Burning Bridges

Written By: - Date published: 9:05 pm, March 18th, 2020 - 23 comments
Categories: assets, class war, Deep stuff, election 2020, national, Parliament, Politics, Simon Bridges, uncategorized - Tags: ,

Poor Simon!

An obscure National Party list MP has accidentally confirmed that there are now rumours regarding a leadership spill.

Brett Hudson is the MP in question. No, I’d never heard of him either.

Hudson has put it out there that there are people suggesting that Simon Bridges is about to be rolled.

Hudson tweeted:

“There is a group of people tweeting nonsense about supposed leadership rumblings in National. Those people are readily identifiable in our communities…”

 

Presumably, the clowns in question are from the right. Nobody on the left wants Bridges removed. He’s electoral gold for the Government parties.

Bridges’ response to the Government’s Covid-19 rescue package is everything you could of hoped for from someone you want to see lose. Angry, petulant and pathetically petty, Bridges’ beneficiary bashing was easily his worst performance in the house and that’s really saying something.

Brett Hudson has unintentionally bought the Tory’s lack of leadership to the surface and I reckon his denial of a coming spill will actually turn up the volume about the possibility. At the very least, any talk at all of a challenge  further weakens Bridges. Better to have said nothing, Brett.

And maybe saying nothing is the answer for the Nats’ leader. If Bridges self isolated for the next five months there’s a chance that voters might forget how average he is by September. It’s certainly an option worth considering.

But, really, the Nats in are in deep shit. They have two choices; let Bridges lead them to a solid loss in September or dump him and condemn the new leader to, er,  leading them to a solid loss in September.

Either way, they will still be the largest party in Parliament.  Just nowhere near a majority.

Frankly, they may as well stick with Simon. Sure, he’s buffoonish, bumbling and tone deaf. Tinnitus in a tacky suit.

However, the alternative is to curse his replacement with a first up loss as leader.

Helen Clark survived losing her first election, and then went on to win three in a row, but then, she was Helen Clark. I don’t see anyone with her qualities in the Nat caucus.

So, yeah, Brett Hudson has unintentionally embarrassed Simon Bridges and bought the issue of his leader’s undeniable unsuitability to lead the country to the fore.

It’s obvious now that whether or not the National wash their hands of Bridges, they’re dog tucker this election. And that’s probably the best news we’ve had in recent weeks. 

 

23 comments on “Burning Bridges ”

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  1. observer 1
    18 March 2020 at 9:26 pm

    Amy Adams' speech in the abortion debate tonight is a reminder that National did have another option, when Bill English stepped down.

    They picked the wrong one.

    (and no, I would not be voting National if Adams led them, any more than previous leaders from Key to Bolger. But that's not the point).

    • darien fenton 1.1
      19 March 2020 at 7:05 am

      Yes agree ; Amy's speech was magnificent.

    • Anne 1.2
      19 March 2020 at 9:44 am

      After a speech like that, I take back my criticisms of her in the past. Bravo Amy.

      • peter petterson 1.2.1
        19 March 2020 at 10:39 am

        Lawyer Amy is retiring and no longer has leadership aspirations. The National Party is waiting for Simon to be zapped, and then they will move in on the political corpse. By Simon, back to the prosecuters office.

  2. I Feel Love 2
    18 March 2020 at 10:14 pm

    I wouldn't be too complacent about Labour winning, there's a long way to go yet. Amy Adams is very likable, she could have been an ok leader for NZ, lucky for Labour she's leaving. Bridges could have just have got out there, delivering groceries for the elderly, made hand washing memes, even stood behind Adern, put politics aside yet raised his profile, the bene bashing isn't going to attract new votes for National surely? But maybe he just can't do any better than this, he just gets worse.

    • Chris 2.1
      19 March 2020 at 8:51 am

      Even Garner the other day welcomed the benefit increase saying that levels haven't altered in real terms since 1991 while wages have increaed. So if Garner's saying it…

  3. BG 3
    19 March 2020 at 6:08 am

    Maybe national needs just someone to smiles a lot, appears in magazines, give outs hugs and visits lots of kindergartens. Worked for Labour

    • observer 3.1
      19 March 2020 at 6:34 am

      Oh dear. You've just described John Key.

      It always makes me laugh how people put up 'appears in magazines' as some kind of slam-dunk "aren't I clever?" debating point. As though Jacinda Ardern had editorial control over the world's media. As though the mere picture of a woman, often a file photo, was enough to clinch the argument.

