2004 Carole Coleman and George Bush Interview for RTE

Carole Coleman's probing TV interview of President Bush led to complaints by Bush and his press officers for the disrespectful manner of Coleman who interrupted the President several times. Even though the questions were approved by The Whitehouse press office beforehand, The Whitehouse made a complaint to the Irish Embassy.RTE stood by the conduct of the interview and Carole's journalism.
Carole's account of the interview is documented in her book America Alleluia. In it, she explains how the press office corps informed her that "The President leads the interview". She replied "I don't agree, it's the journalists job to lead the interview".It was also suggested that perhaps Carole could edit the tapes to take out the interruptions-but she made it clear that this would not be possible.Further co-operation with The Whitehouse proved difficult, with a promised Laura Bush interview being suspended.
Carole's questions were honest, well thought out and simple, what the ordinary Irish people wanted answered. I admire her tenacity to pursue with the questions and search for answers to the dismay and fustration of Bush, while maintaining control.
This interview was never aired in the US.

Jeremy Paxman Fan #1

As a teenager I remember watching Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight.I liked his voice.He has a great presence on camera.He makes me laugh.How he challenges his interviewees and never backs down, just like my brothers, drives you around the bend.He turns political interviews into a spectator sport.His facial expressions convey such incredulity and contempt at every turn. Fine displays of mischievous- and he gets away with it.I miss him. Some of his best interviews include:
George Galloway with whom he asks "Mr Galloway,are you proud of having got rid of one of the very few black women in Parliament?
Former Home Secretary Michael Howard was asked 12 times "Did you threaten to overrule him?"
Condolezza Rice was asked "Does Donald Rumsfeld make you cry?"
and Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy was asked about his drink problem." Do you drink privately, by yourself a bottle of whiskey late at night?. This line of questioning was condemned at the time but proved prescient when Mr. Kennedy subsequently resigned over the issue.
Pure Paxman

Kenny escapes The Late Late Show

The Late Late lost it’s status as a serious Friday night viewing spot when the ZZZ list celebs came crawling through the doors, English trash gives the Irish a rash. Mountains and mountains of newly self created authors found a platform from which to spread the good word- From dealer to healer - the story of an entrepreneur etc. This is a new product I invented…..bla bla bla…..People in Switzerland love it-who is to argue. No wonder Poor Pat looked so bored out of his tree half the time, with endless heads clucking around the Late late Farm one after another to show the Irish viewers their reason for being before getting back into the RTE chauffeur driven car, most probably directing the driver towards Lillies to continue their last pitting of fame before the massive book launch.
The Late Late has become boring, uninteresting and C-grade. When was the last time you heard the question “Did ye see the Late late last night?” Probably when Pat was confronted by a gatecrasher. That was odd viewing. Ha ha. But memorable. And that’s the point, The Late Late has lost it’s memorable aspect. It’s become a public relations showcase probably run by the folk in The Communications Clinic, under Terry Prone’s whip. We can get you the publicity that you crave, we can put your image into thousands of heads, which they did. But you never went to bed after the Late Late thinking, that was fantastic viewing with feelings of euphoria and a sense of learning. Pat Kenny wasn’t arsed to google a Pete Doherty song which shocked viewers and this unbeatable tit bit of news made the papers and it was confirmed in writing that the Late Late still existed on a Friday night.
So, after a ten year stint, Kenny is leaving to present a new current affairs show. Something that could be called a step in the right direction. Kenny was never light entertainment material, but he does a good interview when he wants to, as seen on his radio show.
As Gloom TV becomes the new ratings winner, Kenny will be in his element. Current Affairs is King. The never ending banking and financial crises dominate the headlines. The unlikely Hobbs, Williams and Lee are on a roll. Will ‘Kenny unravels the Economy’ become compulsive viewing?