du Fresne: Stop bullshitting us, prime minister

79 comments on “du Fresne: Stop bullshitting us, prime minister ”

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1. Peter 1

   5 December 2014 at 8:00 am

   Mr Smile & Wave has every reason to be smug and arrogant because he has pulled off the greatest electoral con in NZ politics with the help of his PR advisors and enough gullible voters.
   • batweka 1.1

     5 December 2014 at 9:45 am

     + a zillion.
   • tc 1.2

     5 December 2014 at 10:07 am

     and a compliant useless MSM who played a massive part
     • Chooky 1.2.1

       5 December 2014 at 12:22 pm

       +100
   • Clemgeopin 1.3

     5 December 2014 at 10:18 am

     This is a government of the crooks for the crooks voted in by the crooks and the gullible.
   • A Voter 1.4

     9 December 2014 at 4:35 pm

     Yes he more like WAVE YOU SLAVES your so stupid I get you every time
     who are these NZers anyway Ive manage to fool them quite well got them glued like cage hens to the Greatest Show on Earth
     The John Key election just shove that carrot out Ehaw Ehaw
     Even when replying you can see HIS HEAD in working for WHALEOIL
     Going like a donkey
2. vto 2

   5 December 2014 at 8:17 am

   du Fresne clearly states that Key has no integrity whatsoever, in diplomatic terms..

   and that Finlayson with his “no time for chit chat” arrogance/ignorance comment therein so eloquently confirms his self-appointment and continuing position as the country’s leading Q…. C…

   … however du Fresne gets it wrong in the last sentence in suggesting Key et all should show us more respect..

   Key gets no respect.
   Key is losing respect rapidly from the fawning masses

   We should want nothing more from Key but his resignation
   • A Voter 2.1

     9 December 2014 at 4:41 pm

     Finlayson is the most accomplished lair of the govt almost gets you going along with it until a repeated question then you see the vacancy in the smile I really only practised the grammar no meaning whatsoever
3. rhinocrates 3

   5 December 2014 at 8:21 am

   du Fresne has always been a few ants short of a picnic, so it’s no surprise that just now he realises what we have already known for years and assumes that somehow something has changed. Oh well, given that Armstrong’s struggling with the “but I never knew until now” argument to maintain some pretence of credibility, I suppose it’s a good indicator overall.
   • esoteric pineapples 3.1

     5 December 2014 at 9:47 am

     Yes, he’s quite the neo conservative really, with no time for the Left. He belongs to a generation of baby boomer journalists like Rosemary McLeod who were once sharp but have taken on a casual, wordly cynical “it’s all the same bollocks” air. McLeod, for instance, was demeaning Julliane Assange a few weeks ago as simply being on an ego trip.
     • rhinocrates 3.1.1

       5 December 2014 at 11:33 am

       I remember a column years ago by du Fresne berating astronomers for not providing him with a spectacular enough meteor shower.

       Anyway, the mediocre do tend to judge everyone on their own low terms. McLeod, that well-known expert on tea cosies, can’t think of anyone not being on an ego trip.

       The opinion columns of today’s papers seem to be sinecures or hospices for the creatively and intellectually dead and dying. Their purpose baffles me; what use are they? I expect analysis and special knowledge that I lack and instead they’re full of pompously self-aggrandising dribble about cafes in Ponsonby. Any idiot can have an opinion and unfortunately many get them published.
4. Skinny 4

   5 December 2014 at 8:26 am

   Thumbs up to many of the provincial new papers for taking Crap Happy to task over his blatant lies. The Waikato Times Editor also gave Key a decent crack, the Dunedin rag did too. Crap Happy Key never fooled any of us on the Left with his slippery silver tongue excuses, the ones who voted for this mug are wakening up to being played for fools. Does he care? Obvious not if you watch parliament tv, the deceit keeps coming thick and fast. Even his own caucus sat in stunned silence as he lied through his teeth when answering Megan Woods questions earlier this week. Tricky is as tricky does!
5. Draco T Bastard 5

   5 December 2014 at 8:36 am

   At the very least, he should show us a bit more respect.

