I’ve just watched Question Time on BBCi, which this week came from (of all places) Miami, Florida.
The panel was a fantastic mix of views, with a Senior Advisor to Bill Clinton, the guy who invented the phrase ‘axis of evil’ for George Bush 43, and – best of all – Michael Moore. There was also a representative of the Miami-Dade Electoral Reform Coalition (Florida was where the scandal about vote-rigging came about in the 2000 election) and Richard “Look at me, I’m a cretin” Littlejohn, a columnist on the Sun.
The audience, of course, was made up of Americans – and David Dimbleby was clearly uncomfortable presenting the programme. Whereas Question Time is usually a staid, debate-style affair, this programme had more than a touch of the Jerry Springers about it! The audience heckled the panellists and other questioners, often to the extent that one couldn’t hear what was happening – a pity, because the level of debate on this programme was probably considerably higher than at most other points in the presidential campaigns.
My highlight: Michael Moore, explaining the alternatives to invading Iraq to get rid of Sadddam Hussein – I’ll hunt around to see if I can find a quote and post it here in a bit.
EDIT: I can’t be bothered transcribing it – watch the programme, the bit in question is 32 minutes in.
You can watch the programme on the Question Time website – you need RealPlayer.