National brings its B game to social media

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, December 20th, 2017 - 52 comments
Categories: Dirty Politics, internet, Judith Collins, Media, national, Politics, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, twitter, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

For a party that used to be the feared promulgators of dirty politics and whose proxies attacked and smeared critics and opponents mercilessly National’s latest efforts generated a huge feeling of Meh.

Exhibit one is the brand new website LetsUndoThis.   It is owned by the National Party and is basically a collection of themes it hopes its supporters will post through social media.  They should talk to the Russians because the things they raise are pretty lame.  The claims are also pretty dubious at best and I am sure that a thorough analysis will show they are wrong.

Like its claim about National Standards.  It says this:

Parents have a right to know how their kids are tracking at school. And how they measure up against their peers around New Zealand.

National Standards was about ensuring there was accountability in the Education system, not only to the Government, but the parents who pay for it and want the best for their kids.

How can you address educational issues, and target investment where it is most needed, if you don’t measure progress?

Labour are quite happy to insist on nationwide measuring standards on the environment, but not when it comes to the future of our kids.

Note to National.  Testing of kids and collection of data will continue.  Parents will still be able to find out how their kids are doing at school.  Teachers will have more time to teach, rather than testing continuously.  And your subtext, that teachers were previously somehow not accountable, is a load of bogus nonsense.

Exhibit 2 is some latest twitter activity from the former queen of twitter, the crusher of cars, and the leaker of information to the formerly feared Whaleoil commonly who was known as tipline.  For she has been sucked in by a twitter meme account.  And refused to admit this when it was pointed out to her.

LabourMemes is a humourous anonymously run twitter account that is not, repeat is not, an official Labour twitter account.  But such is Collins’s confusion she thought it was.  Clearly in Crusher’s world attack accounts are always sanctioned and run by the parent party but for her information the left is full of humourous independent souls who often do things of their own volition.

From Newshub:

National MP Judith Collins has taken aim at a political meme page on Twitter in what may be a case of mistaken identity.

Ms Collin criticised the “Let’s Meme This” Twitter account, a satirical page not affiliated with the Labour Party, but known for making jokes at the expense of rival parties.

She was offended by a joke where the page compared National MP Matt Doocey to a potato.

“So this is the gentle, kinder, more caring @nzlabour under @Jacinda Ardern,” she tweeted.

“Just nasty primary school name calling. Reverse-graduated from student politics to playground childishness.”

Here is a screen grab of her tweet:

Labourmeme’s twitter response was brutal.

And others have chipped in:

https://twitter.com/deahn85/status/943176582222430208

National’s social media game is a pale imitation of what it used to be.

52 comments on “National brings its B game to social media ”

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  1. Ad 1
    20 December 2017 at 8:44 am

    OMG I want one of those mugs please.

  2. Wensleydale 2
    20 December 2017 at 8:56 am

    So… saying that Matt Doocey looks a bit like a potato, which on the face of it is true. He does. That’s mean and nasty and dishonest. Lying about there being an $11.7 billion dollar fiscal hole in Labour’s costings during an election… that’s fine and entirely above board.

    National — elevating hypocrisy to the level of an Olympic sport since forever.

  3. irascible 3
    20 December 2017 at 8:58 am

    The email sent to all on the National party mailing list about the “Let’s Undo This” site was over the name of Simon Bridges which, alone, indicates that it is ill conceived and illogical.

  4. cleangreen 4
    20 December 2017 at 9:02 am

    We are not national members or supporters so they lied below at the end of the dribble. – This email to us – insulted us immensely.

    A possible case of ‘character assassination’ here.

