Gillard's speech to Congress

[redandblack]

This from an unbiased source on Australia, The Los Angeles Times.

The Gillard haters will love it

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washing ... ress-.html

[southee]

This from an unbiased source on Australia, The Los Angeles Times.

The Gillard haters will love it

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washing ... ress-.html

I was actually going to start a thread on this R&B.

It was a very impressive performance.

So genuine and sincere. She spoke so well.

She did us Australians very proud.

What she said in the speech tugged at my heart strings and brought a little tear to my eye........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G60ddiwj88 - She likes U2 as well I see ???

[The Sleeping Giant]

How could the Americans not like that speech.

[redandblack]

I knew you'd be impressed, southee, and I agree with nearly all your critique, but you really are reading too much Andrew Bolt.

I also never realised Bono was the only person to ever say that about the US and the moon landings, but I'm pleased for you to find a straw to clutch

PS: Did you hear the one about Kevin Rudd and the cattle 'guards'

[mick]

It was the right speech for the audience. Thank God Rudd isn't still PM, he would have put the lot of them to sleep.

[Squawk]

I haven't seen the whole speech, only the highlights reel. However, I just hope there was some balance and it wasn't just all fornification towards the US.

These are important occasions, no doubt. Julia would have been happy that she got to do what Howard had done previously, with Rudd missing out in between.

However, we probably cant judge the speech on plain english alone. A lot of the motivations for the speech are likely to be intended to resonate behind the public sphere in the halls and corridors of US hard and soft power, and not necessarily with the global public.

I am dreaming, or does Julia resemble Foghorn Leghorn more and more every day?

[Bat Pad]

At least it's clear she wasn't pandering to the far left who generally see America as the worlds greatest evil.

[Q.]

At least it's clear she wasn't pandering to the far left who generally see America as the worlds greatest evil.

Nope, she was doing a brilliant rendition of a JWH arse-kissing (or should that be 'ass-kissing').

[Bat Pad]

At least it's clear she wasn't pandering to the far left who generally see America as the worlds greatest evil.

Nope, she was doing a brilliant rendition of a JWH arse-kissing (or should that be 'ass-kissing').

True, although I am not sure even Howard went to the same extent.

[Q.]

At least it's clear she wasn't pandering to the far left who generally see America as the worlds greatest evil.

Nope, she was doing a brilliant rendition of a JWH arse-kissing (or should that be 'ass-kissing').

True, although I am not sure even Howard went to the same extent.

The only time he made people cry was when they were laughing at his attempts to play cricket

[Bat Pad]

At least it's clear she wasn't pandering to the far left who generally see America as the worlds greatest evil.

Nope, she was doing a brilliant rendition of a JWH arse-kissing (or should that be 'ass-kissing').

True, although I am not sure even Howard went to the same extent.

The only time he made people cry was when they were laughing at his attempts to play cricket

Yeah that was classic.

[redandblack]

Honest answer: have any of you read or seen her whole speech?

Have any of you read or seen John Howard's similar whole speech?

[Bat Pad]

Honest answer: have any of you read or seen her whole speech?

Have any of you read or seen John Howard's similar whole speech?

No, just parts and analysis. For the record I have no problem with either speech.

[Psyber]

This from an unbiased source on Australia, The Los Angeles Times.
The Gillard haters will love it
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washing ... ress-.html

I read the speech as quoted on the page this link led to. It was well written, and apt for its purpose, and from the bits I saw on TV it was well delivered.
All our leaders are, or say they are, a bit more devoted to our bond with the US than I am, but I guess we have to be pragmatic if we may need their support sometime.
I just wish it didn't bring with it the Americanisation of our language and culture that it does.

I did doubt, back in the 1970s, whether they would have backed us had we stood up to Indonesia over the annexation of "West Irian".
I thought Indonesia's oil may have swung them the other way.

[Q.]

Read it. Didn't see it.

[redandblack]

I suppose the point I am making is that we often make judgements based on a media summary of such a speech.

When John Howard gave his speech, it was reported fairly favourably. Gillard has faced a barrage of analysis about pandering to America that was fairly muted in Howard's case.

When you read her speech, it's wide-ranging and powerful in parts.

Our (and my) opinions are based on what we want to believe. I thought John Howard pandered to the US in his speech, so I have to say the same for Julia Gillard to be consistent.

However, in both cases, I believe the speeches were perfect for America.

It might surprise some on here that I am a big fan of most of the day-to-day things about the US. I certainly strongly oppose a lot about their gun-toting, god-fearing, 'you're evil unless you're a good right-winger', Fox News picture of a perfect America.

I've seen a lot of the US over a long period and soaked up their culture and there's a lot to like about plenty that you see. It's a land of extreme differences, but that encompasses the very good and, of course, the nevil.

Above all, they aren't generally a subtle people and they're very insular, so IMO the speeches of John Howard and Julia Gillard were well aimed and just right for the occasion.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Honest answer: have any of you read or seen her whole speech?

Have any of you read or seen John Howard's similar whole speech?

I read it.
Doesn't the thread title say Gillard's speech to Congress. Stop taking the thread off topic redandblack.

[redandblack]

Sorry TSG.

I knew most of the posters on here could handle two allied subjects at once, but I forgot about you.

My apologies

[Bat Pad]

Does anyone know if Gillard fired her speech writer after last weeks debacle?

[redandblack]

Is that a deliberate troll, BP, or just a joke