Hague gets the Paxman treatment
William Hague doesnt want to answer questions about the “elephant in the room” - the tax status of Lord Ashcroft, the financier bankrolling the Conservative election campaign. That’s despite Jeremy Paxman asking him a few times…
read more...»Andrew Mackay under the spotlight
A must-watch video shows Conservative MP facing the media and his constituents after a meeting of party members….
read more...»Pressure group success in action
A classic example of how a well-orchestrated pressure group campaign can result in a dramatic change of government policy.
read more...»The West Wing way in
How one of this blogger’s favourite TV shows may help with revision
Margaret
From the trailer this looks like a compelling production, so it’s recommended viewing for all Politics students.
26 Feb 2009, 21:00 on BBC Two
From the BBC press office:
read more...»Obama’s first weekly address
On YouTube
Race relations revision
Race relations in the US Politics is probably the most interesting topic as far as my current crop of students are concerned. What better time to consider whether pursuit of the American Dream is a realistic proposition for African Americans than now. The inauguration of the first ever black President suggests that equality is possible, but a couple of the YouTube clips I use when considering the issue of race in America here suggest that race remains the main dividing line issue in the USA.
read more...»President heads up
A heads up for Saturday’s Independent which comes with a free DVD of the original Frost v Nixon interview. This coincides with the release of the Ron Howard film ‘Frost/Nixon’ which is due for general release on Friday. I managed to catch it when in the US recently and it really is superb - a Politics class night out to the cinema?
Also in today’s paper, with Bush’s departure and Obama’s inauguration just days away, is the start of a seven part series on the lives of the presidents. Another reason to go out and get a copy. If you want to access the info online, the web link is here.
John Adams
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I wonder if you have been watching this TV miniseries on Channel 4. The next show is on Saturday 10 January at 5.15 pm.
It really is quite excellent and essential viewing for students of American Politics
read more...»Where now for the Republicans?
There was an excellent documentary at the weekend on the possibly declining influence of the religious right. You can access for the next 29 days on Channel 4’s catch up site
I can’t find any way to download it permanently, so if there are any technophiles out there who know how…!
I have also included the first part here from YouTube
read more...»JFK and Thatcher
It may have escaped your attention that Saturday was not only the 45th anniversary of JFK’s assassination, but also the 18th anniversary resignation of Mrs Thatcher as PM.
Perhaps an opportune time to consider the importance of each historic figure.
There is almost unlimited information out there on the web on both, but my contribution is the link to a clip of Oliver Stone’s film on JFK’s shooting. I think it is some of the best politics on film. 
Great introductory article on the Chief of Staff
It is unlikely that news that Rahm Emanuel has been chosen as Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff has escaped the attention of blog readers.
read more...»Obama speech in full
I can’t seem to find the victory speech by Obama in Grant Park in full on YouTube, but this is the link to the BBC version:
US elections programming: heads up
Saturday More 4 at 7.05pm The story of Barack Obama and John McCain
As America prepares to go to the polls this Tuesday in what many consider to one of the most historical presidential elections in decades, Jon Snow narrates The Choice , a one-off documentary special which presents the story of Barack Obama and John McCain, and asks what do these two very unlikely presidential contenders say about the state of America at this crux moment in time?
Then at 11:20 pm on the same channel, Dispatches: Jon Snow’s American Journey
As Obama and McCain’s gladiatorial showdown enters its final week, Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow goes in search of the new America. Starting at the border with Mexico, Snow takes a road trip up the Pacific highway linking San Diego to Seattle, travelling though areas of great affluence, deprivation, innovation and tradition to find out about the new Americans, new economy and new directions that are shaping the next America.
On Channel 4 at 9.05 pm: Recount
Austin Powers director Jay Roach investigates the Florida voting scandal of 2000. Made-for-TV drama starring Kevin Spacey, Denis Leary, Laura Dern and Tom Wilkinson
Sudden loss of support for a South African MP - dramatic footage
If only some UK political interviews could be finished in a swift, no-nonsense way like this…
read more...»Presidential debates: round one
What the papers said about the first contest between McCain and Obama
read more...»US politics documentary heads up
Sunday 9.00 pm BBC4 is showing ‘How to Be a Good President: Time Shift’. The blurb from their website states:
‘In a whistle-stop tour through the history of the US presidency, journalist and author Jonathan Freedland asks what qualities make a great president and what we can learn from the likes of Theodore Roosevelt, JFK or even Richard Nixon about what it takes to make a mark in the White House.
Freedland is helped by distinguished contributors including James Naughtie, Shirley Williams, Douglas Hurd, Simon Hoggart and Bonnie Greer, who give frank assessments of some of America’s greatest presidents.’
A hat tip to Jack Barnes on this one.
A clip from the BBC of Nixon campaigning in 1972
When Politicians Choose to Mime - John Redwood
Conservative politician John Redwood has been tipped as a successor to the current Shadow Chancellor George Osborne. Were Redwood to get the role, you can expect plenty of media replays of this famous rendition of the Welsh national anthem.
read more...»Great political moments - John Prescott (Prize Fighter)
The wonderful thing about YouTube is that you can relive some memorable political moments. Browsing tonight, I came across this classic. You could pause the video and ask your students - what happened next?
read more...»Politics Categories
Some classic political interviews by Jeremy Paxman
Jeremy Paxman has established a fearsome reputation for grilling politicians. This collections of clips shows Paxman at his interrogative best…
read more...»
