Tuesday 15 April 2008

Stop attacking John Boy!

John Key is right when he says that Labour luminaries shouldn't be spending all their time attacking him, and Michael Cullen is wrong to mock him for crying Uncle.   I agree with John Boy.  Labour should be spending at least some of their time this year attacking Key's invertebrate front bench colleagues as well.

Those of us who can remember the Nats when they were in power might testify they came up three feet short of a yard then, and the talent pool has expanded little since.

This, it must be remembered, is a caucus in which Murray McCully is still revered as a strategist (despite his strategies having now lost them three elections in a row) -- a caucus which continues to attack the Government over the NCEA and RMA, blithely unaware it would seem that it was they themselves  who introduced these malodorous pieces of law, and they have no plans at all to remove them. 

A caucus in which Simon Power (a man presently obsessed with prisoners hitting small balls into tin cans) is considered promising; in which Jackie Dean (the woman who expressed an interest in banning water) is rated as a high flyer; and in which Paul Hutchison (known for little outside his apparent interest in banning absinthe) is considered good ministerial material.  As I say, the talent was always thin on the ground, and has expanded little since.  For lack of any decent challengers, most of the old guard still retain their spots.

One of the old guard has done his own small bit for expansion. Gerry Brownlee is a lightweight in every respect but the obvious.  Only in a caucus with the paucity of talent of this one would such a buffoon have attained the position of deputy, only to lose it in the last coup to an even bigger waste of space, Bill English -- who will forever be remembered as Mr Twenty-One Percent. 

English was a dithering boob as party leader (who could forget his ill-fated 'live-on-TV' boxing debut, or that regrettable televised 'haka' down at the Viaduct), a non-entity in search of a conviction who richly deserved to lead his party to their worst ever electoral defeat.  No National Party leader before or since has deserved to be so soundly defeated.  His recent performances, which includes going to court to clarify MP's exemptions under the Electoral Finance Act,  suggest that Michael Cullen still knows how to work him by remote control. 

Just as three-time loser Murray McCully is regarded as a strategist by this caucus, so too is Nick Smith regarded as a visionary.  It would be a joke if it weren't more serious.  The man is a simpering idiot in search of a dripping wet village -- yet if National get over the line this year it will be this red-faced spineless creep, as Environment Minister, who would have the crucial task of rewriting the iniquitous Resource Management Act he once happily administered as minister in the Shipley Cabinet. (Remember Shipley!  Uuugh!)

It is enough to remember that when Nick was previously minister for the environment he could be heard describing the Resource Management Act as "far-sighted environmental legislation" -- that he was happy and "very proud" to introduce the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act (somewhat like the RMA on acid) which went on to achieve fame by all but scuppered development in Whitianga and Whangamata and  surrounding towns.  That it was he who first introduced forced retraining for early childhood professionals.   As Lindsay Perigo describes him he is "a man with a fork in his tongue big enough to hug a tree with." Expect to see no change however "substantive" to the RMA from Nick the Dick, and his spot in the rankings retained.

And then there's that other brat, Tony Ryall.  Remember Ryall promising to end the presumption of innocence for crimes of his choice when he was Justice Minister back in 1998? Remember Vile Ryall defending the revenue-collecting of his speed-camera wielding police officers, and instructing them to continue the collections while burglars and muggers got away scot free.  Some of us still retain our memories of past events, even if as health spokesman Ryall himself can't remember who it was who introduced the health reforms that he keeps criticising for expanding the health bureaucracy.  (Hint, Tony, it was your team.)

Then we have their housing spokesman (Phil Heatley)who apparently has no idea what his opposite number is up to; the former education minister who has still forgotten that it was he who set up the bloated bovine bureaucracies that are the NZQA and NCEA (yes Lockwood, we're looking at you); the former transport minister (Maurice Wimpianson)who happily took away our lifetime driving licenses so he could try and slip an ID card past us; the welfare spokeswoman (Judith Collins) who gets a full time salary for doing far less than the part-time blogger who seems to supply her with her best lines; and the woman from Dunedin who'd prefer to spend more time with he own children than these mentally challenged numb nuts.  At least Katherine Rich's young kids have a decent excuse for having a mental age less than their shoe size.

So these are just some of the targets that are missed when Labour shoot only in John Boy's direction.  What a shame not to shoot some of these other fish as they scrape their way around the bottom of the barrel.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent. Especially the comment about English - I can't stand him.

Regardless of what you think about Key, his achievements have been tremendous. For once we will have a PM who has created value and wealth - and that is a good thing. Even Don Brash, as a public servant, didn't do that.

The fact that Labour hate him simply cuz he is weathly makes me support he more -Labour claim he can't possibly have any connection to the Regular Folk because he grew up dirt poor, and became quite wealthy because he acquired the skills that the market is willing to place a high premium on.

More politicians should try doing that.

Anonymous said...

