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Bridges loses connection with reality

Written By: - Date published: 5:29 pm, October 24th, 2018 - 70 comments
Categories: national, polls, Simon Bridges - Tags:

This morning on Morning Report Simon Bridges spouted some words.  Connected with reality they were not.

Despite all economic data saying otherwise – strong government books and growth – we’re in an “Economic downturn”.  And the government is “failing” and “weak”.  Projection much?  Only one party has been connected with those words this week…

He also claimed he’d followed Jami-Lee Ross’ doctor’s advice in dealing with him…  So revealing they thought Ross was the leak and going after him heavily in the media was presumably always going to be fine for his mental health?  In his only concession Simon at least had the awareness to admit calling Ross’ health issue embarrassing was bad.

Finally he claimed he’d come out of last week stronger.  Despite the poll that they were discussing explicitly stating that 2% of people thought he’d done well last week, and a full 38% having a worse opinion of him because of it.  And pundits openly questioning how long he can last (answer: generally a little while, mainly because who’s going to want to step into his shoes until this quietens down a bit?)

TVNZ’s poll with Simon on an amazing 7% was conducted from Monday – Friday last week.  Monday morning none of this had broken, Friday people had the whole effect, bar Jami-Lee going back to hospital* – would be interesting to see the poll numbers by day.  And often there’s a wee lag in polls as people absorb, chat with their mates… I’d bet National’s numbers are worse this week, not improving as Simon asserts (he doesn’t want to comment on their internal numbers strangely).  But he’s banking on the fact that only TV1 seem to have the money to do a public poll these days, and they’re only about every 3 months in non-election season, so we won’t see the trends, or even remember his words when the next poll comes out. (Poll rarity also means we have no idea of any “rogue-ness” in polls as we have nothing to compare with).

Since Morning Report Simon’s now desperately claiming Wellington is considering a Regional Fuel Tax despite their Mayor Justin Lester and the Minister of Transport Phil Twyford both saying it’s never been suggested…

At least a month ago when he was barking at every passing Tahr, those Tahrs actually existed…  (still not sure why we need bad-tasting Himalayan goats destroying our natural wilderness, but there you go…)

—

* as Ross is apparently out again now, it would appear he wasn’t sectioned?  Despite ‘a National source’ (who?) feeding that to media who all accepted it… concerning how much desperation there was to be first rather than correct in the media over the last week – and a lot of acceptance of gossip.

70 comments on “Bridges loses connection with reality ”

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  1. Clive Macann 1
    24 October 2018 at 5:36 pm

    Simon is ONLY on 7% because all Labour people voted for him to stay there.

    • Cory 1.1
      24 October 2018 at 6:11 pm

      YES! 🤣🤣

      • In Vino 1.1.1
        24 October 2018 at 7:39 pm

        I agree too – ironically.
        Clive, your sentence confused me for a while. English speakers often place the word ‘only’ in a way to give 2 possible meanings. How about this:
        “Simon is on 7% ONLY because all Labour people voted for him to stay there.”

  2. Rae 2
    24 October 2018 at 5:40 pm

    National just seem to get free hit after free hit. On another site someone is basically recommending the Nats become more like Labour and cosy up to the Greens, not thinking for a minute there is a quicker way to achieve what he wants – switch to Labour and the Greens.
    I just shake my head

  3. joe90 3
    24 October 2018 at 5:41 pm

    Soimon Tacoma Narrows Bridges.

    • McFlock 3.1
      24 October 2018 at 10:20 pm

      Simon’s safe. That bridge collapsed because of resonance, and he has none.

      He will last until the crusher comes along to demolish him when he’s no longer of use.

    • marty mars 3.2
      25 October 2018 at 12:44 pm

      That glass bottomed bridge, which fake cracks when people walk on it, in China is a mate apparently.

