Do you know who Julia Gillard is? She's the Prime Minister of Australia. She's also obviously a woman who does her homework. I mostly understand politics in the City, County and State of New York, which is enough to give any tough-minded woman the vapors or other Victorian ailment. And I can top whatever stories you may care to tell about politics in New Jersey. Even Hudson County. Sometimes I even understand a bit about our national politics, muttering to myself "All politics is local." When I get my grasp of our national politics under control, I may move on to tackling politics in Australia. For two reasons: I concluded long ago that the French political system (system?) was designed to be opaque and befuddling, and Australia has Julia Gillard. Here she is in action.
Good on yer, Julia!
Love Julia! In Canada, the majority of Premiers are now women (the equivalent of your Governors) - the one from Ontario is also openly a lesbian. It just kind of crept up on the population that we now mostly have women runnings things, but though we had a female prime minister for the briefest of times, we have not had one stuck and more's the pity for it, because we could really use a prime minister who is not an idiot. I am with you on Maggie - didn't like her politics, but she was fearless!
ReplyDelete"we could really use a PM who's not an idiot..." the subtext of our 2008 presidential campaign. We have learned down here that it takes a long, long time to clean up after idiots, so you guys had better hurry.
DeleteI only came across Julia recently, but I can't tell you how many times I've played this clip.
Kimmie was an embarrassment, IMO. She could have won since Mulroney was so hated by the end of his era, but people had just had it with the conservatives by then, and she didn't help the cause. I just re-read The Secret Mulroney Tapes recently... fascinating read.
DeleteI've seen lots of footage of Maggie tonight facing the HOL-- there is nothing to compare to that level of verbal political conflict. In the early 80's was my 80+ work week period and I missed a lot of stuff, apparently. Hillary??? We can ask FF about this, too.
ReplyDeleteThe Lords is the ultimate bad-mannered boys' club. it's as if having outgrown a
Deletetheir nannies, they're carried away by their freedom to slouch and speak with their mouths full.
Hillary grows more impressive by the day.
Just watched the Aus PM-- totally impressive. The smirk on Abbott's face seemed to fade a bit, too.
DeleteAfter being totally fed up with the Clintons in the late 90's, I would now campaign for H.
That's how I'm feeling right now, too, with a nagging back-of-the-brain worry that he still has plenty of time left to do something really stupid.
DeleteChookas to Julia.
ReplyDeleteDoubled!
DeleteIf it wasn't for women like Margaret Thatcher, there wouldn't be women in politics like Julia Gillard, or Hilary Clinton. I was old enough when MT was PM to form an opinion of her politics, and while I don't agree with the majority of her platforms, she definitely blazed a trail as a fearless and fearsome leader of her party and country. Huzzahs to Maggie!
ReplyDeleteHi, CC, we all stand on the shoulders of the brave and brilliant women who've walked ahead. I remember how elderly female relatives admired Jeanette Rankin, who was held up as an example of principled courage.
DeleteWell said!!
DeleteSadly we are likely to lose Julia in favour of a mysoginist mistake at our next election. Hiss and spit.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't a fan of Baroness Thatcher, but was appalled when I read earlier today that there are parties in the UK celebrating her death. I think that is beyond obscene.
good taste is truly timeless....
DeleteI grew up with Maggie around - I remember being thrilled when she was voted in as PM. In fact I ended up despising her politics, and seeing the mess she made of my country still makes me furious. However, I respect her for achieving the highest level in politics, and for being a woman in such a male-dominated arena.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the milk-snatcher is dead.....
And forgot to mention Julia Gillard. She's actually not very popular here in Aus right now, although she garnered a lot of support after she slammed Abbott. I fear that we may have endure the horrors of Tony Abbott after the next election.... Terrifying.
DeleteJust have to share Ken Loach's thoughts about Thatcher's demise:
'Let's privatise her funeral. Put it out to competitive tender and accept the cheapest bid. It's what she would have wanted'
trying to be reverent and all, but that Ken is one brilliant fellow. What raises his remark to genius is the last sentence. Thank you.
DeleteI was never a Thatcher fan, Fred - so I love Ken Loach's idea!
ReplyDeleteI think it's pure genius.
DeleteI've heard nothing but good about her. Good for Australia!
ReplyDeletePearl
I can't imagine being that angry and that poised at the same time.
DeleteIt's fascinating to read all the articles about Maggie since her death. My son is due to study
ReplyDeleteThatcher in his A level History course next year so I'm getting him to print out the conflicting views to give him a head start!
Hi, Trish, I look at the revisionism that has overtaken the reputations of some of the "monsters" or "brainless robots" when I was younger - and my guess is that before the end of my lifetime, more revision will make them baddies again - and all I can say is "History is written by the winners." Not original, but said often. And for a reason.
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