A tale of two valedictory speeches

Written By: - Date published: 7:28 am, March 23rd, 2017 - 32 comments
Categories: helen clark, john key, labour, national, Politics - Tags:

Form your own opinions …

Helen Clark’s speech

John Key’s speech.

32 comments on “A tale of two valedictory speeches ”

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  1. Keith 1
    23 March 2017 at 8:00 am

    I heard a couple of references, one to Wayne Eagleson and the Christchurch earthquake. But all I could think of was the Head of the PM’s office being frequently referred to as being at the epicentre of Dirty Politics HQ. I always wondered how he survived.

    Then Key referred to Pike River. I wondered why mention that when his involvement was less than satisfactory. All I could think of was that no one was ever held to account for that and how Key looked after his own.

    Fair to say with so few positive achievements it would have been a tough speech to get through.

    John Keys legacy is much more a lingering stain on politics.

    • gsays 1.1
      23 March 2017 at 8:05 am

      From the snippet on the radio, I heard a reluctant 5th former reading the homework someone else had written down.

  2. marty mars 2
    23 March 2017 at 8:11 am

    key suffering the ultimate fate – forgotten, ridiculed, and forgotten again – bye bye loser LOL

    • roy cartland 2.1
      23 March 2017 at 9:00 am

      +111;

      I forgot the guy’s name yesterday for a few seconds. Would it were forever.

    • Enough is Enough 2.2
      23 March 2017 at 9:11 am

      No chance of forgetting his name if you read the Standard

      • Thinkerr 2.2.1
        23 March 2017 at 10:39 pm

        That’s what I was thinking, too, EIE.

        We had him as a poster boy for 8+ years. Now he’s gone, why harp on about him?

    • dukeofurl 2.3
      23 March 2017 at 2:47 pm

      The gallery was mostly empty- a bit like Trumps inauguration.

  3. Adrian Thornton 3
    23 March 2017 at 8:53 am

    John and Helen where both happy to leave New Zealand and it’s citizens in the death grip of this unsustainable neo liberal model of governorship so where’s the difference?

    • indiana 3.1
      23 March 2017 at 9:42 am

      One gave a valedictory after being defeated and one gave a valedictory undefeated…

      • Siobhan 3.1.1
        23 March 2017 at 10:39 am

        ..so John was a quitter?? A sneaky quitter given that he spent the year saying he would be up for the 2017 election..

  4. Cynical jester 4
    23 March 2017 at 10:05 am

    Patrick Gowers last words on john say it all “John Key, he always liked being popular” except I think in Paddy’s mind that’s a good thing? ?

    I think ultimately that’s the real reason John retired, he was no longer popular and could see how other recent elections had been brutal for the status quo and didn’t believe in anything enough to go through an election where the majority of nz would be mean to him. Poor baby!

    Helen Clark got me interested in politics when she was elected for talking about fairness and acceptance for all, her govt wasn’t perfect but give me someone who is open to debate and actually gives a damn over this lot any day.

    The next Labour govt needs to do more for the poor and working class and not bow down to the economic principles of the last 33 years. The current govt amd previous govt kicked many problems down the road and nz needs a govt that plans for the future and lifts its people up.

    • Adrian Thornton 4.1
      23 March 2017 at 10:37 am

      “Helen Clark got me interested in politics when she was elected for talking about fairness and acceptance for all”……..”The next Labour govt needs to do more for the poor and working class and not bow down to the economic principles of the last 33 years”

      That is my exact point, Helen did, and Little can talk the talk, but while they remain tied to this Douglas inspired neo liberal model of economics, all Labour is and can be is a softer version of National

      Actions NOT talk is what counts.

      And BTW, I completely disagree with most comments here, Key was a very successful leader for the Neo Liberal project…
      Lots of asset sales
      Extending private prisons and schools
      Helping turn NZ citizens from savers to gamblers
      De-funding Hospitals, Police, DOC etc

      I could go on and on…all this done with a popularity that should make any serious Labour supporter ashamed of our pathetic resistance, but then as I already said, how can we organize resistance when our own party has the same basic economic ideology?

      Turn Labour Left.

      • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1
        23 March 2017 at 11:00 am

        And BTW, I completely disagree with most comments here, Key was a very successful leader for the Neo Liberal project…
        Lots of asset sales
        Extending private prisons and schools
        Helping turn NZ citizens from savers to gamblers
        De-funding Hospitals, Police, DOC etc

        QFT

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2
      23 March 2017 at 10:59 am

      Patrick Gowers last words on john say it all “John Key, he always liked being popular” except I think in Paddy’s mind that’s a good thing? ?

      That does seem to be the RWNJs position on everything: If it’s popular then it’s right even when it’s wrong.

      • mac1 4.2.1
        23 March 2017 at 11:40 am

        Stating the bleeding obvious I may be, but isn’t this the nature of conservatism and reactionary forces? Keep things as they are, us on top and the rest may merit more or less consideration, don’t let the forces of change get into power.

