Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Congratulations, Mr Key

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    We unexpectedly got a look at his soul, and I'm very sure John Key wishes we had not.

    Really? In his position, I'd be very very glad that Roger Owen Douglas overplayed his hand so comprehensively, and so quickly. No baubles for you, Rog, even though I never thought you were going to get them anyway.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Really? In his position, I'd be very very glad that Roger Owen Douglas overplayed his hand so comprehensively, and so quickly. No baubles for you, Rog, even though I never thought you were going to get them anyway.

    That's certainly the other, valid, way of looking at it.

    But I'm really startled by Act's behaviour in the last 36 hours. It reveals quite a lot about the personalities involved, and none of it good.

    I fancy words have already been said: Hide was far less cocky on Morning Report today, and Bill English just now described Act as "a small party that hasn't been in government before" in an amusingly patronising fashion.

    Also, Craig, I feel bound to note that you replied to my post at the same time I posted it. I didn't even have time to get out the stopwatch!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Raymond A Francis,

    Well the good news is that we has a result on the night

    I do hope that National reaches some sort of agreement with the Maori Party, even if it is only to draw Act's teeth
    Hopefully Maori will see that alone as a win for them, there is of course quite some down side to them going with National

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    the manners and countenance of a Ferengi trader

    this made me chuckle a little. playing to the sci-fi crowd there RB? heh.

    and i remarked on saturday night that the national party doesn't actually *need* the act party.

    assuming the specials don't sway too far in favour of labour/greens (the estimates are national losing two seats), national could ask for support from the maori party on some matters, as you point out.

    the member for epsom might be overstating the strength of his position.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Julie Fairey,

    I agree that the centre-left is far from bereft. As long as Labour's caucus has the discipline to manage the leadership transition quickly and cleanly (and I think after so many years of Clark that they will have that discipline) then the way ahead is not so grey.

    Puketapapa Mt Roskill, AK… • Since Dec 2007 • 234 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    But I'm really startled by Act's behaviour in the last 36 hours. It reveals quite a lot about the personalities involved, and none of it good.

    Horror-movie chills. I really would have preferred Winston. I do not say this lightly.

    The hooting Parnell types outside Key's gate as he left for Sky City briefly made me think of a zombie flick.

    I loved the comparison of the two leaders heading off to their respective headquarters: Clark driving out of her little Mount Albert driveway past the hedges, while Key's peeps had to open his giant, sterile electric gates in Parnell.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    What can I say -- you're the alternative to productive, revenue-generating activity (AKA 'work') Oh, and I gave up smoking eleven hours ago and have an astounding performance of Peter Grimes banging around in the brain-pan.

    There will be blood - but no Daniel Day-Lewis.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    English is giving the "first 100 days" interview to Kathryn Ryan now that Key was supposed to give last night. It seems like pretty solid stuff.

    Crucial points: the public accounts are "in good shape" and it's the private balance sheets that are the issue. And also that cutting public spending in a recession would be counterproductive.

    Roger Douglas has just come on and still does not seem to accept Key's word that he won't be in Cabinet. Good grief.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I loved the comparison of the two leaders heading off to their respective headquarters: Clark driving out of her little Mount Albert driveway past the hedges, while Key's peeps had to open his giant, sterile electric gates in Parnell.

    Property pron as psychology and political analysis? One could be somewhat bitchy and point out that a good chunk of Labour's base couldn't afford a garden shed on the same street as Helen's "little driveway", but so what? I know suburb snobbery (both classical and inverted) is a midlle-class Kiwi neurosis, but I'd rather be trapped in a lift with Jason Gunn.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    assuming the specials don't sway too far in favour of labour/greens (the estimates are national losing two seats)

    From my shabby mental arithmetic…

    That 5th ACT slot can’t be that secure?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I agree that the centre-left is far from bereft. As long as Labour's caucus has the discipline to manage the leadership transition quickly and cleanly (and I think after so many years of Clark that they will have that discipline) then the way ahead is not so grey.

    You'd expect that this will be the role that she's set for herself over the next few months - managing the transition to a new leader and putting herself firmly behind them, before moving her things back a couple of rows in parliament, having Saturday morning clinics in Mt Albert, and thinking about what she'd like to be doing in three years from now.

    I think if she sets two strong leaders on the course towards 2011 (not sure who?), it will round off her 15 years of leadership, and 9 years of PMship quite nicely. History looks kindly on people who know when to step back, which she certainly has.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    One could be somewhat bitchy and point out that a good chunk of Labour's base couldn't afford a garden shed on the same street as Helen's "little driveway", but so what?