  4. WILD KATIPO 4
    24 October 2018 at 5:46 pm

    [ Despite all economic data saying otherwise – strong government books and growth – we’re in an “Economic downturn”. And the government is “failing” and “weak”. Projection much? ]

    Yes projection. Because that is precisely the National party’s malaise under Bridges ( or any other leader they choose to fill Bridges position in future ). Failing and weak. And the cause of this country’s domestic economy’s decline to which this coalition is steadily rebuilding..

    Thank goodness we have the coalition in to slowly repair that neo liberal party’s destruction.

    And as for the way Bridges claims they followed Ross’s medical practitioners advice,… all one can say with friends like that who needs enemy’s ?

    Bridges, like so many of his party is a buffoon. And that party, … must be kept out of power at all costs. They are a cancer to New Zealand.

  5. Pete 5
    24 October 2018 at 5:54 pm

    A lot of Nats think Simon is a loser and they want rid of him.

    The weird thing is, all the stuff he says every day and his barking at tahrs, real and metaphorical, they believe.

    He’s surely heading for the big tahr-tahrs.

    • Doogs 5.1
      25 October 2018 at 6:50 am

      I’m replying to you Pete, but I am also agonisingly appealing to all, including journalists, to spell the name correctly!

      tahr = the boundary separating Greek and Turkish-occupied Cyprus, named after the Attila Plan, a secret Turkish plan of 1964 to partition the country. Also called Sahin Line.

      thar = Nepali name for the mainland serow, Capricornis sumatraensis.

      These are the animals which roam our highland country, and which are being culled. Please, will people get it right!!!

  6. Ed 6
    24 October 2018 at 5:56 pm

    Here’s the reality….

    A disastrous interview for Bridges.
    Completely unable to go off the script his minders gave him.

  7. KJT 7
    24 October 2018 at 5:59 pm

    Nationals problem. Bridges is the best they have!

  8. JustMe 8
    24 October 2018 at 6:15 pm

    This morning I watched Breakfast on TV One. Jack Tame interviewed Denise Lee(a National MP) along with Jenny Anderson(the Labour MP). Jack was trying to get out of Lee about the Colmar Brunton Poll that put Bridges getting only 7% as preferred prime Minister and what she thought of it.
    Lee appeared to respond in what I can only term a brain-washed and brain-dead response. She obviously does not want to rock the political boat by questioning Bridges and perhaps losing her place on the Gravy-train pay packet and perks of the job. Her elusiveness in answering the question was noticeable and ridiculous.
    Is she so intimidated by the more senior MPs in National that she too does not have a voice? Or is she so devoted to her Deadest Leader that she will never question or criticise him or any of the other senior National MPs?
    To date I despite being a Labour Party supporter feel sorry for JLR. He has been through alot and all his colleagues in National do is kick the man down further and further.
    But then that is the track record of National. They are superb at knocking down anyone who isn’t as perfect as them i.e Bridges, Bennett, Adams, Nick Smith, Joyce, Brownlee, Kaye, etc.etc.etc.
    Bridges is a train-wreck that has gone off the rails quite literally. To find out that he has been in touch with JLR’s doctor and has made the matter public is the sign of a coward. Does Bridges NOT HAVE AN IOTA OF COMPASSION OR EMPATHY? Still looking at the way National MPs have gone after JLP like rabid dogs I get the feeling no National MP has any iota of caring or compassion.
    Lets admit it but National love the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ signs more than anything else. And within the last 24 hours Bridges tried to divert the attention of the shambles that is within National to a ‘fictitious tax” on Wellington commuters.

    • WILD KATIPO 8.1
      24 October 2018 at 6:25 pm

      It was amazing that we had 9 years of the odious Key and people couldn’t see right through them, – or refused to. But now they are well and truly out and all of a sudden – barring the tribalists- they are being seen for what they always were.

      A poor financial management, a compassionless bunch of sell outs to foreign interests that would happily verbally abuse members of the public to keep their agendas afloat.

      What a vicious cabal they really are.

