Southerly by David Haywood

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Southerly: Tower Insurance Have Some Bad News For You

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  • Rich Lock, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Also Rich, you can google eh? Think its the first thing if you google Labour Party :)

    I've vaguely heard of it, yes. But unlike the majority of the population, I don't tend to leap out of bed in the morning and make 'labourpartyNZ' my first search string of the day. :)

    I actually think some of the more stunty things we've seen lately are experiments at how to get some news traction when traditional methods aren't working.

    Which is not a bad thing. But until they can work out how to get far more traction on these kind of issues, they're going to be wandering in the opposition wilderness.

    Without wanting to come across as a cold-hearted dick, and bearing in mind this is real people's lives, not political point-scoring, this is a simple, emotive issue that can be relatively easily explained and sound-bit. It should be getting far more exposure than it is.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich Lock,

    I've vaguely heard of it, yes

    The story needs to come and find you, not the other way around.

    that can be relatively easily explained and sound-bit

    You'd think.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    Thanks for the heads up. Have put 1:30 Sept 5 'welcoming committee' at Memorial Ave Copthorne in diary :)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    .. about aid to Libya. A pressing concern for the folk of Christchurch.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Sacha,

    That is part of her post Sacha. She has concern for a few things there.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Sacha,

    A pressing concern for the folk of Christchurch.

    No, but seeing as it was here that complaints of inaction were laid, I thought it would be acceptable. Guess not.

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

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to JordanTCarter,

    Does anyone know any particular reason why my idea's unworkable?

    Jordan, it's a great idea. It just rather beggars belief that the main opposition party wasn't aggressively pushing this as a condition of voting for Brownlee's emergency powers. When you have people in the Christchurch building industry calling for a similar form of government intervention to resolve the insurance impasse, aren't you simply addressing half of the problem?

    Perhaps we should be grateful that there's any creative thought being applied. More power to you and best wishes.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Street's post is purely about aid to Libya and the government's response. I'm not sure why you believe it shows anything about Labour's ability to organise a public campaign about the dire situation in Christchurch.

    And while John Key is distributing unnecessary largesse to an organisation which has yet to get full international recognition, Murray McCully has been dragging his heels in disbursing aid promised 6 weeks ago to the relief effort in the Horn of Africa. Children are dying by the thousands from the worst drought in 20 years and a call on our aid budget in this respect is legitimate and compelled by any humanitarian impulse.

    I'd say any Canterbury voters reading that would be pretty clear where the MP's priorities lie. And if anything, her trying to drag Key into what is McCully's mess only shows more of the same unfocused and incompetent approach that failed her party so miserably at the last election. We all deserve better than that.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    A bug inside my head keeps tickling me and telling me it is all because of the polls.

    I get the impression that Brownlie and co have been watching them very carefully. The lack of drop since all the options have been put on the table, and the woes, gotchas and downright lies being publicised, and still not a drop has meant that he thinks they are onto a winner in the election. Thus, why bother to improve Chch's lot.

    So, sadly, it looks like the rest of the country, really, couldn't give a shit.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sacha,

    aid to Libya

    and the Horn nations, I should say. Letting McCully off the hook for that debacle by making it sound like Key's responsible is stupid politics when National's lacklustre cabinet is recognised as a weakness (noted in a Labour blog post yesterday, even - how's that for coherence?).

    However, slagging Key or his chums didn't work last election or since and only a fool would recommend the same approach again. Voters need to believe that a Labour-led cabinet would be competent, so you'd expect to see that reinforced at every opportunity. There's not one thing in Street's post about what she and her colleagues would do.

    I hope you can see why that sort of basic failure might frustrate some of us.

    The lack of drop since all the options have been put on the table, and the woes, gotchas and downright lies being publicised, and still not a drop has meant that he thinks they are onto a winner

    That's the real harm of inability to campaign. It hurts real people.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Ross Mason,

    A bug inside my head keeps tickling me and telling me it is all because of the polls.

    And pollsters have struggled to adapt to the Post-Landline Age.

    The Opposition have the policy Tomahawks all right, as Jordan’s land proposal illustrates. Now the next thing that’s needed is some decent radar guidance to hit the bullseye.

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

  • Stephen Judd, in reply to Sacha,

    Letting McCully off the hook for that debacle by making it sound like Key’s responsible is stupid politics when National’s lacklustre cabinet is recognised as a weakness

    I don't see it that way at all. Key's personal appeal is a huge part of National's advantage. Attacking him directly is fruitless, I agree, but tying him to the dummies and villains he has for mates has promise.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Attacking him directly is fruitless

    I'd respectfully disagree with this. National needs to be attacked on its strengths- that's rule 1 in politics, isn't it? That means acknowledging Key's political strengths, and demolishing them, one by one.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    TV3 news has insurers not covering some new houses, and builders being out of work for the same reasons (both 2 min clips).

    Naturally, Gerry reckons the market will provide (even though it clearly isn't). He's also handing insurers the geotechnical information that he refuses to release to home-owners until after the election.

