Key needs time to get his story straight

Written By: - Date published: 2:48 pm, April 5th, 2013 - 130 comments
Categories: accountability, john key, Media, Parliament - Tags: ,

Interesting John Key interview / backrub on RadioLive this afternoon (ht idelgus in comments). No transcript or other reporting that I know of, but you can find it at the RadioLive audio section for today, segments starting 12:15 (especially 8 min in and 11 min) and 12:30pm. (Update: Coverage at Stuff, from BM in comments.)

Key says that he needs to change what he does, and he won’t be answering questions about his past actions any more, unless they are written in advance.

“There will be no more answering of questions straight away, if I need to get details.” (12:15 clip 11min)

Some on Twitter have interpreted this to mean that he won’t answer interview questions either, but as far as I can tell the comments referred to question time in Parliament.

Brain fades – yeah right. Clearly Key feels that he’s getting caught out too often, his lying is really starting to damage him, and he needs time to get his story straight in future. I don’t recall any previous PM refusing to answer questions live, and this will be a massive abdication of accountability on the part of a petulant and defensive Key.

Quote of the day:

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.
— Mark Twain

130 comments on “Key needs time to get his story straight ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Matthew 1
    5 April 2013 at 2:50 pm

    John Key is a liar, & now needs time to prepare his lies, & crosscheck it with his other lies

    • David H 1.1
      5 April 2013 at 7:30 pm

      That’s the thing about being a liar, you have to have a very good memory, and Key ain’t.

      • UpandComer 1.1.1
        6 April 2013 at 12:21 am

        I know it’s difficult for Labour people to understand, but successful people have very active lives, filled with lots of things happening. Being asked to recall in detail stuff that happened 18 months agol, when much has happened in the interim, without a little bit of time to check, is indeed quite difficult.

        I think you will find that a strong memory is a prerequisite to John’s former line of work.

        • felix 1.1.1.1
          6 April 2013 at 12:24 am

          I think you’ll find that when honest people genuinely can’t remember something they’ll say so rather than just make shit up.

        • Tiresias 1.1.1.2
          6 April 2013 at 10:01 am

          One of the ingredients for success is the ability to remember what matters from a lot longer than 18 months ago – not detail such as word for word what was said (unless the precise meaning of what was said was important), what everyone ate or what they wore but what outcomes were.

          No ‘successful people’ last very long if they forget complete meetings, let alone what the outcome of those meetings were and how they affected on-going plots, plans and schemings.

    • Bob 1.2
      5 April 2013 at 8:41 pm

      John key is such a fuckwit
      One day our journos will wake up to him and stop sucking

    • UpandComer 1.3
      6 April 2013 at 12:22 am

      What were you going 18 months ago. Give me all the details. You can’t? You must be a liar.

      • Colonial Viper 1.3.1
        6 April 2013 at 12:27 am

        Fortunately the daily activities of the PM from dawn to dusk and beyond are well documented; agendas distributed ahead of schedule, meeting minutes recorded and follow ups documented.

        Shouldn’t be too hard to jog his memory, right?

        Right?

        • Green machine UpandComer 1.3.1.1
          6 April 2013 at 4:42 pm

          Yes indeed. so time to refer to the same would be pretty reasonable..

      • felix 1.3.2
        6 April 2013 at 12:27 am

        You do realise that Key was still lying after having had several days to get his story straight, don’t you?

  2. BM 2
    5 April 2013 at 3:07 pm

    Always thought Key was being a bit soft on Labour, but I get the feeling Key is about to take the gloves off.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8514821/John-Key-changes-tack-over-questioning

    • karol 2.1
      5 April 2013 at 3:17 pm

      BM: are you pitching to write for the Onion?

    • One Tāne Huna 2.2
      5 April 2013 at 3:26 pm

      BM. this isn’t about Labour, it isn’t about the process by which Ian Fletcher was hired. It isn’t about Mr. Fletcher.

      It’s about your Prime Minister attempting to deceive the House and the public over it. Goodness knows why he feels the need to do so in this case, but the more he does it the more suspicious and dodgy he looks, and that starts to rub off on other people associated with him, and pretty soon it starts to affect their careers.

      He’s dead meat.

    • McFlock 2.3
      5 April 2013 at 3:28 pm

      you mean he might stop lying?

      No chance of that.

      • Bob 2.3.1
        5 April 2013 at 8:46 pm

        No haven’t you looked at his nose lately

      • UpandComer 2.3.2
        5 April 2013 at 8:50 pm

        aw oh, remember he’s Jewish. There has to be ‘some’ boundaries on the invective against this man

        • Arfamo 2.3.2.1
          5 April 2013 at 8:56 pm

          Pinocchio was Italian. His nose grew when he told lies. Bringing in suggestions Key critics are being anti-semitic is a pretty desperate stretch.

