Agreed, problem is the parties always look after their own interests and try their best to get one over each other whenever they can.
Question Time & This Week
- Thread starter Liam147
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We'll more than likely lose our AAA rating this year and instead of us actually not borrowing more debt and trying some actual austerity, we'll just have the usual it's your fault your fault politics that plagues every democracy.
George Galloway is one of the guests on tonight. Should be interesting.
He'll destroy the others on policy, they will have no come back, so they'll attack him on a personal level, mention Saddam, or Big Brother/
To be fair, Big Brother is fecking awful.
Thought it was quite good last night. Hitchens are ever the pantomime villain but made some good points, whilst Heseltine and Cable were quite reasonable. Abbott loves talking about her background and is a bit cringeworthy at times, and I doubt they'll have the awful far left Reverend on again. It must have been the first time for ages that the audience was probably centre-right on the whole, as opposed to the normal Owen Jones types.
If someone asks "is it a good or bad thing that white british people are a minority in London" and you're black, you're going to tend to talk about your background in fairness.
Hesseltine incorrectly accused Hitchens of calling young soldiers stupid and somehow twisted what he said into a criticism of the entire military. I thought it was all kinds of wrong.
Michael Gove was absolutely exceptional on this last night. I wish he would have a leadership tilt - absolutely the best politician of any major party out there right now.
You must be bored.
Merely enthused.
I've always detested the bloke but I can see what you mean, his performance last night was miles better than anything I've seen from him before.
It's as if he's taken a step back, realised what a twat he was, and set about changing.
He (Gove) made a good point about the press wanting to write leadership challenge stories and fabricating issues that don't really exist to that end, which I think has a large element of truth in it. I agree he is an impressive politician tho I'm no tory. Actually I can't always listen to what he's saying on QT because my wife insists on shouting at the telly when he's talking.
Yeah, Gove was absolutely spot on. Nailed it.
Did anybody watch last night's ep?
Dimbleby had to send the SNP representative to stand in the naughty corner at one point, well figuratively at least.
Galloway defending Farage's democratic rights.
Quite a raucous audience
Dimbleby had to send the SNP representative to stand in the naughty corner at one point, well figuratively at least.
Galloway defending Farage's democratic rights.
Quite a raucous audience
Galloway's a proper douche, but he's a great speaker in full flow.
Wished they'd pressed the aliens guy for more info.
Wished they'd pressed the aliens guy for more info.
Caught the second half, need to watch the first half on iplayer.
He's a funny one is Galloway. He's the MP for an area very near me, and certainly comes across as an excellent speaker at times. Him and Farage were bound to make for a good episode.
Didn't like the leader of the SNP (Robertson?). Funny when he said the Jocks are very tolerant of other people. Yeah, apart from the English.
He's a funny one is Galloway. He's the MP for an area very near me, and certainly comes across as an excellent speaker at times. Him and Farage were bound to make for a good episode.
Didn't like the leader of the SNP (Robertson?). Funny when he said the Jocks are very tolerant of other people. Yeah, apart from the English.
I'm not sure how Galloway keeps getting away with being an MP...he's missed 87% of all Commons votes during his first year as a Bradford MP and spoken in just seven debates.
Data compiled on website theyworkforyou.com show Mr Galloway has taken part in just 13% of the votes over the past year. Most MPs average between 70 and 80%.
He has spoken in just seven debates - the average for MPs being around 30.
Data compiled on website theyworkforyou.com show Mr Galloway has taken part in just 13% of the votes over the past year. Most MPs average between 70 and 80%.
He has spoken in just seven debates - the average for MPs being around 30.
Yeah I did. It was pointless them talking about Prism for so long really. What do they know of the TOR network (or varient)? Or Truecrypt (or varient)? Or SSH? Or AES?
Even in a non-specific way, none of them made a single decent point really. None of them made the distinction between "trawling" for information compared to simple red flags. For example, if you buy the ingredients to make explosives, a redflag could simply be sent out with your name. Thats compared to going through the shopping lists of everyone in the world, which PRISM (apparently) does. Computers are brilliant at not judging us. When a person manually goes through Facebook conversations looking for terrorists, thats an invasion of privacy. When a computer redflags a conversation with a few key words in it, but does nothing with that information until another computer redflags someone buying some dodgy ingredients, on their shopping list, but they still dont do anything until another computer redflags a google search.... Well there is a difference. Possibly it's still not right, but the distinction needs to be made. When they aren't keeping your data, and don't know what's being said, it's different.