    That's totally true - I couldn't service a Mt Albert mortgage. But at least she isn't electric-gated off from the plebs.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    Roger Douglas has just come on and still does not seem to accept Key's word that he won't be in Cabinet. Good grief.

    That rather nice Murray Webb cartoon from a while back, depicting Douglas as The Nearsighted Mr. Magoo mistaking the Beehive for a retirement home, seems to have been right on the money.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    I imagined bands of them roaming St Stephen's Ave, clutching bottles of pinot gris

    Ha.
    "Braaaaains... lovely-lamb-brains-sauteed-in-a-little-white-wine-from-Antoines..."

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Grant McDougall,

    Roger Douglas has just come on and still does not seem to accept Key's word that he won't be in Cabinet. Good grief.

    Hearing that croaky "aaaahhhhmmm" so often again is just bizarre.
    The novelty of his being back in Parliament will wear off quickly, however.

    The gov't is going to get very sick, very quickly, of sending out press releases saying "Sir Roger is entitled to his personal view, but they are not those of the government...".

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Key's opponent, Helen Clark, hailed her people on Saturday night with an exuberant multi-lingual greeting...

    This is a general comment, but could politicians avoid the multi-lingual exuberance if you're just going to gabble a string of greetings, and render most of them incomprehensible in the process? Ten out of ten for good intentions, but it's even better if you take other cultures seriously enough to bother learning how to pronounce some basic greetings properly.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    In spite of the sinister overtones of the Act Party's new influence, there are some aspects of the election that portray a more positive and tolerant NZ. For example, in the Dompost this morning there is a photo of 36 year old newly elected gay Wellington Central Labour MP Grant Robertson hugging his partner, and talking about their upcoming civil union.

    Remember your post of a few weeks ago revealing the homophobic comments from the National candidate in the electorate ...?

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Ten out of ten for good intentions, but it's even better if you take other cultures seriously enough to bother learning how to pronounce some basic greetings properly.

    Yes, I loved how Key played it safe in his speech by not saying anything that wasn't in English and at a twelve year old's vocabulary level. Inspiring effort.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Che Tibby,

    labour and green will likely pick up one each, afaik both coming off the nats.

    sooo... change might be

    44 labour
    9 green
    anderton

    = 54 votes.

    *
    5 maori

    *
    57 national
    dunne
    5 act
    = 63 votes

    labour still can't get up even with the maori party. however, the nats have a guaranteed majority even without the ACT party

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report

  • Glenn Pearce,

    thousands of whom, in Auckland at least, just stayed home this year

    Russell - exactly how many down on last election was the Auckland Central turnout ? I heard Tizard on the radio claiming it was 12,000 down. I find that hard to believe, anyone know ?

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    Apparently Mr Douglas "favours... every New Zealander getting the same health care and education that the rich get."
    Uhhhhh, what? I suppose you haven't read your policies on those two areas then?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Lx,

    I've just been listening to Bill English too, and I'm more impressed than I have been in the past. I'd go as far as saying I'm slightly relieved.

    I had to switch Roger Douglas off. He's using the same old phrases and I'm afraid it all sounded like weasel words to the point where I wasn't hearing what he was actually saying. That would be an F on communications skills.

    I'd rather be trapped in a lift with Jason Gunn

    Surely that's a lie :)

    Wellington • Since Apr 2007 • 24 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    That's totally true - I couldn't service a Mt Albert mortgage. But at least she isn't electric-gated off from the plebs.

    I thought she was after that incident when some rather drunken person wobbled up to her front door, to her great distress. I'm not sure, because an excessive interest in the house of Helen and Pete might attract some DPS interest I could do without. And by the time the media started the traditional pointless live cross to Helen Clark's unexpressive front door, it's dark.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Rik,

    My curiosity was piqued so I took a look at the TV3 interview with Roger Douglas.

    After the description that led me to take a look I was surprised to see a guy who appeared to be making good sense in his summation of recent times and only stating the obvious about the future.

    Since Jun 2007 • 130 posts Report

  • James Littlewood*,

    So, what's the goss on the new Labour leader?

    I like Cunny!

    Pro: unbundling.

    Con (and this one goes for labour as a whole): Therapeutic Goods Act.

    Or Goff, the guy who introduced the nation to student debt in the first place?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report

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