Like nats leaving a sinking ship

Written By: - Date published: 1:22 pm, June 25th, 2019 - 65 comments
Categories: Amy Adams, national, Politics, same old national - Tags:

It looks like the National caucus is resigned to the fact that National will not win the next election.

Amy Adams and Alistair Scott have both decided to call it a day and announce their retirement from politics.

From Radio New Zealand:

National MP Amy Adams has announced she will retire from politics at the 2020 election.

She said as a consequence of that decision she has chosen to stand down from the spokesperson roles she holds in the party.

Fellow National MP Alastair Scott also annnouced this afternoon that he would not contest the 2020 election.

Ms Adams has been the MP for Selwyn since 2008 and is the party’s spokesperson for finance and shadow attorney general.

Ms Adams said making the decision to step away from politics had not been easy but she believed it was the right time for her and her family.

“Ultimately it just came down to the life I wanted to lead for me and my family,” she told reporters

She said she had promised herself that the day she thought she could not give politics 100 percent of her passion she would step aside.

After 12 years in politics and more than 16 years in law, at a frenetic pace, she felt she had given everything.

“I want my life back,” she said.

I wonder who is next?

65 comments on “Like nats leaving a sinking ship ”

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  1. Enough is Enough 1
    25 June 2019 at 1:32 pm

    Its called renewal and is generally a positive thing in every organisation – political, business, and sport.

    It will be a cold day in hell before I vote National, but as far as Torys go, Amy was a good one and did some good things while in government, especially as Justice Minister.

    All the best for the future.

  2. Peter 2
    25 June 2019 at 1:34 pm

    Credit to Adams for the number of dumb questions she's asked in Parliament in the past year. Maybe she replayed some of the clips, wondered how things had got to that pitiful state and decided to pull the pin.

  3. SHG 3
    25 June 2019 at 1:34 pm

    All the best for the future.

    Yep. Kia kaha Amy.

  4. Fireblade 4
    25 June 2019 at 1:38 pm

    You've got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em, know when to walk away and know when to run.

    It's time to run.

  5. Clive Macann 5
    25 June 2019 at 1:41 pm

    2nd in the Leader chase in February and now watching the Damage done by Bridges ever since.

    I can see she doesn't want to be involved anymore.

    She would have been my 1st pick over all others.

    • Dukeofurl 5.1
      25 June 2019 at 3:26 pm

      Im sure it was because Bridges was going to demote her in his reshuffle.

      She now says she 'wants her life back' , but a little under 18 months ago she was wanting to be opposition leader.

      The timing doesnt make sense.

      As national finance spokesperson shes been invisible as far as the general public goes, so Bridges knew he couldnt 'carry her' when he wasnt going anywhere either

      • peterlepaysan 5.1.1
        25 June 2019 at 9:18 pm

        Bridges does all the talking for all portfolios all the time. Yeah , ok, there is occasional sniper fire from opposition mps, using outdated lightweight firearms.

        OH there is also the pitiful political pension.

    • Dukeofurl 5.2
      25 June 2019 at 3:26 pm

      Im sure it was because Bridges was going to demote her in his reshuffle.

      She now says she 'wants her life back' , but a little under 18 months ago she was wanting to be opposition leader.

      The timing doesnt make sense.

      As national finance spokesperson shes been invisible as far as the general public goes, so Bridges knew he couldnt 'carry her' when he wasnt going anywhere either

  6. Roy cartland 6
    25 June 2019 at 1:52 pm

    I'm glad to see Amy go, she was actually one of the smarter, more voteable ones. If Nikki Kaye and that amicable one from wairarapa left, they'd be absolutely worthless.

    Good on Nick Smith for clinging on.

  7. WILD KATIPO 7
    25 June 2019 at 1:52 pm

    And now ending the news tonight with the top story today was the annual Teddy Bears picnic …

    Teddy Bears Picnic ~ sung by Anne Murray – YouTube



  8. ianmac 8
    25 June 2019 at 1:57 pm

    It is sad to see Amy go as she provided good sport by asking inane questions and Grant and team was more than a match for her. Hope the Nats cannot find a quality replacement for her.

    Notice that last week the 3 Front bench women were wearing pink jackets. Simon wasn't.

  9. esoteric pineapples 9
    25 June 2019 at 2:58 pm

    Alistair Scott got a lot of flack from both those who voted for him and those who didn't, but generally speaking he has done a pretty good job as Wairarapa MP (saying this as someone who wouldn't vote for National in a million years). He pushed for the usual National policies but I don't recall him ever being publicly obnoxious and he got behind a lot of community events like White Ribbon with what seemed like a genuine commitment.

