the biggest grin in politics
So, it is a beautiful Sunday afternoon in spring. I am leaving the South Melbourne market with a few treasures – some Vietnamese mint, a box of mixed dumplings, the usual coriander and basil, pears and apples, with a decent piece of steak in the bottom of my trolley.
But I am walking on air, on my way to the flower shop for whatever is going for five dollars a bunch which will add a glow and scent of life to our flat, when I meet my friend Judith K. One of those indefatigably hard working political people I am not disciplined or patient enough to be.
Of course we talk about a famous victory. We agree that this feels like 1972 again, which led to a great upswelling of imagination and decency, of a larger vision of our society. Kevin Rudd may have made a pedestrian speech, and repeat the vaguely sinister cliche about “this great nation of ours”, but the tone of the times belongs to us, to hope and generosity.
Then she says something that really strikes me – that all the vivid images and the excitement of Saturday night, when the ALP swept the Tories away so convincingly, belong to the women. To Julia Gillard, under the gun and the camera in the tally room, focused and poised and never fazed, her mind and tongue active and accurate for a whole evening on a tumultuous merry-go-round of hope and fear. To Maxine McKew, making the most human speeches of the evening, laughing, intoxicated with the joy of the moment, defeating the Prime Minister in his own seat (or so it seems…)
And to Kevin Rudd’s “life partner” as he called her, Therese Rein. While Rudd and Howard resemble each other so much physically, it is Janette and Therese who symbolise the difference. Therese has those sparkling little eyes, and a grin that speaks of a dangerous sense of fun.
I saw Anna Bligh in action at the Screen Producer’s conference a week ago, and she too is poised and impressive. As Labor Premier in Rudd’s home state she introduced him to the crowd as the Prime-Minister elect. For people like me, who have stuck to the left all our lives, that is a sweet phrase.
I was touched by Julia Gillard as Kevin Rudd used his speech and the magic of the satellite to speak directly to her in Canberra at the tally room. She is the most senior woman in Australian politics, and our first true feminist Deputy Prime Minister. Her face softened as he acknowledged her, nurturing in public the most important relationship in political life, between the two most central people in a governing party. For Hawke and Keating, Howard and Costello, that has been a fount of poison, that can suck the life out of a government. We have our fingers crossed with this relationship, which can set the national agenda for the next decade.
If the ALP brought us satisfaction last night, the women brought us joy.
November 25th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
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November 25th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
Bligh actually jumped the gun and called him the “Australian Prime Minister.”
As if any of us cared, it was the right person!
November 25th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
November 25th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
“but the tone of the times belongs to us, to hope and generosity.”
Fantastic! Fucking fantastic! Yip yip yip yippee!
November 26th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Lovely stuff David. Hope has returned.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:52 am
thank you for putting it so beautifully.
November 26th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Us residents of Bennelong have dubbed the beautiful Maxine “The Dragon Slayer” and long may she reign. And yes, it’s a great smile.
November 26th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Much relief and popping of the Porphyria Pearl corks around down in the John Kerr Memorial Cellar here at Yarralumla.
The Usurper of Vice-Regal functions has been slain. Oh frabjus dei!
Anyone with an upcoming school fete, sausage sizzle or lamington drive …well, we’re only a phone call away.
November 26th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Swett, very sweet victory long time coming.
November 26th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Beautiful post David.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Yah. Excellent post.
November 27th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
what a lovely post
November 27th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
My greatest satisfaction came in watching Tanya Plibersek demolish Joe Hockey. What dignity and intelligence the woman has!
November 28th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
I was very impressed by Tanya Plibersek as well, Ziggy. I look forward to seeing more of her.
Thanks for the great post, David.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
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