          • felix 2.3.2.1.1
            5 April 2013 at 11:44 pm

            You’d have to be pretty racist to see a comment about a liar’s nose growing and immediately think of anti-semitism.

            Quite revealing, eh?

            It’s a bit like when we talk about the downsides of foreign investment and the racists all immediately assume it’s anti-Chinese.

            • Green machine UpandComer 2.3.2.1.1.1
              6 April 2013 at 4:45 pm

              Felix I didn’t know you were anti all the PC rubbish, good for you son. Still, I wouldn’t highlight the nose size of a Jewish man. Remember all the posts on here, probably including you, when Lockwood said that asians have small hands? My goodness the screeching was unbearable.

              • Colonial Viper …
                6 April 2013 at 4:55 pm

                Still, I wouldn’t highlight the nose size of a Jewish man.

                Except you just did.

          • Green machine UpandComer 2.3.2.1.2
            6 April 2013 at 4:43 pm

            I wish the left gave everyone similar latitude.

            • Pascal's bookie 2.3.2.1.2.1
              6 April 2013 at 4:54 pm

              You reckon they should give people who are being racist that same latitude they give to people who aren’t being racist?

              That’s, revealing.

              • Green machine UpandComer …
                6 April 2013 at 5:04 pm

                In your opinion. That is a clear allusion. So it’s not racist as long as you don’t intend to be racist. Right, well that clears everyone who disagrees with the treaty of waitangi, I’m glad they have your endorsement Mr Pascal. It’s revealing as to what you will accept, depending on who it is.

        • The Pink Postman 2.3.2.2
          6 April 2013 at 2:56 pm

          A Jew who has deserted his his beginnings. Sent his kids to, a Christian school and has forgotten the struggle of the Jewish people . Forgotten also that his mother was a Labour supporter .Totally forgot that she was a refugee by refusing to allow refugees into the country.
          An embarrassment to most Jews inn Aotearoa.

          • Green machine UpandComer 2.3.2.2.1
            6 April 2013 at 4:47 pm

            haha. Classic. I’m sure his mother and the Jewish community looking on are really really the opposite of proud of John’s accomplishments..

    • Roy 2.4
      5 April 2013 at 3:51 pm

      Well, thanks for the link BM, I always love it when the MSM use a decidedly unflattering picture of the PM. It shows that they are annoyed with him when they do that, and they don’t get annoyed with him nearly often enough.

    • Bob 2.5
      5 April 2013 at 8:42 pm

      He is still a liar

  3. felix 3
    5 April 2013 at 3:38 pm

    Anyone else finding the radiolive audio page is all screwed up?

  4. Treetop 4
    5 April 2013 at 3:49 pm

    I missed part of the Radio Live interview, the bit about how many times Key had rang people directly to canvass their interest in a job.

    On Wednesday Campbell Live Rennie could not identify a minister who had shoulder tapped. Rennie has said that he would have recommended that he ring the person for the PM and he cannot recall being told by Key that Key had rang Fletcher.

    I would like to ask Rennie if he knows how many times he is aware of Key shoulder tapping?

    And

    How many times Key has asked Rennie to call on his behalf?

    • idlegus 4.1
      5 April 2013 at 3:54 pm

      “how many times Key had rang people directly to canvass their interest in a job.”

      he wouldnt answer that question. tamaheri asked him again & again.

      • Treetop 4.1.1
        5 April 2013 at 4:15 pm

        April 4 Wellington Scoop

        Rennie could not recall if Key had previously shoulder tapped people or put names forward for other posts. This could mean zero.

        • idlegus 4.1.1.1
          5 April 2013 at 4:31 pm

          you could well be right, coz tamaheri was trying to pin him down, tamaheri said ‘if its 100s, i can understand a brainfade, but if its only 4 or something, then it just doesnt seem plausible you would forget’ (paraphrased), so that could be why he wouldnt answer it.

  5. idlegus 5
    5 April 2013 at 4:02 pm

    “Some on Twitter have interpreted this to mean that he won’t answer interview questions either, but as far as I can tell the comments referred to question time in Parliament.”,

    im not so sure about that, in the interview he was mentioning his ‘stand ups’ & stuff, that he wouldnt be so open anymore. & that he would be wanting tricky questions by journalists written before hand so he can give a full & frank answer.

    & just saw this http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/this-is-not-how-democracy-works.html

    he quotes from stuff “Prime Minister John Key says he will no longer answer questions about his actions without warning, following controversy over his role in the appointment of spy boss Ian Fletcher.

