tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2152399175276461352.post1782111918971426691..comments2023-11-05T23:22:43.433+11:00Comments on This will hurt me...: The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions.Kris McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13789355638389350528noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2152399175276461352.post-5165914383925233652010-07-06T16:20:26.944+10:002010-07-06T16:20:26.944+10:00Julie, Watson gets the nod for being the first Lab...Julie, Watson gets the nod for being the first Labor PM <b>anywhere</b>. According to Percival Serle, Watson "left a much greater impression on his time than this would suggest. He came at the right moment for his party, and nothing could have done it more good than the sincerity, courtesy and moderation which he always showed as a leader". It must also be remembered that he was only actually 37 (still the youngest ever PM).<br /><br />I do think that Keating was a better Treasurer than PM, that said, much of what happened on his watch was well beyond his control. Moreover, most of the Howard boom was actually down to Keating's reforms. He did lack the kind of discipline to build support though, which harms his legacy.<br /><br />I'm not a Whitlam fan. He showed poor judgement and progressed too much too quickly at the wrong time ('73 oil crisis etc). Hawke's Medicare was a significant improvement of Gough's Medibank, which was not embedded enough to resist Fraser's meddling. Plus, Gough just comes across as an egocentric tosser, without the humour that saves Keating.Kris McCrackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13789355638389350528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2152399175276461352.post-147052102012688832010-07-05T18:30:30.118+10:002010-07-05T18:30:30.118+10:00What did Watson do in his 119 days? Did you consid...What did Watson do in his 119 days? Did you consider Keating a better <br />Treasurer than PM?<br /><br />Were you only considering their +ve contributions rather than their cock-ups? Otherwise why no EGW, purely for Medicare ...Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09513648613788716017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2152399175276461352.post-48945765621905717692010-06-28T09:07:05.276+10:002010-06-28T09:07:05.276+10:00Roddy, yes they are. Pat yourself on the back. I c...Roddy, yes they are. Pat yourself on the back. I considered Alfred Deakin because of some of his reforms in the workplace, but just couldn't stick him in there.Kris McCrackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13789355638389350528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2152399175276461352.post-65506348482545070412010-06-27T20:03:07.124+10:002010-06-27T20:03:07.124+10:00They are all Labour Prime Ministers. Do you give ...They are all Labour Prime Ministers. Do you give an answer if I am wrong?Roddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02054545926194092794noreply@blogger.com