    From: Simon Bridges [mailto:hq@national.org.nz]
    Sent: Tuesday, 19 December 2017 5:53 PM
    To: ………………….
    Subject: Let’s Undo This

    TO; ……………–
    We’ve come a long way together over the last nine years. Our families, our communities, and our businesses have worked incredibly hard to turn NZ into the confident and prosperous nation it is today.
    Sadly, we are just over 50 days into this new Government and we’re already seeing an increasing pattern of u-turns, conflicting statements and broken promises.
    National is ambitious for the future of our country. We want to help build on our successes by delivering more jobs, lowering taxes on hardworking kiwis, and solving some of the most complex social issues our country faces.
    But the new Coalition’s inability to organise itself, along with its clear practice of not sticking to its word, is putting that at risk. They’re trying to put a handbrake on the ambitions on New Zealanders. You deserve better. So Let’s Undo This.
    Bill English and National left New Zealand in good shape, with a strong and resilient economy, low unemployment, and the Government’s books in surplus.
    The Coalition has a great opportunity to build on those strengths and take New Zealand forward.
    Our job now as the Opposition is to hold them to account and ensure they stay on a positive track.
    We’ll happily support the Government on issues that will deliver in the best interests of New Zealanders. But we’ll be fighting hard to oppose them if they’re going to try to knock New Zealand off that positive track.
    So today we’re launching our Let’s Undo This campaign. It details all the back-tracks the new Government has undertaken so New Zealanders can be better informed about how this Government is performing. They don’t want to measure their performance, so we’ll do it for them.
    Add your name now, and together we can hold them to account.
    Regards,
    Simon
    Share this with a friend on Facebook now

    ________________________________________

    This email was sent to ………… We believe that email is one of the best ways to stay in touch with our members & supporters, but you can click here if you would like to unsubscribe from these messages.

    If you’re not interested in continuing to receive email updates, there are other ways to stay connected. You can follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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    • Grey Area 4.1
      20 December 2017 at 12:40 pm

      I would give that email a Billshit rating of 9. Only because I want to hold 10 in reserve.

      And if Simon No Bridges was connected in any way with that email it proves he is full of it. Not that there was any real doubt.

    • mickysavage 4.2
      20 December 2017 at 1:26 pm

      “We’ll happily support the Government on issues that will deliver in the best interests of New Zealanders.”

      So dealing with child poverty by getting a national consensus is not in the best interests of New Zealanders …

      • alwyn 4.2.1
        20 December 2017 at 5:47 pm

        Just how do you come to the conclusion that a national consensus is not possible Micky?
        The easiest way would of course have been for Labour to say that the National Party approach over the last year of their term was working well and it would be continued and extended but Labour were never going to do anything as sensible as that.
        Meanwhile exactly what are National being asked to agree to? Is there any properly worked out policy or is it just a collection of platitudes without any substance?

        National aren’t really like the Green Party you know. They want more for New Zealand than just getting their own bums in the BMWs.
        The Green Party seem to be entirely happy to simply go along with anything Winston decrees, regardless of how it conflicts with anything that the Green Party has championed in the past. Still, they don’t have principled people like Rod Donald, Jeanette Fitzsimons, Kennedy Graham or David Clendon anymore do they? Not even someone like Russel Norman in the party. Trekkies like Gareth Hughes are now more their style.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1.1
          20 December 2017 at 10:36 pm

          The easiest way would of course have been for Labour to say that the National Party approach over the last year of their term was working well

          That would be lying which makes it the hardest way.

          Almost nothing National has done over the last nine years has worked as promised.

          They want more for New Zealand

          No they don’t. They want more for rich people by taking everything from poor people.

          The Green Party seem to be entirely happy to simply go along with anything Winston decrees

          And that would be a lie. The Green Party will not kowtow to NZ1st or to Labour.

          Still, they don’t have principled people like Rod Donald, Jeanette Fitzsimons, Kennedy Graham or David Clendon anymore do they?

          Yes we do. Lots of them.

          It’s National that don’t have any but, then, they never really have had.

