How to liven up politician-media interaction

We've pretty much given up any hope of learning anything from the direct interaction of an American politician with the media. The politician tries to look unruffled and sticks to the spin points and the compliant interviewer bails after a couple of questions. Once again the British situation is different. Another of Blair's senior axemen (in addition to John Reid, who we posted about a couple of days ago), John Prescott, prefers the confrontational approach. And it keeps everyone entertained. Even American news got around to covering a classic incident from the last UK election campaign where Prescott decked a heckler who had thrown an egg at him. Yesterday, while headed into the PM's office for a big meeting, he gave the assembled media outside the V sign -- as in the "up yours" meaning, not the victory sign. Nothing in particular seems to have prompted it, just his general distaste for dealing with the hacks. The London Times has the clearest picture of the offending gesture, while the BBC has some amusing follow-up comments from Prescott today. He was revealing his good taste by staying in Newcastle's trendy Malmaison hotel, but was a bit bewildered at being directed a particular "etage" of the hotel, given his poor French. But his sign language is just fine.