Talking Points 14th October

The world’s share markets are happier today, as government’s all over the world intervene. George Bush is expected to announce another multi billion dollar bank rescue. It’s a partial nationalisation from an administration that championed deregulation and ‘hands off’ government. A surprise to some, but not to everyone.

Talking Points for July 22nd

Good Morning! It’s Priya here with some suggestions of what we should talk about tonight… (and thank you Will for stepping in last night)

KARADZIC ARRESTED: YOUR REACTION

The news that made me choke on my evening cup of licorice tea last night was the arrest of one of the worlds most wanted war criminals, Radovan Karadzic.

So who is he?

On air: Should the world increase its search for oil?

President Bush thinks so. He’s called on Congress to end a 27-year ban on drilling for oil in US coastal waters, to reduce dependence on imports. Is he on to something? While the world searches for alternatives to oil, should we not lose sight of the fact that increased oil exploration, means more oil, means cheaper fuel and a lessening of the pressure on the world’s energy requirement and on the cost of living for all of us?

On Air: Has President Bush made the world a better place?

Today we’ll be discussing what’s very much on George Bush’s mind at the moment… how he’ll be remembered. On his farewell trip to Europe, President George W Bush has been thinking about his legacy

At the weekend, in an interview with the Times, he expressed regret of his legacy as a man who wanted war. And wonders if his “gun-slinging rhetoric” didn’t help him be thought of a man of peace. Today Max Hastings in the Daily Mail says that Bush has been the most disastrous president of modern times.

What will his legacy be? Is he the most disastrous president of modern times?  Or has President Bush made the world a better place?  

On air: When does diplomacy become appeasement?

A number of you have been chewing over issues relating to this here on the blog – tied to a number of stories. We’ll pick them up on air. When should a government talk, when should it refuse to, and in some circumstances does talking always been unacceptbale compromise? Here’s three stories to consider.

Should politicians apologise when they get it wrong?

How often is it you hear a seemingly heart felt apology froma politician?  How about this one earlier this month from American Congressman Geoff Davis of Kentucky. Admittedly what he had prevsiously said was generally thought to be out of line. But it is pretty rare to get an apology from a politican. Should our politicians be ready to hold their hands up and say sorry a little more often?