This is really headline news? Helen Clark texts during a speech by the Queen -- you know: blah, blah, platitude, platitude; the sort of speech we've all heard and fallen asleep to before -- and Britain's Daily Express newspaper leaps to the defence of Her Britannic Majesty by sniffing that Clark has "insulted" their Queen. The Express, the repository of all that is dull in Britain, sees Helen Clark's texting and the low turn-out of Commonwealth leaders at a banquet for Prince Charles as part of a "rising tide of republicanism."
They say that like it's a bad thing.
Frankly I'm less concerned with Clark "insulting" the Queen when she's delivering the same speech we've heard umpty tum times before, than I am with Clark getting work done. That really is a concern.
Since (to paraphrase Mark Twain) "No one's life, liberty, or property is safe while Clark is hard at work," I'd much prefer to see less work and far more play from our leaderene -- a work/life balance that I'm certain would do wonders for this country. I'd far rather she went catatonic like one is supposed to when the Queen is talking, and hopefully for some time. I'm pleased to hear she's now relaxing in Egypt. I hope she's there relaxing for several weeks. Perhaps she could spend some time while relaxing texting the Queen? That's really as much work as I'd like to see her do.
10 comments:
Sorry this is just about plain old manners, which Clark has repeatedly shown an absence of. Is rude and ignorant behaviour the reputation she wants for our country?
the Queen, whether HC likes it or not, is our head of state and should be treated with appropriate respect. It's also ironic given moblile phones are now banned from Cabinet meetings and other ministers' offices.
Insider
Whether you like it or not, Helen Clark is Prime Minister -- do you really treat her with the appropriate respect? ;^)
Unlike your Queen, at least Helen can be voted out ... for the moment, at least.
Yes I would treat her with respect for the position she occupies – her politics is irrelevant when representing the country. But texting while someone gives a speech to which you are invited is just a sign of poor judgement and bad manners. I’ve sat in a room with HC and not felt the need to play with my phone while she spoke. I’d expect the same courtesy if the situations were reversed.
It probably wasn’t even important anyway – latest poll result, a ticking off for Mallard or a joke about John key from the funny guys at the Standard.
Insider
It's ironic given the amount of bending over backwards she does to observe maori protocol.
I went to a function where Helen was at one time. During the dinner someone at our table would cut wind every time she said something. She'd open her mouth to speak and it sounded like she was rasping for air (or perhaps had ultra loose bowels or a hernia issue or some involuntary accidental problem or something like that sort of thing like). The combination of explosive, staccato outbursts and viscousy liquidous efforts were hardly subtle. All of it were audible, but curiously it was all but impossible to place who the manufacturer actually was.
The more it happened, the more it seemed like h had some sort of terminal gut problem like gut worms or something like that. It was quite funny. She got very red in the face, especially when the source (whose invisible productions were getting uncomfortably noticable by then) suggested the culprit might be Helen's diet of fish(!). She left shortly afterwards. Rude it were, but extraordinarily funny.
Later I told the guy I thought responsible I figured it was him doing the toots. He asked how I came to that conclusion. I said it was because he was the one who actually started talking about what everyone at the tabel was wondering about. That was the give away. He said, "Not me, mate, wish it were but." So, I'm not completely sure these days. Perhaps it was someone else. Perhaps it was the H after all...? Naaaah, couldn't have been. Surely not? It was rude but was it rude.
G-man
You know, this was really a non-issue for me UNTIL Clark came out and said she has "no recollection" of texting during the speech.
"No recollection" is of course politico-speak for "I did but I don't want to admit it, so I'll say I don't recall and hope no one produces any evidence."
Now of course I am curious to see if any evidence can be produced...
She's like a fart really. Can see the evidence but you know it's there.
G-Man
Nice to see you've missed the point, PC. I know the world is full of arseholes who think they and their cellphones are the center of the universe, but really...
I would like to see her relaxing more- say in a long box with metal handles.
But I suspect she already sleeps in one...
Mike Williams is "running tackle" for Clark suggesting he conveyed , by text, important election news from Australia.
This may help preclude further questions as to what was so important.
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