    • NZJester 8.2
      24 October 2018 at 6:51 pm

      I think to climb to the higher levels of the National Party you need to have a lobotomy to remove the parts of the brain related to caring and compassion.

      • JustMe 8.2.1
        24 October 2018 at 7:08 pm

        Well said and so agree.
        Looking at JLR we can all we see that he has been honest and direct with NZers since many matters came to light. So unlike the rest of the NZ National Party MPs like the one on Breakfast TV who spouted to the point of nausea to everyone of how wonderful they are.
        Out of all this I wouldn’t trust a National MP ever again. Their words in the media are hollow. Their nastiness towards a human being is more so. And the fact a female National MP would demean herself to such a lowly level as hoping JLR be dead is the lowest of the low.
        Well done to that female NZ National Party MP. You have done a wonderful job at demeaning the NZ National Party to such a low level of respect or credibility that no-one in their right minds would want to vote for something that shows a pure arrogance i.e National.

      • Patricia Bremner 8.2.2
        24 October 2018 at 9:00 pm

        My experience of National Party members has been firstly in the farming fraternity, and latterly going along to public meetings to gauge the current mantras.

        Whenever I tried to question ideas, I would be shut down viciously with personal attacks about my experience or reasons for such opinions.

        Further in public forums I have had “Security’ ASK me to leave with height and weight used to intimidate. So ….Bullies every one, with no real respect for debate or democracy imo.

    • Kahu 8.3
      24 October 2018 at 8:11 pm

      If that’s true then Jamie’s doctor betrayed patient confidentiality and could be a suspect for the police & sectioning. Nat party man? Doctor of other Nat MP’s?

      • WILD KATIPO 8.3.1
        24 October 2018 at 8:25 pm

        I would suspect a Nat party man /woman. That’s how these people roll,- and it was all so seamless.

        However , it now seems the Slater was very much involved with events as ‘retribution against the National party’.

        Lol!… Slater the useful tool , once pariah of the Nats… we can do with a good man like him and Lusk to dismantle and divide National. Way to go. We will see Collins head of the Nats in short order. And the inevitable ensuing marginalization of the same.

        Because almost certainly enough , – right wingers will be so turned off by the sleaze among the Nats and Slater they will stay away from the booths in droves…

        Keep it truckin’ , Lusk , you’re the man !!!

      • Dukeofurl 8.3.2
        25 October 2018 at 12:13 pm

        “If that’s true then Jamie’s doctor betrayed patient confidentiality”

        Thats ridiculous. We know nothing of his treatment( nor should we) except what outsiders have said- which may or may not be completely accurate.
        Up till the time he walked in the doors of the health facility, he wasnt being treated , so thats something we can find out more of the circumstances around that.

        • JohnSelway 8.3.2.1
          25 October 2018 at 12:19 pm

          “Up till the time he walked in the doors of the health facility, he wasnt being treated , so thats something we can find out more of the circumstances around that.”

          How do you know? You have no way of knowing that and given he had already taken medical leave for an admitted nervous breakdown it was highly likely he was being treated with drugs or counselling.
          And it is irrelevant whether he was being treated or not – his medical records are still private.

          Jesus you’re a slow fucking learner

  9. Dukeofurl 9
    24 October 2018 at 6:30 pm

    With the compulsory orders, the first part is compulsory assessment which may then be followed by compulsory treatment. As some people here get all worked up over dicussing details let’s call it for patient X.

    An interesting situation could occur if patient X felt that other parties involvment was outside the law, then substantial damages could ensure if a 3rd party just tried a ‘pretty legal’ approach.

  10. JohnSelway 10
    24 October 2018 at 6:44 pm

    “…as Ross is apparently out again now, it would appear he wasn’t sectioned?”

    He could have been sectioned but released when the docs felt there were adequate systems in place to be treated as an outpatient. It has happened to me – I was out in 8 hours.

