I think if John Key resigned at leader of the National Party, then the news that Bill English (deputy leader) would be in the running for leader should be non-news.
You don't think people should know that?
I guess we have a different idea about what should be reported.…

Nice point from Gordon Campbell on Scoop:

Whenever the media whines in future about politicians refusing to answer their questions, Phil Goff’s interview on Alt TV is a perfect example of what can happen when they do : a beat-up of monumental proportions, not even remotely supported by what…

And I thought your new word was well thought out.Will look forward to adopting it if you don't mind?

Go for it. I'm all about the sharing.

Hmmm. Good advice. Maybe I should apply that to my PAS comments ...

Why? I don't — but I'm reasonably certain you've had days when you've just had to put your game face on and deal with the world, when all you want to do is scream and kick the…

Far be it from me to give Labour any free campaign advice, but they're really going to have to do a little better than Irradiated Rogergnomes Under The Bed.

I suspect however the Labour Party try to paint their opposition, they'll get little traction with the media.

I'm feeling a…

I think the story does the party's election campaign some harm, but it does much greater harm to Goff's chances of ever taking over.

Bruce: I agree. The "at the moment" changed my perception of what Goff had said on AltTV and of him. Positive to negative in a 'Beach…

But he did appear a bit challenged in the coordination stakes.

*sigh* Yes, I found it rather interesting that on Three the most important thing about Boris Johnson's first day as London Mayor was tripping over a riser on his way to the podium.

The people where we live, including…

So has anyone here actually met Key – I just can't get a read on him – is he real? acting? what does he believe in?

Please excuse the familial connection but the political guy at Canta blogged about this.

The biggest surprise in meeting Key was actually how…small…

Parliament and politics is a strange beast. Sometimes its what people don't say that's significant and then at other times it's what they do say and the context in which they say it that's crucial.

Setting aside for a moment the way…

I'm waiting 'till he takes the mask off and we discover who's really under there ....

And would I be wrong in saying that if that miraculous event happened (because if you don't have a closetful of masks that allow you to function, you're either a saint, a madman or…

The only context for his life I have are those pictures of him from last year in front of a somewhat sterile holiday home.…

Bogus analogy. You can't take it for granted someone is simply in a queue like that. They get older, other things happen in their lives. Russell Marshall stood against Lange in 1983: you could not take it for granted he was in the running in 1989.

I didn't say they…

Russell Marshall stood against Lange in 1983

What for? The leadership? I thought the second attempt to replace Rowling simply installed Lange (after of course a vote, but was it contested)?

(And need I add there's something seriously FUBAR when I feel any sympathy for Brian Connell.)

[polite cough]

You are not the only one who felt that way over that particular incident, believe me.

I think 'Bill English possibly next leader if Key quits' is only news for the bleedingly obvious.
Which is pretty similar to what we have here... Goff possible next leader after Clark quits (because we all know Cullen is going to retire soon).
I mean really, if you're #3 in…

but this is the destructive behaviour of politician getting desperate – and clumsy in his declining days.

I think that assumes that politics needs to be a game played on a chess board or poker table as opposed real world people answering real questions in an honest manner.

Everyone knew…

Of course. Think of Parliament as a teenage clique in high school, with the press gallery as the harpies, and it makes a whole lot more sense

And it probably says nothing about me that I read that and thought "Herpes? Is being a teenager in Palmerston North really that…

Phil Goff is not a well liked person. I suspect most party members regard him as a rather clever weasel

who happens to be in their…

harpies at high school?

The people who dictate status within the clique. Usually by making up the rules as they go along, and sneering at those who fail to jump through the hoops in just the right way.

with the press gallery as the harpies, and it makes a whole lot more sense

I've got a picture of Mathew Hooton in my mind, make it stop!

"But you didn't lie! You're supposed to lie!"

Which is of course the thing that is so infuriating about the usual practice. When I worked in parliament I tended to divide politicians into three groups, those that were leadership material and knew it (few), those that weren't but fortunately knew…

You don't think people should know that?

I guess we have a different idea about what should be reported.

I think 'Bill English possibly next leader if Key quits' is only news for the bleedingly obvious.

Which is pretty similar to what we have here... Goff possible next leader after…

Think of Parliament as a teenage clique in high school, with the press gallery as the harpies

Um... harpies at high school?

The "rules" of the "game" are as much a construct of the handful of people who cover politics as they are of the politicians themselves.