    During an interview on Radio Live, Key described those reporting on the story as ”knuckle heads” and said he would change his approach to answering questions both in Parliament and to the media. “

    • idlegus 5.1
      5 April 2013 at 4:11 pm

      oops, & this “‘What I should have done, and what I will be doing in the future, is saying, well, the member needs to put that down to me in writing, and I’ll be doing that to the journalists as well,” Key said.

    • Bob 5.2
      5 April 2013 at 8:50 pm

      Knuckle head
      Looks like he has lost it
      He would have to be the ultimate knuckle
      Or could the fat fucker from Ilam fit in

    • felix 5.3
      5 April 2013 at 11:49 pm

      “he was mentioning his ‘stand ups’ & stuff, that he wouldnt be so open anymore”

      ffs is he for real? Does he really think the problem is being “open”?

      The problem, Mr Key, is that you can’t lie straight in bed. Sheesh.

  6. gobsmacked 6
    5 April 2013 at 4:03 pm

    Key’s “shark jumps” have been wrongly predicted before, but I think this really is one. Most (swing) voters aren’t terribly bothered about Fletcher and Rennie and GCSB, but they don’t want their country’s leader to behave like a 6 year old.

    He’s getting a pasting, and not just from the usual crowd …

    https://twitter.com/search/realtime?q=john%20key&src=typd

    Shame he’s off to China now, next week in Parliament could have been fun.

  7. emergency mike 7
    5 April 2013 at 4:08 pm

    I can’t see this working for Key. He’s going to respond to journalists’ questions that he doesn’t want to answer by saying, “Sorry, you’ll have to submit that one to me in writing”?

    Or has he realized that “I don’t remember” has done its dash and he’s hoping to replace it with “I’ll check my facts and get back to you”?

    Either way I look forward to the awkwardness, the frustrated journos, and the shifty-eyed John Key looking shifty montages.

    • McFlock 7.1
      5 April 2013 at 4:47 pm

      Not sure it will work. If he treats them like dicks too much they’ll start asking really simple questions to find the limit that he’s prepared to answer without any memory problems. And he’ll be such a dick it’ll be stuff like “you don’t remember going to school with him?” or “did you have dinner with him last week?”.

    • Treetop 7.2
      5 April 2013 at 4:50 pm

      Hasn’t Key been down a similar road before when it comes to reporting what he says in private?

      I’m still trying to work out what Keys definition of private is e.g. the media peering through a window and him having invited them there.

      • McFlock 7.2.1
        5 April 2013 at 5:04 pm

        “Private”, according to Key, is “anything I wish I’d thought without saying, rather than said without thinking”.

  8. Roy 8
    5 April 2013 at 4:47 pm

    Calling MSM reporters knuckleheads may not go down too well.

    • karol 8.1
      5 April 2013 at 4:53 pm

      Yes, and from the guy who owes a lot of his popularity to a compliant MSM.

    • Tigger 8.2
      5 April 2013 at 4:56 pm

      Yes. He’s about to learn that, I hope. Give the media a couple of working days to properly start reacting. Mid next week, around 10 April, they’ll start attacking. Should be a winter of discontent for Key.

    • geoff 8.3
      5 April 2013 at 5:23 pm

      Calling MSM reporters knuckleheads may not go down too well.

      Hey don’t people on The Standard do that all the time?

  9. rod 9
    5 April 2013 at 5:11 pm

    Key spits the dummy. He must have all questions in writing. Got it, you Knuckleheads

  10. AsleepWhileWalking 10
    5 April 2013 at 5:34 pm

    Wasn’t he getting board being PM anyway?

    I’m disappointed that this site has such a tame response. Personally I much prefer the headline in Stuff – “They’re Knuckleheads”. Hmmm….curiously, bitching about how stupid journalists for doing their job doesn’t seem to have got the media on side this time.

    • the pigman 10.1
      5 April 2013 at 10:26 pm

      Wasn’t he getting board being PM anyway?

      He doesn’t just get board, they give him the whole of Premier House when he’s in Wellington.

    • wisdumb 10.2
      5 April 2013 at 11:04 pm

      Key specifically named John Campbell, Sean Plunkett (who is running a campaign to buy a memory for John Key), Duncan Garner, and Finlay McDonald. The interesting thing is that the first three work for Mediaworks, and RadioLive, on which the interview took place (John Tamihere and Willie Jackson), is also part of Mediaworks. This is Stephen Joyce’s company, (or was?) and I understand that it has been the beneficiary of much government crony capital, since it is, or was, coincidentally, in a much over borrowed state.

