In most countries, the prime minister can basically be cross-examined by their parliament.

[Bonobo]

I am talking about a confrontational cross-examination style questioning from the representatives of the people.

The PM is FORCED to answer questions.

In the US, the office of the President is treated almost like royalty. WHen he visits the Congress, he/she is treated with deference and during ANY speech, a mere peep is called 'disrespectful'.

Is this really what we want? Is this how the Founding Fathers envisioned it? Is this the best way for a Democracy to act?

What do you think?

Even in Japan, a country not known for being confrontational, the PM is put on the spot and must deal with seriously aggressive questioning.

I think the US is an anomaly in this regard.

Oh, and yes, I know some will say "that is the difference between a President and a PM". Let me say before you do that I think that would be avoiding the question.

[dawg]

1. John Adams wanted the President to be addressed as His Highness.

But members of Congress chose instead to (behind his back I assume) refer to V.P. Adams as "His Rotundity".

[PoliticAverse]

2. The British 'Question Time' is great. The press used to do it when Presidents held more press...

conferences (and Sarah McClendon and Helen Thomas were in their prime)...

http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/questions/

[libdem4life]

3. Good Analysis...Awful Reality. Just no need to "go there" much anymore.

[JoePhilly]

4. If only we lost the revoluntion!!!!

[joshcryer]

5. When US Presidents open their mouth you get "red line" crap.

Frankly the best solution is to make the President the Vice Commander in Chief of the Military and require that he not have absolute power over it. The War Powers Resolution tried to do that but the Constitution makes it clear who controls the military. Only in times of immediate crisis should he be allowed to have power over the military, and my immediate, I mean an attack is within a day or two and there is actionable evidence, and it must be presented, openly, without reservation.

[JoePhilly]

6. Let us all imagine Boehner's Tea Party house cross examining President

Obama.

He'd have to come clean about his birth certificate for sure.

[Cali_Democrat]

8. Also:

BENGHAZI!!!!

[PoliticAverse]

10. "Please proceed Mr. Boehner"... n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

7. The US is an anomaly in this regard because the US does not have a parliamentary system.

Should the US toss out the constitution and form a parlaimentry system of government?

[Hekate]

9. We do not have a parliamentary system. We do not have votes of "no confidence." No Prime Minister.

It does not work that way here. When voters of one party get irked at the US president and vote for representatives of the other party during midterm elections thinking that somehow they are making a statement -- the only statement they are making is one of their own vast ignorance. In a parliamentary system, they could get a whole new Prime Minister chosen from the ranks of the representatives. In our system of democracy you still have the same president, but he just gets a congress in opposition to him and then he can't get anything done.

As for the dubious pleasure of watching people shout at the US president, do you want Joe Wilson shouting "You lie!" at Obama again? Imagine several hundred GOPers all hollering at Obama because they hate him, think he's a Kenyan, and if not a foreigner then certainly a black man in the White House.

We have what we have: Three supposedly co-equal branches of government, with an executive who serves 4 years or 8 years unless he is impeached or assassinated. This IS what the Founding Fathers bequeathed us.

[JI7]

11. why deny the right for this congress the right to demand answers about birth certificates