   Actually, I’m quite happy that he doesn’t – it’s the only honest thing he does.
   • marty mars 5.1

     5 December 2014 at 9:27 am

     + 1 Yep very true
6. Galeandra 6

   5 December 2014 at 8:39 am

   Sort of agree with Rhino. Nothing to gain from the efforts of this self-styled ‘curmudgeon’ with his simplistic rightie-contrarian views to gloss a few of the more glaring misdeeds of National/Key. Maybe it’s an indicator of a tide turning, but the item itself wasn’t worth the trouble of linking to it.
7. Stephanie Rodgers 7

   5 December 2014 at 8:56 am

   I can’t jump on the “praising Karl du Fresne” bandwagon. He’s written some pretty vile things and they don’t become less vile just because he’s criticising someone I dislike. Characterizing the Roger Sutton issue as an “embarrassing sexual harassment fiasco” completely downplays the seriousness of it, which reinforces all the problems of sexual harassment not being taken seriously and utter incompetence and old-boys’-club ass-covering on the part of Iain Rennie and other senior civil servants.
   • Tom Jackson 7.1

     5 December 2014 at 9:34 am

     The fact that you sometimes post things I think are clearly mistaken doesn’t stop me from thinking you’ve done a good job when you post something I think is clearly right. Maurice Williamson was right about gay marriage, and Du Fresne is right about this.
     • batweka 7.1.1

       5 December 2014 at 10:44 am

       Are there other things that De Fresne has written apart from this article that you think are right?
       • Tom Jackson 7.1.1.1

         5 December 2014 at 11:03 am

         Since I haven’t read everything he has written, I would not know. Do I think he’s a dick? Sure.

         You don’t have to like him as a person to believe that he is right in a particular case. It’s a pretty basic logical error to discount someone’s argument because of some other bad arguments they make or their character. The people who think this is OK usually subscribe to the George W Bush theory of political opposition.
         • batweka 7.1.1.1.1

           5 December 2014 at 11:49 am

           Nevertheless, Stephanie’s point was that Du Fresne predominantly writes right wing vileness. You tried to make a point by suggesting that sometimes Stephanie writes things you don’t like but that doesn’t mean you don’t like everything. It’s a false equivalence and distracts from what Stephanie was actually talking about. It’s not a matter of not being able to see the value in the content of this one post, it’s about putting that one post in context. I appreciate Stephanie and others doing that in this thread.
           • Tom Jackson 7.1.1.1.1.1

             5 December 2014 at 1:42 pm

             The context doesn’t make the blindest bit of difference to the quality of this article or the issues raised by it. All she wanted to do was put the boot in because he opposes some of her favourite hobby horses. It’s a distraction and off topic.
           • Colonial Rawshark 7.1.1.1.1.2

             5 December 2014 at 1:52 pm

             Nevertheless, Stephanie’s point was that Du Fresne predominantly writes right wing vileness.

             Stephanie’s point is that she sees Du Fresne as a vile person and therefore won’t give this piece he has written any credit, regardless of its points or its merits.
             • batweka …

               5 December 2014 at 2:45 pm

               Interesting, I didn’t read it like that.
               • Colonial Rawshark …

                 5 December 2014 at 2:55 pm

                 An alternative reading is – all his other writings are so vile that it taints everything else he might ever produce or touch, and rules him out of receiving credit for any good he might do in the future.
                 • batweka …

                   5 December 2014 at 3:20 pm

                   lol.

                   How about,

                   Putting an intro to his post like this is promotion that I disagree with. His politics are vile so we need to understand what he writes in light of that. Part of this particular post is dubious in how it portrays sexual harrassment.

                   When I read his post I thought a few things. One was why is he writing this now as if this is new?

                   Another was, he doesn’t really want things to be different in a way that most people here want things to be different.

                   Also noted the insertion of this piece of bullshit,

                   Key has given new Labour leader Andrew Little a dream start, and Little has the ability to take full advantage of it. More by good luck than good management, Labour has found itself with a leader who could prove a real handful for National.
                   • Colonial Viper …

                     5 December 2014 at 6:15 pm

                     My critical interpretation is spot on, yours is a bit watered down, IMO.