In fact I'd say I expect redflag posts which could be about child pornography or the like. Child pornogrophy is a ridiculous term. Child sexual abuse.
Anyway onto the rest.
I'm not exactly old, but it seemed silly having the audience that young. How long have they been interested in politics? 6 months? 1 year? 2 years? That's not even to say they shouldn't be allowed to vote either, I'm pro 16 year olds having the vote, but it just seemed silly having an audience made up of solely 16-17 year olds.
Err what else. Farange has been on Question Time more than any other politician. Can't be many from UKIP who have been though? The labour guy was forgettable.
There was a Labour guy?
I am getting sick of Farages face though, why can't we get more of the Green Party? They actually have an active MP in the UK Parliament.
I am getting sick of Farages face though, why can't we get more of the Green Party? They actually have an active MP in the UK Parliament.
I dare say it's because they don't do anything. They don't make any noise. When do you ever hear them in the news? Farage in UKIP are always in the news, so they'll attract viewers, especially because of his views.
Is it possible that a viable candidate from the Green Party doesn't want to go on to QT?
I enjoy when Farage is on, rarely seems to be wrong in what he's saying, and can leave the other panel members with no response. Very good speaker.
Well, firstly, what does that even mean? It's the producers who book guests on these TV shows politicians don't have agents making phonecalls or anything like that. The BBC should not be concerned with ratings, it's a shame that it is.
Why wouldn't they want to go on QT? Not only is that counter intuitive to what political parties do but it outright doesn't make sense. Politicians, when given a stage with millions of people, will take it. It's that simple.
He's almost always wrong, the reason that he seemingly leaves people speechless is because he's a loud attention seeking twat and that's difficult to debate with for any mannered person, that doesn't make him a good speaker, that makes him a loud twat, similar to George Gallaways debating tactics.
Farage is a good media operator and a recognisable face for all that you may dislike it 
, however i do agree that the Greens should have their fair share of representation on the show. I do not myself watch it every week so perhaps Caroline Lucas has been on recently? Next time QT is a in an area affected by fracking they should probably be the first party on the list, well besides the government that is.
Fivelive now do a simulcast of the programme so that is how i was following it.
With Galloway, Farage and the SNP on the panel it was almost inevitable that the remainder would be left in the shadows by comparison. The first two whatever people think of their politics know how draw the audience to them.
, however i do agree that the Greens should have their fair share of representation on the show. I do not myself watch it every week so perhaps Caroline Lucas has been on recently? Next time QT is a in an area affected by fracking they should probably be the first party on the list, well besides the government that is.Fivelive now do a simulcast of the programme so that is how i was following it.
With Galloway, Farage and the SNP on the panel it was almost inevitable that the remainder would be left in the shadows by comparison. The first two whatever people think of their politics know how draw the audience to them.
I don't watch it religiously either but the last time I remember a green representative on the show Farage was also on the panel. The amount of screen time he gets is absurd. I'd understand it if it were on a specific debate about Europe, but otherwise, who gives a shit about him?
I suspect that you'll have to put up with it consider we've got European elections less than a year away and the likelihood of his party determining the fate of Tory constituencies at a general election.
Seeing as how difficult it is to actually get an honest answer out of a politician from the main three, UKIP and the Greens should be on QT as much as they like. lol
Seeing as how difficult it is to actually get an honest answer out of a politician from the main three, UKIP and the Greens should be on QT as much as they like. lol
1) I'm saying that perhaps the BBC want higher ratings, so they put a recognisable figure on more frequently than a member of the Green Party no one's heard of.
2) I don't know; I'm offering a suggestion.
3) What you just said was wrong. If he's always wrong, why do the panellists not put up a response? They often just end up with a wry smile, shaking their head. Besides, if most people think he's a good speaker, isn't that what matters?
