Friday 1 December 2006

Neville Key: Black is white

The headline from Newstalk ZB declares Key denies watering down Nat policies. Let's check Neville's denial against his last few days of speech-making, shall we:
  • National Party leader John Key says there will be no nuclear powered ships entering New Zealand's harbours as long as he leads the party and he accepts the ANZUS treaty is dead... "For as long as I am the leader of the National Party the nuclear-free legislation will remain intact." The policy would now include no reference to a referendum.
  • "I firmly believe in climate change and always have..." "...it is obvious to anyone who cares to look that all of us...have taken too long to put the protection of our environment at the forefront of our thinking. That needs to change. In the National Party we have taken steps to do this, and we will be taking more steps."
  • "There will always be a social welfare system in New Zealand because you can measure a society by how it looks after its most vulnerable...."
  • "...the National leader said he still supports the abolition of the Maori seats in Parliament, but believes the timetable needs to be reviewed."
But Mr Key is adamant he is not watering down the policies of former leader Don Brash. He says he is the new leader of the party and is simply putting his stamp on the role as would be expected...
Is he stupid, or does he think we are? (Yes Virginia, that is a rhetorical question.)

Watch out Helen, that's Neville Key outflanking you on the left.

5 comments:

Kane Bunce said...

Is he stupid, or does he think we are?

Both I believe.

Anonymous said...

He's not stupid.You don't become a self-made multi-millionaire by being stupid. He knows what the public wants. Watch him go up in the polls.

Peter Cresswell said...

"He's not stupid.You don't become a self-made multi-millionaire by being stupid."

Precisely.

"Watch him go up in the polls."

Really? From 49%? Evidence, if more were needed, that Brash's so-called unpopular polices were not unpopular with the public at large, just in the press gallery and caucuses of parliament -- including the ungrateful caucus of his own party.

Steve said...

I did note the other morning on Morning Report his understanding and attitude on climate change rivalled that of a 4th Grader.

There are plenty of stupid multi-millionaires, have lots of money doesn't necessarily equate with intelligence.

Lindsay Mitchell said...

To be fair he didn't say STATE social welfare system...I know. I'm desperately clutching at straws. It's been an awful week watching the Nats dump Don.