john key
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Sarcophagus
Written By: - Date published: 11:29 am, August 5th, 2008 - 9 comments
After a stunning attack on John Key last night, Bill English is now reverting to more standard National techniques for handling ‘accidental frankness’. Initially, deny. When played a recording, claim not to remember it. When that doesn’t kill the story, claim to have ‘mis-spoken’. Finally, attack the source. It’s the same pattern we saw with […]
Meltdown
Written By: - Date published: 10:36 pm, August 4th, 2008 - 90 comments
The English tape has exploded into a massive scandal. You’ll be familiar with the content of the recording: – English mocks voters as greedy simpletons taken in by a flashy con-man “they’re saying that nice Mr Key, he’s pretty smart, he will get me some more” – He claims Key doesn’t understand basic trade-offs in […]
Key’s vision: tax cuts for rich, more debt for youse
Written By: - Date published: 3:39 pm, August 3rd, 2008 - 71 comments
In a speech described by attendees as ‘more bullet points’, John Key announced to the National Party conference today that National would borrow $5 billion more over 6 years to finance infrastructure – specifically roads and the broadband ‘plan’. The money-man has dressed it up cleverly, of course. A fancy new class of ‘investment vehicle’ will be […]
A quick Brethren reference
Written By: - Date published: 10:56 pm, August 2nd, 2008 - 121 comments
At last an upfront acknowledgement of the Exclusive Brethren’s support for National during the 2005 election campaign. According to Colin Espiner: Day One of National’s annual conference is nearly over and so far the biggest clanger has been departing Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson’s thank-you to the Exclusive Brethren during his departing remarks to delegates. There was […]
Sickening
Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, July 31st, 2008 - 118 comments
Speaking in Rotorua earlier this week, John Key offered the following reason why you should vote for him to be Prime Minister: “The only time we’ve won the rugby World Cup we had a male Prime Minister.” You make my stomach turn, Mr Key. You’re just another sexist old bigot.
Flip-flops, it’s a matter of trust
Written By: - Date published: 6:12 am, July 31st, 2008 - 56 comments
I believe there are three core criteria on which a politician or party needs to be judged: (in no particular order) – policy, competency, trustworthiness – Do they have a good plan, are they capable of implementing such a plan, can we trust them to carry out the plan if we vote for them. National’s […]
So National DO have a policy, errr sorry…
Written By: - Date published: 3:29 pm, July 30th, 2008 - 9 comments
So the news went out! National DID have some policy said Colin James: …in behind the bland one-pagers lies quite a lot of study, consultation with outsiders and internal shadow cabinet debate. A 34-page paper backed the workplace relations one-pager. Law and order policy was well footnoted… But no, Colin James seems to have got […]
The Ultimate Flip-Flop
Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, July 30th, 2008 - 6 comments
This straight from Public Address – Guest writer Simon Pound: John Key has announced the adoption of yet another flagship Labour policy having a female leader. In a one-page policy briefing released today he stated that under a National government he would undergo gender realignment to have what it takes to lead the Country. “I’ve […]
What was it about that Herald poll?