Of course. Think of Parliament as a teenage clique in high school, with the press gallery as the harpies, and it makes a whole lot…

I'm not going to argue some of the coverage yesterday was not overheated.

But that's nowhere near the same as saying Goff's comments should not have been reported, and reported prominently.

I think it was worth reporting, just not in the ridiculous way it has been. The "rules" of the…

What was "big tits" doing a promo on Campbell Live the other night? And 3 news wonders where the viewers are going...

Hey, it worked for these guys ...

Softcore:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whYi8sCF5Pg

Hardcore:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHEXzlNHC8Q&feature=user

I think if John Key resigned at leader of the National Party, then the news that Bill English (deputy leader) would be in the running for leader should be non-news.

You don't think people should know that?

I guess we have a different idea about what should be reported.

I'm…

If Bill English had gone on Alt TV and said that if National loses, he would be in the running for leadership, do people here think the media should have ignored it?

The media ignored it when John Key expressed the same kind of interest before Don stepped down

[[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0609/S00201.htm|Good…

That's not an equivalent question.

Driver asked, if Labour loses, and Helen Clark resigns as leader, would you...blockquote>

Took the words right out of my mouth. Also, the relative polling positions is a factor that relates, if not to the answer, then the validity of the question.

If I can just run a counter-factual here: If Bill English had gone on Alt TV and said that if National loses, he would be in the running for leadership, do people here think the media should have ignored it?

That's not an equivalent question.

Driver asked, if Labour loses,…

But what was everyone else thinking by running with it?

What was "big tits" doing a promo on Campbell Live the other night? And 3 news wonders where the viewers are going...

But what was everyone else thinking by running with it?

That's not code for Peter Dunne & Ohariu is it?

I wish.

No, just a way of saying that I have other hobbies that trump politics.

Ditto, if I wasn't also having to run a dinosaur hunt through death valley.

That's not code for Peter Dunne & Ohariu is it?

I'd be there if I was in town.

Ditto, if I wasn't also having to run a dinosaur hunt through death valley.

Places to go, people to be...

The thing which gets lost in all this is that National is basically a conservative party rather than being a particularly right wing one.

I really like this explanatory theory. And I hope you're right. I just have a sort of niggling suspicion about those lurking, rigorous freemarketeers...

The thing which gets lost in all this is that National is basically a conservative party rather than being a particularly right wing one. And pre-Thatcher/Reagan/Richardson conservatives govts here and overseas tended to manage the status quo. They represent people who don't want more change than is…

Bilingual Lesbian Marixism is just around the corner

Between this and cheap Treble Cone passes, SIT is looking all the more attractive really...

Craig is going to splutter at me now. Three, two, one... :)

Can't be bothered wasting the saliva, really. I can't help but think certain right-wingnuts are going to go to their graves convinced compulsory Bilingual Lesbian Marixism is just around the corner – and taking its bloody time, need…

To be honest, you could say the same for Labour and their traditional base.

I kind of disagree, in that even though Labour has some iffy thirdwayishness about them, there is a kind of vague 'hey, poor peeps, here's something that helps you not starve to death!' quality to their…

But... if they don't stand for economic reform a la Roger Douglas, with the privatising and the freemarketeering and the tax cuts yadda yadda yadda, what exactly do they stand for then? I am confused.

As am I. National appear to be pursuing the same election strategy adopted by Rudd;…

But... if they don't stand for economic reform a la Roger Douglas, with the privatising and the freemarketeering and the tax cuts yadda yadda yadda, what exactly do they stand for then? I am confused.

To be honest, you could say the same for Labour and their traditional base.

I…

Irradiated Rogergnomes Under The Bed

Now that would give me nightmares. Sitting there all night muttering about flat tax and asset sales.

do a little better than Irradiated Rogergnomes Under The Bed

But... if they don't stand for economic reform a la Roger Douglas, with the privatising and the freemarketeering and the tax cuts yadda yadda yadda, what exactly do they stand for then? I am confused.

The other doomsday scenario for National is that they decide to implement the 'the Grand Plan' adopt an ACT policy platform and plunge the country another few rungs down the OECD, get annihilated in the subsequent election and spend another decade in the cold.

Which is why The Founder --…

Another scenario is that Key proves to be hopelessly underdone, the media narrative turns to speculation about conflict between him and English and the public reacts poorly to spending cuts and remembers that it never like Tony Ryall in the first place.

