Know when to fold ’em

Written By: - Date published: 2:11 pm, June 15th, 2009 - 40 comments
Categories: mt albert - Tags: , ,

  • A string of high-profile stuff-ups. You were too smug and incompetent to deal with them.
  • A disappointment to your boss. Key put a lot of faith in you.
  • He defended you at first before cutting you loose to protect his brand.
  • A devastating public humiliation. After which it is clear you have no political future.
  • Now person non grata. Key has washed his hands of you.
  • Destined to be one of the has-beens on the backbench.
  • Your presence a drag on your party. Fodder for your party’s enemies.

Worth showed he knew when it was time to slink off, do you?

    Melissa, what good will staying do?

    40 comments on “Know when to fold ’em ”

    • Comments are now closed

    1. indiana 1
      15 June 2009 at 2:14 pm

      Do you need some salt and lemon juice?

      • Mr Magoo 1.1
        15 June 2009 at 3:14 pm

        She knew when to fold em – weeks before the election.
        Knew when to hold em, when john key was on a very important prior engagement.
        Knew when to walk away, such as from some of public debates.

        But I think she really should have known that is was NOT the time to run.

        But then you you can’t count your support, while you ain’t actually at the boss’s table.(i.e. in cabinet)

        And there was certainly enough for vote countin…when the polling was done.

        Thank you, thank you. I will be here Mondays, Wednesdays and most public holidays….

    2. exbrethren 2
      15 June 2009 at 2:34 pm

      Zetetic you show a complete lack of class.

      • gobsmacked 2.1
        15 June 2009 at 3:52 pm

        I agree with Exbrethren.

        Contrast this with David Shearer, magnanimous in victory. A positive message from him and from Labour can strike a chord with voters. Immature personal vitriol will not. It’s very depressing (again) to see this kind of tin-eared rubbish on the Standard.

        Zetetic, a period of silence on your part would be welcome.

    3. Maynard J 3
      15 June 2009 at 2:48 pm

      Odd to be bitter in victory. If Lee sticks about, that could be to your benefit, if she is such a liability.

      I do not see the point of this article from a strategic or tactical perspective. We all know Lee’s flaws but stepping down after losing a by-election is unlikely and would be a bad outcome for the Left.

      National is one Worth away from Franks, remember that.

      • Merlin 3.1
        15 June 2009 at 3:10 pm

        maybe Zetty has done that calculation. or maybe he’s just trying to make the Righties squeal

      • Jasper 3.2
        15 June 2009 at 3:53 pm

        Next up after Cam Calder is Conway Powell. So there’s two to go before Fwanks

        • Maynard J 3.2.1
          15 June 2009 at 4:23 pm

          Thanks Jasper, you are right. this gladdens my heart.

          merlin – making them squeal does not achieve much, and is not a good look. Stirring has its place, doubtless, not like this though.

    4. vto 4
      15 June 2009 at 2:53 pm

      Slink off together with smelly Goff and the sting lady Choudary.

      poooweeee, what a stench emanating from labour over this. mind you it was rather commonplace pre-election 08 too so should not be a surprise.

    5. Ianmac 5
      15 June 2009 at 2:58 pm

      It is Key’s action/nonaction which is more interesting. Was it his decision to back off support? Did his advisers believe that it would be less damning to not be seen than fronting up as a show of loyal support? On a personal level (not politically) I do feel a bit sorry for Melissa.

      • Pascal's bookie 5.1
        15 June 2009 at 3:10 pm

        It’s stupid is what it is. He avoided a few potentially bad images of doubtful effect, in favour of a day or two of coverage about what a prick he is, and highlighted the lack of support Lee got throughout the campaign.

        As a political response to what they must have known about at least a week ago, it’s made of suck really.

        And yeah. Lee gets pathos points.

        • Maynard J 5.1.1
          15 June 2009 at 3:23 pm

          If Key had been there he would be seen as being with the troops at a bad time. I think the images would not have been that bad. If he really could not go, then fair enough (I am being generous perhaps but it is not inconcievable that there was no way he could attend), English should have been there. Or Brownlee. Or Power. Or Smith. I will let Ryall off, he has better things to be doing. Collins, Williamson, Carter, Tolley – someone in the top ten; well, top five really.

          Coleman is 29 on the list.

    6. exbrethren 6
      15 June 2009 at 3:05 pm

      Coleman’s hasty “it was all Melissa’s fault. Please let me keep my career” schtick is also more worthy of opprobrium.

