Clown princes

27 comments on “Clown princes ”

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1. Patrick 1

   5 August 2008 at 4:00 pm

   Ha! “Brutus-level ambitions” – well Sam you certainly know how to dramatise things, but I can’t say I disagree.

   The Nats have given Labour so much material over the past few days, I’m simply astounded.

   The Labour-lite tag probably would have won the election for National, having Nice Mr Keys keep everything the same but just figure out how to give us a bit extra. But no, they’ve really shown their cards.

   Bring on the campaign!
2. BeShakey 2

   5 August 2008 at 4:07 pm

   It’s also interesting to see them dredging up another C/T tactic – any legitimate questioning of them eg what is your policy, how would it work, how come you say one thing in private and another in public – is ‘dirty politics’. Huh, and there was me thinking finding out about what people would do if they were elected was a fundamental part of the democratic purpose.
3. Tamaki Resident 3

   5 August 2008 at 4:14 pm

   And prior to the w/e National support was at it’s lowest level since April, according to Roy Morgan. This latest poll hasn’t got a lot of air-time – even curiablog hasn’t managed to notice it.
4. Phil 4

   5 August 2008 at 4:16 pm

   I would advise the collective left to be very careful of stones and glass houses when/if Labour find themselves in opposition.

   For well over a decade some of the party have lived in the shadow of Helen Clark – I’ll bring the popcorn, you bring the chips on your shoulders and we’ll have a good laugh as the jesters and fools plot…
5. Daveski 5

   5 August 2008 at 4:36 pm

   Oh quelle surprise (is it feminine?? I can’t remember my French) .. another thread on the biggest scandal since Watergate.

   Phil’s comments are bang on – there’s a long way to go and this clearly will be the ugliest election yet.

   Mind you, it’s better to learn lessons during the pre season than when in really counts.

   It will be interesting to revisit this issue after the election. I expect it won’t be the defining moment which suggests the gloating today is a little early.
6. randal 6

   5 August 2008 at 4:41 pm

   and their conference song was piss weak as well!
7. BeShakey 7

   5 August 2008 at 4:46 pm

   “…there’s a long way to go and this clearly will be the ugliest election yet.”

   I agree about the first bit. But where does the second come from? What exactly has gone out that is so ugly? I assume it isn’t unauthorised taping at party conferences. Because that wasn’t that bad a few months back. I find it hard to think of much beyond interrogating a parties policies. I’d love to hear exactly what has happened that makes you think this is/will be ‘the ugliest election yet’.
8. outofbed 8

   5 August 2008 at 4:51 pm

   Because Katherine Rich and Nandor aren’t there perhaps ?
9. Matthew Pilott 9

   5 August 2008 at 4:58 pm

   Espiner has his take up.
10. gazzaj 10

    5 August 2008 at 5:09 pm

    Meh. I’m not convinced it’s such a big deal. It’s just a gaffe, and a pretty minor one as they go.

    Everyone knows National wouldn’t have set up Kiwibank, so I doubt anyone will be surprised to find they’re thinking about selling it.

    If there’s any effect on the polls it’ll be a blip, or it’ll just take the edge off any positive effect National might have got from their conference.

    With Winston’s saga continuing it’ll be old news by the weekend. Except maybe on this site 😉
11. vto 11

    5 August 2008 at 5:22 pm

    clown princes, follow the clown princesses,

    to a true and honest answer, that not one ever confesses,

    especially the old nag winnie, even when everyone presses,

    among the neighing and breighing, in the class of 08 jesters..
12. travellerev 12

    5 August 2008 at 6:25 pm

    Phil,

    Collective left? Popcorn and chips? I’ll be the one laughing when all of you John Key voters are left footing the bill and complaining about the debt he’s left you in while he’s living the high life in Hawaii with his banking mates. You have no idea how lucky you are in this country with it’s beauty, it’s resources and Helen Clark who actually went out and fought the good fight for wankers like you and I’m not even voting for her. Go figure. You really have no idea.
13. gobsmacked 13

    5 August 2008 at 6:33 pm

    And now Lockwood Smith has joined in the fun (3 News tonight). Whoops.

    National should just keep a permanent press release from their MPs on file, and fill in the blanks, between now and the election:

    “My comments … taken out of context … I support John Key … error of judgement … I love John Key … comments misconstrued … party policy is clear … regret any embarrassment caused … fellate John Key … will sell – not sell, keep, I said keep, sorry, I am quoting myself out of context … don’t listen to me, I’m full of shit … I wish I was John Key … can I go now?”
14. randal 14

    5 August 2008 at 7:08 pm

    looks like john finally got the bill?
15. forgetaboutthelastone 15

    5 August 2008 at 7:15 pm

    Oh wow!

