Question Time

March 22, 2007 4:58 PM

Question Time Iraq Special (Skip to 04:45 to begin). Question Time is a British TV institution, where five prominent politicians debate current affairs while being questioned by a studio audience. The Iraq edition, available online, features the British Secretary of State for Defence, a popular, anti-war former party leader, the aristocratic old socialist leading the Stop-the-War coalition, the first female leader of a Muslim state … and John Bolton.
posted by Aloysius Bear (34 comments total)

This is part of the BBC's "Iraq: Four Years On" series.
posted by Aloysius Bear at 5:04 PM on March 22, 2007

This is a perfect example of public media doing it's job: allowing 'normal' people asking proper questions to politicians and making a reality check. Too bad only Britain does it in this case - it very much overdue in the US of A.
posted by homodigitalis at 5:15 PM on March 22, 2007

The BBC has corrected the video file, so you don't need to skip to 04:45.
posted by Aloysius Bear at 5:21 PM on March 22, 2007

John Bolton, "One of the most powerful figures in American foreign policy" (paraphrase)? No. He's a neoconservative figurehead who accomplished nothing at the UN other than some rank obstructionism.

I'm glad they invited him in though. His is the naked face of both American Imperial ambition and rank incompetence.

It would be nice if American television was capable of producing a show like this.
posted by bardic at 5:46 PM on March 22, 2007

the British Secretary of State for Defence, a popular, anti-war former party leader, the aristocratic old socialist leading the Stop-the-War coalition, the first female leader of a Muslim state … and John Bolton.

And the correct Jeopardy! question is... What is an anticlimax?
posted by jonp72 at 5:46 PM on March 22, 2007

The woman who lays into Bolton and says, again paraphrasing, "I've lost more relatives in the last four years than I did under 30 years of Saddam" -- wow.
posted by bardic at 5:50 PM on March 22, 2007

Bolton admits Lebanon truce block
posted by taosbat at 5:52 PM on March 22, 2007

Anyone see John Bolton on the Daily Show the day yesterday? What a fucking embarrassment. Stewart's phone call last night with a Lincoln scholar only drove the point home.

The guy is an idiot. And worse then being an idiot, he'll never know it himself, he'll always believe he was right and everyone else fucked it up. No matter how badly people like this fuck things up, you'll never have the satisfaction of seeing them feel guilty about it.
posted by delmoi at 5:56 PM on March 22, 2007

That's why I love the fact that wingnuts adore him and seem to think he has an air of gravitas. Please, Republicans, continue to wheel him out as often as possible. Clinton, Edwards, and Obama thank you.
posted by bardic at 5:58 PM on March 22, 2007

Bolton/Tancredo '08!
posted by delmoi at 6:02 PM on March 22, 2007

"I've lost more relatives in the last four years than I did under 30 years of Saddam"

That was a very moving and insightful moment.
posted by homodigitalis at 6:06 PM on March 22, 2007

The lies are just as maddening now as they were four years ago. People ask pointed questions but the war pigs have their canned answers ready and the debate goes nowhere. I think the quote bardic points out was the most interesting moment.
posted by muckster at 6:12 PM on March 22, 2007

I like the fact that the announcer announced Bolton as President Bush's Ambassador to the U.N. rather then the the American Ambassador .
posted by delmoi at 6:14 PM on March 22, 2007

direct link. Trying to stream it in the browser (in windows media player) really sucks, but VLC plays it very smootly
posted by delmoi at 6:22 PM on March 22, 2007

by the way, anyone else find the mention of "Growing Knife Crime" in the intro bit quaint.
posted by delmoi at 6:30 PM on March 22, 2007

I like the fact that the announcer announced Bolton as President Bush's Ambassador to the U.N. rather then the the American Ambassador .
posted by delmoi

I thought it was appropriate since Bolton was never confirmed by the Senate. Ya' gotta' love the Brits when they're being all correct and proper and stuff...
posted by taosbat at 6:32 PM on March 22, 2007

I watched this tonight.

Bolton - "I don't think it's worth replying to Tony Benn."

GTF you smug mustachioed prick.
posted by fire&wings at 6:40 PM on March 22, 2007

The guy is an idiot. And worse then being an idiot, he'll never know it himself, he'll always believe he was right and everyone else fucked it up. No matter how badly people like this fuck things up, you'll never have the satisfaction of seeing them feel guilty about it.

Bears repeating...
posted by taosbat at 6:50 PM on March 22, 2007

Not only was the woman's comment moving, but Bolton's response was inhuman. Not for a second did he even consider saying something along the lines of "I am sorry for your loss, however.."

