Written By:
mickysavage - Date published:
9:30 am, August 30th, 2017 - 48 comments
Categories: bill english, election 2017, Media, national, Politics, same old national, the praiseworthy and the pitiful -
Tags: paid parental leave, sue moroney
It seems National’s most passionate and vocal cheerleaders are no longer feeling the love. Clearly they see the writing on the wall and understand that a change of Government is looking more and more likely after every error filled day of National campaigning. Bill English is no John Key. He is Bill English. He is wooden, uninspiring, error prone, and his team are no longer capable of engaging in the dark arts of politics the way they used to. Instead of damage to their enemies all there is now is huge amounts of blowback.
But don’t take my word for this. Have a look at Whaleoil. Cameron Slater is saying basically the same thing.
And spare a thought for Mike Hosking, John Key’s BFF, who has this morning opened up in what is for him a poignant and heart felt way. I almost feel sorry for him.
He said this about National’s paid parental leave policy announced yesterday:
National’s parental leave deal yesterday to me smacks of cold, hard bribery. National has been dragged kicking and screaming into this debate. They have not been willing participants.
Every move they have made has been a result of private member’s bills and/or opposition pressure and promises. This is not a natural policy for them, like tax cuts or roading infrastructure or paying debt or creating jobs. And yet there they are handing it out like candy.
All of a sudden with the polls tightening, and their prospects on a knife edge – nothing is out of bounds.
Not that paid parental leave isn’t a good idea or welcome. But it’s been welcome for years, it’s been debated for years and they’ve resisted it for years. So why now? Because they want your vote. They don’t believe in it, they don’t love it, they don’t defend it.
Policy should at least in part be driven by genuine belief and desire, not a corrupt retail exchange. I know I sound like someone who’s just emerged from a cave – where the hell have I been? This is politics and these are politicians.
But it’s just this time it seems or feels like any decorum, any philosophical standing and belief is out the window and replaced by Voter Idol and prizes for anyone with a hand out.
He is right. The paid parental leave policy is cynical cold politics. National and English veoted Sue Moroney’s paid parental leave bill on the basis that the country could not afford it but 12 months later are offering something similar.
Under John Key National had a sense of style and purpose. This has now evaporated. All we have is a tired, out of control administration clinging to power and willing to do anything, including stealing the ideas of its opponents, to hold onto the ministerial limousines.
And their cheerleaders realise this is the case and they are hating it.
The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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Reposted:
Dear Mike Hosking,
I see on the Herald today you feel ‘used’. The recent election stuff has got to you. Oh dear, I’m saddened. And shocked of course.
But Mike, if you felt a thousand times worse, you wouldn’t be feeling half as bad many of us do, not just for this a couple of weeks before they election, but perpetually.
I know your delicate sensibilities are special and different than ours, but we have feelings too.
You continually use us to make yourself feel great. You abuse the position you are in by insulting our intelligence, sneering at common sense, and flaunting your lack of humanity and intellect by throwing it in our faces and ears. You use us to exercise and build your superiority complex.
I’m not sure I can suggest medication or therapy for your ailment Mike. Maybe if you’d spent more time in the sun in years gone by rather than up John Key’s arse, you’d be more at one with the real world. (You know that world you are wont to mention.)
So at this stage all I can suggest is, get fucked.
+1 A worthy and appropriate suggestion!
Brilliant – says it all!
I love you Pete, I agree wholeheartedly with your comment and wish I had said it.
+111
Pete +1000
Very well said Pete. 🙂
Great rant Pete on the button.
Sound s a bit redolent of the old Neuremburg Classic ” I was only following orders _ and look where it got me
Well said @Pete. I could not agree more!
Does this mean he’ll stand down as moderator?
Don’t be silly. With the petition in the news this is his way of pretending he’s not partisan. He is using his position and media space to make his case.
He says he needs a shower because of grubbiness and soils us by using us again.
Yes Pete – this does seem an attempt at reconstructing the facade of neutrality. This particularly struck my eye:
Okay – I’ll give him; “tax cuts or roading”, as “natural policy” for National. But; “paying debt or creating jobs”? He does; “sound like someone who’s just emerged from a cave”.
Do you think he might slip the questions to Bill before the debates so that Bill can “trash” Jacinda? It was claimed that Hilary had that advantage.
There is much a traffic controller can do…..
“Bill English. He is wooden, uninspiring, error prone, and his team are no longer capable”
And the rest: Corrupt*. Capricious**. Insincere***. Duplicitous****. Backwardly conservative*****.
* Sky City deal
** flip flop on gay marriage and parental leave
*** Todd Barclay
**** Double Dipton
***** abortion, civil union, prostitution
When Key practically endorsed Ardern didnt you all wonder at his relationship with English and his own party. This will feed Keys ego even more… But all that has changed is the facade. Whatever is being said now about National was true under Key.
So fickle. Too many people view politics as being on the winning or losing team. Including Hosking. Boo fucken Hoo. Alot of Nationals 9 years was smoke and mirrors, a Marketing/Branding Case Study par excellence.
Key was new and they could make him into an image. English is too well known as wooden to reframe as they did Key. Be clear, Key had little substance, used daily polls to manipulate people while selling our grandkids down the road to his mates.
