Here’s a tip for Prime Minister Julia Gillard: find a hall and take questions from the public. Keep taking them until they have nothing more to ask.
That’s what Russian President Vladimir Putin did overnight, engaging with his Russian constituents as part of the annual “Conversations with Putin” forum — for a record-breaking four hours and 47 minutes.
The New York Times reports Putin took questions on: the “Stalinist tones” of his reign (“Stalinism is connected with … mass violations of law … and there is nothing like this in Russia”); corruption at the Kremlin (“people fighting against corruption should be absolutely pure themselves”); his strained relationship with ex-prime minister Dmitry Medvedev (“that lazybones does not want to work”); building a playground in the country’s far east (done deal); and whether he is happy (“I am endlessly grateful to fate, and to the Russian people, for trusting me to be the head of state … that is my whole life”).
Even Putin manages to charm — or at least exhaust any dissent — in a five-hour forum. Gillard’s hour-long “people’s forum” on Monday achieved neither.
Of course, Putin also likes to throw dissenters into the clink. So there’s always that option …
Err guys I think you need to tlook back just a little.
The PM has TWICE repeat TWICE stood in front of the media until they ran out questions.
Didn’t do any good because the bias
Of course Tony Abbott is allowed to continue to dodge hard questioners but that’s OK.It’s only Tony doing his thing
wot Pav sed.
Nice idea Mr Putin, but the rhetoric publics hear through the media, they’d get in person I feel.
The Pav- on media bias:
I think the media do a pretty good job of neutral reporting…I could never do it. Sometimes I sense a political preference with some journos. More times not.
That’s why I like Andrew Bolt’s show because it’s clear where he stands. I appreciate that and therefore more inclined to listen to his viewpoint and value his insight. He’s thought provoking. Journos have the privilege of ‘off the record’ chit chat, which may differ to what they are permitted to report.
I wouldn’t bother listening to the PM in a public forum, in fact I turn channels or switch off whenever I hear or see her…simply not interested in ANYTHING she has to say period.
Alongside leadership I think character has a role to play in governing a country – one of the reasons the PM is trailing in the polls is because sadly for her, she came through the back door…voters remember that.
Der, wot the pav and AR sed.
She only answered questions on a narrow point. She does not answer questions on real issues.