                     For instance, she doesn’t ask us to evaluate the writing at all. It is dismissed. And Stephanie’s contention that the failure of SSC’s management of the Sutton incident was downplayed by Du Fresne’s wording is rubbish. How much more damning than “embarrassing fiasco” do you think the wording should have/could have been when describing the performance of the SSC and Rennie.
   • Karen 7.2

     5 December 2014 at 9:58 am

     +1 Stephanie
     Just because du Fresne is, for a change, criticizing this government is no reason to give him any credence or respect. His opinions are, generally speaking, shallow, authoritarian and very right wing.
     Have a look at this attack he made on the wonderful Giovanni Tiso. http://karldufresne.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/planet-tiso-continued.html
     • miravox 7.2.1

       5 December 2014 at 10:00 am

       Tough stuff when someone like du Fresne realises, finally, who and what they voted for.
     • batweka 7.2.2

       5 December 2014 at 10:45 am

       thanks Karen. Would’ve been good if the post had been put up in this context.
     • Tom Jackson 7.2.3

       5 December 2014 at 11:07 am

       Who’s saying we should fall at his feet? He’s just right in this particular case, and we should acknowledge he’s done a good job (as the author of the post did by linking it).

       I’m supposed to think badly of Du Fresne because he had a go at the Italian bore? Oh well…
       • Karen 7.2.3.1

         5 December 2014 at 11:23 am

         Tom, the article I linked to was just one example of the kind of nasty, lazy, right-wing dribble that du Fresne specializes in. Yes, it is interesting that one of Key’s greatest fans is now expressing doubts, but this post does not frame it in these terms.

         And while you may dismiss Giovanni Tiso an ‘Italian bore’, I think he is one of the most insightful, witty, moral and brilliant writers in this country. I happen to know that I am not alone in this view.
         • Tom Jackson 7.2.3.1.1

           5 December 2014 at 1:43 pm

           Perhaps you should read more widely. 😉

           And while I’m at it, if Tiso posted something I found good, I would praise it and not attempt to change the subject.

           But here’s an example from his blog:

           The charge has both socio-technical and socio-political implications. As to the former, it feeds into a conservative discourse about the internet in general and social media in particular as degraded forms of being in the world.

           It appears to be a piece of pseudo intellectualism appealing to Heideggerian concepts to make what is in fact a simple and uncontroversial point that would be more accurately made without them. it would not be out of place in Private Eye’s Pseud’s Corner.
           • Colonial Rawshark 7.2.3.1.1.1

             5 December 2014 at 1:57 pm

             Tiso knows the audience he is writing for. This is the kind of thing that is well regarded by that audience.
           • Karen 7.2.3.1.1.2

             5 December 2014 at 2:21 pm

             I did not “attempt to change the subject” and I read very widely.

             There seems little point in responding to your rather pathetic and misguided attempt at literary criticism.
         • Karl du Fresne 7.2.3.1.2

           6 December 2014 at 8:04 am

           There are several comically erroneous statements and assumptions about me in this thread, but I would like to deal with this one in particular. I am not, and never have been, a “fan” of John Key. How could I be, when I don’t have a clue what his values are?
           • Manuka AOR 7.2.3.1.2.1

             6 December 2014 at 11:07 am

             Mate, Thanks! for what you wrote.

             There’s been a culture of timidity from the NZ press for a long, long time, imo, when covering politicians in power. Your op-ed is appreciated.
           • Paul 7.2.3.1.2.2

             6 December 2014 at 11:10 am

             Why do you support neo-liberal capitalism when it is clearly hostile to the earth’s environment?
           • Clemgeopin 7.2.3.1.2.3

             6 December 2014 at 11:14 am

             @Karl du fresne

             I had not read your blogs before. This was the first and I liked it! I very much agree with your views stated in this article.

             I have just read a few of your blogs from the month of September, before and after the election. You make some good points, but of course, I don’t agree with everything you state.