      • Tigger 6.1
        15 June 2009 at 3:52 pm

        I question why he was made her ‘campaign manager’. They kept playing the ‘think of the big issues’ cards but he now claims it was all about local issues…. He is a busy Minister – why was it left up to him? National clearly didn’t ever take this race seriously and it showed.

    7. toad 7
      15 June 2009 at 3:34 pm

      vto said: poooweeee, what a stench…

      Speaking of stenches, there is something very fishy about the Rankin appointment. It is now clear that she wasn’t appointed upon her application, but the Nats were actively trying to find a senior appointment for her.

      Anyone got any idea why, given that she played no small part in the demise of the last National-led Government?

      • Anita 7.1
        15 June 2009 at 3:46 pm

        Have you looked at the make-up of the For the Sake of Our Children Trust?

        • Tigger 7.1.1
          15 June 2009 at 3:57 pm

          She has been mentoring Bennett, correct? Also mentoring others? Perhaps pushing for list selection – but too polarising to be on the list so used elsewhere? Or simply rattling the Nat cage for some payback for all her help? This is very interesting news – hardly surprising though…

    8. exbrethren 8
      15 June 2009 at 3:55 pm

      I think I’ve found a photo from Key’s weekend away.

      Sorry, I’m really too busy to be there Melissa.

      Edit: link fixed

      • Kevin Welsh 8.1
        15 June 2009 at 4:20 pm

        “Hey look”! It’s John!

        • indiana 8.1.1
          15 June 2009 at 4:34 pm

          I’m late for the angry mob…where does the line start? But we are new age modern mob, so I brought aerosol paint cans and a black and decker drill, instead of a pitch fork…is that OK? Now what do I do about these lammingtons mum baked for me to throw?

      • Ms X 8.2
        15 June 2009 at 6:24 pm

        can’t get into the link?

    9. Tim Ellis 9
      15 June 2009 at 4:50 pm

      Not very classy, Zetitic. About as classy as the Labour Party activist who yelled out when Lee turned up to concede at Labour Party HQ: “At least you’ve finally done one thing right!”

    10. Rochelle Rees 10
      15 June 2009 at 4:52 pm

      I have to say I think this post is a little in bad taste. Yes Melissa Lee made a number of rather silly mistakes in her campaign. However some things, such as her blank in an interview with TV3 should never have been aired. Melissa also took responsibility for her mistakes in her concession speech on Saturday night. She also had the guts to come over to the Labour Party celebrations and congratulate David Shearer in person. That put my estimation of her up a million miles.

      I think the National Party has been awful to Melissa. They didn’t have anyone from the leadership supporting her on Saturday, not even the party president!

      So while my personal view of Melissa is that she is inexperienced, and she comes across as rather arrogant, I do have a fair bit of sympathy for her right now. Why kick her while she’s down?

      • jarbury 10.1
        15 June 2009 at 5:02 pm

        Fully agreed there. Time to cut her a bit of slack I reckon.

        If you throw in someone politically inexperienced to the mess that is a byelection then you need to give them all the support you can. Sure Melissa Lee stuffed up a few times, but she tried her best. The same can certainly not be said for senior members of the National Party.

    11. Pat 11
      15 June 2009 at 5:20 pm

      If Lee is smart she will learn from this and come back stronger. She should take heart that it was third time lucky for Shearer, so one should never give up if you believe that you have something to contribute.

      And maybe the way Shearer and Lee behave with each other is a lesson to us all.

      • Tim Ellis 11.1
        15 June 2009 at 5:29 pm

        I agree Pat. Mr Shearer seems like a nice guy, and he has been gracious and a gentleman in victory. Ms Lee had the courage to front up and concede after what must have been a pretty humbling loss. It would be the nice if people like zetitic could be a bit more decent, but I suppose he can afford to behave so disgracefully when he’s writing anonymously.

    12. toad 12
      15 June 2009 at 5:52 pm

      Rochelle, I tend to agree with you. Apart from this bit:

      However some things, such as her blank in an interview with TV3 should never have been aired.

      The blank interview with Duncan Garner was just a few days after Melissa Lee stood him up. He had arranged an interview, she had initially agreed to it, and then she failed to turn up.

      What goes around comes around, and the golden rule (unless you are very clever in doing it, as Winston Peters was, although he eventually became unstuck too) is “Don’t piss off the media”.

      After Melissa’s no show, Duncan presumably decided to get his revenge, and ran the whole shambles of her interview. I recall seeing Rod Donald once stuffing up two takes of an interview, and the interviewer was still prepared to do a third, which was the one that was run.

