Should the President be required to take questions from citizens in a public forum?

[BigDyl]

I was flipping through channels and stumbled upon an older SNL episode. Dennis Miller was poking fun at Ronald Reagan as he took questions in an apparently public forum. The questions had to do with the United States providing weapons to dictators of other countries. I thought about it for a minute and realized that I have seen Tony Blair do the same, and even other former presidents. However, I honestly can not recall W Bush doing this. If he has, they were pre-selected, pre-screened questions, with pre-written memorized answers.


So the question becomes; should the President be required on a regular basis, in a public forum, to field questions from randomly selected citizens of the U.S.A.?



DISCUSS.

[BigDyl]

Yeah, I spelled tyrannical incorrectly. So completely ignore the question and point that out for me. kthanks.

[Yanick]

Yeah, I spelled tyrannical incorrectly. So completely ignore the question and point that out for me. kthanks.

haha, you spelled tyrannical wrong...ass

[BigDyl]

haha, you spelled tyrannical wrong...ass

You're dead.

[Yanick]

You're dead.

LMAO, i couldn't resist. and regarding the question, yes i believe that the president should have to come before a public forum and answer questions without having any access to them prior. watching those scripted debates is just retarded and i don't see any value in them at all, its like watching seinfeld as far as i'm concerned, except seinfeld is more entertaining.

i also think it should happen a couple of times a year and in different major cities around the world, and that we would need to implement some kind of screening process to keep morons out so we don't waste time with just ridiculous questions.

and on another note, i hate how ignorant most americans are about there own government. i swear 90 percent of the people i interact with believe we actually elect the president directly, have no clue of what the electoral college is, how it works and what it does.

[maniclion]

Yes, end of discussion.

[BigDyl]

LMAO, i couldn't resist. and regarding the question, yes i believe that the president should have to come before a public forum and answer questions without having any access to them prior. watching those scripted debates is just retarded and i don't see any value in them at all, its like watching seinfeld as far as i'm concerned, except seinfeld is more entertaining.

i also think it should happen a couple of times a year and in different major cities around the world, and that we would need to implement some kind of screening process to keep morons out so we don't waste time with just ridiculous questions.

and on another note, i hate how ignorant most americans are about there own government. i swear 90 percent of the people i interact with believe we actually elect the president directly, have no clue of what the electoral college is, how it works and what it does.

[Big Smoothy]

The problem with forums is that they are controlled and scripted.

There is no such thing as an "open forum."

Questions must be submitted in advance.

Also, there is strict criteria on who can attend these Q & A forums.

[Jeeper]

Every time you have seen a president do it the questions are pre-submitted

[lnvanry]

dyl...what a loaded poll...I love the option of NO means you support tyranny

IMO people aren't intellegent enough to make an open forum interesting. Most people couldn't even keep things professional...fucking reporters can't even stay professional sometimes...The public, who would ask the questions, would just get to mad and emotional...

I hate discussing politics in class..people get wayyyy to emtional. My friend at UIC med school said they were discussing the politcal stance on health care and some girl broke down and cried during the discussion b/c her dad wouldn't have lived if they didn't have money to pay for his surgery

Most people can't handle civil discussions on hot topics.

[andyo]

The main reason GWB has not spoken in public forum, truly, is that he does not want his PR Image ruined by people booing, questioning his stubborn judgement, making him look and feel wrong in the eyes of the public....and simply stated hes a pussy who acts tough....

[The Monkey Man]

Amendments to the Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PROPOSED BY CONGRESS, AND RATIFIED BY THE LEGISLATURES OF
THE SEVERAL STATES, PURSUANT TO THE FIFTH ARTICLE OF THE
ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION


Article I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[Bazooka Tooth]

I was going to put I dont know and Im an idiot but I couldnt insert a picture where it says




Yes, he should have to.

[gococksDJS]

The main reason GWB has not spoken in public forum, truly, is that he does not want his PR Image ruined by people booing, questioning his stubborn judgement, making him look and feel wrong in the eyes of the public....and simply stated hes a pussy who acts tough....

You, my friend, are a moron.

An open forum would be the worst idea ever. Quit thinking about how Bush "is a pussy who acts tough" for a minute and think about your personal safety. Terrorists lived in the U.S. and were trained in our flight schools, so whats to stop them from going to one of these public forums and asking something along the lines of "Where is every nuclear device located in the United States?" or "How does all the technology on our nuclear submarines work, and where are they right now?". These types of questions would most certainly come up at a truly open forum, and if they weren't answered or if the questions were screened, then it wouldn't be an open forum, and do you think terrorists would continue to make threats if they knew our security secrets or would they exploit our weaknesses?

If our nations security secrets were known, you wouldn't have the protection of the worlds greatest superpower standing between you and an Islamic extremist, so basically you would be a pussy who acts tough.

[andyo]

You, my friend, are a moron.

An open forum would be the worst idea ever. Quit thinking about how Bush "is a pussy who acts tough" for a minute and think about your personal safety. Terrorists lived in the U.S. and were trained in our flight schools, so whats to stop them from going to one of these public forums and asking something along the lines of "Where is every nuclear device located in the United States?" or "How does all the technology on our nuclear submarines work, and where are they right now?". These types of questions would most certainly come up at a truly open forum, and if they weren't answered or if the questions were screened, then it wouldn't be an open forum, and do you think terrorists would continue to make threats if they knew our security secrets or would they exploit our weaknesses?