             I also read the nice blog from Nov 29, about Andrew Little:
             http://karldufresne.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/labour-picked-right-leader.html

             While I agree with most of the things you say there, I do not agree with your lazy bandwagon RW untrue view that ‘even if he was elected by the skin of his teeth under a flawed process that gives too much power to the unions’…How so when Labour by definition and historically is a party sympathetic to the common people and the workers? The unions (affiliates) that represent the workers have only 20% (1/5 of the vote) compared to the caucus and the members that have 80% (4/5) of the vote? So, how can you honestly state that the unions have ‘too much’ power?

             You write well. Keep up the good work. Does your blog have a subscription button? I did not see one. Cheers!
           • Morrissey 7.2.3.1.2.4

             6 December 2014 at 11:14 am

             You’re a fan of John Howard, however, and you made a particularly foolish attempt to defend him after he had performed poorly in an interview on National Radio.

             If I were you, I’d pretend I was a John Key fan; he’s one of the good guys compared to some of the moral imbeciles and criminals you’ve endorsed.
       • batweka 7.2.3.2

         5 December 2014 at 11:52 am

         “Who’s saying we should fall at his feet?”

         Only you apparently.

         “He’s just right in this particular case, and we should acknowledge he’s done a good job (as the author of the post did by linking it).”

         Why not put it in context as well?
     • Murray Rawshark 7.2.4

       6 December 2014 at 12:58 am

       Du Fresne is a neoliberal prick. This makes me wonder what his motives are in telling part of the truth about Key. His heart will not be pure. Maybe he thinks Gusher or ACT need to step up and take over.
       • RedLogix 7.2.4.1

         6 December 2014 at 12:37 pm

         Disagree with the label Murray. My reading of him is that he’s more an old-fashioned conservative than a neo-lib.

         The difference is that with a conservative you can usually agree on the destination – but not on how to get there. Whereas neo-libs have a whole other idea on where they want to finish up.
   • Tracey 7.3

     5 December 2014 at 1:35 pm

     I agree. I feel the same way about Garth George.
8. Tracey 8

   5 December 2014 at 8:57 am

   Does anyone have a list of the incidents involving helen clark which were deemed to be appalling judgment and/or dishonesty. They “they do/did it too thing intrigues me.

   A list like BLiPs or a list as above.

   I am most interested in how many of hers were in relation to running a country… For example painter gate was dishonest but in my opinion did not relate to running the country, whereas corngate did.
   • Chch_chiquita 8.1

     5 December 2014 at 10:31 am

     What intrigues me is why Key thinks this is a valid excuse. So, if Helen Clark did it does it make it right? Isn’t change in government suppose to be voting for a change in how things are done?
     • emergency mike 8.1.1

       5 December 2014 at 1:19 pm

       Yep, schoolkids don’t get away with the old ‘but so-and-so did it too!’ line, but Key’s got it down.
9. Lanthanide 9

   5 December 2014 at 8:59 am

   “Murderer and paedophile Phillip Smith, a man known to be clever and manipulative as well as evil, escaped to South America because of staggering naivety on the part of the Corrections Department;”

   The limited release programme actually seems very sensible. It just seems in this particular case, Phillip Smith shouldn’t have been in the programme, and they didn’t appropriately vet the person he was released to. But lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

   The passport kerfluffle and the various scams he was running from prison are a separate, and much more embarrassing, issue.
   • Tracey 9.1

     5 December 2014 at 1:38 pm

     Agree. Lets get tracking or limit the types of offenders who get it. Someone the parole board thinks is still manipulative was a dumb choice
10. TheContrarian 10

    5 December 2014 at 9:13 am

    Wow, brutal.
11. Tom Jackson 11

    5 December 2014 at 9:27 am

    I had a thought about the corrections minister. He’s clearly been promoted well beyond his abilities.

    For years the right have complained that affirmative action would led to people from minorities being promoted way beyond their competence. If you look at the opposition benches, this doesn’t make sense as the opposition have many female and ethnic minority members who are just as competent as the men (King, Mahuta, Turei, etc.).

    On the other hand, if you look at the National caucus women and minorities, it’s a parade of incompetence and unsuitability (Collins, Upston, Tolley, Lotu-Liga, Parata, Hauiti, Bennett). You have to wonder if they have a secret agenda to keep white dudes in charge by making people think that everyone else is useless. Or perhaps they just think that diversity means finding a few stuffed shirts of the appropriate gender and ethnicity.
    • BassGuy 11.1

      5 December 2014 at 10:12 am

      Affirmative action will lead to people from minorities being promoted beyond their competence?