          • alwyn 4.2.1.1.1
            21 December 2017 at 8:30 pm

            You really must have an interesting life.
            Do you always ignore reality because it doesn’t fit in with what you want to think is the situation.
            Have a look at the growth in the economy while National were the Government.
            GDP growth is given for the March years
            •08/09 -1.0%
            •09/10 -0.3%
            •10/11 +1.6%
            •11/12 +2.3%
            •12/13 +2.3%
            •13/14 +2.6%
            •14/15 +3.7%
            •15/16 +3.6%
            •16/17 +3.7%
            When they became the Government New Zealand was in a depression, and you can’t blame the GFC for it as it started before the GFC, thanks to an incompetent Labour Government.

            Another thing you might like to consider is that, thanks to National increasing Benefit payments 20 or 30 thousand children LESS were living in poverty in 2016 than in 2015. The 2017 figures are not available.

            As for the Green Party. Rod Donald, who actually had principles, spoke out strongly about Winston Peter’s last Waka jumping bill. Shaw just says “Yes Master. Whatever you say Master” to Winston’s orders.
            “Not kowtow” you say? My God, what world are you living in?

            • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1.1.1.1
              21 December 2017 at 10:09 pm

              Have a look at the growth in the economy while National were the Government.

              And poverty increased which means that what National promised and what was delivered didn’t match. In fact, it was the exact opposite.

              When they became the Government New Zealand was in a depression, and you can’t blame the GFC for it as it started before the GFC, thanks to an incompetent Labour Government.

              All the evidence shows that we had a drought which negatively impacted the economy just before the GFC. Last time I looked the government isn’t responsible for the weather.

              Another thing you might like to consider is that, thanks to National increasing Benefit payments 20 or 30 thousand children LESS were living in poverty in 2016 than in 2015.

              [Citation Needed]

              If that had actually happened National would have been yelling it from the rooftops. The only thing I recall is that National increased benefits by up to $20 per week which very few actually got and nobody actually got the full $20.

              https://thestandard.org.nz/budget-gives-with-one-hand-and-takes-with-the-other/
              https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/67168025/thats-over-half-my-income-parents-frustrated-by-child-support-formula-change

              National seems to have actively tried to create poverty.

              As for the Green Party. Rod Donald, who actually had principles, spoke out strongly about Winston Peter’s last Waka jumping bill. Shaw just says “Yes Master. Whatever you say Master” to Winston’s orders.

              Well, the Green Party got an amendment in to the legislation making it harder to abuse. So, no, not kowtowing and kissing arse. Actually in government governing.

              BTW, I’d say that Rod Donald was wrong on that. A list MP leaving their party is actually deserting their voters and needs to be removed as they no longer represent the people who voted for the party.

        • cleangreen 4.2.1.2
          21 December 2017 at 9:06 am

          I agree with you on this one Alwyn; – as I had much interaction with most of these green party folks when I was a HB Green party member in 1999-2002.

          “Still, they don’t have principled people like Rod Donald, Jeanette Fitzsimons, Kennedy Graham or David Clendon anymore do they? Not even someone like Russel Norman in the party.”

          • solkta 4.2.1.2.1
            21 December 2017 at 9:11 am

            So how much interaction have you had with the current Green MPs? Not a lot i would guess from your comment.

    • Ffloyd 4.3
      20 December 2017 at 1:49 pm

      The death rattle of the national party. Would be funny if it wasn’t so sad. Very juvenile.

      • cleangreen 4.3.1
        20 December 2017 at 5:36 pm

        100% Ffloyd yes that rattle was comical during the 5pm today debate in parliament when Winston gave an outstanding speech levelled the crumbling “front bench” of the National Party.

        precious view dont miss it.

        Bill English sounded rattled alreaght, as he looks over his shoulder worryingly at steven Joyce and judith collins.

    • alwyn 4.4
      20 December 2017 at 5:31 pm

      “This email to us – insulted us immensely”.

      “A possible case of ‘character assassination’ here”.