    • Pat 10.1
      24 October 2018 at 6:50 pm

      there appears some confusion around the term “sectioned”.
      The Mental Health Act provides for compulsory treatment….that does not necessarily require the involvement of the courts….that would be a compulsory treatment order…much more long term.
      It would appear JLR was assessed and it was determined he was not a threat to himself or others providing certain conditions met,

      • JohnSelway 10.1.1
        24 October 2018 at 6:52 pm

        Exactly – his friends and family probably rallied around him, offered a safe location to decompress where he would get support and had outpatient treatment planned.

        • WILD KATIPO 10.1.1.1
          24 October 2018 at 9:11 pm

          Nah he was staying at Slaters place after he left the facility…the Dirty Politics man.

          National’s leader Simon Bridges rings Dirty Politics … – NZ Herald
          https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12148042

          The whole things been rigged to maximum effect and to get people on side with JLR through the pity vote.

          • JohnSelway 10.1.1.1.1
            24 October 2018 at 9:13 pm

            People like you and comments like that are why people still suffer the stigma of mental illness.

            • WILD KATIPO 10.1.1.1.1.1
              24 October 2018 at 11:29 pm

              Not at all.

              I’m just not going to truck crocodile tears from a bunch of far right wing spin doctors like you.

              Big difference, bud.

              And if you cared sooooo, so much for the mentally ill,- why do you constantly keep going into bat for the Chinational party that over 9 years diminished funding for the mental health institutions and relocated those funds as tax cuts for the already wealthy?

              Huh?

              Idiot.

              • Dukeofurl …
                25 October 2018 at 12:15 pm

                Please katipo, disagreeing is one thing but no need to be vindicative about it.

              • JohnSelway …
                25 October 2018 at 12:21 pm

                “why do you constantly keep going into bat for the Chinational party”

                Ummm I don’t. I didn’t vote for them and specifically for the reasons of mental health policy

    • Muttonbird 10.2
      24 October 2018 at 9:49 pm

      That just seems a waste of time. Why was the mental health system tasked with energising your family support?

    • OnceWasTim 10.3
      25 October 2018 at 12:48 pm

      Jesus !………. HERE WE GO AGAIN!. (comments beginning at ‘9’ above)

      Switch to observation mode, watch it all happen again, take a breath, hold the tongue.

      And here’s me worrying about an obsessive/compulsive disorder because I used to get out the bloody Hoover at 2am in the morning whilst the neighbours were ‘partying up hard’ AND had a fascination with the qualities iof “Jiff” – the all powerful (but gentle) cleanser.
      Just as well I’m living on borrowed time FF’s bloody Sake!

      • veutoviper 10.3.1
        25 October 2018 at 1:09 pm

        Ssssshhhhh! (w/Finger to lips)

        All of those comments were yesterday – your is the only one today. Please, please don’t stir the pot again. I beseech you not to do it, please …..

        Ssssshhhhh

        I avoid here in the evenings at present but early this morning when awake due to insomnia, I made the mistake of reading last night’s comments and came to the conclusion that I had fallen through the Looking Glass into One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

        • JohnSelway 10.3.1.1
          25 October 2018 at 1:14 pm

          HA! Me too – I was awake from 4:30am until 6 when I finally got a couple more hours and did the same

          • veutoviper 10.3.1.1.1
            25 October 2018 at 1:38 pm

            But you keep going back for more, John, by replying – that’s masochistic in my book. Seriously, take care of yourself and walk away. I know its hard especially when people are making false claims etc, but others can see through it without you having to reply.

            I now close off my PC in the evenings and any internet reading etc is via my ipad as I hate trying to type replies on it which stops me from doing so, 99% of the time. There have been the odd times I have not been able to resist, but it then means getting out of bed, going to my office, restarting old slow PC, giving time to reconsider the need to reply! LOL.

            • JohnSelway 10.3.1.1.1.1
              25 October 2018 at 1:42 pm

              I would do that on any other topic but mental health is something I have struggled with for years and it is also a topic I take seriously – more so than any other.