      I’m astounded that this is even a thing.

      I’m not sure if you’re familiar with the Peter Princicple, which is basically the same premise but looks only at the individual’s abilities.

      Almost everybody knows someone who was put in a position of authority but is absolutely unsuited for the role.
    • Tracey 11.2

      5 December 2014 at 1:40 pm

      He was promted to a portfolio that had a major fuck up he could have had no influence over… Now who used to be corrections minister and presided over such imbecilea?!?
12. ankerawshark 12

    5 December 2014 at 9:37 am

    Tom J @11. So you think Bridges, Brownlee and English are competent? Holy hell
    • tc 12.1

      5 December 2014 at 10:14 am

      Blingish is very competent at what’s required of him.

      He pillaged the various reserves labour left in SOE’s and punching about a 1.5B hole p.a. in crown revenue tax take with the PAYE tax/GST swap and successfully douple dipped for years with his accomodation allowances.
      • Lanthanide 12.1.1

        5 December 2014 at 10:35 am

        Yip, just like Key is very good at the job he was installed to do.
      • Colonial Rawshark 12.1.2

        5 December 2014 at 2:19 pm

        Labour always leave shit lying around for the Tories to pillage and plunder, instead of spending it on the people, itself. Asset rich SOEs, a govt credit card with a massive credit limit, etc.
    • Tom Jackson 12.2

      5 December 2014 at 11:11 am

      I didn’t say that. I just claimed that their attempts to promote minorities seem to result in the installation of nincompoops. I made no claim that National was somehow nincompoop free once you eliminate the women and people of colour, nor would I make such a claim, as Bridges is clearly a moron of the highest order.

      Smith, English, Groser, Finlayson and Joyce aren’t stupid either (diabolically clever?).
13. Blue 13

    5 December 2014 at 10:03 am

    At the very least, he should show us a bit more respect.

    What respect is due to someone who has been duped by Key for seven long years now? Key has good reason to think the majority of NZers are complete idiots and treat them accordingly.

    No one with half a brain would believe the crap he’s come out with and yet all of the media and most of the voting population just eat it up.
14. Morrissey 14

    5 December 2014 at 11:30 am

    Yes, Karl du Fresne has written something that makes sense, finally. Key is in real trouble now that the likes of Armstrong, Hooton and du Fresne are unreservedly stating that he is a liar.

    However, I wouldn’t expect too much more from the Wairarapa’s grumpiest old oenophile. We Standardisti have been following du Fresne for some time now. He can be quite a decent human being….
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-12062013/#comment-647568

    But he can also be, sadly, a disgusting right wing git, and an apologist for the very worst people in the world—like John Howard. His admiration for Howard led him to what is perhaps his most unfortunate performance, when he insanely ranted against the far superior Kim Hill….
    http://karldufresne.blogspot.co.nz/2010/11/howard-deserved-more-balanced-treatment.html

    Unbelievably, after that demonstration of North Korean level adulation of a politician, the irony-free Du Fresne had the audacity to write an opinion piece criticising journalism schools for failing to produce journalists who are “willing to challenge authority”…..
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-07082011/#comment-361364
15. Chooky 15

    5 December 2014 at 12:29 pm

    +100…”Key is in real trouble now that the likes of Armstrong, Hooton and du Fresne are unreservedly stating that he is a liar.”
16. mac1 16

    5 December 2014 at 12:31 pm

    If I wrote a piece like Du Fresne has just written, (which I did read), and then read the comments here about it, then I’d be tempted to really despair about people’s objectivity.

    Put in into context, someone wrote. Fair enough, but what context? That he’s a right winger of a journo with some sort of right wing motive for criticising John Key in a very strong way? That this opinion piece is a parody? or a piss-take? or a dare?

    I say, let the piece stand for itself. Let the piece be commended for its views. May the author be encouraged to write more in that vein. Congratulate him for twigging what we on the left have been saying for years about Key’s dishonest actions.

