Comments on: Keating, the greatest hits so far

By: Frank Birchall

Frank Birchall — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Paul Keating has an extraordinary intellect and a great vision for Australia. However, he lacks the common touch and empathy with people that are essential to political leadership. These defects led to his defeat in 1996 and the nation paid the price for almost 12 years. His advice could be invaluable to Kevin Rudd and the government.

By: Sean Quinlan

Sean Quinlan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I liked this quote describing John Howard. (I think it was Keating said it.)

“Mr Magoo; without the good intentions”

By: Jonathan at Crikey

Jonathan at Crikey — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Add to the list folks. We remembered the magnificent “two blokes and a cocker spaniel don’t make a family unit” (should be a Facebook group) too late I’m afraid. So … give us more

By: Allison

Allison — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Truly one of our greatest Statesmen!

By: Tom McLoughlin

Tom McLoughlin — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Gerry Hand’s old man used to run the barber shop in Warrnambool where I grew up … so I took an interest when PJK referred to Hand as having the same “bog Irish” blarney or something like that as himself.

Yeah I laughed reading the above. But I remember other incredibly funny charmers in my time who … just don’t deliver. They are funny as hell God bless ‘em and they make the hard day lighter, but I’ve come to understand you have to manage your expectations with this type. They fold on you. I suppose people will say 1993 election win proves otherwise. Still making up my mind really.

The other anecdote I like about this showman/poet is the rumour that staff would comment - actually I heard this from a Media Monitors staffer years back - that his staff had a term for the “f*cked by Keating” look of lobbyists … meaning they would go in determined to press their arguments X, Y, Z but would come out cheeks flushed and having been regaled and captured by showman PJK’s great facility with words and metaphor - the pink cheeks being another metaphor for the emotional experience of being with the “sun” as distinct from the “laser” (I think that was Barry Jones description of PK).

But he Paul Kearing got it wrong on forests ‘93-94 with the so called National Forest Policy Statement being just another woodchippers wet dream, and its a dead cat around his neck … forever.

By: Bernard Keane

Bernard Keane — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

“His real problem, Mr Speaker, his real problem, Mr Speaker, his real problem…. is Portnoy’s Complaint. Portnoy’s complaint, Mr Speaker.”

Directed at John Howard from the Dispatch Box in the final term. To this day I don’t think anyone has any idea what he was talking about, but it sounded funny.

By: Dave Liberts

Dave Liberts — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

@ Bernard, it's obviously a reference to the Philip Roth novel. Wikipedia defines it as: Portnoy's Complaint: A disorder in which strongly-felt ethical and altruistic impulses are perpetually warring with extreme sexual longings, often of a perverse nature...

I really didn't need that mental image of John Howard.

By: David

David — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Thanks Calli…I haven’t laughed so hard in ages

By: Richard L

Richard L — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

PK did some things, but then he wasn’t doing them any more, and now he appears at random, freshly coiffed, from his ensuite, where he’s been massaging his ego, and does a circus turn. Get real, guys.

By: Matthew Brennan

Matthew Brennan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

My impression was that the unkind comparitive evaluation of Andrew Peacock’s intellectual abilities was made by the man who invented the modern meaning of the words “My Government”, ie Gough Whitlam and I’m sure even PJK would draw the line at taking the credit for Gough’s best lines. Since the comment was made in the House of Reps, I presume a check of Hansard would clear this matter up.

By: Dave Liberts

Dave Liberts — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

You’ve forgotten his line about Peacock - ‘proof that soufles don’t rise twice’. Keating was far from perfect - Australia actually benefited from Hanson’s eradication of the political correctness that accompanied Keating’s Prime Ministership despite the problems she caused at the time - but his economic record and accompanying narrative was far more visonary than anything we’ve seen since. He was not timid, and while he was egotistical his vision for Australia benefited far more Aussies than anything Howard achieved. Costello would do well to stop smirking, grow some cahunas and ask himself what would PJK do.

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Mr Peacock —You can see the contrast in the statements made by you and the inquiry.

Mr KEATING —You have been into the dye pot again, Andrew.

Mr Tuckey —Mr Speaker, I take a point of order. The Minister should be asked to withdraw. That is a disgraceful and unnecessary statement. He has got the Prime Minister getting under the drier —

Mr SPEAKER —Order! The honourable member will resume his seat.

Mr KEATING —It was only with the advantage of this proximity that it became apparent to me. I suppose that the honourable gentleman’s hair, like his intellect, will recede into darkness.