The damage this govt has done is right up there with the 84-90 Labour Govt and all those who fell for it, as I did in the 80s, are complicit. I hope they can look their grandchildren in the eyes.
And that means you too Mike Hosking who had more power to stop it than t the rest of us.
+111
84-90 was an ACT government not Labour that’s why Lange stopped the madness with his “pause for a cup of tea”
One of their number just became Auckland Mayor. Eager to use our money for an Americas Cup parafe he was silent our a parade for our recent World Cup win. Until recently he still had influence in Labour… Now our biggest city. Lest we forget.
Actually this time I agree with him but I don,t need to shower .
We live in interesting times.
NZ Listener musing about possible civil war in USA.
Mike Hosking suffering a huger brain fart than ever before.
No other points, they have all been covered well by those here who have watched, judged and found him wanting in every sense.
A sure sign that nationals cheerleaders are now balking at being lemmings on the brink of nationals cliff.
Oscar Nominee for best Supporting Actor 2017 – Mike Hosking!
The difference is only in the first two. Key was just as error-prone, but his presentation and reception in the media made up for it.
I’d change just one word – ‘…but his presentation and reception ‘ by ‘ the media made up for it.’
IMO John Key didn’t have anything to do with it – his persona was entirely created by the media. Mike Hoskings played his part in creating the charade.
/agreed
What’s the PMs message, middle NZ is being bribed after being shafted.
True.
Throwing a few bucks on the table the morning after the night before?
And jacinda rises above the muck fresh young clean a fresh start for new Zealand
Pathetic and disingenuous from the national party parrot. Cry me a river you manchild.
Dont be fooled as the hosk is as sorry as key is for hollowing out nz for his mates and backers, spying on kiwis and wilfully making poverty and homeless growth industries.
Well put, tc, this is a “sorry I was caught out” whinge.
Feel like a shower? He IS a shower.
golden
Whatever Hosking… not interested. As for Whaleoil… there should be no surprises there. He’s firmly in Collins’ camp so watch for the shit and bile to pour forth in support of her as National go into post-Government disunity and disarray.
A right wing sycophant becoming clean is an oxymoron as the dirt never really washes away.
IMO, National has always been willing to do that and their cheerleaders knew it. It’s just that even their cheerleaders can no longer deny it.
Yes well, I feel (ab)used and contaminated when I read, see or hear something about Hosking. My skin crawls to the extent I experience the most urgent need to cleanse and decontaminate myself with a high pressure fire hose!
Hosking is seeing the writing on the wall already. Next month when we have a Labour/Green government, I wonder what/who he will cling on to then? He will feel lonely and abandoned … oh dear what a shame, never mind, suck it up, get on with it you Tory loving cretinous creature!
… ” But it’s just this time it seems or feels like any decorum, any philosophical standing and belief is out the window and replaced by Voter Idol and prizes for anyone with a hand out ”…
———————————-
Now lets just rephrase the above sentence slightly … to interpret what Hosking is ACTUALLY saying…
But it’s just this time it seems or feels like any free market ideology, any neo liberal standing and belief is out the window and replaced by Social Democracy and Keynesianism for anyone with a genuine need.
There.
Clarified it.
National pretending to be socialists.
Must be election time.
I would wait to see a bank cheque before I considered taking their promises seriously
The only time a Tory’s promise is worth anything is at the reading of their last will and testament.
And then their Tory children contest it.
That Muppet Mike Hosking as soon as 1 news is finished we quickly change to tv3 or anything but Mike. He looks like he is always pissed and WTF BILLS on 3 better find something else to watch. We stop watching tv 3 when they dropped or key dropped
Campbell
To raise incomes, should we be rewarded by having our pay increased by How “successful” the economy is performing ? Tax cuts to raise funds is another way of the govt covering up for inadequate pay raises, the same with increasing accommodation allowances.
Also by paying new teachers $3.5k additional to teach in Auckland, will we see the challenge to the government for nurses, medical technicians and other government workers being given the same to acknowledge the financial hardships for living in Auckland ?
And the announcements in recent days of a lack of teachers in low decile schools and a lack of maths and science teachers it rather makes a mockery of that bonus going to every teacher, unless you are cynically using the taxpayer as an ATM to buy votes
Nowt to do with NZ’s greatest living broadcaster and son of Holmsie ….. Why would one waste a second ……
Seen today in a major provincial city, a National Party plastic electoral sign under assault from wind and rain. The upper half of the current pitch vote for stability and safety had folded down, exposing the visage of the smirking weasel and the slogan “Choose a Brighter Future”. Is there something we should be told? Has ‘Sir’ Weasel really retired to lucrative directorships? Yes, they had glued Blnglish over top of the weasel. Recycling to the max, never knew the Nats were so green.
Well it made me chuckle. This may not be nationwide. Perhaps concerned citizens should investigate.
… ” The upper half of the current pitch vote for stability and safety had folded down, exposing the visage of the smirking weasel and the slogan “Choose a Brighter Future”. Is there something we should be told? Has ‘Sir’ Weasel really retired to lucrative directorships? ” …
Relax.
Do not be alarmed .
What you were experiencing were the death throes of the National party exposing its many malicious neo liberal faces for all the public to see.
Much like the T1000 did at the end of Terminator 2.
Terminator 2 – The T1000 Death Scene – YouTube
you tube▶ 1:08