TheeKeating interview

[artme]

How many watched the first part of this interview with Paul Keatng last night?

I have long held the opinion that Keating is by far the most intelligent PM we
have ever had, despite the fact that I could not abide his arrogance when he
was in office. That arrogance did not show through last night and I thought
the interview was a fascinating glimpse of both the man and some of the events
of his time.

Forget the politics. Here is a man who was the consummate political operator
AND had a vision to go with his skill.

[CMB]

Totally agree. Can't wait for the next instalment.

Fascinating also that he essentially a self educated man.

Craig

[Scott]

Yes, I watched and love it.

Others will argue but I think Keating is one of our most esteemed elder statesmen of our time, way above Whitlam or Howard.

I was reading about one of his speeches he gave at the funeral service of the Unknown Australian Solider, 11 November 1993. (Service speech can be found here). That oration has now been engraved on a plaque and some of those words inscribed on the tomb. Part of the speech:

We do not know this Australian's name and we never will. We do not know his rank or his battalion. We do not know where he was born, nor precisely how and when he died. We do not know where in Australia he had made his home or when he left it for the battlefields of Europe. We do not know his age or his circumstances – whether he was from the city or the bush; what occupation he left to become a soldier; what religion, if he had a religion; if he was married or single. We do not know who loved him or whom he loved. If he had children we do not know who they are. His family is lost to us as he was lost to them. We will never know who this Australian was.

Yet he has always been among those whom we have honoured. We know that he was one of the 45,000 Australians who died on the Western Front. One of the 416,000 Australians who volunteered for service in the First World War. One of the 324,000 Australians who served overseas in that war and one of the 60,000 Australians who died on foreign soil. One of the 100,000 Australians who have died in wars this century.

He is all of them. And he is one of us.

Inspiring, especially the last sentence.

[FenceFurniture]

Keating was seen as a polariser, mainly by those who didn't get the joke. Parliament just ain't the same without him.

It "may be some time" before we see the likes of his vision again.

Gotta watch it on iVeiw.

[underfoot]

I kept thinking about the Clarke and Dawe interveiw ... 'Keating fesses up'..
Clarke and Dawe (09/10) - Paul Keating Fesses Up (Audio) - YouTube

[Poppa]

I watched most of the interview. I also thought it was interesting. But I'm one of those who "never got the joke." I thought and still think that Keating was one of the most arrogant and harmful PMs and treasurers we've ever had. I thought at the time that he was only interested in power, not in service, and the interview backed that up completely. I can't believe that he thinks that he knows what the real world is like when he "worked" for 6 years, then became a full time union rep, then entered parliament at 25. Sorry, he's been living off the public teat for over 40 years - the real world is something he is far removed from. Try working for 30+ years, paying a mortgage without the guarantee of a full pension whenever you get sacked (which pollies get after 9 years service!), raising kids, etc, before you tell me that you know what real workers experience. He has no qualifications, no life experience, and as for being self-educated - that's like conducting your own defence at a trial - you have a fool for a client. The man is an arrogant, over-puffed buffoon, not a statesman. And we're still paying him! The gall...

[artme]

Strong views Poppa!!

I have long since learned to to take a more dispassionate view of such matters.

I don't have political heroes, never did have and will never have. All politicians
are flawed in some way and in the hurly burly of the moment it is very easy
to overlook faults and magnify pluses.

History is the best judge of most things as long as it is based on sound knowledge
and considered judgement.

[Chris Parks]

Keating was seen as a polariser, mainly by those who didn't get the joke. Parliament just ain't the same without him.

It "may be some time" before we see the likes of his vision again.

Gotta watch it on iVeiw.

Does anyone remember the radio series "How Green Was my Cactus"? It was compulsory listening every day as far as I was concerned. The one where the loggers set seige to parliament hose was gold.

[doug3030]

Does anyone remember the radio series "How Green Was my Cactus"? It was compulsory listening every day as far as I was concerned. The one where the loggers set seige to parliament hose was gold.

I was living in Canberra when the loggers blockaded Parliament House. They were protesting about the government stopping them working because they paid too much attention to the greenies wanting to stop logging.

I vividly remember a large banner on a truck that summed it up pretty well, and this is a direct quote, (For the moderators - the words are not mine)

"What do Greenies wipe their #### on?"

Cheers

Doug

[CMB]

Keating is one of the greatest politicians Australia has ever had, and humble to boot. Australia wouldn't be as prosperous as it is today if it wasn't for his efforts... or at least that's what we kept hearing from him over the course of the program last night. My opinion differs, and I'm sure Kerry's does too.

Fascinating viewing once again.

Craig

[AlexS]

Keating was under-appreciated at the time - he did drag us out of the 1950s mindset that the economy was in, but there was a bit of pain came with it.

Probably PJK's greatest attribute was that he had no false modesty.

[Toymaker Len]

No doubt that Keating was brilliant but Gough was right when he said to him
"go and get a degree and then come back..."
The uncontrolled de-regulation of the banking system was an outright disaster that cost Australia billions.
But who could forget the comments like when Peacock was running for the second time
"A souffle only rises once".

[nrb]

Clever yes,humble Noooooo way,arrogant OH yes yes,yes,big ego yes yes,yes,and what does that give you??

[Scott]

Clever yes,humble Noooooo way,arrogant OH yes yes,yes,big ego yes yes,yes,and what does that give you??

A PM who never shirked telling it how it is. Unlike the current mob we've got.

[Dengue]

Actually, you are all wrong! What you are seeing is the public persona that he deliberately presents. I know people personally who know him socially and politically, and to a man and woman, they all say what a highly intelligent and very friendly and charismatic person he is in private, one who goes out of his way to advise and assist those in trouble.

I for one will be eternally grateful to him for the superannuation that I have which will allow me to live my final years in relative comfort, not totally relying on the Age Pension. That is, until the Aged Care homes grab everything I have, under the new legislation about to be passed. If you don't know anything about the draconian changes coming up, I suggest you get in contact with Centrelink advisors, and attend their forums on the matter