Is it so difficult to ask a question?

[Chancer]

I wrote this in reply to a question asking whether anyone watched President Sarkozys television appearance last night but in doing so (or changing the title to be precise) managed to send the the into the ether so I repeat it here/

 

Yes I watched it live and thought that he gave a good performance as always, more than could be said for the invited guests, is anyone in France actually capable of asking a question? - The answer is no judging by that lot.

Starting with the unemployed marketing graduate who despite being asked repeatedly by J-P "quelle est votre question S.V.P.," was incapable. 

Followed by the syndicalist who also was more pre-occupied with having a rant, asked no question and spent the rest of the program scowling at the president (I hope his security detail have marked his card). 

Then we had the ensignant who despite being asked 3 times for his question could only say "my question is, .......... we want................" and then continued with his rambling.

The infirmiere when prompted did at least pose a question to the President.

The woman employed (we know not what as) in la grande distribution after being repeatedly prompted said "my husband and I earn €3000 per month and we have spent it all before the end of the month, what are we supposed to do?" - she didnt take kindly to his suggestion that either one or both of them could work more hours thanks to his reforms and seemed unconvinced that neither she nor her employer would pay social charges.

There was the woman who had recently started her auto-entrepeneur business as a wedding planner who was asked twice "what is your question please," but the best she could manage is to say that it was easy to set up in one click but actually being in business she now realises is more difficult and that no-one had offered her any support or formations, I think I would have resorted to sarcasm  at that point but he did seem to take it on board and said that they had been overwhelmed by the success of AE and he would discuss with the minister some sort of support and training network.

The saving grace was the female comptable who without pre-amble launched straight into  "Monsieur le president, this is my question and this is why I am asking you.........."

I do really hope that they were not representative of the French population, the programme was scheduled for one hour but over-run by one hour, J-P tried initially to speed things along but the syndicalist alone caused the initial over-run, he tried again to wrap it up after 90 minutes but failed and had to work at it to finisn on the 2 hour slot.

Question time it weren't!

[NormanH]

Don't forget that this programme was a 'set up'.

It was on the privatised TV1 and the 'public' was carefully selected and vetted...

Journalists who ask awkward questions don't get interviews.

This is one of the major issues with Sarkozy's style

[Chancer]

Well yes and no Norman.

Agreed it was on the Sarkovision channel but the invitées were not the public as such but for the most part people who had already been featured on previous programs on each of the polemiques and who had expressed their views strongly, and indeed they did so before the president, they even replied and disagreed which was interdit the last time and rigorously enforced.

No he got a harder ride this time and so he should but with one notable exception they were all incapable of doing what they were invited for - to ask questions even when repeatedly prompted.

I saw the syndicalist again on an actualité program last night and he sent a shudder down my spine, it reminded me of the communists at the local A.U.E.W hall in the 70's before which I had to swear my allegiance in order to join their union to be allowed to train as an apprentice. 

I really thought that that type had died out with Scargill and Red Robbo. he must surely have been chosen to expose him, he spent the rest of the programme glaring menacingly at Sarkozy after having had his diatribe.