National’s annual conference
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9:47 am, November 22nd, 2020 - 64 comments
Categories: election 2020, Judith Collins, national, same old national -
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You would think that the conference held immediately after National suffered one of its worst drubbings in its history National would take the opportunity to refresh its leadership and change its direction.
If you did you will be disappointed.
From Newshub:
In a speech, Goodfellow began by thanking leader Judith Collins saying members “couldn’t be prouder” of her, to which the room clapped.
Goodfellow then went on to both praise and slam the Labour Government’s COVID-19 response and election campaign.
He said “reasoned debate became treasonous” during the campaign and it was a race of celebrity.
Goodfellow then went on to “give credit where credit is due” and praised Jacinda Ardern for her clear communication over the COVID-19 crisis.
In nearly the same breath, he characterised the daily COVID-19 updates as being “televangelistic”.
He finished his speech with a call for the National Party to rebuild and reunite over the next three years.
This is Trumpian in the quality of its analysis. Slamming the response of Labour’s Covid response is weird. As the virus ravages through most of the world New Zealand’s response stands out like a beacon. And there was lots of debate during the campaign. We even had minor parties peddle conspiracy theories out in plain sight. The problem was not with free speech being treasonous, it was because the quality of the speech was so poor.
And Goodfellow’s analysis is so shallow. Fancy praising Ardern’s clear communications but rubbishing the Government’s overall response.
But don’t take my word for this. National activist Ben Thomas thinks the same. From Radio New Zealand:
[F]ormer National staffer said Goodfellow was completely out of touch with voters.
Political commentator Ben Thomas said Goodfellow was putting personal gain above the party’s interests.
“He attacked the media and attacked Ardern, and called those Covid briefings a symptom of tyranny. Which is playing to the National Party’s base which is at that AGM that he wants to re-elect him as National Party president, but sounds ridiculous to the wider public, including all of those voters who deserted National to go to Labour.”
Then Judith spoke.
She urged unity, presuming behind her as leader. She urged her spokespeople to be bold but then trotted out the traditional National themes of government wasteful spending, the shackles holding back innovation and entrepreneurship, the failure of imagination, the lack of ambition, and the tolerance for bland mediocrity.
Apart from a token reference to the high tech sector there was no substance in what she said.
John Key also spoke. What he said contrasts jarringly with Goodfellow’s analysis. From Claire Trevett at the Herald:
Key was a guest speaker at the party’s first big gathering since the election, and used it to thump in the home truths about the reasons for the election loss. In short: themselves.
It is usually possible to gauge how far a party has come to terms with a dire election result from the length of time it takes for someone to blame the media and their political opponents for it.
In National’s case, that was not long. It came from President Peter Goodfellow, who railed against what he saw as the “clickbait” and bias of the media. He then launched into the “temporary tyranny” of Jacinda Ardern’s Covid-19 response, her “celebrity” leadership and “tele-vangelical” addresses to the nation.
There was only a fleeting reference to the woes National had brought upon itself.
It was a speech that seemed to show Goodfellow had learned very little about the reasons 2020 brought National to its knees in the first place – or why New Zealanders had thronged to vote for Ardern.
It was a gob-smacking speech. The interesting thing is the party faithful did not seem to buy it.
There was a deathly silence from the 600-odd packed into the room while Goodfellow was going through his tirade. It is likely some quietly agreed with him, but there was no spontaneous applause or murmurs of agreement.
Key’s response to the election result was entirely different.
His speech was not the usual platitudes and diplomatic expressions of support a former leader usually offers.
He delivered a stonker. He told them they had lost 413,800 voters, and he told them why. He told them their voters had flocked to Labour and to Act because of National’s disunity and leadership changes.
He warned them not to assume Ardern’s popularity would wane, because that was a mistake Labour made about him for almost a decade.
And he told them that Labour would spend the next three years focusing on keeping those 413,800 voters, and that it was clever enough to do just that. He set out the prospect National would lose again in 2023, 2026 and 2029.
He said the party needed a plan and a strategy: “Trust me when I tell you, hope is not a strategy.”
But the loudest applause was in response to Key’s warning to any National Party MPs leaking to the media. “If you can’t quit your leaking, quit the party.”
Astoundingly Goodfellow was returned as President. Lots of lefties cheered as that.
And as part of its reinvigoration it elected David Carter, former MP since 1993 onto its board. Renewal huh. Carter had sought presidency of the party but lost to Goodfellow.
I thought it would only be a matter of time before Collins was rolled. Given events on the weekend and the party’s clear inability to do something radical I am not so sure.