Written By: - Date published: 5:24 pm, July 29th, 2008 - 20 comments
Should Labour be worried about today’s poll in the Herald which contrary to other recent polls showed the gap between the parties rising? Colin Espiner doesn’t seem to think so, suggesting: I wouldn’t take much notice of the Herald DigiPoll. This one’s even worse than the last one. It was taken over THREE WEEKS and interviewed […]
Nats painted into a corner
Written By: - Date published: 12:55 pm, July 28th, 2008 - 30 comments
John Key has announced Working for Families would be kept unchanged by a National-led government. That’s the same Working for Families that National attacked endlessly. Key himself said “Working for Families is a real ‘Maharey special”. It started as a mess, it was completed as a mess, and it will remain a mess the whole […]
Hunt for the real John Key proves fruitless
Written By: - Date published: 9:40 am, July 28th, 2008 - 83 comments
So, what have we learnt from the 18,000 words on John Key the Herald published with so much fanfare over the last two weekends? We’ve learnt that, even if you devote a good portion of three senior journalists’ time to study the matter for six months, it’s still bloody hard to get any clear idea […]
I despair
Written By: - Date published: 12:56 pm, July 27th, 2008 - 67 comments
Our national political debate is in a sad sad state. Agenda is meant to be our premier political interview and analysis TV show. Today, they had John Key on for the main interview. In twenty-odd minutes he was not asked a single question about the policies his party has released over the last three weeks. […]
Personality cult
Written By: - Date published: 3:18 pm, July 22nd, 2008 - 41 comments
Some of our friends on the National Party end of the blogosphere have developed a rather odd habit over the years of referring to Helen Clark as ‘Dear Leader’. Well fellas, I hate to break it to you, but if it’s a personality cult you’re after then look no further than the National Party’s new website. […]
Unauthorised, unimpressive, unquestioning
Written By: - Date published: 11:52 am, July 22nd, 2008 - 94 comments
I’ve finally got through part 1 of the Herald’s deification of John Key and it’s surprising how boring and mediocre he comes across. Impressive contortions too. How three senior reporters with six months to write an article managed to avoid asking how Key could have both talked politics over the dinner table and not have […]
Would Nats introduce work-for-the-dole?
Written By: - Date published: 6:24 am, July 21st, 2008 - 291 comments
Judith Collins, who has made it her mission in life to attack benefits at every turn, has been meeting with Mission Australia, the largest private ‘work-for-the-dole’ scheme provider in Australia. This is a clear indication that, in contrast to the moderate, modern approach Key says he espouses, National will be returning to the failed policy […]
Painting a portrait of Mr Key
Written By: - Date published: 9:43 pm, July 19th, 2008 - 47 comments
I read with interest the NZ Herald’s “In Search of John Key“. I know at least some commentors on this blog have questioned our continued examination of the National party leader – so it was reassuring to see the Herald statement that “he remains relatively unknown. Who really is John Key? Where did he come […]
Key moves to shut down hard questions
Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, July 18th, 2008 - 31 comments
Part of the Crosby/Textor MO is to avoid any hard questioning or real investigative journalism from the media. Step one in this process is be matey with journos. They’re people too and they can fall for charm. When that fails and something embarrassing comes out, attack the journo. Key did this over the “we would love […]
Not ready for prime time
Written By: - Date published: 4:00 pm, July 17th, 2008 - 28 comments
John Key tries to reassure us that National’s policy to privatise ACC would keep the scheme’s principles intact. Here’s how he defined those principles on Radio Live: ‘no fault, 24 hour, no fault, blah, blah, blah.” Sorry, but that doesn’t fill me with confidence in our wannabe PM and his policies. [Update: gobsmacked points out […]
Key comes out against wage increases
Written By: - Date published: 2:27 pm, July 16th, 2008 - 25 comments
This morning on Sunrise, John Key said “wage inflation” is a problem causing inflation and needs to be reduced. Wage inflation is a businessman’s way of saying pay increases. John Key opposes Kiwis getting the pay increases they need to cover the rising cost of living. This fits with his statement that “we would love […]
Crosby/Textor line de jour
Written By: - Date published: 7:46 am, July 16th, 2008 - 82 comments
Every Wednesday, John Key does his round of interviews. Breakfast TV makes a nice soft start with interviews on Breakfast then Sunrise. Then he’s on KiwiFM with Wammo and bFM with Mikey Havoc, neither of whom are political specialists but are increasingly asking good questions. Every week, Key comes prepared with two or three lines, […]