              So it makes it hard. But I have things to do anyway – this is a part time activity

  11. Bill 11
    24 October 2018 at 7:17 pm

    “still not sure why we need bad-tasting Himalayan goats destroying our natural wilderness…”

    Tahr is bad tasting?! You been hanging out with the wrong cooks Bunji 🙂

  12. Jackel 12
    24 October 2018 at 8:10 pm

    I know you’re hurting right now JLR. They’ve said and done some very unkind things regarding you. I wish Jami-Lee I could give you the keys for a modest fee and perhaps your soul, but I can see you’re still well and truly caught in the matrix. So you will just have to live and die never knowing.

  13. Hanswurst 13
    24 October 2018 at 9:18 pm

    You write about the scarcity of polls as though out were a bad thing, and it almost certainly would be to the government’s advantagein this case of there were a series of polls showing a downward trend for Bridges and national. However, I think it’s a good thing overall to have fewer of those self-fulfilling prophecies that have little purpose other than to lend an impression of popular legitimacy to the spin promoted by the deep pockets that spew forth into our media.

  14. Incognito 14
    24 October 2018 at 10:05 pm

    The National Party and reality have always been disconnected but not in the way this post implies. The Nats have always been in control of the narrative, with a little help from their friends in the MSM, by framing things their way. They now seem to have lost the script, temporarily, but they will try and find it ASAP and return things to BAU. Please note that I did not (have to) mention their Leader at all to make the point …

    • Muttonbird 14.1
      24 October 2018 at 10:17 pm

      My position is that the foot should not be let off the throat. Sure, JA is not about to officially turn the guns upon them because her desire is to lead parliament away from that type of behaviour, but her government still requires a number of terms to make some sort of positive change in housing, health, education and infrastructure. We’ve seen how difficult it is to get greedy people to accept a fairer way forward.

      You make the point the Nats will find their voice and they will but lets not let that happen this term, and lets not let them believe they can continue with the corrupt methods they have been able to employ for so long.

      Crush them now for they will grow like weeds before you know it.

      • Ed 14.1.1
        24 October 2018 at 10:21 pm

        Simplest way to take National out.
        Reduce threshold to 2%
        Only allow state funded politics.

      • Incognito 14.1.2
        24 October 2018 at 10:36 pm

        I understand where you (and many others here) are coming from and I also don’t want National to go back to their old ways. That said, we (NZ) need a strong effective Opposition, which is vital for MMP and democracy to function properly. I have an unfinished post on this but with Cyclone Jami wreaking havoc still I’ll wait till the waters have calmed down again.

        • Muttonbird 14.1.2.1
          24 October 2018 at 10:39 pm

          But the last National government were quite happy to have a weak opposition. By going to far as to use government institutions to undermine them.

          Seriously, if they are not outed on all their malpractice over the last 10 years now then they will happily return to it if they think they can. Stamp on it now! Now is the opportunity.

          If that means a weak opposition for a term or two then so be it.

          • Incognito 14.1.2.1.1
            24 October 2018 at 10:58 pm

            I really want to finish writing that post now 😉

            Watch this space!

            • JC 14.1.2.1.1.1
              24 October 2018 at 11:10 pm

              Cyclone Jamie

            • WILD KATIPO 14.1.2.1.1.2
              24 October 2018 at 11:46 pm

              @ Incognito

              Pre 1984 , yes an effective opposition was needed , and welcomed. But we are not living in those times. We are living post neo liberalism and any remnant of that disgusting neo liberal ideology needs to stamped out. It is an anti democratic, globalistic , border-less ideology devised by the global elite – such as the Mont Pelerin society.

              It is an old elitist ideology that has its roots more than one hundred years ago in the Austrian school of economics via Freidrich Hayek.

              It has aims that do away with the concept of national sovereignty. ( note Bill English’s comments at a business function whereby he states that the concept of the sovereign state will soon be irrelevant ) As such , it is anti democratic.