    Or you can say Key is doing all that if you prefer. Just leave Stephen Joyce out of it, ok.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    Attacking him directly is fruitless

    That was the conventional wisdom about Muldoon as long as Rowling was opposition leader.

    tying him to the dummies and villains he has for mates has promise.

    As long as he's able to get away with it Brownlee revels in the dangerous despot role, and projects his instability as an asset. When he openly boasts of the stresses associated with playing earthquake recovery czar it elicits a kind of sympathy, rather than providing an opportunity for Labour to question his fitness for the role.

    Yet he's demonstrably vulnerable, as we saw when he abjectly caved in when faced with a touch of civil disobedience over mining in national parks. In a TV interview about just what potential mineral riches might be out there he mentioned "rare earths". When asked what those might be the response was a good ol' boy "Hurr hurr hurr", to the effect of "how the hell would I be expected to know that". Labour seemed unable to touch him, but a sudden surge in spontaneous public disquiet brought him up short.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    That was the conventional wisdom about Muldoon as long as Rowling was opposition leader.

    And it was true, too, into his 3rd term. It needed Lange and a series of blunders on Muldoon’s part to make Muldoon vulnerable.

    My feeling is simply that when a person is genuinely liked, if you attack them, people feel annoyed with you and defensive about the person they like. There is an emotional logic that goes “Only a person with bad qualities could like another person with bad qualities – if so and so had bad qualities, that would mean I do too, unthinkable, how dare you!” Just like when you criticise someone’s new partner and they turn on you. And then couple that with the phenomenon that direct contradiction tends to strengthen already-held beliefs in most people.

    You can only move on the beloved person when there are already doubts about them or they have disgraced themselves. Or, as with Lange, if you have a sufficiently compelling persona in your own right. You can only contradict successfully if you can find a way for the person with the wrong belief to maintain their self-esteem.

    I get the impression, possibly wrongly, that media treatment of Brownlee is starting to turn though. I see opportunities whether Key is forced to defend him or disown him.

    That means acknowledging Key’s political strengths, and demolishing them, one by one.

    Concretely, what would that mean? Eg, what do you think is a strength, and what is your proposal for demolishing it?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    Key’s personal appeal is a huge part of National’s advantage.

    That was their strategy from day 1 of the last election. Only his photo in every electorate (’cept Richard Worth) Perception is, Key is the Puppet Master and we are already seeing that with Katrina Shanks’s electorate. Key kicked her butt to the curb with his backing of Dunne, then releasing press to the effect of “you will have more of the same if you do what you did last vote ”
    This page of Hansard gives some idea of what Labour were promised and are not getting with CERA.

    As an aside. my link of Maryan's post was a direct jibe at Murray McCully as well as Key. Finishing with " Not good enough Murray"

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

  • merc,

    Cognitive dissonance.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Perception is, Key is the Puppet Master

    So how does the opposition claiming he is responsible for his colleagues' decisions help challenge that?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Rich Lock,

    It’s great an’ all. But the fact you’re publicising this and having to point it out to me, rather than me getting it direct from the horses mouth….kinda proves the point.

    I thought the point being rammed down out throats here was that Labour were doing nothing and were useless in opposition. This point illustrates the fact that it is the MSM ignoring Labour that creates this impression, a National strategy or just the good old Herald and pals usurping democracy again?.
    Whichever it is I am becoming more and more disappointed with the continual bagging of Labour here.
    Perhaps, instead, we should all bombard the MSM with Labour press releases until the are forced to acknowledge their existence.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    You're confusing press releases with a strategic communications campaign. Competent political parties do both, and drive media coverage even if the context is hostile. Pointing that out is not some evil conspiracy against a cuddly party who can do no wrong.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    You can only contradict successfully if you can find a way for the person with the wrong belief to maintain their self-esteem.

    Yes, this makes it trickiest when they are most wrong. Sometimes it's impossible and you just have to make them feel stink. I think it's important not to rub it in, though.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Pretty much what Sacha said.

    I read a lot of papers and blogs, generally. I'm about four billion times better informed and engaged than 99% of the voting population, yet I wouldn't have known that Labour, or individual members thereof, had a positon on Gerry's antics, if Sophie hadn't pointed it out.

    I thought the point being rammed down out throats here was that Labour were doing nothing and were useless in opposition.

    Well, they might as well be doing nothing if nobody hears about it. This is politics and they need to acquire votes.

    Whichever it is I am becoming more and more disappointed with the continual bagging of Labour here.

    Well, think of it a tough love, constructive criticism, or whatever. They need to get their act together, rather than farting about on racing bikes, and losing their shit because some people are thinking of voting green.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Sacha,

    You’re confusing press releases with a strategic communications campaign.

    Oh, how silly of me.
    You, of all people, should be able to acknowledge that running of any kind of campaign through an uninterested media is nigh on impossible. I doesn't need to be a secret agenda or part of some weird conspiracy, it just needs the media to be self interested. You surely can't deny the lack of positive coverage Labour gets in the MSM and to claim that the reason for this is that Labour is a dead duck and they are hopeless, is missing the point.
    The point is, that information is just not gaining traction under a torrent of fluffy ducks for National.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

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