      But piss them off, and they will run the one that makes you look worst.

      I did feel a wee bit sorry for Melissa Lee, but if you don’t know what a unitary authority is (or what it is named) when local government organisation is a major issue in the campaign, you bring it upon yourself.

      A little less haughtiness earlier from Melissa and she may have persuaded Duncan to reshoot that interview. But I do think the way it turned out for her was entirely her fault, and that of the National Party who failed to surround her with competent political and media minders. I mean Jonathan Coleman FFS – the man who gets into strife for blowing smoke in peoples’ faces at a rugby game while in a tobacco-sponsored corporate box!

      • sweetd 12.1
        15 June 2009 at 7:32 pm

        duncan garner likes to think of himself as the news, more than just reporting on it.

      • felix 12.2
        15 June 2009 at 7:39 pm

        According to Garner she had just told him that she didn’t need to go to public meetings about the supercity because she was already out there on people’s doorsteps, explaining to them how the supercity would work.

        He called her bluff.

    13. Rich 13
      15 June 2009 at 6:28 pm

      I’d rather have Disastrous Korea(n) in Parliament that Stephen (my dog can’t get married so why should gays) Francks.

    14. bobo 14
      15 June 2009 at 7:17 pm

      What was the important meeting Key had on the Sat that couldn’t be cancelled because on the friday the media were reporting he just was having a break in Taupo? Did lord Ashcroft fly in to watch the rugby?

      Key reminds me of the sergeant instructor in All Quiet on the Western Front..

    15. chris 15
      15 June 2009 at 7:32 pm

      where is zetitic to rebut this? I must say, since clinton/steve left the standard (ahahaha) of posting of the newbies is pretty shit. And I vote labour

    16. mike 16
      15 June 2009 at 7:43 pm

      “a family do in Taupo’

      How dare he let his family come before work. You wouldn’t find Helen..ah..hang on a minute…

    17. Lanthanide 17
      15 June 2009 at 8:01 pm

      Melissa Lee has already paid the price for her poor campaign – a really humbling defeat.

      Her gaffes were in no way serious enough for her to need to quit parliament, although I think she’s going to have trouble turning her career around after this.

    18. gingercrush 18
      15 June 2009 at 8:54 pm

      Z is fine. I don’t agree with much of what he says but its nothing too bad. Though for a RAM voter, I would have thought he’d be much tougher on Labour who have seemingly gone even more pro-worker now that they’re in opposition.

    19. large fat man 19
      15 June 2009 at 10:42 pm

      this post was just nasty, there was no wit or intelligent criticism, just bile.

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      Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
      Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
      5 days ago

    • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
      Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
      The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
      5 days ago

    • PT use up but fare increases coming
      Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
      Greater AucklandBy Matt L
      5 days ago

    • The very opposite of social investment
      Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
      The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
      5 days ago

    • Giving Tuesday
      For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
      Skeptical Science
      6 days ago

    • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
      Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
      More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
      6 days ago

    • Climate Change: Stopping oil
      National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
      No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
      6 days ago

    • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
      Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
      Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
      6 days ago

    • The stupidest of stupid reasons
      One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
      No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
      6 days ago

    • A website bereft of buzz
      Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
      Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
      6 days ago

    • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
      Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
      Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
      6 days ago

    • Luxon's Breakfast.
      The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
      Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
      6 days ago

    • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
       Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
      Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
      6 days ago

    • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
      A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
      Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
      6 days ago

    • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
      Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
      The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
      6 days ago

    • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
      PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
      The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
      6 days ago

    • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
      This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
      Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
      6 days ago

    • The New Government’s Agreements
      Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
      Greater AucklandBy Matt L
      6 days ago

    • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
      Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
      The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
      6 days ago

    • How the culture will change in the Beehive
      Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
      PolitikBy Richard Harman
      6 days ago

    • No More Winnie Blues.
      So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
      Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
      7 days ago

    • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
      A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
      Skeptical Science
      1 week ago

    • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
      On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
      More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
      1 week ago

    • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
      Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
      Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
      1 week ago

    • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
      Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
      Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
      1 week ago

    • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
      Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
      David FarrierBy David Farrier
      1 week ago

    • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
      Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
      More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
      1 week ago

    • Cans of Worms.
      “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
      Bowalley Road
      1 week ago

    • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
      This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
      Skeptical Science
      1 week ago

    • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
      A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
      BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
      1 week ago

    • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
      The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
      BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
      2 weeks ago

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