Comments on: Nick Smith plays dumb

By: Stacktwo

Stacktwo — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:55:58 +0000

Like your headline, Rocky -

“Nick Smith’s Plain Dumb”

By: Rex Widerstrom

Rex Widerstrom — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:22:09 +0000

Lockwood did blunder with the supplementary questions thing and I agree I think he realised it and even regretted it.

He can always relax that attitude and find some other way to punish the disruptive.

But credit where it’s due, he skewered (and re-skewered Brownlee over Brendon Burns’ RWC question.

He’s still learning, but a year or so in I’d rate him a better Speaker than any predecessor I’ve personally heard chairing the House, and that goes back some 30 years of listening to Parliament.

By: Ianmac

Ianmac — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:00:33 +0000

Have you noticed how Nick is prefacing his answers with ” The ACC Board has decided to….” It is the Board’s fault after all in’nit.

By: Lanthanide

Lanthanide — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:30:59 +0000

Question 1. Does the minister understand the difference between whole-life costs for claims lodged in a particular year and costs incurred in a particular year?

Question 2. What are the claim costs incurred in the year ending June 30th 2009.

Question 3. What are the whole-life costs for claims lodged in the year ending June 30th 2009.

If he answers ‘yes’ to the first, he can’t give the same answer for the second two questions.

By: rocky

rocky — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:02:55 +0000

I take it you think that makes it okay?

By: sean14

sean14 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:35:15 +0000

“Answering the question you wish you were asked rather than the one you were is a common PR tactic (to a point) when speaking to the media. Watching a cabinet minister try the same trick in parliament really starts to unveil this government’s contempt for democracy”

Oh please, spare us the righteous indignation. That is a trait common to all politicians, not just the ones currently occupying the Treasury benches.

By: toad

toad — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:52:07 +0000

The answer to that patsy question is interesting, given that he has a very different approach to paying for the cost of climate change.

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:48:39 +0000

The problem with “pay as you go’ is that the costs of today’s accidents are passed on to future generations

But the “future generations” will also be having accidents, unless you believe we’re on the brink of some entirely safe utopia where everyone lives forever!

So it all evens out.

The only reason to fully fund ACC is to prepare it for closure

Why can’t Labour politicians get that and run with it?

By: HitchensFan

HitchensFan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:48:28 +0000

He goes bright red when he’s angry and stressed. A known trait of his.

By: Ianmac

Ianmac — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:47:58 +0000

Nick is basking in reflected bright red glory because of his cleverness.
The ex Acc Board member talking to Katherine this morning about 9:20 believes that though there are bits to improve, the real intent is to privatise ACC after 2011. Softening up and compatmentalising, I think.

By: The inconsistent Dr Smith « g.blog

The inconsistent Dr Smith « g.blog — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:44:59 +0000

[...] in Parliament he was asked a patsy question about ACC by National backbencher Michael Woodhouse: Michael Woodhouse: What reports has the [...]

By: tc

tc — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:42:06 +0000

One of the weakest links in this 21st century muldoonesque gov’t and there’s a few ……lets see some continual pressure over this/ETS negotiations and deals with maori in a manner that sticks in the swinging voters mind.
The man’s so bad at it whereas JK’s made a career out of it so looks smooth and likeable when he gets ‘comfortable’ with any issue……the consumate banker.
Labour yet again look incapable of making inroads against such golden opportnities presented by ‘L’ plate ministers like Smith/Tolley/Collins/Bennett and the rest.
Keep it simple, persistent and nag nag nag………the divorce will eventually occur.

By: lprent

lprent — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:23:48 +0000

Yeah, didn’t exactly look the best

By: outofbed

outofbed — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:15:46 +0000

This may be slightly off topic or maybe not thinking about it.
But has anybody else noticed who bright red Smith face appeared on telly last night I don’t think he is well