    It is never too late this side of the grave to repent, change, comprehend better.

    Good on yer, Karl Du Fresne for this piece published, furthermore, in a provincial paper, far from the beltway.
    • Manuka AOR 16.1

      5 December 2014 at 1:23 pm

      “let the piece stand for itself. Let the piece be commended for its views.”

      Yes. He called it right. Nothing namby pamby wishy washy here.

      “Good on yer, Karl Du Fresne for this piece published, furthermore, in a provincial paper, far from the beltway.”
      • batweka 16.1.1

        5 December 2014 at 3:26 pm

        “Yes. He called it right.”

        Except for the bit that he’s talking about now and seems to think something really bad has just happened, as if this hasn’t been the norm that’s built up for the past 6 years with the big difference now being that Key and his mates are getting caught out more often and the MSM is less willing to buy the bullshit thanks to some very good work by people that have been speaking out against this for quite some time and are finally being listened to.
        • Manuka AOR 16.1.1.1

          5 December 2014 at 3:37 pm

          Hi Weka,

          The thing is, many, many, many other people all around NZ have also seen nothing wrong for these last years, and will still choose to do so if at all possible. Each person, each journo or op-ed that finally says, “Enough!” and starts calling the B.S for what it is, is a big plus for waking up and turning around the wider population.
          • batweka 16.1.1.1.1

            5 December 2014 at 3:43 pm

            I agree, and have no problem with the article being seen in the light of adding a right wing discomfit with Key angle to the ongoing critiques. Have a look at my comment down thread as to why I don’t think Du Fresne is making a rallying cry to stop Key’s govt from doing all the bad shit.
    • Chooky 16.2

      5 December 2014 at 1:24 pm

      +100…and who hasnt changed their mind over political issues at one time or another? ..every person the oars …every rower helps
      • Manuka AOR 16.2.1

        5 December 2014 at 1:32 pm

        Absolutely Chookster.

        When someone is holding your family hostage with a gun pointed at them, and someone else gives you a long stick to try and knock the gun from that hand, are you going to get in a debate with the helper about whether they have been nice to you in the past?

        For pity’s sake! WAKE UP!!!!!
        • batweka 16.2.1.1

          5 December 2014 at 3:38 pm

          Nice analogy, but I would challenge the idea that Du Fresne is trying to knock the gun from the hand. Sounds to me like he wants some respect, so it’s more a case of please stop being so aggressive with that gun. He doesn’t actually want Key to put the gun down. Think about Hooton, who is unhappy with Key but still pretty much agrees with Key’s agenda just doesn’t like how far he’s taken some of his tactics.

          Du Fresne’s concerns,

          that Key is being arrogant and incompetent

          that he has lost his integrity recently

          that this might cost the right the next election

          he thinks the new security laws were passed too quickly and this undermines democracy, but does he think there is anything wrong with the laws?

          he things the new employment laws were also problematic, not because of how they affect workers so much as how they are symbolic of something, and that this reflects badly on National because it makes them look like they’re looking out for the bosses (see, the problem is how it makes National look)

          he thinks there should be better ministerial responsibilty for dept fuck ups

          he objects to Key’s relationship with Slater as having gone too far now, and it seems to be an issue for Du Fresne that he’s been taken for a ride and now he wants some respect at least.

          If Hooton had written all that I doubt that people here would be going fuckin A. They’d be looking at what he said in the context of him being a far righter and a consummate spinner.
          • mac1 16.2.1.1.1

            5 December 2014 at 4:12 pm

            “in the context of him being a far righter and a consummate spinner.”

            As I asked above, this question of context has to be explained.