      You really must be a delicate little flower. It’s only an e-mail after all, and a harmless one at that. He even offers you a simple way of not getting any more of them if you really find them so upsetting.
      Just unsubscribe. There now you are protected from anything more that might upset your delicate little digestion.

      • cleangreen 4.4.1
        20 December 2017 at 5:40 pm

        alwyn;

        Oh no we need to monitor all thes crappy fraud letters the crumbling national party of yours sends out full of lies, so we are watching them very closely now you see.

        merry xmas.

      • Draco T Bastard 4.4.2
        20 December 2017 at 10:38 pm

        It’s only an e-mail after all, and a harmless one at that.

        It’s full of lies so, no, not harmless.

  5. Incognito 5
    20 December 2017 at 9:10 am

    National does not want to hold the Labour-led Government to account; they want to keep governing New Zealand by proxy, from the Opposition benches. They will use all tactics at their disposal to bully the Government into submission under the banner of Democracy. Their website should be renamed accordingly to LetsBullyThem.

    • cleangreen 5.1
      20 December 2017 at 9:15 am

      Yes Incognito,

      Labour need to move to curtail National using stall tactics or face defeat three years from now to all our detriment.

  6. Pete 6
    20 December 2017 at 9:44 am

    Their bullshit about National Standards relies on an audience being as dumb as them.

    Their insistence about “how they [their kids] measure up against their peers around New Zealand” shows that they see learning as a contest. It’s a chance to divide into winners and losers. A chance for parents to brag about their kids being better than others or to grizzle about the ratshit teachers and schools if their kids aren’t better.

    • Macro 6.1
      20 December 2017 at 11:23 am

      Yes – National Standards had nothing to do with teaching and learning – it was all about bragging rights. G’ma saying just how wonderful her little g’daughter was during her weekly hair appointment at the salon. No wonder they are pissed!

      • roy cartland 6.1.1
        20 December 2017 at 11:43 am

        And NatStanPlus was a going to be a cellphone update on how your child’s progress ranks. God forbid people actually engage with teachers and discuss what works best for the individual.

  7. Kevin 7
    20 December 2017 at 12:53 pm

    Joyce isn’t a potato. He is a cock. Even a dildo hit on him 🙂

  8. eco maori 8
    20 December 2017 at 1:55 pm

    Looks to me like national is trying to counter the Mana of the standard an all our leftys who post good honest articles here buy no there site won’t get many viewers Ana to kai

    • cleangreen 8.1
      20 December 2017 at 5:50 pm

      Thanks eco maori.

      Mana to your whanau and keep safe for xmas/new year as we fight to save this beautiful place.

  9. Tanz 9
    20 December 2017 at 4:45 pm

    Go to Bill English’s Facebook page, he has much warm support and trillions of followers. Or is that too positive for National? Bring Back Bill is often the mantra!

  10. Tanz 10
    20 December 2017 at 5:10 pm

    I notice though that Jacinda quite often gets negative comments, hardly see any of that on Bill’s page. For someone who is Opposition leader, Bill is incredibly popular and well liked. More importantly, National still win the popular vote, even though they are not the govt. That must be a first for NZ politics, ever.

    • ropata 10.1
      20 December 2017 at 5:13 pm

      Ahh nope that’s because Bill is irrelevant and needs to retire. He won’t be there much longer

      • cleangreen 10.1.1
        20 December 2017 at 5:45 pm

        ropata

        Gosh at 5pm today during the members speech poor Bill mlooked so sad and sorry like a hounded dog.

        He was somewhat acting worried as behind him as Winston spoke of hear the blade sharpeen the knives.

        Bill is finished and expect a revolt to replace him in the new year.

        Merry Xmas.

    • Incognito 10.2
      20 December 2017 at 5:18 pm

      A leader who is incredibly popular and well-liked and hardly ever gets negative comments on his FB page either means there’s ‘censorship’ (to avoid ‘embarrassment’) or we dealing with a cult.