The parliament is full of useles turds - it is just a matter of deciding which lot can do the least damage. Labour, Greens and Weenie'ston are extremely dangerous.

ACT never seem to get further than saying 'we are a liberal party'.

So not much left to choose from.

Anonymous said...

I think it is fair enough for the Labour Party to get stuck into Key.

They are following the right course of action in waiting until the last 6 months before starting, and after many National people have expressed horror at the abandonment of policies.

Anonymous said...

"Regardless of what you think about Key, his achievements have been tremendous. For once we will have a PM who has created value and wealth - and that is a good thing."

Yes it is. And although those 'achievements' are personal, as opposed to political, it's a shame his political policies to date aren't enabling more NZ'ers to do that.

What commercial compliance costs is he planning to roll back?

Where are his plans to slash (hell, I'd even settle for reduce) bureaucracy?

Where does he stand on respecting property rights?

Where's his determination to respect individual rights, regardless of race, a la the "one law for all" stance?

In other words, he's leading a political party that supposedly supports free enterprise and smaller govt, but you wouldn't know it.

It's a shame to see the Nats still so spineless after all these years. I'd love to have faith in John Key, such is my loathing of the Clark govt. But based on his actions to date, what a misplaced faith that would be.

Anonymous said...

There was an old saying, "You can tell the quality of a man by the company he keeps."

Berend de Boer said...

Yeah, what a post!

Keep up the good stuff.

KG said...

What sus said. Exactly.
Key's "me-tooism" is just nauseating and anyone who believes that a National government would be substantially better than the present bunch of shysters is dreaming.
Key is hoping to just slide into power on a wave of disgust with Labour and discontent over interest rates and price rises.
He'll fix nothing, repeal no odious laws, offer no vision for a better New Zealand because the way things are suits him and his accomplices just fine, thank you.

Anonymous said...

Indeed you do LGM. That is the problem with Libz...eh.

Sus, next time you hear Key speak and think WTF, remember he is only giving the electorate what they want. People do not want smaller govt - they want more efficient govt.

For example a ZB poll had about 75% in favour of shafting AIA shareholders.

And Key is far better than that self-aggrandising buffoon, second rate economics lecturer Hide.

Anonymous said...

Kettle pot black.
Where can I view the overwhelming talent present in the Libz? Bullshitting in a pub somewhere perhaps?

Anonymous said...

I think that English should lead National. The problem with John Key is that he is too nice, too good looking, too rich and not aggressive enough to confront his opponents. English looks like a bull terrier when he is facing off his labor counterparts. Key should step down and let English takes over.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous, John Key sets himself up as a leader of this Country, tells lies, betrays his party, engages in a confidence trick against a gullible public and therefore should be held to account, should be put under scrutiny...all this in contrast to the Libertarianz, who are not seeking to actually 'govern' New Zealand.

Libertyscott said...

Right on the mark PC. The cheerleading enthusiasm for the Nats should never be confused for what is actually desperation to dump Labour.

English was a simpering nobody who happily let the National vote be dismembered by no less than Peter Dunne, Winston Peters and Richard Prebble - that's how "good" he is.

It is the age of spin, image and having no conviction other than you're better than the other lot.

In three years the public will wonder why nothing is substantially better, the best that can be hoped for is that it wont get worse, sadly the Nats are good at not even achieving that goal.

Labour will lose the election - but it will be disingenious to suggest National has won, National is the vote by the broad masses to get Labour out - and nothing more than that (and it promises little more than that).

Dave Mann said...

A brilliant piece of writing PC! Fantastic and oh so true.

mawm's comment "So not much left to choose from." is also very true. No doubt you would reply "Libertarianz are the answer" and, although it looks increasingly true, unfortunately despite your and Lindsay Perigo's excellent writing, the Libz need to get some traction if they are going to have an effect beyond the fringes.

I look forward to November with interest and if you can get writing like that piece published where voters will see it I think you'll strike a chord.

Anonymous said...

".. next time you hear Key speak and think WTF, remember he is only giving the electorate what they want. People do not want smaller govt - they want more efficient govt."

Is that you, Ruth? I'm interested as to how you would define "efficient" govt?

Anonymous said...

Hey anonymous, you dried-up tart!

How many times do you need to be told that I'm not a libertarian. Shit-oh-dear are you stupid or was it that your mother threw out the baby and kept the afterbirth?

One little question for you. Are you a believer in God?

LGM

Anonymous said...

How many times do you need to be told that I'm not a libertarian.

Indeed that makes you a fucktarian. You have exactly the same philosophy as the libertarians but perhaps you're not a registered party member. In cases such as yours, you are regarded as fucktarian since you're not a member.

Anonymous said...

Ah anonymous,

Such eloquence. How's life in that Kumeu stable of yours? Still getting around on all fours are you? No wonder your old Dad aint been back. He'd have to be concerned he'd mistake you for your mother. Baaa!

So, are you a believer in God?

LGM