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- Release: Govt should stop making people’s lives harder and build more homesThe National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...1 week ago
- Release: Melissa Lee missing in action on mediaThe action Melissa Lee promised to protect democracy and the media sector is missing, Media and Communications spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...1 week ago
- Landlord Government leaves little hope for rentersThe Government’s announcement on tenancy rules prove that it does not care about renters. ...1 week ago
- Opportunity to build a more sustainable economyGreen Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...1 week ago
- Significant step forward in fixing cruel and unjust pastA significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...1 week ago
- Missed opportunity but NZ will surely one day recognise the right to a sustainable environmentNew Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...1 week ago
- Release: Don’t cut our lunches – clear message sent to GovernmentTens of thousands of people are demanding the Government commits to fully funding free and healthy school lunches. ...1 week ago
- Release: Govt makes U-turn on Suicide Prevention OfficeLabour welcomes the Government’s U-turn on the closure of the Suicide Prevention Office, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...1 week ago
- CCC issues warning over further climate delayToday’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets lame and lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Luxon targets are lousy example of leadershipIf talk is cheap, Chris Luxon’s “targets” are bankrupt. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Commitment to disability communities missing from Govt prioritiesMinister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Methane target review is dangerous duplicationThe Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government must commit to school building project for disabled studentsThe Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National must take mental health seriouslyMental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...2 weeks ago
- Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwardsThe Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cutsNew Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...2 weeks ago
- Press release: No Māori initiatives in Government’s nothing planMāori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Social housing off Government’s to-do listThe Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Less money in most people’s pockets this AprilChanges to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...3 weeks ago
- $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...3 hours ago - Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder listThe Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...5 hours ago
- Judicial appointments announcedAttorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...6 hours ago
- Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in SingaporeEducation Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...7 hours ago
- Value of stopbank project proven during cycloneA stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...7 hours ago
- Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visitForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...7 hours ago
- Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac DayScience, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...10 hours ago
- Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...21 hours ago
- Government commits $20m to Westport flood protectionThe Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...1 day ago
- Taupō takes pole positionThe Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...1 day ago
- Cost of living support for low-income homeownersLocal Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...1 day ago
- Government backing mussel spat projectThe Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...1 day ago
- Government focused on getting people into workBenefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...1 day ago
- Clean energy key driver to reducing emissionsThe Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...1 day ago
- Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forwardThe Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...2 days ago
- Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic PartnershipPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...2 days ago
- Government consults on extending coastal permits for portsRMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...2 days ago
- Inflation coming down, but more work to doToday’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...2 days ago
- School attendance restored as a priority in health adviceRefreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...2 days ago
- Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sectorOceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...2 days ago
- Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International CongressAssociate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...3 days ago
- Removing red tape to help early learners thriveThe Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...3 days ago
- RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tapeChanges to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...3 days ago
- McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationshipTrade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...4 days ago
- Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister LeePrime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...4 days ago
- PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ tiesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...4 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...4 days ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...4 days ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...4 days ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...5 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...5 days ago
- Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...1 week ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...1 week ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...1 week ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...1 week ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...1 week ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...1 week ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...1 week ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...1 week ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...1 week ago
- Government releases list of organisations shoulder-tapped for fast-track consents
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...28 mins ago - The Week in Politics: Job cuts surge and Waitangi Tribunal troubleAnalysis - It's been a grim week for public servants, while trouble is also brewing between the government and Waitangi Tribunal. ...1 hour ago
- It never rains but it pours: intense rain and flash floods have increased inland in eastern Australi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...2 hours ago - Watch: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaThe PM has defended how he's talked up NZ trade on his trip to Southeast Asia, after criticism from his own delegation. ...2 hours ago
- ‘It could be the death of the museum’: why research cuts at a South Australian institution have ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...2 hours ago
