Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: 2014: The Meth Election

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  • izogi, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I don’t get this either. But the theory is that because she’s seen through reforms at a minefield portfolio like MSD without getting blown up, she must be capable.

    I was always confused how Judith Collins could ever have been considered as leadership material, too, at least until very recent events made it impractical. I think all it showed me is that not everyone judges people in the same way I do.

    Anyone National chooses will be a big risk, given how much of its popularity seems to have been branded in John Key’s image, and that will be hard to match. The party might have to actually campaign on something other than “trust us because we know best”.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I saw Bennett on Backbenchers. She’s supposed to be impressive?!?!

    I don’t get this either. But the theory is that because she’s seen through reforms at a minefield portfolio like MSD without getting blown up, she must be capable.

    The flirtation with promoting the patently gormless Bennett could have been encouraged by Crosby Textor’s past Australian success with Jackie Kelly. Kelly’s 1996 victory in the previously solid Labor seat of Lindsay, and her increased majority after a by-election following a Labor challenge, led to her being groomed as the poster person for ‘Howard’s battlers’, the aspirational working class who’d abandoned Labor.

    While Key hasn’t excited the jealousy of Bennett’s colleagues to the same degree as Howard did when showering Kelly with ministerial rewards beyond her capabilities, the contrived nature of how they’ve both been marketed is strikingly similar.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell,

    Bennett’s a risk, but she’s probably a better bet that anyone else. Joyce is too hard to sell. Collins is tainted. Bridges is- no other way to put it- too dim. Bennett at least has a smidgen of charm.
    I think English is also a possibility, but only because the leadership a year into the thrid term is so likely to be a hospital pass. Bennett – or whomever- may prefer to watch English loose in ’17 before stepping in.
    ETA: not so sure Key will leave, as long as he's popular.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace,

    Just watched this morning’s Nation. Couldn’t be a bigger contrast in the interviews with Key and Cunliffe which were on before the interview with Glen Greenwald. Key looked exhausted, tried to pick a fight and sniffed. Cunliffe was firing on more than six cylinders, even correcting Patrick Gower’s maths. So they were either on something, as per Russell’s theory, or spooked/inspired by Glen Greenwald in the green room.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • mark taslov, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Add alcohol withdrawal to that equation:

    He's taken a vow of abstinence from booze until the election, he has trim milk in his coffees, and Diet Coke.

    cocktail for disaster.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report

  • Andre,

    Re: Paula Bennett. Is there such a thing as a 'little hench-woman' and if so can she become leader one day if she does enough henching?

    New Zealand • Since May 2009 • 371 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Andre,

    Is there such a thing as a ‘little hench-woman’

    that rings some bells... that's right...
    there was that Hench back of Notre, dame!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    This is when Public Address real needs a Like or Favourite option!

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    that rings some bells… that’s right…
    there was that Hench back of Notre, dame!

    FFS! That wins this evening's Internets!

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Ian should have one permanently attached. #gold

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Andre,

    henching

    great word

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Angela Hart, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    that rings some bells... that's right...
    there was that Hench back of Notre, dame!

    pure genius

    Christchurch • Since Apr 2014 • 614 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    The flirtation with promoting the patently gormless Bennett could have been encouraged by Crosby Textor’s past Australian success with Jackie Kelly. Kelly’s 1996 victory in the previously solid Labor seat of Lindsay, and her increased majority after a by-election following a Labor challenge, led to her being groomed as the poster person for ‘Howard’s battlers’, the aspirational working class who’d abandoned Labor.

    Only to throw in the towel after some big fallout over an Islamophobic pamphlet drop. The kind of dirty tricks that Nicky Hager is trying to exposé.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    And I don’t think he likes lying: he seems to squirm. He has that queasy look when he admitted calling Slater: he knew it was wrong.

    Just a few points, I see….
    He can’t handle the confrontation. He can’t tolerate anyone questioning his actions.Hates feeling cornered. He reacts by attack. The queasy look is annoyance .
    He also doesn’t like lying if caught out. His “humour” seems calculated only in that he bows to the lowest denominator. Laughing at his own bullying.
    Also,

    But there’s no ignoring my opinions are not shared by a majority of New Zealanders

    I reckon if you were talking about all New Zealanders, many children would be scared of him. They are the ones who react truthfully
    This article linked to earliersays quite a lot about his personality.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Jake Starrow,

    John Key's massive popularity on our political stage ironically stems from a non-popularity background.
    Before he was head-hunted to become a member of the parliamentary political party, Key had no strong ties to the National Party.
    This explains why he exudes a sense that he is not your usual ideology-driven politician.
    And in turns why he has built up such sustained approval ratings over his leadership.
    By not being seen to simply wanting to impose an ideology, Key has promoted a winning empathy with a public weary of hidden or partly-hidden agendas.
    With Key, what you see is mostly what you get....a Prime Minister whose narrative is as clear-minded and open as it was when he was a highly-successful businessman.
    His task is to get things done.
    Along the way he has shown the common touch which comes from his state-house background.
    He has demonstrated the ability to compromise a la the anti-smacking scenario and to be inclusive as he did in embracing the Maori Party.
    No other Prime Minister in our recent history has so effortlessly imparted this sense of trustworthy pragmatism to the same extent as John Key has.
    Muldoon, Bolger and Clark all did to varying degrees but never as convincingly.
    Despite his detractors claims and imaginary machinations, John Key has yet to be proved to be anywhere near as culpable of the duplicity and dark dealings that they would have us believe.
    And any commission that concentrates on the dirty politics stuff in particular and history in general will establish that innocence I believe.
    People closer to Key than I ever will be report how angry and let down he feels over the dirty politics play-out and he won't allow Collins for example anywhere near any position of authority again.
    Key's most notable achievements are seen in the delicate guidance he imposed through the global financial meltdown along with Bill English... and the positive impact he has had on foreign shores including China.
    So in a nutshell kind of a way, as governed by a briefish word-count that sites like this promote, this is why I admire and fully approve of John Key.
    I've met him twice, once at a mutual friend's house. For most of the evening, I felt I knew why President Obama has described Key "as a friend whose company I really enjoy and who I can relax with.
    Finally, my name in my passport is not Ede! I'm simply a political junkie like all contributors to this site are I suspect.
    I'm a true swinging voter. I'm greatly influenced by the qualities and integrity, or not, of the party leaders. I voted for both David Lange and Helen Clark. My judgement was proven accurate as it has been with John Key.
    But as Mr. Brown says, it is not about me. I just wanted some conspiracy theories put to rest.
    I really enjoyed Rob Stowell's discourse on Key without coming to the same disparaging conclusion at the end of it. The tone and manner was superb.
    That's my opinion. Yours?

