The State of the Union address

[Gemini Cricket]

JOHN ROBERTS (CBS White House correspondent): At a couple points in this address, it looked more like the British Parliament than the United States Congress. I've never heard the minority party shout at the president during the State of the Union address. [CBS, post-speech coverage, 2/2/05]

I think there should be this opened up style of back and forth communication with Congress and the President. Has anyone ever seen Blair and the House of Commons go at it? It's brilliant. There is a freedom in that chamber to speak your mind and an opportunity for many people to do so.

It's interesting that the UK has this sort of freedom to speak with their leader, while we're the ones who have to deal with a king.