For all his apparently fiery condemnation, John Armstrong is such a natural Nat that he is still pulling his punches on Key. Take today’s effort, superficially condemning, but all the while reminding us that we still love and support JK.
Outrageous behaviour leaves Key on the edge
This past week has surely been the most difficult and ultimately demeaning one in the otherwise stellar political career of one John Phillip Key.
“Stellar”? Like Key’s “final final” warnings to Collins, I’m losing track of the number of times Armstrong has had to condemn Key, somehow without ever crossing over that edge.
As yet, there is nothing tangible to suggest the Prime Minister’s reputation has suffered damage where it really matters – in Voterland – despite the disturbing contents of the report of the rapidly completed, but extremely thorough inquiry conducted by Cheryl Gwyn, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, which details the shocking abuse of power by Key’s office in the lead-up to the 2011 general election.
The message, as always, is that Key has been a very naughty chap, but everyone still loves him.
What began with a failure to recall whether he was for or against the 1981 Springbok Tour was followed by forgetfulness over how many Tranz Rail shares he owned.
Then there was the inability to remember how he voted on the drinking age, along with the sudden case of amnesia surrounding the identity of the passengers who flew to New Zealand aboard a mystery CIA jet.
Things started to get even more worrying when Key confessed to being unsure if and when he was briefed on Dotcom by the Government Communications Security Bureau.
They got even more dodgy when Key professed he could not remember whether he had phoned the brother of an old school pal urging him to apply to become the director of the GCSB.
This week’s lapse, which resulted in Key having to come down to the House to correct the record, was too much for Winston Peters to swallow.
He asked the salient question of how many more times could someone who was supposed to be the smartest guy that has ever run the country, but who had been caught fair and square telling a porkie, claim to have suffered a “brain-fade” and get away with it?
All well and good, but in the end still making excuses…
Key is not going to resign. Calling on him to do so only ends up sounding shrill.
John Armstrong, you called for Cunliffe’s resignation because he (caught in a dirty politics sting) failed to recall signing a form letter 11 years ago. After all his lies lies lies lies lies, what exactly does it take for you to call for Key’s resignation?
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