      Here's a fact. Yes, it is a fact. If you don't believe it, then Google Images will help you:

      In 2019 the PM's media team staged precisely zero photo-ops with her child. The very thing that Ardern-haters froth about most, literally never happened. Not once. Sure, Neve was seen in public a couple of times (is the child supposed to be locked away in a dark room?), but never once used as a prop.

      Whereas Simon Bridges paraded his children countless times. Party conference. Magazine soft-stories. TV coverage. All arranged by HIS media team. Again … look them up.

      That's why he's so popular, eh?

    • patricia 3.2
      19 March 2020 at 6:34 am

      BG !!You forgot

      fought and won an election with the help of her friends and,

      Kauri die back, myrtle rust, mico plasma bovis

      the extremists, the gun lobby, leading by example in two tragic

      events. One man made the other natural

      represented us with skill and honesty and called out the powerful

      to do more.

      facilitated negotiations with the Farming Lobby

      improved the lives of many New Zealanders,

      Oh and had a baby

      all in two and a half years

      Now Jacinda Ardern and her team are leading us through

      an unprecedented set of problems caused by a pandemic.

      But we realise we can't please trolls.

      She is exceptional, a rare and precious thing, a real Leader.
      Simon Bridges… lost.

    • RosieLee 3.3
      19 March 2020 at 7:56 am

      You mean someone like Pullya Benefit?

      • JanM 3.3.1
        19 March 2020 at 8:54 am

        Yes, I have to say that waiting in the Pak'n'Save queue while being faced with the current issue of the Australian Women's Weekly does rather spoil my day – lol

    • Red Blooded One 3.4
      19 March 2020 at 8:37 am

      You mean Paula Bennett? Let's keep Beijing Bridges, he's doing a grand job.

    • Deane Craw 3.5
      19 March 2020 at 9:15 am

      So Chris is that all you think they have done… a very 'blind' statement.

  4. mac1 4
    19 March 2020 at 9:29 am

    Stupid Dr Nick Smith yesterday in the House raved on about the cunning plan that Labour had to rig the election which he said was going to be close according to the polls. The cunning plan of course was to enfranchise prisoners who are doing time.

    The silly man did not realise that the very same argument could have been used against the National Party when it disenfranchised prisoners.

    There is a very strong argument to be made in the USA that disenfranchisement of prisoners and people with criminal convictions especially since the criminalisation of marijuana possession is a deliberate ploy to keep millions of presumably Democrat voters out of voting at all.

    Labour speakers yesterday made the point that disenfranchising prisoners was an anti-Maori ploy as well because of the disproportionate numbers of Maori in prison.

    • stuff the politicians 4.1
      19 March 2020 at 10:50 am

      What a team National do have..

      Bridges, Bennett, Smith and Smith, the member for Waimakariri, so important I have forgotten his name.

      I would love to see the National Parties internal polling at the moment, it will not be looking good for them .

  5. Cinny 5
    19 March 2020 at 1:06 pm

    Wow, it happened again this morning. Another prominent true blue business person has told me that they are very happy with Jacinda's response and they think simon is an idiot.

    • Wensleydale 5.1
      19 March 2020 at 2:59 pm

      I think at this point it's almost universally acknowledged that Simon is an idiot. Long may he remain leader of the National Party.

      • tc 5.1.1
        19 March 2020 at 4:10 pm

        till Lex Luther Luxon gets the leg up he appears to have been gifted. Si Moan gets to own his negativity all the way to the GE along with his toxic caucus.

        Hollowmen know the games up this election so maybe just go for destroying NZF again like old times eh.

  6. theotherpat 6
    19 March 2020 at 5:32 pm

    i think that up to COVID-19 labours chances of wining less than even even with fucktard Bridges on the other team…..NOW with this pandemic response i think they have more of a chance IF the crosby textor trolls can be quietly assiansated

  7. georgecom 7
    19 March 2020 at 7:41 pm

    Bridges. About as much use as a leader as is a chocolate fireguard on your motorcycle which has an ashtray whilst riding wearing a space suit and needing to fart.

  8. Ken 8
    20 March 2020 at 2:02 am

    But I heard on talkback radio that Jacinda's no good……..

    • peterh 8.1
      20 March 2020 at 8:47 am

      Well Hoskings gave her 3/10, Simon 4/10, Joyce 8/10 and that was just for yesterday mybe she may have to try harder, and yes the country still have people who do not want accept how good she is