Contrary to Key, Govt does target waste
Written By: - Date published: 11:21 am, July 13th, 2008 - 54 comments
The idea that a government would purposely spend money in a wasteful manner is patently absurd. Voters want more government services and lower tax, any dollar of wasteful spending not only takes away from a government’s ability to meet those desires but also gives voters an active reason to vote against the Government. That’s a […]
Failure to front up
Written By: - Date published: 6:43 am, July 12th, 2008 - 68 comments
When was the last time John Key did an in-depth interview? Why would a potential Prime Minister be afraid to be exposed through a long interview? What does he have to gain by keeping his public appearances brief and tightly controlled? How can New Zealanders get past the mask and have a chance to properly […]
Key refuses to answer your questions
Written By: - Date published: 6:34 am, July 11th, 2008 - 41 comments
You’ll remember our ‘interview the leaders‘ series. John Key has been the only leader missing, we’ve given his office plenty of extensions on the deadline – enough, as they say, is enough. So, if any journalists would like to ask Key these questions from our readers, that would be much appreciated: General question: Of which […]
tis the season
Written By: - Date published: 5:47 pm, July 10th, 2008 - 14 comments
I am beginning to think John Key’s attempt to turn statements that involve him into ‘personal attacks’ might be catching on. Check out this story, on the TVNZ website, but sourced to Newstalk ZB, that accuses Trevor Mallard of ‘lashing out’ at Cameron Bagrie over his loose with the truth report on public services. Now […]
Nasty
Written By: - Date published: 9:09 am, July 10th, 2008 - 58 comments
On Tuesday, Helen Clark was asked what she thought of the fact that both John Key and Bill English have been unavailable for comment when the media have had questions about National policy this week (not being available for comment is a Crosby/Textor tactic for shutting down stories). Clark, who is renowned for the hours […]
It’s not ok
Written By: - Date published: 12:13 pm, July 9th, 2008 - 56 comments
Is it a sign of a successful campaign regarding family violence – that “it’s not ok” – which sees broadcaster Tony Veitch taking time away from his television and radio shows in the wake of revelations that he allegedly assaulted his former partner? It certainly seems to have generated quite a bit of discussion amongst […]
Chief Press Sec O’Sullivan leaves Key questions open
Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, July 9th, 2008 - 44 comments
Today’s Herald sees Fran O’Sullivan making another valiant effort to dig her hero, John Key, out of the hole he’s in over his non-disclosure of Tranz Rail shares while asking written parliamentary questions in 2002. Unwittingly, her contribution raises more questions. Fran writes that Key’s written questions to Cullen were based on information which was […]
Silence those media lambs
Written By: - Date published: 9:17 pm, July 8th, 2008 - 32 comments
Media bleating about Labour’s ‘personal attacks’ is getting tiresome. Some journalists seem to forget from one election to the next that an important element of the triennial exercise is to find out whether contenders for political office are fit to hold elected office. That means they will be probed, scrutinised and, yes, criticised, for failings […]
Havoc interviews Key on Crosby/Textor
Written By: - Date published: 1:51 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 37 comments
Here’s some great audio of Key running Crosby/Textor lines to avoid answering Havoc’s questions. Around the half way point my personal favourite C/T line even makes an appearance: “I intend to run a positive upbeat ambitious campaign; I think it reflects my personality”. As Havoc observes “[John] you’ve spent the last nine months gaining New […]
Mr Key, where is your ‘positive, ambitious campaign’?
Written By: - Date published: 6:01 am, July 4th, 2008 - 67 comments
In four separate interviews this week, John Key used more or less exactly the same line to divert from questions on his use of Crosby/Textor: ‘I’m the Leader of the party and I’ll set the tone of the campaign. And it will be a positive, ambitious, outlooking campaign because that fits with my personality‘ OK, everyone can […]
Real John vs Brand Key
Written By: - Date published: 5:41 am, July 3rd, 2008 - 31 comments
Let’s go back to the heart of this story: it is not about push-polling or whatever, this is about how Brand Key has been purpose-built by a company world-renowned for its secretive, anti-democratic practices. Crosby/Textor are not just some consultants like parties might use to assist policy development. They have built our image of Key […]
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