              An effective opposition is one where in a true social democracy we have a conservative element and a progressive one- primarily championed by the workers interests. NOT identity politics.

              Not one that is top heavy with creeping global corporate influence on our politics as is the case today.

              This wonderful site explains it succinctly :

              New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
              http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html

              • RedLogix …
                25 October 2018 at 12:25 am

                It has aims that do away with the concept of national sovereignty.

                Recognising the limits of the nation state is not the same as wanting to do away with it.

                Nor does global governance have to be anti-democratic. There is a choice, just as nation states themselves can be despotic tyrannies or socially accountable democracies.

                But the challenge of building a global democracy should not be underestimated; and the transformations of the human heart needed to bring this about will be profound.

                • WILD KATIPO …
                  25 October 2018 at 1:53 am

                  The only thing you will ever get from a one world govt is this.

                  1934 Nuremberg Rally – ‘Triumph of the Will’ – Excerpt #8 – YouTube
                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDwEnwxnGjY

                  • RedLogix …
                    25 October 2018 at 2:16 am

                    If the left excuses itself from this inevitable process, what excuse will we have if we don’t like the outcome?

                    • WILD KATIPO …
                      25 October 2018 at 2:45 am

                      Frankly , world governance is not a new idea.

                      Countless empires have arisen and fallen. All have failed to create a global empire simply because they did not have the technology or their empires were too spread out ie : Genghis Khan.

                      The truth is EVERY empire will fail.

                      Because inevitably , factions arise, local senses of autonomy divided by race, religion etc… and the inherent inevitable use of force to keep control by a centralized power. It just will never work with humanity.

                      You will not , however excuse yourself from an all pervasive global govt that controls the economics of day to day lives. That global govt, will not always resort to force because it does not need to. You simply are coerced into accepting a new electronic ‘currency’.. the cashless society.

                      If you refuse it, you will not be able to buy goods or sell them.

                      That alone is sufficient to co -op masses of people when they hear their children wail because of hunger or having to live like a vagabond in tents and freeze at night ,- let alone any local resistance based on regional differences…

                      And do not think you can work within to change the power structure,… there will be ZERO tolerance of any dissension – esp from small , irrelevant nation states like NZ. Democracy will be an outdated concept that pertained only to an archaic nation state ideology.

                      You will still fly your national flag , you will still cheer your national sports team, and you will still debate local issues that are irrelevant to geopolitical concerns.

                      But if you buck that system and its electronic economy , or your designated regional place in the world regards trade,… you will be reduced to a subsistence lifestyle.

                      There will be no democratic say in a global govt.

                      Which is the epitome of the Nazi’s ideology of the strong inheriting the earth , and the weak to perish.

                      Which is not unlike the ‘survival of the fittest’ of Charles Darwin fame .

                      Because that is what we will be reduced to ; lawlessness and fascism.

                    • RedLogix …
                      25 October 2018 at 3:45 am

                      You are quite correct; world govt will indeed be a tyranny, unless we make it otherwise.

                      And given that some form of global governance is inevitable for fear of the horrendous consequences otherwise; then why abdicate our responsibility to make it as good as we possibly can?

          • WILD KATIPO 14.1.2.1.2
            25 October 2018 at 1:46 am

            @ Muttonbird

            100% , mate

            Problem with so many of these left idealists is that they live in the land of Cinderella. They refuse to acknowledge that we are in an ideological war. And that’s just the problem. Millions died precisely BECAUSE of evil ideology’s.

            They have grown fat on the indolence produced by never having had to go to war to defend themselves , never suffered national hardship, never lost loved ones because of it, – they are not like the ‘ great generation ‘ that fought world war II.

            They live in the lap of luxury born out of technological advances and have no concept of the sacrifices earlier generations made…and so they enthusiastically blather on about the need to have an ‘opposition’… any old opposition because it feeds their sense of noble idealism.