      • In Vino 10.2.1
        20 December 2017 at 5:22 pm

        Tanz – learn some history for a change. Go and find out how many times before MMP the party that lost the popular vote won the election. Hint – it happened quite often. Try not to sound so wet behind the ears.

      • cleangreen 10.2.2
        20 December 2017 at 5:56 pm

        Chris Hipkins reminder National today that Bill English is the only leader that has lost the election twice in 15 yrs.

        While this is a huge negative record that will now bury Bill E$nglish and force his retirement.

        Now the sharpening blade is turning and ready for his replacement as the front bench of the national party is the most dangerous place to be now said winston in his closing speech today at 5pm. A must see clip on parliament replay today.

    • McFlock 10.3
      20 December 2017 at 5:28 pm

      Lol

      Yes, facebook comments are immutable abd never deleted by page managers.

      More importantly, falling back on the “populal vote” lie – and one need only go back to Muldoon to see other examples of nz governments being formed by parties that had less votes than their opposition.

      Hope you get promoted to the C team soon, Tanz

      • dv 10.3.1
        20 December 2017 at 5:50 pm

        She? has bet her? farm on Bill’s popularity

        Tanz 13.1.2.1
        20 December 2017 at 11:49 am
        He is. The New Zealand electorate somewhat agreed, must have, since he outpolled Jacinda Ardern by a country mile! He will be back. post Winston, to govern alone, with no need for partners, after the rort of 2017! I would stake my house and farm on it, as well as my zippy black car…

    • Draco T Bastard 10.4
      20 December 2017 at 5:41 pm

      I notice though that Jacinda quite often gets negative comments, hardly see any of that on Bill’s page.

      All the negative comments on Jacinda’s page are probably posted by the same people posting positive comments on Bill’s.

      For someone who is Opposition leader, Bill is incredibly popular and well liked.

      No, he’s not.

      More importantly, National still win the popular vote

      No they don’t. If they did then they would be in government.

      As you know this that means that you’re lying – as per usual for a RWNJ.

      That must be a first for NZ politics, ever.

      The party that lost the vote is usually the one that stays out of government. It was a huge anomaly when we had FPP that we saw, quite often, the losing party take government.

      It was because of this that we changed to MMP.

    • Brian Tregaskin 10.5
      20 December 2017 at 9:09 pm

      Tanz:- National is a a loser big time! All this trickery during the election campaign has backfired –they were rightfully robbed of the win !!!
      Reflect on the trickery –it was a losing strategy –you cannot trick your way to a win with a narrative –those days are gone forever.

    • Bearded Git 10.6
      20 December 2017 at 9:22 pm

      @tanz “Natioal still win the popular vote” except for the 56% who didn’t vote National

      • Ed 10.6.1
        20 December 2017 at 9:39 pm

        Tanz is not interested in a debate.
        Her pattern is to say something outlandish then depart.
        She comes here to stir.

  12. Tanz 12
    21 December 2017 at 9:25 am

    National still lead in the polls, and nothing can change that. They outpoll Labour by a large margin. Nothing can change that, not even MMP. A one term govt is quite possible, especially if NZ First get wiped out, which looks likely. As for what Newshub say, they would, they helped roll JA into power, our print and tv media is incredibly biased to the left, this is common knowledge. Don’t we all leave comments and leave? Yes, the dissenters here get pounced upon, whereas at Kiwiblog everyone is so kind, righties always more tolerant!

    • Stuart Munro 12.1
      21 December 2017 at 11:24 am

      Perhaps you should ask yourself why you’re here Tanz – why not just waltz off to kiwiblog where your inanity and sociopathy are normal? But no, you insist on inflicting your noise on folk who are looking for something a little more enlightened.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 12.2
      21 December 2017 at 11:30 am

      Speaking of Kiwiblog, I see Farrar has National’s support down since the election. I’d hate for you to miss that 😈

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