      I am not sure whether Key will be having a wee chat with Joyce when he gets back from China and or whether Campbell, Plunkett, and Garner should go bush for a while. However, none of them is known for taking a step back when faced with adversity

  11. idlegus 11
    5 April 2013 at 5:40 pm

    i reckon he probably would have got away with this, slipped out of the country to china til the next catastraphe, but by attacking the journos & the bizarre ‘questions in writing’ bit hes just brought it all back, he says it on radio live so of course they are running with it, keeps them in the news etc…a very rare mistake for john key i think. its been a fun day! (even tho i been home with the flu all day).

  12. Treetop 12
    5 April 2013 at 5:49 pm

    There might be an upside to having questions answered in writing. Key may not get away with his school boy level answers and the manner he uses to deliver the answer. Key has gone from bad to worse during question time and this exercise (written answers) may help him to sound how a PM needs to sound.

  13. emergency mike 13
    5 April 2013 at 5:50 pm

    The RadioLive intervew is worth a listen.

    John Key has a sulky whine about how other world leaders don’t have to answer so many dang questions from the media, about how he has a million things to do everyday, about the opposition trying to make him look bad, (“Well if that’s the game, well…,” with a weird ‘two can play at that’ implication), and pulls out a veiled bully tactic on the media by saying that he is going to ‘change’ because they ‘expect perfection’ from his answers so people can expect him to start replying that given questions will need to be put to him in writing.

  14. Rhinocrates 14
    5 April 2013 at 6:24 pm

    Woo hoo. Even Armstrong is saying that he has a headache these days. This could be fun. All the preening narcissists on TV are suddenly not getting the grooming they wanted. Their tantys are going to be interesting. Is it going to be “Wait, please, I still love you!” Or, “I’m gonna hold my breath until you say you wuv me still!”? Or “Oh God, I need a story, I’m fucked… right, I’ll get that bitch!”

    Meanwhile, Collins rubs her hands…

  15. gobsmacked 15
    5 April 2013 at 7:29 pm

    John Campbell starts his show tonight, calls it “Knucklehead Live”. Heh.

    On Sunday, Helen Kelly and David Shearer will be on Q & A (one of them is leader of the opposition …)

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1304/S00052/on-qa-sunday-april-7.htm

  16. Tazireviper 16
    5 April 2013 at 7:43 pm

    Apart from a brief reference to Knucklehead Live on Campbell Live tonight why has GSCB fiasco disappeared from MSM, who is applying pressure to whom

    • Anne 16.1
      5 April 2013 at 7:59 pm

      Not quite…

      http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-changes-tack-with-media/tabid/370/articleID/293190/Default.aspx

      It’s Friday. The only new development today is Key’s infantile tantrum reported on TV3 news. Naturally the so-called public broadcasting station TV1 ignored it altogether- at least I didn’t see anything on the 6pm news. May have missed it.

      • Arfamo 16.1.1
        5 April 2013 at 8:20 pm

        If Key won’t answer journos’ difficult questions so readily in future, it will be an interesting look on telly should he keep saying no, he’s not answering any more questions, especially if they fill the void with comments from opposition parties. Should be a fascinating next few weeks when he gets back from China.

      • karol 16.1.2
        5 April 2013 at 8:32 pm

        And the “damning report” on the GCSB that is referred to at the end of the TV3 report, was done by the government’s cabinet secretary?

        And it was done in response to the GCSB breaking the law in the surveillance of Kim Dotcom.

        Kitteridge seems a pretty solid person.

        However, when the enquiry was launched, Gordon Campbell was a little skeptical.

        This sounds cosy. The second inquiry to be launched in the past ten days into the GCSB – this time, into its capabilities, performance and governance – will be carried out by Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Kitteridge of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Isn’t it a small world? That would be the same department that used to be headed by Simon Murdoch, who was the GCSB chief when the illegal surveillance of Kim Dotcom was launched. So, if there is any retrospective blame-laying to be done here, Kitteridge will be required to pass judgement on her old boss. Not that blame appears to be on the agenda:…

        Not that we will be left any the wiser at the end of all this. The results of the Kitteridge inquiry – which is expected to take three months – will not be made public, so public confidence in the security agencies will have to depend solely on the last week’s feeble and manifestly inadequate effort by the Inspector-General of Security and Intelligence, Paul Neazor.

        So why did Campbell think the results wouldn’t be made public, when now they clearly will be?