            How much spin can there be in the strong condemnation of John Key in du Fresne’s article? What advantage is there for ‘far righters’ and ‘consummate spinners’, because I can’t see it. Maybe I’m a political virgin and never been consummated. 😉
            • Nic the NZer 16.2.1.1.1.1

              5 December 2014 at 4:20 pm

              That one is easy,

              We see now the main stream media criticizing Key for the obvious fact he is completely non-credible in what he has said to the media and parliament. What we don’t see is criticism of what he (his office) actually did. The criticism is for being caught doing it, not what he was doing. Its an open invitation to do it again, but just make sure you don’t get caught doing it again or somebody else will be found who can do it without being caught.
              • weka …

                5 December 2014 at 4:31 pm

                Yep that’s the one. Or even, Key’s gone too far, or is just using the wrong tactics, but his basic plan is still good.
              • mac1 …

                5 December 2014 at 4:58 pm

                I’ve just reread du Fresne’s opinion piece again with your critique in mind, Nic, and I don’t see what you’re saying there. You are reading in more than is stated or implied.

                For heaven’s sake, there is criticism of what Key and his government and ministers are doing. What else does ‘pathetic dissembling’ mean? What is a man doing if he’s too cocky?

                And right at the end (as there is all through the piece of his government which means us to read Key’s government) more criticism of his actions -“he plays us for mugs by bullshitting us.”

                Now, please reread the piece as I have done, this time looking for criticism of Key, his government and ministers.
                • Nic the NZer …

                  5 December 2014 at 5:35 pm

                  Yeah, why didn’t Du Fresne write that piece before the election, when it was clear that the PM was running a smear campaign out of his office. They are just telling him to stop looking like a non-credible idiot, not to stop running election screwing (as in screw the scrum) smear campaigns to get elected.

                  Its good to see criticism from the right as well, but its far from substantial. Actually Slater and Key have not been acting any differently before or after the election, so what’s changed? It actually seems almost mean to write off Slater as toxic just because he’s now become unpopular. He has not done anything horrific since the election at least. They are just telling Key he’s screwing up and might not get a fourth term (if he doesn’t hide it better), they are not telling Key he’s been rorting the democratic process to get elected.
                  • Colonial Viper …

                    5 December 2014 at 6:07 pm

                    Yes, it is safely after the election. Mildly criticising Key and mildly criticising National over the next 12 months will be de riguer in the MSM. Especially since Key and co. have pissed off so many personalities in the media lately.

                    But 12 months out from the 2017 elections National worship will resume normal full broadcast strength.
                    • greywarshark …

                      6 December 2014 at 10:09 am

                      Colonial Viper R
                      I think that your concept of MSM behaviour sounds pretty right.

                      Karl du Fresne usually leans to the right, and it is good that he is applying some objective analysis to the post-election behaviours of Key and Finlayson. It is extraordinary to read criticism of Key and those who project the idea of thoughtful, balanced critiques have actually been forced to it by the unavoidable accumulation of disgraceful behaviours.

                      Karl du Fresne has not changed his usual scepticism of the left as shown in his words in the article:

                      Even before the appearance of the proposed new security laws, the government had shown signs of third-term arrogance.
                      Within weeks of winning the election, it had pushed through new employment laws that were widely criticised as eroding workers’ rights.

                      I’m not convinced that the new laws are quite as oppressive as the critics say, but it was the symbolism that struck me.
17. mac1 17

    5 December 2014 at 5:47 pm

    Nic, you’ve gone into “they” mode. I’m discussing du Fresne, where you should be in ‘he” mode.

    You are discussing something bigger than du Fresne’s offering, and I’m not saying you are wrong in your bigger picture that you draw.

    Du Fresne is cutting in his criticism. What can be worse than to doubt a government’s competence and especially its integrity?

    Man, I would hate to be receiving that criticism………………….
    • Nic the NZer 17.1

      5 December 2014 at 6:15 pm

      “What can be worse than to doubt a government’s competence and especially its integrity?”

      Time to start questioning its right to govern. National has screwed the past 2 elections in some significant way. de Fresne will no doubt resume service to the National party in good time for the next one too. He certainly did before the election. I don’t care if the PM looks competent at his anti-democratic rorting or he looks like a bibbling idiot while doing it. It only matters if he is engaging in this kind of governance or not.
18. Sacha 18

    6 December 2014 at 6:58 pm

    Great to see the right calling out unethical behaviour. It’s not good enough no matter what political perspective we come from.

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1. simpleNewz - The Standard RSS Feed for 2014-12-06: posted on 7 December 2014 at 8:05 pm

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