    Smith was recorded as saying:

    “There’s some bloody dead fish you have to swallow… to get into Government to do the kinds of things you want to do… and you have to balance up what really matters.”

    “If you try to do everything differently you’ll scare the horses and under MMP it’s very hard to win.”

    “Once we have gained the confidence of the people, we’ve got more chance of doing more things.”

    He went on to talk about doing things in government that you could not talk about before an election.

    —
    They’re screwed now, surely. They can’t use the “loose language” excuse again can they?
16. dad4justice 16

    5 August 2008 at 7:18 pm

    “looks like john finally got the bill?”

    Looks like randal is still on the Helen and Heather pill.The ultimate meltdown mayhem, go pill popping girls and give Ruth the bottle.
17. Quoth the Raven 17

    5 August 2008 at 7:29 pm

    Now Key’s come out and said they have no plans to sell kiwibank, all those righties who were defending a sale of kiwibank saying things like governments shouldn’t own banks, must be pretty disappointed. Otherwise they’re just being partisan hacks again.
18. RedLogix 18

    5 August 2008 at 8:03 pm

    Isn’t it amazing what a few drinkies and a sycophantic audience will do.

    All those months of stonewalling and within a few short hours National have been more honest about their real intentions than we could have ever hoped for.
19. randal 19

    5 August 2008 at 8:04 pm

    ha d4juice…randal the barbarian fights for his own kingdom and little prawns like yourself who get in the way will be crushed like a bug. is so much more fun being a hun….fleeeee now before armageddon arrives!!!!!
20. gobsmacked 20

    5 August 2008 at 8:18 pm

    Isn’t it amazing what a few drinkies and a sycophantic audience will do.

    Well, if you’d seen the dress I was wearing …

    (although the microphone in the bra was a bit uncomfortable)
21. gazzaj 21

    5 August 2008 at 8:32 pm

    “Once we have gained the confidence of the people, we’ve got more chance of doing more things.”

    “We may be able to do some things we believe we need to do, perhaps go through a discussion document process… you wouldn’t be able to do them straight off. … I’m hoping that we’ll do some useful things that way, that may not be policy right now.”

    So, let me get this straight. According to Lockwood Smith, National intends on getting elected based on outlining a certain number of policies.

    Then, when in government, they plan to develop some more policies. Which will of course be a matter of public record and be judged by the voters come the next election.

    They’re hoping that people will gain confidence in what they’re doing and see these new policies in a more positive light than they might right now. So they’re putting off the difficult stuff until they feel that they can make their case for it to the public more successfully.

    Sounds like good politics… much in the same way that Labour’s 1999 manifesto didn’t include Working for Families, Kiwibank, Kiwirail, Section 59, etc, etc…

    Come to think of it I don’t remember seeing either of the last two in their 2005 manifesto either – does this mean Labour has a secret agenda too? Unpopular policies they didn’t campaign on?

    Damn, if you can’t trust National then you can’t trust Labour either.
22. dad4justice 22

    5 August 2008 at 8:36 pm

    “is so much more fun being a hun ”

    Yes randal my grand mother was German . Bring it on wanker.
23. RedLogix 23

    5 August 2008 at 8:46 pm

    Come to think of it I don’t remember seeing either of the last two in their 2005 manifesto either – does this mean Labour has a secret agenda too?

    Oh I can’t help it.

    The repeal of S59 was a Green Party Private Members Bill.

    The buyback of KiwiRail, came after almost several years of fruitless negotiations with Toll, after which it became apparent that it was going to be a better deal to buy the whole thing back than go on subsidising a private company with public monies.
24. forgetaboutthelastone 24

    5 August 2008 at 8:54 pm

    gazzaj:

    According to Lockwood Smith, National intends on getting elected based on _not_ outlining a certain number of policies.

    fixed.
25. Felix 25

    5 August 2008 at 9:11 pm

    “Unpopular policies they didn’t campaign on? ”

    Why did you list Working for Families, Kiwibank and Kiwirail then? Those are all very popular in the real world.
26. RedLogix 26

    5 August 2008 at 9:16 pm

    KiwiBank was Jim Anderton’s baby.

    And WfF was a major extension of an existing somewhat limited tax credit scheme that National had initiated.

    Both of which according to Mr English were going rather well.
27. vto 27

    5 August 2008 at 10:56 pm

    I’m just glad there is somewhere government guaranteed like Kiwibank to put my money.

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