        Slogans such as “Power for the sake of power”, and “A steady hand on the tiller” and “Compassionate Conservatives” reflect this view.

        So, anything that keeps them in power, including courting popularity at the cost of coherent policy, logic or philosophy, is good. Popularity means votes.

        Fear, dumbing down and appeals to emotion, including the darker ones, are other means to the end of retention of power.

        We LWNJs 😉 have to understand this, use it and counter it. I fear a society which is developing with racism, violence, xenophobia all increasing. I note the recent post on the dumbing down of New Zealand education. We have to use positive emotions too, to promote our left wing values, policies, ideas.

        Learn from the Scandinavians about economics, social values, free education, taxation as a good means to good ends. Show that being progressive, liberal, open, fearless, compassionate and socially open-armed is better than what conservatism, reaction and neo-liberalism offer.

        Yeah?

        • Wensleydale 4.2.1.1
          23 March 2017 at 12:18 pm

          I particularly love the “steady hand on the tiller” one. It’s basically a euphemism for “we’re not going to do anything” or “we’ll be the government that doesn’t actually govern; we’re just here to warm the benches and collect our pensions.”

  5. Shona 5
    23 March 2017 at 11:34 am

    I’ve spent the last 10 years muting the lisping, venomous, destructive, prick. (only ever read the transcripts of what he’s said)
    so I’m sure as hell NOT going to bother listening to the mongrel piece of shit now!

  6. mosa 6
    23 March 2017 at 12:56 pm

    The love affair with Key is over except for some lovers like Hosking who can’t accept life without him.
    Staying with a relative who watches seven sharp and I had to leave the room nauseated at Hosking and his glowing adulation for this shyster who contributed nothing meaningful to this country and was desperate to be popular.

    Eight years of lies and corruption and no respect for life or service.

    With Key it was like being trapped in a roundabout , moving but going nowhere.

  7. Acting up 7
    23 March 2017 at 1:56 pm

    An insipid, uninspiring end to an insipid, uninspiring leadership. Just the speech a CEO, who has a new company to go and wreck, would give in a perfunctory manner to the shattered remnants of a once-proud organisation.

  8. mac1 8
    23 March 2017 at 2:07 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/the-flag-debate/78253159/duncan-garner-the-flagging-fortunes-of-a-leader-chasing-a-legacy

    Written in March 2016, so a year ago, but an interesting piece when viewed with hindsight.

    Basically, Garner said a waste of political capital and little legacy to leave worth remembering.

    • JanM 8.1
      23 March 2017 at 3:32 pm

      Gosh if even a twerp like Duncan Garner can see it!!!

    • Keith 8.2
      23 March 2017 at 3:46 pm

      Garner is quite objective and candid that far out from an election. Won’t hear a peep out of him now against National!

  9. Red Hand 9
    23 March 2017 at 6:53 pm

    John remembers his mother’s Viennese Jewish background and determination and push for her children to get ahead, but no mention of dad. He’s squarely in the tradition that you either honor or dishonor your parents and honoring them (one of them in his case) is emphasized in his speech.
    http://biblehub.com/exodus/20-12.htm

    As a life long National supporter he didn’t tell the House his success was due primarily to his own individual freedom and choice.
    https://www.national.org.nz/our-values

    “We believe this will be achieved by building a society based on the following values:
    •Loyalty to our country, its democratic principles, and our Sovereign as Head of State
    •National and personal security
    •Equal citizenship and equal opportunity
    •Individual freedom and choice
    •Personal Responsibility
    •Competitive enterprise and reward for achievement
    •Limited government
    •Strong families and caring communities
    •Sustainable development of our environment”

    Instead he deferred to Mum and Accountancy rather than horses.
    I enjoyed his speech. He really has the gift of the gab, but to my mind he makes it sound like someone else is living his life.

  10. timeforacupoftea 10
    23 March 2017 at 7:47 pm

    For me Lange and Key were on par as leaders.
    Clarke scored a birdie !
    There you go, my top 3 leaders.
    Palmer 4th ! anybody who plays a wind instrument through the beehive deserves a high score.
    dear I say it !
    sigh

    • mikesh 10.1
      24 March 2017 at 7:53 am

      “anybody who plays a wind instrument through the beehive deserves a high score.”

      I thought he played a trumpet.

  11. Frederick 11
    23 March 2017 at 10:49 pm

    The gallery was mostly empty- a bit like Trumps inauguration.

    I was there. It was absolutely packed. Not sure where you get your news sources from.

  12. Philj 12
    24 March 2017 at 11:05 am

    His crowning glory was a half baked National cycle way that was foisted on to local councils, and communities to pay for. Not to mention the hospital pass he has left the people of NZ, especially the young. Can’t see him walking around the streets of NZ for understandable reasons.

  13. Chats Williams 13
    27 March 2017 at 7:43 am

    Key gone, Little on his way, Jacinda arriving at speed, fun six months ahead!