        Some further info on Fletcher in that Campbell article too:

        Fletcher, BTW, has a background of interesting relevance to the Dotcom case. While Fletcher’s early career was spent in the NZ diplomatic service, he was appointed in 2007 to head the British Patents Office, and in that job got to enact the so called Gowers Review of Intellectual Property that sought to modernise Britain’s copyright laws.
        The Gowers Review contained some liberal features. It opposed, for instance, extending the time period a work is kept under copyright, which is a goal that the US is reportedly once again seeking to achieve in the ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations.
        The Gowers Review however, also strongly advocated cracking down on illegal downloading and counterfeiting. In the person of Ian Fletcher, the Americans could hardly find a security agency chief in the developed world more conversant with the copyright issues raised by Dotcom’s business activities.

      • mickysavage 16.1.3
        5 April 2013 at 8:45 pm

        Wow Anne that is the sickest interview Key has ever given.

        So he has done nothing wrong and Labour have done similar things …

        What can one say?

        • Anne 16.1.3.1
          5 April 2013 at 9:33 pm

          @mickysavage:
          Over on Red Alert I directed Grant Robertson to The Standard posts on the subject because there is a wealth of ammunition provided here (thanks mainly to Karol but others as well) which could be used by him and Shearer (and Norman) over the coming weeks. Key is under huge pressure imo. That was the reason for the tanty. I doubt Labour has had a better chance to screw the proverbial knife in his back.

          • Colonial Viper 16.1.3.1.1
            6 April 2013 at 12:03 am

            Over on Red Alert I directed Grant Robertson to The Standard posts on the subject

            Hmmmm are you sure that The Standard is relevant to political discussion in this country? I heard an opinion on that from a Labour Leader recently.

            • xtasy 16.1.3.1.1.1
              6 April 2013 at 12:08 am

              CV: Hah, I actually fed some info to the Labour Party, including Shearer, and I am STILL WAITING for them to make use of it!

              The Berlin Bunker of the Fuehrer was more optimistic, high in spirits and better organised than the sinking ship called “Labour”!

              I observed today, the faces of Shearer on their website has now decreased from 10 to 9.

              Is that a signal, perhaps???

            • felix 16.1.3.1.1.2
              6 April 2013 at 12:10 am

              Hope Grant knows he risks being chucked out of the party if he comments here.

              • Colonial Viper …
                6 April 2013 at 12:16 am

                Almost happened to me.

                Still might given the reports I hear. Bloody Curran 😈

                • felix …
                  6 April 2013 at 12:20 am

                  Hey karol, maybe you could direct Shearer here too 😉

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    6 April 2013 at 12:25 am

                    There’s a dozen or more commentators on The Standard who could deliver a more cogent, persuasive and palatable Left Wing political rationale to the NZ public than the current Labour Party. Isn’t that sad?

                    Wait…a dozen such people are just enough to form a decently convincingly political party list… 😈

                    • xtasy …
                      6 April 2013 at 12:30 am

                      There is ALWAYS ROOM for an real ALTERNATIVE. Bright minds, ideas and sound agendas are a start. Put the seed into the ground, spread the news, and it is likely to grow, it has done so in a lot of societies, with different issues. And once people get the MESSAGE and ideas, they will swiftly connect and join. Bang, here goes a fertile idea.

      • Matthew Hooton 16.1.4
        6 April 2013 at 8:24 am

        The knucklehead comment and extended prime ministerial interview, were made on RadioLIVE, which, as pointed out, is owned by Mediaworks, which also owns TV3. So as well as being genuinely newsworthy, TV3 would want to report the comment to promote RadioLIVE and its access to the PM. For the same reason, TVNZ would prefer not to report anything that happened on RadioLIVE even if, as in this case, it is genuinely newsworthy. I expect you will find that RNZ and NewstalkZB will also not have reported “knucklehead,” although I haven’t checked.

  17. Morrissey 17
    5 April 2013 at 8:39 pm

    More to the point, Key has lied to parliament, on several occasions. Will the Labour Party do anything to initiate proceedings by the Privileges Committee?

    Where IS David Shearer, by the way?

    • dumrse 17.1
      5 April 2013 at 8:54 pm

      Clearly he hasn’t lied otherwise he would have been fronted to the PC by now. I guess then that’s its your opinion he has lied.

      • rosy 17.1.1
        5 April 2013 at 9:14 pm

        the complaint has been made

        Mr Robertson has laid a breach of privilege complaint against Mr Key with Speaker David Carter, claiming the prime minister misled parliament when he answered questions about his role in the appointment.

        But seeing Carter decides whether it goes to the PC it seems unlikely he’ll rule in Labour’s favour given that he lets Key get away with not answering questions in the house as it is.

        I guess the back up is –

        Labour leader David Shearer has on Thursday written to the Auditor-General Lyn Provost asking her to launch an inquiry into the process used to appoint Mr Fletcher and Prime Minister John Key’s involvement in it.