            Perhaps they should have had an opposition like Mussolini’s Partito Nazionale Fascista, PNF ( National Fascist Party ) to wake their ideas up a bit…

            Think I’m making this crap up???

            Well,… lets examine the ORIGINS of neo liberalism, shall we?

            And lets take careful note of THIS paragraph…

            ————————————————–

            … [ Mont Pelerin shared the same “conservative revolution” philosophy as the Nazis. It also shared some of the same personnel. For instance, Max von Thurn und Taxis was a sponsor of von Hayek and his new society.

            Thurn und Taxis’ family had founded another society in southern Germany before World War 1, which was composed entirely of aristocrats, known as the Thule Society. Thule in turn formed a special “workers division” known as the “National Socialist German Workers Party” (NSDAP).

            The NSDAP, into which an Austrian corporal named Adolf Hitler was recruited, later became better known by the abbreviated version of its name, the “Nazis.” In 1989, Max von Thurn und Taxis attended a meeting of his Mont Pelerin Society in Christchurch, New Zealand, to judge, first hand, the results of the “worlds most radical free market revolution.” … ]

            ———————————————————–

            New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
            http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html

            FFS , Y’ALL ,… WAKE TF UP !!!!!

          • Lucy 14.1.2.1.3
            25 October 2018 at 9:09 am

            Muttonbird those same government institutions are so aligned with the National Party that we have an opposition that controls them. So when National needs the cops to pick up a rogue MP its done no questions asked. If leaks are needed against this government the paper is not dry before its on a journo’s table! Don’t expect any of the government agencies to actually take instruction from anyone but National – they stacked the halls of power in their nine years!

  15. Ed 15
    25 October 2018 at 6:12 am

    Glenn McConnell says it the way it is.

    ““There is no “cultural issue” in the National Party, its leader says.
    Why anyone should believe Simon Bridges, I do not know.

    This week he ordered a review into employment practices within the party. Yes, it is important to ensure everyone feels safe at work. It’s good that a review is being undertaken into workplace conditions within National.
    But for Bridges to say there is no “cultural issue” in National – well, that’s just laughable.
    The past few weeks, it’s as if a light has been turned on in Parliament’s dungeons. We’ve found piles of dirty laundry. Nobody has liked seeing the spiders crawl out.

    In an all-out political war, there have been allegations of harassment, there was a secret recording and a discussion which seriously questioned how much power wealthy political donors hold.

    It’s filthy, it’s despicable, and it’s a major distraction.
    A party-commissioned report into workplace culture will not be able to clear out the toxic sludge that appears to have been festering on Molesworth St for years.
    The National Party needs a full scale clean-out.

    Bridges has stayed on as leader, through what he has described as one of the hardest weeks any political leader has had to face.

    He may have done so because the party’s ranks are critically lacking.

    Deputy Paula Bennett is just as implicated in this war as he is. And Judith Collins, who is just two points shy of Bridges in the latest Colmar Brunton preferred prime minister poll, is hardly clean of controversy.

    She was at the centre of National’s last major scandal, when investigative journalist Nicky Hager dropped his Dirty Politics book. In it, he exposed the role of bloggers and shady political operatives in National Party campaigns. In Hager’s opinion, her connections with the operatives made her “unfit” to govern.

    And what do you know, but in the background of the latest scandal some of those old names have popped up again. Adviser Simon Lusk has reappeared, and so too has Cameron Whale Oil Slater. “

    Read the whole article here.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/108058857/simon-bridges-needs-to-call-the-hazmat-team-and-order-a-full-scale-cleanout

    • Dennis Frank 15.1
      25 October 2018 at 6:47 am

      Good to see that Stuff also has published the view of Victoria University Associate Professor of Psychology Marc Wilson. He explains why MPs cannot be treated like ordinary citizens in respect of mental health issues: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/108053245/how-parliament-can-put-pressure-on-mps-mental-health

      “Being high-profile or having all your issues or problems played out in a public way definitely does not help your mental wellbeing,” he said. “It would definitely be detrimental.” “We also have a pervasive tendency to attribute people’s behaviour to their personality or psychological make-up, rather than consider their situation,” he said.

