Posts by Paul Williams
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Ross, I remember when Nonu was unreliable but occassionally brilliant. He is now entirely reliable in defence, option taking and distribution... plus he can do things that stun defences. Cooper's well enough coached to travel that development curve and be at his peak in four years time (don't mean they'll have a tight five that can lay a platform but).
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Hard News: Winning the RWC: it's complicated, in reply to Ross Mason,
You mean like that feeling we had this morning after Aussie goes down - Schadenfreude. (Do the Germans have a word for that?)
I know what you mean, but I've got to say almost every single one of my Australian colleagues made a point of popping over to offer their congrats to the All Blacks. My six year old daughter had the principal come to shake her hand. And, as far as I can tell, all the Aussies want us to win. I'm pretty cool with that.
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Kaino's form has been incredible and that tackle on Digby Ioane was bloody amazing!
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As much as I'd love to be NZ, there's something to say for watching the ABs thrash the Wobbolies in a pub full to the brim with Aussies... jus'sayn
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Hard News: Dropping the Bomber, in reply to Islander,
You think he'll go down in history?
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Hard News: Dropping the Bomber, in reply to hamishm,
I do not wish to be counted among his supporters but I think we should remember that he's had a lot to deal with.
+1.
NZ's had a terrible time of late and any government, any PM, would be struggling just as much as the public.
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Hard News: Dropping the Bomber, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
Well, shoulda woulda coulda and $4 bucks will buy you a coffee.
I have low expectations of coffee, but very high ones of PMs at times of national crisis. I did not criticise him during the Pike River crisis, nor particularly during the earthquake, but they were both events for which no specific planning could occur and responses were only limited by the availability of resources etc.
IMO, this has been a different scenario where the damage done may have been reduced had there been an immediate, comprehensive response from across all levels of government.
That's when PMs are essential, they can command resources and co-ordination. I'd go so far as to say, that he should be on the ground so that he can understand the situation directly to help him act as the Executive.
Not being briefed is a failure to use the powers of office.
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Hard News: Dropping the Bomber, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
FFS, Paul, and if he hasn’t been briefed yet should he just pull something out of his arse?
Craig, he should get briefed and inform the public at any and every opportunity, this isn't something that's developed overnight.
ETA:
I didn't hear him on the radio this morning, but I did catch him on Checkpoint yesterday. I though he sounded very well-briefed about the grounding. Even to the point I found myself wondering who was talking. It sounded like the PM's voice, but but but...
I've not heard it either, will find and listen.
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Hard News: Dropping the Bomber, in reply to Sacha,
Based on polling, the usual misdirection worked a treat over the RWC opening night.
Sure, but this is several orders of magnitude more serious no? The Mount's not my favourite spot, but I know it is for many. Thick black smelly oil, dying bird life, cordened off beaches and depressed Christmas rental/retail... that's got to command a response more than, "I've not been briefed on that yet"?
I find it a damn less infuriating than (and you might like to go make a cup of tea before reading the rest of this, Paul) Clark's near pathological inability to say "I don't know" or, even worse, "I was wrong" with any kind of good grace.
No cup of tea required, I agree.
It was the real flaw in her approach and it hurt her. Her response over the speeding to catch a flight to the rugby was the instance that I thought most idiotic (I'd have advised her to say, "yeah, look I'm really sorry, I thought we were pushing it and I should've said something but I really wanted to get to the footy").
We're saying the same thing really, Key's approach has an appeal, but the PM's got to front the public on a matter as important as this and make plain what, how and when a solution will be found.
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Hard News: Dropping the Bomber, in reply to HORansome,
It's actually telling that Labour, upon seeing how successful Key was, chose Goff (who I've never particularly liked anyway: he's too right-of-left for my liking) as their contender for next Prime Minister.
I think that the choice was only ever between Goff and Maharey and after Maharey retired, I don't think there were many other choices. I think It makes sense to give a senior member the opportunity. Labour might've changed leader mid-term but chose not too. Only the Caucus knows why they didn't.
Key's Prime Ministership is unusual. He's entirely different from Clark who made a virture of being across the detail, different too from Shipley and Bolger. This morning on NatRad, he consistently said, I don't know, I don't have the detail, I can't recall... I find it infuriating but it's worked for him for a long time. Will it work on a matter as significant as the despoiling of one of the most popular beaches in NZ?
It appears, from some distance, that his approach currently defines political discourse. In the short term, I think, whomever wishes to oppose him to have a proximate style to cut through. Longer term, its obvious limitations will require him to either change or move on.