      • Morrissey 17.1.2
        6 April 2013 at 11:03 am

        He has lied repeatedly and flagrantly. It’s a matter of public record. Your nickname is appropriate.

    • Pete 17.2
      5 April 2013 at 9:05 pm

      Where IS David Shearer, by the way?

      It’s probably best to leave this in the hands of Grant Robertson, anyway. If Shearer ran with this, comparisons will be drawn with his own recent brain fade, which isn’t the same thing, but it’s the line the Nats would take.

      • UpandComer 17.2.1
        6 April 2013 at 12:18 am

        You’re right, it isn’t the same thing, it’s much much worse, and it will keep coming up like a glorious phoenix every time your dear leader opens his mouth to accuse for having a brain fade.

        • Colonial Viper 17.2.1.1
          6 April 2013 at 12:22 am

          I personally think that Key shoulder tapping an old acquaintance, someone with no relevant experience, for one of NZ’s top spy jobs, and then using that person to help carry conduct a potentially illegal US corporate agenda against Dotcom, plus providing cover for doing so, is worse.

          Don’t you?

          • UpandComer 17.2.1.1.1
            6 April 2013 at 12:27 am

            We’ve already established no one else in the universe thinks Fletcher’s stirling civil service record amounts to ‘no relevant experience’. Even other commenters on here have said that Fletcher’s experience was in fact ideal for what was going on at the GCSB at the time.

            I suppose the key point in your next statement is ‘potentially’ illegal.

            Come on, I know your opinion on Shearer too. You know what’s worse. Come on Mr Viper. For all you know that money could be involved in some dastardly US corporate agenda directly. Also just remember Fletcher’s appointment came ‘after’ the stuff-ups.

            • felix 17.2.1.1.1.1
              6 April 2013 at 12:30 am

              Don’t worry mate, I’m sure it’ll all blow over in a couple of days.

            • Colonial Viper 17.2.1.1.1.2
              6 April 2013 at 12:30 am

              I’m sorry, I think you’ve mistaken Fletcher’s experience as being relevant to leading intelligence gathering, analysis and comms/signal operations.

              Please justify.

              • infused …
                6 April 2013 at 2:00 pm

                I’m sure with your vast knowledge on the issue is how you’ve come to this conclusion?

            • felix 17.2.1.1.1.3
              6 April 2013 at 1:10 am

              “Even other commenters on here have said that Fletcher’s experience was in fact ideal for what was going on at the GCSB at the time … Also just remember Fletcher’s appointment came ‘after’ the stuff-ups.”

              I know, it’s so weird that Key is embarrassed about hiring him.

              You’d think he’d be skiting about it but instead he lies for a whole week and tries to cover up his involvement. For a whole week!

              So weird.

            • karol 17.2.1.1.1.4
              6 April 2013 at 7:28 am

              UaC: Fletcher’s stirling civil service record [citation needed]

        • Morrissey 17.2.1.2
          6 April 2013 at 11:10 am

          You’re right, it isn’t the same thing, it’s much much worse…

          It’s a National Party activist!

  18. Blue 18
    5 April 2013 at 8:57 pm

    This is so typically John Key. All smiles and charm with the journos – until they start doing their jobs.

    Once he’s realised they won’t go for the usual bullshit, he shows his true colours – sulky, petulant, paranoid and entitled. Just like the hissy fit he threw during the tea tapes saga.

    He’s had the easiest media ride of any PM in NZ’s history and he still bitches and moans about the coverage he receives. The level to which he imagines that a free pass from the media is his due is staggering.

  19. Plan B 19
    5 April 2013 at 9:45 pm

    ‘But forearmed is forewarned. I’m changing too.’

    I don’t think he said that the right way round? Unless it was swapped on the Stuff site

  20. Sanctuary 20
    5 April 2013 at 10:53 pm

    If I were John Key I’d be a bit miffed to – how come Tony Ryall was able to get his frumpy neighbour appointed Race Relations Commissioner without much grief when he is getting all the drama over his mate from play school? I mean, Mr. Fletcher is even a white middle aged male for crying out loud!

    • Colonial Viper 20.1
      5 April 2013 at 10:55 pm

      Ryall is a frakking good operator. I’s dotted, t’s crossed.

      • McFlock 20.1.1
        5 April 2013 at 10:59 pm

        I’m picking ryall as a dark Horse successor to key. Joyce collins and brownlee tucker each other out, he sneaks in.

        • TruthSeeker 20.1.1.1
          5 April 2013 at 11:45 pm

          It’ll be English. Ryall as deputy I reckon. Joyce as Finance. Collins out in the cold. (if it comes to that)

          • Colonial Viper 20.1.1.1.1
            6 April 2013 at 12:08 am

            Yeah that’s a smart analysis. Whoever wants to be PM will need the backing of English’ rural conservative block. Yes it could potentially be done without him…but that would result in ongoing instability.