    Since Sep 2014 • 77 posts Report

  • Jake Starrow,

    Why are errors so apparent after posting.
    First line should read " John Key's massive popularity on our political stage ironically stems from a non-political background.

    Since Sep 2014 • 77 posts Report

  • Stewart, in reply to Jake Starrow,

    That’s my opinion. Yours?

    As previously stated, my opinion is that he is a feculent, smarmy, unprincipled twat who has no leadership qualities whatsoever.

    Thanks for asking.

    Te Ika A Maui - Whakatane… • Since Oct 2008 • 577 posts Report

  • Danielle, in reply to Jake Starrow,

    You can edit within fifteen minutes of posting by clicking the edit button at the bottom of your post. (You need to hover your mouse down there for it to become apparent.)

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

  • BenWilson, in reply to Jake Starrow,

    That’s my opinion. Yours?

    That one will never be able to bear John Key's children from fellatio alone.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • andin, in reply to Jake Starrow,

    Boy that reads like a puff piece! No wonder it took you so long to reply.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Jake Starrow,

    Thank-you for your advice Danielle.
    Within minutes of posting my rationale, three replies emerge hinging on words such as "feculent" "smarmy" and suggesting that if I want children from John Key, fellatio won't do it. What gutter crap!
    Is that what Russell was referring to in his requesting more "grown-up" arguments?
    What is so ragingly apparent amongst you cheap-shot merchants is that Key's success, his massive appeal and his overwhelming approval really, really gets under your skins and drives you mad to the extent that resorting to vacuous abuse is all you're capable of.
    Rob Stowell asked for the standard of the debate to be lifted. Why not try?

    Since Sep 2014 • 77 posts Report

  • oga, in reply to Stewart,

    I did a leadership course for a year some time ago. In the process of that course, which took place over one weekend a month, I had the opportunity to meet several people whom the course organizers nominated as leaders in New Zealand. By and large, most of the people were very nice people and talked freely about their roles. Unfortunately I did not go away from the course feeling as though I had learned anything about leadership. Some of these people had been very privileged, others had worked very hard, and many were eloquent orators. But were they leaders? Much depended on personality styles, and the lack of framing for the entire course frustrated me to the extent I am no longer included on the list of alumni for this course (nobody told me they were removing me, but they did - which seems dishonest). In that context, I can easily see John Key being described as a leader (as opposed to a figurehead, businessman, or front person), and many of the people on the course had similar presentation styles (perhaps with less of the smarminess). It appeared to me that we (the course participants) were meant to be awed by these people because of what jobs they were doing. Don't get me wrong, several speakers were frankly inspiring (John Allen comes to mind), but were they 'leaders'? "Leadership" is a very slippery term. While I can see why people admire John Key, I see them admiring him because he is wealthy, privileged, and typical of people in business who make money from leveraging blood out of a stone (or making money out of nothing but ideas and grit and systems knowledge), but admiring him as a political leader? I don't think we can mention him in the same breath as Helen Clark even though they are both right-wing leaders. At least Helen Clark kept part of her socialist heart intact.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 47 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Jake Starrow,

    I felt I knew why President Obama has described Key “as a friend whose company I really enjoy and who I can relax with.

    Maybe true for some people, myself, I have never been an admirer of those with riches, I know where it comes from, the pockets of the poor. I have never been an admirer of those that do little but take a lot and leave the hard graft to others for whom there is little reward. I have never been an admirer of those that denigrate others for having less than themselves and blame the poor for their plight. They will never be my heroes.
    Your views may differ but to me that means that you admire such things in others and I wonder why.
    John Key doesn't strike me as a particularly bright guy but like George Bush he likes a laugh, he likes to joke and boy does he like money. Bush once joked about his supporters being the "Haves and Have Mores", these are also John Key's people.
    As has been said before, the desire for wealth is the root of all evil, follow the money and you will find the pit. John Key is a banker at heart, not a worker, not a carer, just a Joker and a King, a bit of a card but above the pack, maybe you aspire to be the same, I don't

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to oga,

    I am no longer included on the list of alumni for this course

    that's disgusting

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Danielle, in reply to Jake Starrow,

    his massive appeal and his overwhelming approval really, really gets under your skins and drives you mad

    What's interesting to me is that your argument basically boils down to "I admire him because he's popular". That seems a little... self-fulfilling? Tautologous? I'm not sure what the word is.

    I've never found him appealing or thought he has the common touch, personally, because what the fuck do I have in common with a rightwing multi-millionaire banker who spends all his holidays in Hawaii? It's like how I was supposed to personally appreciate Dubya for his down-home-ness, when he was just an elitist faking it. But, you know, several elections in a row in two countries have proved me to not know what the hell I'm talking about, so. Shrug.

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

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