  10. Psycho Milt 10
    25 June 2019 at 3:01 pm

    She said she had promised herself that the day she thought she could not give politics 100 percent of her passion she would step aside.

    And it turns out that that day arrives shortly after the realisation that she's facing a long stretch on the opposition benches. Still, she never did give the impression that her "passion" extends very far beyond her own self interest.

    • Kat 10.1
      25 June 2019 at 3:39 pm

      Watched her face very carefully during her announcement. I think Amy was a little economic with the truth.

      • Wensleydale 10.1.1
        25 June 2019 at 4:12 pm

        If you're going to make a go of it as a National Party MP, you've really got to work on your evasiveness, duplicity and ability to talk out of both sides of your mouth simultaneously. It's a tricky skill to master, and a lot of them simply aren't up to it. Simon Bridges is probably still working his way through "Making Shit Up – A Primer For Ages 3 – 8." John Key really needs to take a break from tossing his corporate colleagues over a cliff and show them how it's done. That man could bullshit his way out of a reactor meltdown.

        • Incognito 10.1.1.1
          25 June 2019 at 4:20 pm

          That man could bullshit his way out of a reactor meltdown.

          Talking of reactor meltdown, he should change his name from “Smiling Assassin” to “Terminator”.

          “Hasta la vista, baby, I’ll be back” like he never akshually left.

  11. Professor Longhair 11
    25 June 2019 at 3:08 pm

    Alastair Scott? Never heard him speak, in fact never knew he was in parliament.

    Amy Adams? Hopeless. Dim. A waste of space.

    • Dukeofurl 11.1
      25 June 2019 at 3:32 pm

      Another one of those 'Key look a likes' who give up an expat life and come back to NZ – wanting to get into politics

      "

      After a successful banking career in London and Tokyo, he returned to New Zealand in 1997, and established the wine exporting business ‘Matahiwi Estate’.

      • peterlepaysan 11.1.1
        25 June 2019 at 9:26 pm

        The genius that told a teacher she should get another job if she wanted more pay: 'cos that what his staff did if they wanted more money.

        Please boycott Matawhi wine products

  12. Ad 12
    25 June 2019 at 3:31 pm

    Predictably Goldsmith gets Finance.

    They don't have the deepest batting lineup, but then again, who does?

  13. stuff the politicians 13
    25 June 2019 at 3:48 pm

    I hope that the member for Kaikoura is the next to decide to "spend more time with his family"

    We already know he is tired, as he is useless.

    Good old Nick Smith, I reckon he has been gone for a few years now.

    And Old Gerald Brownlee. for Christ sake, wake up Ilam voters.

    The list is endless, Maggy who ?

  14. observer 14
    25 June 2019 at 3:49 pm

    Leadership candidates who have left or are leaving: Steven Joyce, Jonathan Coleman, Amy Adams. Less than 2 years ago they were the Future.

    Remember that all 3 of them would be senior Ministers today if English had won. They sure love to take their bat home when the voters won't play ball.

    Adams' departure is especially bad for National, because she was the default option for MPs who can't stand Collins but realize Simon is lost. Adams was not inspiring, but not loathed either (by Nats).

    • woodart 14.1
      25 June 2019 at 4:19 pm

      yes, in the leadership race, adams was the least unpalatable( is that praise?)all the rest were munsters…

    • Drowsy M. Kram 14.2
      25 June 2019 at 5:03 pm

      Agreed: Barclay, Borrows, Foss, Foster-Bell, Goodhew, Lotu-liga, McCully, Naylor, Parata, Tisch, Williamson, English, Coleman, Joyce, Finlayson, Korako, Scott, Adams…

      John 'Phil' Key's
      LEGGA SEIZE

      https://dilbert.com/

  15. patricia bremner 15
    25 June 2019 at 4:06 pm

    Paula still hangs on.

    Goldsmith has a nasty mouth… the only thing in his favour is his name.

    In spite of denials obvious chairs on the Titanic there.

    • Kat 15.1
      25 June 2019 at 8:47 pm

      The Natanic has gone under, this is about first to the lifeboats. Rats desert a sinking ship, cockroaches get trapped in the holds.

  16. Puckish Rogue 16
    25 June 2019 at 5:19 pm

    Only now did they see the folly of not supporting Jude when they had the opportunity…

  17. Cinny 17
    25 June 2019 at 5:53 pm

    I wonder how many nat mp's have now exited since key did a runner?

  18. Peter Christchurh nz 18
    25 June 2019 at 5:54 pm

    There is more to this story.