I agree with the second part, the more representation the fringe parties get the more it will become evident as to how ridiculous the answers of the three main parties are.
Of the thing which really pisses me off is their constant use of phrase "we should have an (honest (only some time use this word) discussion" while talking about a particular topic. Which is just fecking stupid, you're having the debate you utter shitc**t, make a worthwhile contribution or shut the feck up.
They shouldn't, it's the BBC, their shows on the main channels in the UK are not for monetary purposes. They absolutely don't need ratings. Besides, it's the shows which garner interests or disinterest, not the participants. There's barely any difference in the ratings regardless of who is on QT.
It was a shit suggestion.
Because the main three parties are full of Ihni binni dimi diniwiny anitaime who do nothing but tow the party line. It's really not that much of an achievement to make them do that. He's not a good speaker, he's a loud obnoxious twat.
UKIP people will be on more often because they're polling as the third party currently, simple as that. Caroline Lucas does go on now and then, and their current leader Natalie Bennett was on not too long ago. I imagine Farage specifically was on because of his recent travails in Scotland.
I did genuinely forget there was a Labour person on it whilst watching the show.
I did genuinely forget there was a Labour person on it whilst watching the show.
This was interesting:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/the-lay-scientist/2013/jun/14/bbc-question-time
I thought you were serious for a second and had to go back and check he was actually Labour. So forgettable.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/the-lay-scientist/2013/jun/14/bbc-question-time
I thought you were serious for a second and had to go back and check he was actually Labour. So forgettable.
Comedians is a broad term isn't it? They do a lot of panel shows, so it would stand to reason the politically charged ones would be on it.
Melanie Phillips is on again next week. Joy.
Great..for a supposed left wing propaganda machine, the BBC don't half give credance to right wing nut jobs like Phillips who wouldn't look out of place in the extreme Republican party with her views.
Galloway and Farage shouldn't be on it when it's in Scotland, they've got no role to play up here. The audience was all 16-19 year old middle-class kids - better than some of the Daily-Mail-brandishing mob you usually get, but not as interesting as the more mixed audience they've had in Scotland before such as at Easterhouse and Stirling.
Melanie Philips is good entertainment, as is Nigel Farage.
There's a clear correlation between being on the right and being a good guest on QT. Hitchens is particularly excellent as are the two already mentioned. Galloway is the left's best speaker really, and he doesn't even represent 99% of them.
There's a clear correlation between being on the right and being a good guest on QT. Hitchens is particularly excellent as are the two already mentioned. Galloway is the left's best speaker really, and he doesn't even represent 99% of them.
How is Galloway a good speaker? He's as loud and close minded a twat as Farage. I can't stand any of Hitchens opinions, but he's miles better than either of those two.
The left's best speaker? 
Off the top of my head, Alan Johnson, Will Self, Alastair Campbell, Mehdi Hasan, Shirley Williams are all more convincing in one way or another. Galloway's great at doing the actual polemic but is usually quite easily challenged and made to look a bit silly. The rest of the panel were just a bit tame on him.
Off the top of my head, Alan Johnson, Will Self, Alastair Campbell, Mehdi Hasan, Shirley Williams are all more convincing in one way or another. Galloway's great at doing the actual polemic but is usually quite easily challenged and made to look a bit silly. The rest of the panel were just a bit tame on him.
Alan Johnson I like but I don't really consider him really 'left.' Likewise with Alastair Campbell, deputy PM in the least Labour like party ever.
Hasan is a bit pretentious but had a good showing last week, whilst Will Self obviously just rifles through a dictionary before he comes on to try to appear knowledgeable.
And I say that as a fact. I once interned at Radio 4 when Will Self was doing a show and he was looking through an online thesaurus on his laptop to prepare. He's an embarrassment.
Hasan is a bit pretentious but had a good showing last week, whilst Will Self obviously just rifles through a dictionary before he comes on to try to appear knowledgeable.
And I say that as a fact. I once interned at Radio 4 when Will Self was doing a show and he was looking through an online thesaurus on his laptop to prepare. He's an embarrassment.
I like your Will Self anecdote. I was always suspicious of him.
I always think he has serial killer written all over him.