            • felix 20.1.1.1.1.1
              6 April 2013 at 12:11 am

              God I hope it’s English, I hope it so fucking much.

              He really deserves it.

        • rosy 20.1.1.2
          6 April 2013 at 12:44 am

          I’m going for Ryall as a dark horse as well, unless:
          1. he’s hated in cabinet and we don’t know about it
          2. the public continues to not really ‘get’ him.
          3. why promote someone who seems to be doing their job with little fuss?

          But yeah, English would be awesomely bad and in that case Ryall would make a good Bill Birch, unfortunately.

      • xtasy 20.1.2
        5 April 2013 at 11:05 pm

        Yes, Tony Rile (aka Ryall) is the SERPENT, the sneaky snake, with a bold, colourful tie, always smart and calculating. He is one to watch, but he now also has Annette King, another professional pollie with agenda and knowledge AND experience, keeping a close watch on him. There have been some humble responses in question time by Rile lately.

        • Colonial Viper 20.1.2.1
          5 April 2013 at 11:11 pm

          No doubt. But Ryall has kept the nurses, junior doctors, specialists and patient advocacy groups largely on side. That’s political brilliance mate. Sheer political brilliance.

          • xtasy 20.1.2.1.1
            5 April 2013 at 11:48 pm

            CV: Yes, because so many are on temp and casual contracts, they all fear for their damned survival, right?

            • Colonial Viper 20.1.2.1.1.1
              6 April 2013 at 12:08 am

              I would say that those on the (quite generous) temp and locum contracts quite like the gravy train, and Ryall has been happy to turn a blind eye

              • xtasy …
                6 April 2013 at 12:14 am

                Yes, “locum” is the word, and I know a “designated WINZ doctor” considering that too now, that his WINZ jobs seem to have “dried up” a little, after someone raise the shit that was going on with “designated (shit) doctors”, compromising their own code.

                There are always “opportunities”, and Ryall has his favoured network, who in return thank him for generous opportunities and handsome remunerations. The system is working, for the few picking the big fruits. Mango skins for the losers.

              • McFlock …
                6 April 2013 at 2:29 am

                That and he’s about the only current minister with a reputation of allowing professional evidence to affect his decisions.

    • felix 20.2
      6 April 2013 at 12:01 am

      ” how come Tony Ryall was able to get his frumpy neighbour appointed Race Relations Commissioner without much grief”

      Probably because he didn’t lie about it in parliament and in the media. Just a guess.

  21. xtasy 21
    5 April 2013 at 11:01 pm

    Yep, Key is now taking on the “command centre”, tight line approach, no more comments on details, before we check with our staff and “details”. Keep the details hidden, the present application of the Official Information Act process mays serve as a useful example, and tell people, and of course the common MSM media lackeys to “take a hike” and “bugger off”.

    Key is now on guard, but also highly defensive, this is his last standing. He is close to the “Berlin bunker” mentality now, he is actually losing credit, trust and convincing arguments.

    But danger is, he still has his NETWORK of media spinners, of favourable operators in many places, to see off any criticism, to apply more TEFLON and get the public “fixed”.

    Going by the leading TV news reports, he is doing very well, despite of all these rumours, contradictions and possibly twisted truths, he is off to China now, to meet Xi, the new leader, so the focus will shift once again. The Royals are a great example of what to learn from them. Kissing babies and petty emotive headlines always get many “moved”, while the brain is disconnected or totally switched off.

    I am watching this space.

    • Colonial Viper 21.1
      5 April 2013 at 11:14 pm

      China has thoroughly analysed the ups and downs of the current NZ government. I doubt they are impressed.

      • xtasy 21.1.1
        5 April 2013 at 11:46 pm

        The Mainland Chinese do not bother to be “impressed” or “to care”, they want to know what opportunities exist for Mainland Chinese business and investors, nothing else.

        A “clown” like Key would come in excellently well, as he is the stuff they deal with in some African dictatorships, where the elite get nice bribes and perks for inviting Mainland Chinese corps.

        Yes, they (the Chinese) will have their experts analyse anything going on in Gondwana Land aka Aotearoa Split off Piece of Earth called New Zealand now, same as what happens in PNG, Tonga and other “island states”.

        The “wet” and desperately “sweaty palm” of Key will rub in total harmony with the same “wet” hands of “opportune deals” and “glee” that will be reached out by Xi and others. How much Xi was “beloved” by his fellow villagers was recently shown on ITV, I think, where none were to be found, and a sole fool finally repeated common party line propaganda about the chosen, select leader, doing all so great things for them.

