after an effort, fred finds something good to say about Our Maggie

Margaret Thatcher was not the Prime Minister for all English citizens, but for a particular tranche. Nevertheless I admired her fearlessness. I think the fairest tribute to Our Maggie is that women are less and less afraid to be fearless.

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!