Tuesday, 5 February, 2008
- 5 Feb 08, 05:38 PM
SUPER DUPER TUESDAY
Hello to viewers. We open tonight with Gavin in New York and David Grossman watching the political drama unfold - in what one US journalist called Super complicated Tuesday. It's a key date in the American Presidential contest. Republicans and Democrats in 24 states - almost half the country, are choosing their candidates in the race for the White House. Eventually, it could mean the United States getting either its first woman President, its first black President, or its oldest incoming President. The story will be unfolding while we're on air and we will be there live.
BUGGING
Then on this side of the Atlantic, is surveillance growing unchecked, and without us really having any idea who is authorising bugging and intercepts, and therefore operating with little or no accountability? Is it a frightening or reassuring prospect that someone may be watching us, and is the threat of terror a legitimate reason for surveillance or an excuse for breaching our human rights? The bugging of the civil rights lawyer, MP and now government minister Sadiq Khan on visits to his constituent and client Babar Ahmad in Woodhill Prison has become a major political and security row. Tonight we'll be exploring the limits of freedom, and the role of the State.
KITE FLYING
Also tonight, is kite flying a sound political tool, a legitimate vehicle of gauging public opinion or a cheap way of scoring political points? Today in her first speech as Housing Minister Caroline Flint suggested that in order to qualify for council housing people would have to show a willingness to work. She was immediately condemned by some charities for suggesting 鈥渁 return to the workhouse". This follows David Cameron's uncosted idea that all new mothers should have a home nurse for a baby鈥檚 first week. We explore the modern history of political kite flying - some of the soaring successes and plummeting failures.
Comments Post your comment
What evidence does the 主播大秀 have that regular Newsnight viewers are even remotely interested in the American Primaries?
The fact that the article above doesn't even mention the word 'primary' indicated that the Corporation is aware of our disinterest.
I'd rather watch England training for tomorrow's match against Switzerland or Lewis Hamilton practising his driving skills.
If it wasn't for David Cameron's initiative on MP's 'expenses' I would probably have an early night.
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A BIT FLAT
There once was a Tuesday called super
That roused each political trooper
Party benches or crossers
They鈥檙e all pancake tossers
And have galvanised me to a stupor.
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I hope you go all out on the Super Duper Tuesday aka Tsunami Tuesday as I'm bored with all the 'normal' news based on fact and need some good old speculation...
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There must be dozens if not hundreds of 主播大秀 staff having an American holiday on the back of this Super Tuesday, I think there should be an inquirey into the 主播大秀 coverage of this run up to a foreign election. It has taken over all the news programmes.
On the other topic, better phones be tapped than getting blown up with terrorist bombs.
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How can anyone NOT be interested in Super Tuesday? It will go a long way to choosing the next President of the USA who, whether we like it or not, will influence Britain's future - whether it be in the field of foreign affairs, or through the economy (remember an American recession will harm the British economy too).
Personally I would welcome more in-depth coverage of US politics outside of election time, as it might put into perspective people's views of our political system.
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i would like to complain about the report of Gavin Esler from new york recently pertaning the super duper tuseday primaries..comparing obama surge to bradley.. it seems gavin keep asking the bradley since last night bearing in mind mr OBAMA is senator from state where 75% are white and win IOWA recently 97% are white .. so would MR Gavin keeping bringing up this matter.. chill Esler...you are my number two fun in Newsnight after Jeremey.. chill like clinton be4
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Total overkill by the 主播大秀 on the American primaries.
Just let us know who will be finally standing for President and then who is voted in.
Bring all the reporters home and let us have some real news about what is happening in the UK and the rest of the world.
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Loved the US coverage, but do we really need special effects of a kite during the "kite" flying report...
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Waste of a programme
Waste of licence fee money
Gavin looked like he was presenting an episode of *Gladiators* total over the top he needs to calm down why do Nesnight reporters feel the need to shout to make a point ?
Honest we are not numpties
Michael Crick does the same
Chill guys !!
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I love watching Newsnight's coverage of the American elections and it makes me appreciate what a civilised lot we are over here, non of the razzamatazz, the coloured banners, the absolute lack of sincerity from all their politicians...all we have to contend with over here is back-handers and the sleaseball front-benchers,well, the Romans did all of that.
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Annie (8)
The answer to your question is, yes, we do need to use a kite. We would be abandoning our commitment to public service broadcasting if, when covering a story about kite flying, the package contained no shots of an expertly flown kite. Neil.
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I am totally bemused by Neil Breakwell's explanation of the flying kite as part of Newsnight's commitment to public service broadcasting. Or has April Fool's Day come early this year, like the daffodils?
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Comment 8 - Critical. Subjective. Bit of a niggle. Possibly valid. Possibly not. Not too complimentary. An aside. Par of the course on a blog. But from a 主播大秀 viewer.
Comment 11 - Trite. Snitty. Smug. Childish. Unhelpful Pointless. However.... this time from the outfit that is paid for by viewers such as Annie, and who have a more than slight responsibility by virtue of controlling the purple box. I'd prefer it be used for helpful contributions on issues of importance and journalistic relevance, such as clarifying facts, not engaging in schoolyard spats.
Perhaps, in this case, a dignified silence may have been more called for... or indeed potent?
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