Watching President Obama speaking at the GOP’s retreat in Baltimore underscored why it is important for the US Congress to institute a practice of the British Parliament: Prime Minister’s Questions, a process by which members of Parliament can ask the Prime Minister or members of his government questions.  

Having the President appear before the political opposition to answer questions -- being accountable to the political representatives of the electorate -- could be one way to ensure a healthy debate about real public issues and problems. This could be a way to re-build that shopworn concept of bipartisanism. (And it wouldn’t be a bad idea if a president appeared at a monthly press conference, too.)

I came late to watching the MSNBC video stream, but Obama is masterful in his ability to answer detail policy questions while challenging Republicans who described his healthcare agenda as a “Bolshevik plot.” The Republicans were respectful and asked important questions, but Obama also made it quite clear that one reason things don’t get done is due to the fact that each side, GOP and Democrats, appear more interested in scoring cheap shots; in other words, merely engaging in trying to score tactical advantage.

While the GOP maybe licking their chops, anticipating declining Democratic seats in the November 2010 elections, Obama probably did himself (and his party) some measureable good by appearing at the GOP event  as a responsible leader of  government, willing to listen.

If people want to see government work they ought to demand two procedural reforms: get rid of the 60-vote measure to kill a filibuster (or let those who threat it talk themselves silly) and demand that the president appear before the opposition, in public, to civilly and respectfully answer questions.

(Catch the President before the Republican retreat on C-SPAN or at TPM.)