If our nations security secrets were known, you wouldn't have the protection of the worlds greatest superpower standing between you and an Islamic extremist, so basically you would be a pussy who acts tough.

Actually it is YOU who are the blooming idiot...

I did not suggest that we have open mike night at these forums. Simply stated, if someone were to ask where our arsenal were, that would, by common sense standards, be a no-comment answer. BUt the American people deserve to know what the president is doing and planning to do in the future,

I have never seen or heard of a president in my lifetime that actually kept non-supporters out of his conventions, he is very fascist IMO.

Clinton made the mistake of letting Bin Laden go, oddly enough, so did Bush in Afghanistan, using it's platform to spring upon Iraq. I dont support his cause and if you do I believe you, my friend are the blind ignorant moron.

The President and staff have manipulated their story many times over since the war began. First: Imminent Threat, Slam dunk, and WMD= NOT FOUND Second: Iraq soveriegnty---For what? WHY THE FUCK ARE WE THERE---I want the truth..maybe I can;'t handle it though...

[andyo]

Actually it is YOU who are the blooming idiot...

I did not suggest that we have open mike night at these forums. Simply stated, if someone were to ask where our arsenal were, that would, by common sense standards, be a no-comment answer. BUt the American people deserve to know what the president is doing and planning to do in the future,

I have never seen or heard of a president in my lifetime that actually kept non-supporters out of his conventions, he is very fascist IMO.

Clinton made the mistake of letting Bin Laden go, oddly enough, so did Bush in Afghanistan, using it's platform to spring upon Iraq. I dont support his cause and if you do I believe you, my friend are the blind ignorant moron.

The President and staff have manipulated their story many times over since the war began. First: Imminent Threat, Slam dunk, and WMD= NOT FOUND Second: Iraq soveriegnty---For what? WHY THE FUCK ARE WE THERE---I want the truth..maybe I can;'t handle it though...

Furthermore,

I;ve never in my life known there to be a more scripted, pre-empted president than that of today. He could not give a non-scripted answer to save his life..I'll laugh all the way to the bank

[The Monkey Man]

Furthermore,

I;ve never in my life known there to be a more scripted, pre-empted president than that of today. He could not give a non-scripted answer to save his life..I'll laugh all the way to the bank

Catch some of his off the cuff comments while he is on his ranch or something...
some are quite humorous...

The evolution of politicians is going to lead to some real scripted cheezeballs
in the future I predict -

And besides, the whole issue of terror cells questioning the president
for sensitive information!?!?

pshhh, please -

[The Monkey Man]

If you want to see how simple it would really be to destroy the US
thanks to our governments stupidity...

And scare the shit out of yourself...

Get this... http://www.navysealteams.com/dvdrc.htm

[gococksDJS]

Actually it is YOU who are the blooming idiot...

I did not suggest that we have open mike night at these forums. Simply stated, if someone were to ask where our arsenal were, that would, by common sense standards, be a no-comment answer. BUt the American people deserve to know what the president is doing and planning to do in the future,

I have never seen or heard of a president in my lifetime that actually kept non-supporters out of his conventions, he is very fascist IMO.

Clinton made the mistake of letting Bin Laden go, oddly enough, so did Bush in Afghanistan, using it's platform to spring upon Iraq. I dont support his cause and if you do I believe you, my friend are the blind ignorant moron.

The President and staff have manipulated their story many times over since the war began. First: Imminent Threat, Slam dunk, and WMD= NOT FOUND Second: Iraq soveriegnty---For what? WHY THE FUCK ARE WE THERE---I want the truth..maybe I can;'t handle it though...

So are you saying that some questions could not be answered by the president at this open forum? You know what that means? IT WOULDN'T BE AN OPEN FORUM!!! It would be scripted, like it is now.

[brogers]

If you have something to say to the president you state it with your ballot next election. Simple.

[andyo]

So are you saying that some questions could not be answered by the president at this open forum? You know what that means? IT WOULDN'T BE AN OPEN FORUM!!! It would be scripted, like it is now.

NO! What I am saying is that that p articular question COULD be asked, but on the basis of Natl sec, would not be obligated to answer. Obviously the gov does not want people knowing that information....

So here is what I am saying so YOU may understand it, cause I think your having a tough time...

OPEN FORUM means questions on the economy, plans, domestic problems, military ops in Iraq/Afghanistan, Border control, ya know, everything that THIS president seems to dodge...

get it?

[lnvanry]

No pres. would agree to an open forum....If you were running you would have the same thoughts too.

[andyo]

No pres. would agree to an open forum....If you were running you would have the same thoughts too.

That's EXACTLY why I wouldnt run for that office, cause it is nothing but ploy-political farce....

[lnvanry]

That's EXACTLY why I wouldnt run for that office, cause it is nothing but ploy-political farce....

a farce....I wouldn't say that. He is THE single most powerful man on the planet

[andyo]

a farce....I wouldn't say that. He is THE single most powerful man on the planet

The office of is, not the man himself...he is nothing but a scripted dumbass

[lnvanry]

which would make the man the most powerful during his reign of office

[andyo]

I get ya.....