        Now two dairy companies will set foot here, doing jobs NZ companies could well do, to produce baby formula and milk powder for one selected “market”. Now did Now Zealand ever learn from the “motherland” UK type experience?

        • Colonial Viper 21.1.1.1
          6 April 2013 at 12:13 am

          The Mainland Chinese do not bother to be “impressed” or “to care”, they want to know what opportunities exist for Mainland Chinese business and investors, nothing else.

          Ah yes, but remember that “opportunity” from the Chinese perspective is not the same as the financial quarter to quarter “opportunity” that western corporates look for.

          • xtasy 21.1.1.1.1
            6 April 2013 at 12:40 am

            They tend to have a different strategy on things. That means to not “fight” your enemy or competing power, they rather “engage” the enemy or competitor, and “own” their enemy, also meaning “competitor”. So that is shown in many “investments” in various resource and land rich countries. China traditionally does NOT see war or imperialism as a means to an end, as dumber “western” powers tended to do, they play a much smarter game.

            But on that, I would be very mindful of their involvement. Also I would rather deal with Singapore, Malaysia and a few other countries than with Mainland China and their version of “capitalism”, which is a new form of “state capitalism”, but for some even worse than blunt US capitalism.

      • Tim 21.1.2
        6 April 2013 at 1:20 pm

        In – fucking – deed!
        And I’m loving it. On the DailyB there’s a post by Treen which I’ve made comment on. It isn’t JUST the Chinese either. Key’s under the misapprehension that his recent South American jaunt was a roaring success. Whilst something MIGHT come of it – believe me they’re well aware of some of the rip offs going on here under this Proim Munsta – and that comes from people that actually accompanied the pillock on his trip. Whilst the attitude towards the Chavez incident might have been mildly insulting, the manner in which certain foreign nationals are being treated for simply trying to stand up for attaining what was promised them (in areas such as the EDGEEKASHUN market), is not going un-noticed.
        And don’t get me started on how the Indian government’s perception of Key is.
        I’m reminded of how Julia Gillard had to go do a grovel session after Indian students were being attacked in Melbourne.

        KEY will only have himself to blame.
        That’s the trouble with sociopathic narcissists though – they can’t accept their own respnsibility for failure.

        I’m still wondering how a NZ public ever regarded the guy as being KRISMETUK. Did they? or was that just an MSM perception

        • Tim 21.1.2.1
          6 April 2013 at 1:38 pm

          Oh….btw, have you noticed how the Nats have gone all quiet now on the spectacular success of that buzznuss trip?
          For such a roaring success, one could have expected a little more…neh?

  22. burt 22
    5 April 2013 at 11:49 pm

    OMG, in two terms Key has sunk to how Clark was from day one…. Deferring to his spin Dr’s before answering questions. What’s the bet before long he forgets how to admit he ever made a single mistake and answers every challenge with a self serving “move on”.

    • xtasy 22.1
      6 April 2013 at 12:04 am

      bart (Simpleton Simpson): If that comment on Clark had any validity, I would put up with this, but it does NOT! Key is a slimy, greasy eel that goes through every loose net. The media are useless to deal with his cunning strategies. NO wonder so many senior media journos go to work for Australian networks!

    • felix 22.2
      6 April 2013 at 12:06 am

      Yeah that’s exactly how Clark answered every challenge.

      Fer real. 🙄

    • karol 22.3
      6 April 2013 at 7:35 am

      Yes, now Key has sunk to overseas standards – the benchmark of his ambitions. And, in future, this is what we will expect from Key’s writers of prepared questions and those of the MSM still subservient to him:

      PS: not that I want to equate the opposition to Key’s government with those that ended the governance of the regime of the speaker linked to…. though, (unfortunately) some in the current NZ opposition do subscribe to similar belief systems.

  23. Chris 23
    6 April 2013 at 11:08 am

    so key has booked a drink with julia gillard in China.Two losers drowning their sorrows.

    • Tim 23.1
      6 April 2013 at 2:05 pm

      :).
      He’ll be taking advice on how to deal with his various foreign policy fuckups (or rather… those of his advisors)

      When it all comes to pass, it won’t necessarily be Gillard’s policies and leadership in question, but rather the sleezey nature in which she obtained leadership in order to satisfoy an ego.
      It’s probably why Key finds solace relaxing in her cleveage.
      What’s funnier (and sadder) is that there’s a Labour that can’t learn from a fuckup of a Labor

  24. georgecom 24
    6 April 2013 at 9:54 pm

    Has Don Brash apologised yet for lying to the NZ public?

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