Does anyone wish to speak in appreciation of c-span? I watch it when I can (which is not often). But since I do not own cable, c-span will be my friend during the lead up to the Presidential primaries. Kinda makes me wish I was sick and stuck on the couch. With c-span, there is never a dull moment.Anyone agree? And/or write a comment, or a word, or an ode or poem in appreciation of c-span?
:)
17 comments:
I think that your picture adequately captures my full appreciation of C-SPAN...
I love watching the British House of Commons. Whereas the American Senate/House can be entertaining at times, The British Parliament never ceases to keep me fixed on that channel.
In college, my housemates and I would often get home from class and drink beer while watching Tony Blair arguing with all the "right honorable gentlemen."
now that is great stuff.
Hi Justin,
I'm a faithful reader of your blogs...I just never feel adequate to post a pithy enough comment, though I always want to. Keep up the blog, it's great!
Martha
p.s. I don't think I have ever, ever, watched C-Span. :)
what is c-span? Is it, like, a televised session of congress?
Hi Martha -- And I am an avid reader of yours... Great to have you here.
John p -- Westminster for of government is fun. Mind you, its Question Time that is the most interesting.
I've sat in Parliament House in Canberra for speeches where there are only a handful of representatives present.
And then Q and A comes on, and the entire chamber fills up. And there is jeering and boo-ing, the speaker trying to get 'order in the house'; and parliamentarians walking out (sometimes as an entire party)...
Ahhh REpresentative democracy. It brings a tear of joy.
Worthy of a Beer with the lads.
Martin -- its CNN for political junkies (sans the attempt to make it appealing). Its congress, senate, British PM's Q and A, Race for White House 2008, full stump speeches, Town Hall meetings, White House Press Conferences; stuff like that. A little talk back.
Click here for WIKI entry.
That link didn't work for me.
Just cut n paste this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-SPAN
Oh, my goodness, I love C-SPAN. Senior year of college, my roommate and I bonded by watching Justice Roberts' confirmation hearings together. The book talks, the guy who reads the paper from Washington in the morning, all good. But John P. is right, nothing beats the British House of Commons. Tony Blair for President.
It's Martin Toomajian, not Martin Kemp, that's the C-Span junkie, just to clear that up.
Martin T --
I watched most of the Roberts confirmation too! I was in Atlanta on vacation. And my father-in-law and I sat down and I was mesmerized by the entire experience.
Tony Blair for President, and def not Ted Kennedy...
Ted Kennedy?! What?
Seriously, though, how much better would this world be if Tony Blair were president instead of Bush? Speaking of C-SPAN, I watched a joint press conference with Blair and Bush last summer. They were basically trying to say the same thing about staying strong in Iraq...but Bush (a) probably didn't really know what he was talking about and (b) definitely didn't know how to say it in an eloquent way. And there was Blair, making every point clearly and concisely, the image of a good and decent leader. And I just sat pining...
Martin T.
Ted Kennedy was painful during the Roberts confirmation hearings...
Re Bush/Blair. Yes. Mind you, the thing about Westminster form of government is that you HAVE to think off your feet; engage with substance and genuinely debate: That’s the house works.
With the Presidential system, the President could, in theory, never put himself in a situation where he has to say anything spontaneous. And certainly you can be elected without much experience in debate.
Back here on election night, the ABC postponed the scheduled episode of West Wing so Kerry O'brien and his gang could bering us the very unexciting coverage of the election results. People were livid...they would have rather watched the make believe American stuff rather than the real australian stuff...pretty ironic
My question now is...which is better: West Wing or C-Span?
Marty -- I'd like to be a purist. But the answer is West Wing.
That having been said, I've just finished watching Series 6 or 7 (the last in the series)...
... but C-Span will live forever...
C-Span sounds like my sort of cable TV station - if I could watch it I would probably be addicted! I love question times - I've even been to the NSW one before (which is even rowdier than Federal Parliament). I'd love to see the House of Commons in action though...
Welcome James!
Which James?
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