    Look at the many many threats that p****e of s**t cam Slater made on whaleoil about her. Endless threats to expose her about some huge breach of ethics. He held this over very publicly over a long time.

    With his connections to the very heart of National, there MUST be something there

    • Sacha 18.1
      25 June 2019 at 6:21 pm

      Did he ever say anything about Ryall before he left?

    • Muttonbird 18.2
      25 June 2019 at 8:51 pm

      Yeah, but saying the Nats and their voters lack ethics isn't a bombshell. It's well known fact. Look at the trouble John Key is getting himself into now.

  19. Ken 19
    25 June 2019 at 6:12 pm

    Funny really…..the one Nat that could help the opposition by leaving, is still there leading it.

    • Incognito 19.1
      25 June 2019 at 6:20 pm

      Seems to me that the Leader of the Opposition is all but opposed to leading the Opposition.

  20. Sacha 20
    25 June 2019 at 6:19 pm

    What on earth did disabled NZers do to deserve Maggie Barry as Nat portfolio-holder in the reshuffle?

    • Anne 20.1
      25 June 2019 at 6:47 pm

      Oh, did Maggie get a promotion? That explains why her 'between elections bill-boards' are reappearing after the bullying allegations surfaced. 😈

  21. CHCoff 21
    25 June 2019 at 6:28 pm

    That sign's got a better ring to it than 'Building Off Shore Owned Prisons', gotta hand it to em.

  22. observer 22
    25 June 2019 at 6:46 pm

    To guarantee victory for Ardern in 2020, Labour should let Ron Mark have a free run in Wairarapa.

    NZ First will probably fall below 5% (the Greens should stay above). National's only realistic chance is a big wasted vote for those 2 parties. Might be worth having an insurance policy (forget Shane Jones, his admiration for himself is not matched by the voters).

    • greywarshark 22.1
      25 June 2019 at 8:59 pm

      Sounds a good discussion point. You reckon Shane isn't popular – why not.

      The bluff hearty men always wanted him as an MP and he's living up to that standard isn't he?

  23. Puckish Rogue 23
    25 June 2019 at 7:12 pm

    Exactly, it would have been a Jude/NZFirst victory all the way!

    • peterlepaysan 23.1
      25 June 2019 at 9:45 pm

      A Jude and Shane double act?

      That is very Monty Pyothonesque.

      Both hilarious and terrifying

  24. Ankerrawshark) 24
    25 June 2019 at 8:05 pm

    Been wondering about your thoughts about Luxton puckish

  25. Michael who failed Civics 25
    25 June 2019 at 8:20 pm

    Adams saw the writing on the wall – her career had stalled and she'd failed to beat Grant Robertson, while there'd be no room for her under Crusher. Adams is stinking rich, with a huge property portfolio; together with the fat pension we'll have to pay her, she won't starve.

    As for the other one, I understand that the Nats themselves told him his time was up. He'll score a pension too, to go with his private wealth.

    Both of them will probably score soft jobs after they leave Parliament – on the boards of this or that, in the way that the Nats arrange for themselves.

    • woodart 25.1
      25 June 2019 at 8:45 pm

      yes, they will have soft landings, with directorships to keep them in fulltime day a month work……

      • greywarshark 25.1.1
        25 June 2019 at 9:03 pm

        Yes, every time you lift a stone there's a bold retired Gnat under it. Or you here some functionary's name and it is the same surname of some well-known pollie. I get a feeling that some directorships etc. are virtually hereditary seats that just get passed down in the family.

        • peterlepaysan 25.1.1.1
          25 June 2019 at 10:14 pm

          You got it.

          That is why the Natz, exist the business community looking after themselves, short term,

          Hucksters.

          Desperate media rely on business sources (the taxpayers union?) for "news"

          Internationally there are mega rich looking for more taxation on the rich and increased pay levels for the low paid.

          They are greedy enough, and smart enough to know that disparate incomes lead to unintended consequences.

          A way back in the 1950's there was a (not good) British movie called "I'm all right Jack" about trade unionists.

          I am all right exactly describes the Natz.

          Blinkered, privileged, self entitled, not poor people desperate to have robots and AI to wipe their anuses.

          • SHG 25.1.1.1.1
            26 June 2019 at 2:39 am

            National MPs leave Parliament because they know they can return to the private sector and make better money.

            Labour MPs hang on for dear life because they’ve never had to work for a paycheque and don’t know how.

        • Observer Tokoroa 25.1.1.2
          26 June 2019 at 7:50 am

          lol Greywarshark

          "Everytime you lift a stone …a nifty piece of writing !

          It is so near the Truth !