      “So if someone like Ross was reported to have acted in a way that was perceived to be unbecoming, Wilson said, “as a society we tend to think that’s because he’s a jerk, not because he’s having a tough time”. But “if it’s our behaviour? Then we tend to flip it around”.” This double standard is particularly evident in the commentariat currently.

  16. Dennis Frank 16
    25 October 2018 at 7:26 am

    David Fisher has this on the Herald site: “National’s leader Simon Bridges rings Dirty Politics blogger to talk Jami-Lee Ross”. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12148042

    ” Bridges’ office confirmed to the Herald that Bridges called Slater to give the right-wing attack blogger assurances over decisions about Ross having been made after taking proper medical advice. The phone call confirms Slater’s key role in the Ross affair, which has caused the National Party more than a week of anxiety and chaos.”

    “It is believed Slater has been personally supporting Ross since the weekend and his assistance extended to helping the MP in his release from Middlemore Hospital’s mental health facilities yesterday. Slater’s role has also extended to briefing media on aspects of the Ross saga.”

    “Bridges’ call to Slater came after the Whale Oil blogger wrote a blog post promising retribution on the National Party for what he sees as its role in Ross’ deteriorating mental health and subsequent fall from grace.”

    “Lusk, who advertises himself as able to remove politicians from office, had been providing advice to Ross. He has previously advised Ross and was believed to be – along with Slater – close to the East Auckland man prior to his challenge for the Botany electorate candidacy. Millionaire and Seventh Day Adventist church leader Paul Honnor is another to emerge as a link between Ross and Slater, and is also believed to have been involved in co-ordinating support for the now-independent MP.”

    “Honnor has known Slater for more than a decade, supporting the blogger when his security business went into liquidation and providing occasional work since. Honnor was a director of Slater’s company Social Media Consultants Ltd for three years.
    Honnor was also a figure of influence in the life of Ross who grew up without a father. Slater wrote of Ross a few days ago: “We both have a mutual friend who I consider to be one of the wisest people I know. We are both working hard to support Jami-Lee Ross as friends.” Those who know Slater believe the man he called “like a second father” was Honnor. The wealthy businessman, who has a home on Paritai Drive, would hold weekly prayer meetings at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Manukau, which Ross and Slater attended at the same time.”

  17. cleangreen 17
    25 October 2018 at 8:30 am

    Simon Bridges = https://www.ymusicvideos.com/videos/?v=Bridge+Over+Troubled+Water

    Simon and Garfunkel. – Bridge Over Troubled Water

  19. George 19
    25 October 2018 at 9:20 am

    Perhaps the answer lies in a soft takeover. A bit like what National are accused of themselves? The National Party are losing members fast so…what if a whole bunch of left leaning folk joined National and overran it. Pretty simple. Change from the inside out. A coup de gras. And the National Party would disappear. A kind of political flash mob.

    • KJT 19.1
      25 October 2018 at 10:10 am

      We could crowd fund some National MP’s.

      100K to get Nicky Hagar or John Minto as National MP’s.

      Cheap!

      Split up into 14k lots with a couple for Feng Shui, of course.

      • George 19.1.1
        25 October 2018 at 10:49 am

        Yes KJT why not! And as well as this anyone can join National can’t they? Only need 22k individual dedicated lefties and the National politics would swerve in a different direction. The Trojan horse approach.

  20. George 20
    25 October 2018 at 11:04 am

    What happened to whale oil website at 11am? It’s disappeared?

    • Dukeofurl 20.1
      25 October 2018 at 12:06 pm

      Overloaded or other network errors. Its still there ,like cockroaches seem to survive anything

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