- Government signs off $41m clean energy deal with Asian Development BankThe government has committed $41 million to clean energy transition at the Asian Development Bank's Energy Transition Mechanism. ...2 hours ago
- Are 2 mid-career AFL retirements a sign Australian athletes are taking brain health more seriously?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...4 hours ago
- Luxon: Waitangi Tribunal comments from coalition parties 'ill considered'Comments from ACT and NZ First ministers about the Tribunal were "ill considered" and "that message will be underscored" to them, the PM says. ...4 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation Facing Staff Cuts From Govt Funding Squeeze
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...5 hours ago - I wholeheartedly recommend The President: a brilliant revival of a play of decay, terror and revulsi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...5 hours ago
- How the coolest little capital is shrinkingIt's not the first time a government has targeted public servants for job cuts, but this time Wellington is really feeling it. ...5 hours ago
- Many prisoners go years without touching a smartphone. It means they struggle to navigate life on th...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...5 hours ago
- Ministers accused of Cabinet Manual breach with threats to Waitangi Tribunal
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...5 hours ago - Good news: midlife health is about more than a waist measurement. Here’s whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...5 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Mitochondrial Problem’ by Evangeline Riddiford Graham
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...5 hours ago - The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending April 18The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38) Hot off the press, this debut ...5 hours ago
- Department of Conservation closing Dunedin centre, but no jobs lostVisitor habits are changing and DOC needs to adapt in a financially sustainable way, its operations director says. ...6 hours ago
- Unions Collaborate With Thousands Of Job CutsWith New Zealand officially in recession, a swathe of mass sackings is currently sending shockwaves through the entire working class. ...6 hours ago
- Watch live: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaPrime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters in Manila after pledging greater defence cooperation with the Philippines. Watch live. ...6 hours ago
- Government sent please explain letter to Wellington City Council over transport disagreementThe contents were revealed in correspondence from Simeon Brown and Chris Bishop to Wellington's Mayor. ...6 hours ago
- Some families push back against journalists who mine social media for photos – they have every rig...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...6 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation staff cuts loom, with funding falling behind rising costsChief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...6 hours ago
- The ‘devil comet’ 12P/Pons-Brooks has finally become visible from Australia. What can we expect?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Pons–Brooks visible from Utah, March 9 2024. James Peirce/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND If you’re a fan of all things space, you’ve doubtless heard about the “devil comet”, which has been captivating keen-eyed observers in the ...7 hours ago
- Rugby stadiums are sold as an economic asset – but NZ needs to ask if they’re really worth itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hamlin, Senior Lecturer in Marketing , University of Otago A multi-billion dollar stadium precinct has been proposed for Auckland, one of three proposals in front of Auckland Council for a new stadium in the city. The council is also considering revamping ...7 hours ago
- Auckland dog attacks: Callouts for attacks on other animals going upRoaming dogs are responsible for more than a thousand attacks on animals each year, and the number is growing. ...7 hours ago
- What access to puberty blockers means for trans young people and their whānauThe Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...7 hours ago
- NZ and Philippines pledge defence cooperation amid rising tensionsThe commitment came after a sit-down meeting between Christopher Luxon and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr overnight. ...9 hours ago
- How superblocks can help reimagine city lifeBarcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...9 hours ago
- Fire engineering expertise may take a big hit with job cuts at MBIEThe public sector cuts are poised to take out a big chunk of expertise at the country's building regulator. ...10 hours ago
- “Fast-track Law To Kill Kiwi”: Students Say Fight Against Anti-democracy Legislation Is Only Jus...Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...10 hours ago
- ‘We have thousands of Modis’: the secret behind the BJP’s enduring success in IndiaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...10 hours ago
- Online schooling is not just for lockdowns. Could it work for your child?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...10 hours ago
- Hear me out: You can shove your reusable period productsYes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...10 hours ago
- Rip It Up And Start Over – Fast-Track Approvals Bill Needs To Be Scrapped“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...10 hours ago
- Maori Authority Warns Government On Fast Track LegislationThe Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...11 hours ago
- Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...11 hours ago
- Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...11 hours ago
- Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...11 hours ago
- Why don’t Australians talk about their salaries? Pay transparency and fairness go hand-in-handSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...11 hours ago
- ‘Character’ And Its Impact On Immigration StatusThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...11 hours ago
- 20,000 more on jobseeker benefits than this time last yearThe government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...12 hours ago
- All of the Raglan Roast cafes in Wellington, ranked from worst to bestRaglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...14 hours ago
- Auckland uni students threaten rent strike over rising accommodation feesResidents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously. The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...14 hours ago
- New Zealand transport planning has gone off the railsOpinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...14 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 19 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...14 hours ago
- Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slowsThe transport sector is currently in the slow lane The post Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slows appeared first on Newsroom. ...14 hours ago
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Do you mind pointing out where he rubbished Labour's "overall response" in your article?
Thanks
"Goodfellow then went on to both praise and slam the Labour Government’s COVID-19 response and election campaign.
He said “reasoned debate became treasonous” during the campaign and it was a race of celebrity.
Goodfellow then went on to “give credit where credit is due” and praised Jacinda Ardern for her clear communication over the COVID-19 crisis."
He seems to be just criticising the pointless daily updates that didn't need Ardern there.
Which to be frank seemed to turn into free party political broadcasts.
