you've won me over with your strident self-confidence and unblushing sassiness. My housekeeper, Sasparilla, has a precocious young boy - Jiminez - of whom you remind me.
Thanks, Sym!
- Saxitoxin
Hopefully you don't treat the poor lad with threats of reports to the authorities. You don't do you?
Unnecessary. All my domestic staff and their families are also patients and each are on a prescription of fluphenazine.
Pack Rat wrote:if it quacks like a duck and walk like a duck, it's still fascism