The other doomsday scenario for National is that…

1/ Media frantic at revelation election might not return sitting government

2/ Media frantic at suggestion that one day HC might step down and someone else will have to lead Labour Party

Therefore, to reduce media anxiety, do away with free…

Couldn't they all go mountain climbing or boy-racing or something?

"There is no question about leadership at the moment," he said yesterday when questioned about his pre-recorded television interview.

A seasoned politician who wanted to end discussion about leadership would usually give such an answer unconditionally, without qualifications such as "at the moment".

It really is a stupid game the…

Heh. I like my typo: "nedia". They can be needy for stories...

I guess that makes MSN the mainstream nedia.

Whenever the media whines in future about politicians refusing to answer their questions, Phil Goff’s interview on Alt TV is a perfect example of what can happen when they do : a beat-up of monumental proportions, not even remotely supported by what was…

Labour did itself no favours three years back with a list being so heavily weighted towards incumbent insurance

My oath.

I do think that if Labour doesn't gold-plate the list prospects of the likes of Grant Robertson, Phil Twyford, Moana Mackey etc, this year they're nuts.

You're making the foolish assumption that politics is the art of the rational. Perhaps it's the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, but Labour did itself…

And, to the surprise of no one at all, Phil Goff will seek to convince his colleagues that he is the best choice for the vacant party leadership.

Yawn. Surely an important element of "news" is that it is, um, new? Is it equally a scoop that English would seek…

I find Phil Goff's track record in Justice of readiness to toss my civil liberties aside quite worrying. He strikes me as a classic authoritarian.

Agreed. And a sneaky populist to boot. Give me a from-the-rooftops populist any day: at least you know where you stand.

John Key was rather smug in parliament yesterday when he advised Helen to watch the 6pm news, already aware that is was about to blow up.

I'd have to dig through my audio archives from my RDU days but I'm pretty sure I've got John Key…

It being morning, I initially read this as a rabid jackal head, which was up the Labour Party.

It's like a Dad4Justice quote ...

I suspect that under Key (for the first term at least) the political mood of the country will move to the right and Goff will be the only chance Labour has to come back in 2011.

Another scenario is that Key proves to be hopelessly underdone, the media narrative turns…

I find Phil Goff's track record in Justice of readiness to toss my civil liberties aside quite worrying. He strikes me as a classic authoritarian.

If it's any reassurance, he was once dragged off the stage at a Labour Party conference screaming 'socialism forever!'.

Um, I hear.

you'd rather see a rabid jackal head up the Labour Party than Goff.

Where can I sign up for the Rabid Jackal?

It being morning, I initially read this as a rabid jackal head, which was up the Labour Party.

You might recall that each of them dominated our news coverage for days, each one giving rise to What Have We Become national navel-gazing. They were huger than huge.

All…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94WZfklAlIo

you'd rather see a rabid jackal head up the Labour Party than Goff.

Where can I sign up for the Rabid Jackal?

I find Phil Goff's track record in Justice of readiness to toss my civil liberties aside quite worrying. He strikes me as a classic authoritarian. Goff's pandering stance…

Er, no. I'd be fine with it.

Brown Backs Away From Anti-Goff Gaffe!

LOL.

Er, no. I'd be fine with it.

Brown Backs Away From Anti-Goff Gaffe!

I like the way you insert your own sort-of-secret-code suggesting you'd rather see a rabid jackal head up the Labour Party than Goff.

Er, no. I'd be fine with it. I just wonder if it's a racing certainty.

Also, is it any wonder that politicians are usually evasive (as John Key was this morning on Breakfast) when dealing with most of the MSM?

Probably not, but I'd rather Key have the occasional incontinent burst of candor because, you know something, 'secret agenda', 'flip-flop' and 'baby-eating rich prick' sneer…

But in the meantime I wish the hysterics in the media would STFU.

And go back to chasing Lockwood Smith down a hallway while squealing 'do you believe in climate change', and lurking around outside the toilets so Brian Connell can tell you to piss off one more time. Which,…

These things are as much a construction of the media themselves than of politics, a fact that journalists are duty-bound to ignore. Hence, Tracy Watkins intones this morning that the comments are "likely to spark damaging leadership speculation." But where? Oh, right: in the news media.

Too right. This fits…

I did idly wonder though whether HC might have moved to put Cullen out to pasture at the last Cabinet shake-up, and instituted Goff as Deputy and Minister of Finance, whether Labour's fortunes might be flying a bit higher.

Sooner or later Goff…