Nope, just straight into a "fuck you" response. Nice.
posted by odinsdream at 7:24 PM on March 22, 2007

Bolton astounded me. He dead-panned outrageous, obvious fibs right there in front of the camera. Completely denied reality. Persisted in insisting that Bush is right, and that facts are wrong.

Friggin' psychopath, that.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:26 PM on March 22, 2007

Someone should have run up there with a mirror to see if John Bolton had a reflection or not.
posted by Eekacat at 7:45 PM on March 22, 2007

Since when has reality anthing to do with neocon politics? This disconnect (and paranoia) is the very essence of their world view.
posted by homodigitalis at 7:51 PM on March 22, 2007

It's sociopathic, is what it is.
posted by five fresh fish at 8:09 PM on March 22, 2007

five fresh fish : Friggin' psychopath, that.

I was thinking the same thing. Seriously, I was wondering if the guy might have some kind of psychopathic disorder.

From wikipedia : Hare describes psychopaths as "intraspecies predators who use charm, manipulation, intimidation, and violence to control others and to satisfy their own selfish needs. Lacking in conscience and in feelings for others, they cold-bloodedly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret." ... "What is missing, in other words, are the very qualities that allow a human being to live in social harmony."

That is when I realized that using the above definition, you could probably label most of this administration as psychopathic.

It's sociopathic,

Also a possibility. I don't know enough about brain science to make the distinction. I just know that there is something wrong at the very core of these people.
posted by quin at 9:07 PM on March 22, 2007

It's sociopathic, is what it is.

Indeed.
posted by homunculus at 9:29 PM on March 22, 2007

Bolton:

...1 Iraq or 3 Iraqs? ...Iraq is Arabic for Yugoslavia ...sectarian tensions came out from under the rock that Saddam had buried them under ...these involve issues ...only the Iraqis themselves can solve ...I think we've met our obligation...

...izle izle izle ...rice krispies...

...I just find it very depressing...
posted by taosbat at 11:10 PM on March 22, 2007

He may be a sociopath, but he's equally likely to be just a highly incompetent authoritarian.
posted by moonbiter at 12:55 AM on March 23, 2007

Bolton astounded me. He dead-panned outrageous, obvious fibs right there in front of the camera. Completely denied reality. Persisted in insisting that Bush is right, and that facts are wrong.

It's fascinating how jarring it is when a US official is interviewed on British news. It is so much less smooth than the American TV. There is the "blink blink blink holy shit it's real question" look that flashes across their face that reminds me of the last time I stepped in the 80mph batting cage and realized I have only played softball for the last 20 years.

Then somebody presses play on the talking head's remote control and they regurgitate talking points that completely ignore the context of the show they are being interviewed on. Often they repeat lies that have been completely undermined just a minute earlier. It makes me wonder why they bother since they clearly couldn't care less.
posted by srboisvert at 3:08 AM on March 23, 2007

It's fascinating how jarring it is when a US official is interviewed on British news.

I was going to make this point in reply to your comment in the British accent thread, but decided not to. I think the one thing is related to the other.

I suspect the reason that so many "experts" seem thought-out is that there's a tacet agreement that they'll only be asked questions they can trot out a stock answer to, in return for which they'll give the answer the producer is expecting them to. They're only there to recite a script.

Thus the loop is closed and everybody's happy.

Yes, one of the main pleasures of Newsnight is the "What the fuck?" expression on American interviewees' faces.
posted by Grangousier at 4:43 AM on March 23, 2007

Since when has reality anthing to do with neocon politics?

Sounds like you're part of the reality-based community.

We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors...and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.

It's fascinating how jarring it is when a US official is interviewed on British news.

Like Carole Coleman's interview of President Bush (previously).
posted by kirkaracha at 7:19 AM on March 23, 2007

I must congratulate the bbc on finally acknowledging the existence of people who still support the Iraq war and giving them a voice for the first time in three or four years. This is a first for the bbc to let normal members of the public speak out in support even if they were outnumbered in this particular audience. I have never seen it on this scale before because it has only ever been members of the labour government who are allowed to defend the war so it is nice change. These people do exist and to ignore them is undemocratic.

Extra points must be given for Tony Benns hand guesturing. Always entertaining. ;)
posted by Po0py at 8:43 AM on March 23, 2007

Um...the Carole Coleman interview was on Irish TV. I regret the error.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:06 AM on March 23, 2007

Stewart v. Bolton: Post Game Analysis
posted by homunculus at 12:23 PM on March 23, 2007

Bolton astounded me. He dead-panned...

On TDS, I should say, not the Brit show.
posted by five fresh fish at 1:21 PM on March 23, 2007