Politicians as speakers - Best/Worst?

Surly said:

Keating was witty and incisive as already agreed. I will also concede he mastered glib catch phrases that made good headlines. The recession we had to have would of had very little personal effect on one PK.

I am not interested in the politics of it, rather their skills as orator. I don't believe Abbott is a good speaker either. Howard wasn't great but certainly better than Abbott or Gillard. Question time is a joke and a boys club. I prefer to see their skills in public or in the hands of a skilled interviewer.

cheers
Surly

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I agree with you Surly on Howard.
The thing about Howard was, when he spoke, it was worth listening to, and I could say the same about Costello.
With Swan, Julia and Combet. They cannot say two sentances before starting to run down the opposition. This shows inconfidence and going on the defence.

joea

"I, I, you, you, don't you worry about that, what is good for Queensland is good for Australia" Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen was a favourite of mine.

joea said:

I agree with you Surly on Howard.
The thing about Howard was, when he spoke, it was worth listening to, and I could say the same about Costello.
With Swan, Julia and Combet. They cannot say two sentances before starting to run down the opposition. This shows inconfidence and going on the defence.

joea

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Well to use your analysis where would Abbott sit then,he is the alternative.

Surly said:

Now that a few more names have been thrown in I would put Joe Hockey as the most "normal" of the politicians I have seen interviewed. I heard him speak a few times when he was selling the Financial Services reforms. He was also comfortable actually answering questions with real answers not the spin and dribble we have seen of late.

Bob Hawke was a passionate speaker and even if you didn't believe the message at least you believed he did.

Keating was incisive and witty but I am not sure he was believable or created trust

Have We had anyone give a speech here that would rate anywhere near JFK's "We choose to go to the Moon" speech?

cheers
Surly

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Joe Hockey normal your the best i have heard china.

Depending on your political philosophy I suppose, because if one does not lend credibility to the speaker's position, evaluating their qualities as speaker would be difficult,but here goes:

The Libs: Howard spoke well sometimes: Turnbull is the best of the current bunch, Hewson in his day was good.
Abbott was doing pretty well as opposition front-bencher, but surprisingly poorly as leader. Hockey: no thanks: a dweeb.

Nats:
Bjelke-Petersen set the standard: Bob Katter (OK, an ex-nat) I have a lot of time for, but he's finding it tough doing it solo.

Labs: Tanner was the best of the bunch, but he's out. Gillard is a terrible speaker - her set pieces are simply dreadful.

Greens: Brown somehow lacks something: maybe he needs a rest. Milne manages to combine well-thought out content with a strident pitch.

Indies: Xenophon.

My position: green

I like the way Penny Wong handles herself, she comes out as a strong speaker and expresses herself assertively. I'd even prefer her as PM instead of Julia.

Ubershrewd said:

I like the way Penny Wong handles herself, she comes out as a strong speaker and expresses herself assertively. I'd even prefer her as PM instead of Julia.

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Oh, god, no. Can't stand her.