I see praise of Ardern's overall response, not criticism.
There are none so blind.
Fair call.
Explain why Ardern needed to be there and speak for about 25 minutes, when it could have just been Bloomfield.
"Explain why…"
That's a tetchy demand there, ChrisT – are you coffee-deprived or something?
You said, "He seems to be just criticising…" when in this thread, Mickey has clearly stated that Goodfellow said, “reasoned debate became treasonous” during the campaign and it was a race of celebrity", 2 criticisms more than the "just" you want to focus on. There are none so blind as those who will not see.
How is that "rubbishing Labour's overall response"?
"Goodfellow then went on to both praise and slam the Labour Government’s COVID-19 response and election campaign."
(My italics)
How is slamming Labour's Covid response & election campaign not "rubbishing Labour's overall response" ?
I'm somewhat puzzled by your protestations and reasoning, Chris T.
That is called an opinion sentence without any actual back up quote to what they accusing them of.
It would be a bit like me saying "Ardern had a harsh look in her eye, when she read the result of the weed referendum"
Utter bollocks I made up.
QFT
Curious! You don't feel confident that the journalist at the Nat event could be correct in reporting that there was both praise and slamming by Goodfellow? Pray tell why you feel that way!
On another thread, Chris T, you wrote,
"Sorry.
Re-reading that post I probably came across as a bit blunt and a prick tbf."
Reading that, I thought, fair call.
A lot of the decisionmaking was done at the Cabinet level, so it was correct for a Cabinet Minister to be present to explain those decisions and answer questions about them.
Because when things are shit a real leader takes the lead .all our daily freedoms we enjoy at this time are due to Ardern convincing this country she had the plan that would work .
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-07/jacinda-ardern-set-to-win-second-term-in-new-zealand-after-covid-response
Thanks
I rest my case.
Welcome to the MSM turning into womens day
Most appreciated.
FB is not MSM. FB is not “womens day” [sic] either.
You demanded an answer to this question @ 1.1.1.1.1:
Don’t ask questions if you cannot handle the answers.
Or you could just answer.
What exactly did she add after Bloomfields summaries apart from a Labour ad?
She calmed the farm, Chris, and the farm needed calming.
And so do you
What she added for me was the weight and authority of the highest elected position in the country in giving advice, support and instruction to five million citizens- advice that was constructive and effective as anyone can appreciate from the Covid results here compared to just about anywhere.
Why? Because that was Leadership, and I for one am proud of my country's leader and grateful that she was PM.
Cometh the hour, cometh the woman.
I note in passing that countries which did well with Covid tended to have women in the leadership role whereas countries that bolloxed the job were run by men……………
Mac1
Sorry. There is know reply button on your post
I get people like to think some how sex comes into leadership.
That is cool and you are right with Covid. And Ardern’s…At least initially handling it well.
Your problem is when most countries came out of WW2 and all flourished they were all dudes,
Which is obviously a shallow way of looking at things.
While I admit Ardern has done as well as other leaders have after bad shit, it is hardly a new thing and I personally think the sex of the person in charge is irrelevant as long as they are doing a good job,
Chris T, I was being a little jocular there with the gender attributions. I was reflecting a FB post I saw which posted three women leaders and three men leaders and then underneath made the point the difference between the two groups was not their sex but the way they dealt with Covid-19. Trump, Johnson, Bolsonaro versus Ardern, Merkle, Jacobsdóttir.
Though I do wonder whether the willingness of these three women to be compassionate, wise and able to take advice is at least a part of the feminine psyche as opposed to the butch, brutal and narcissistic hubris of the three men exhibiting the worst of male traits.
Ask yourself. Would you rather be a woman around these three men or a male around these three women- in terms of treatment?
Many years ago, I attended a Play Centre Conference. I was the only male there as a participant, (the only male apart from a bus driver and the caretaker.) I remember thinking that I was being treated with far more respect than if I had been the sole woman in a group of 150 men.
Interesting musings……
It actually is to be fair!
Not that many moons ago I worked for a place where I was the the only bloke out of about 20 people.
I learnt a few things.
Women like meetings. I have no idea why. They just cant do shit without a meeting. TBF it is probably better than just going in blind, like blokes do.
They tend to be nice as to work with and actually care.
And last, They can be the most dirtiest talkers when you go to the pub and they forgent there is a bloke (me) there.
Had some funny nights, but all good people
It has already been answered to you here many times but you seem unwilling to hear and/or accept the answer. After a while, your rather demanding line of questioning is becoming tedious especially when it is clear that we’re all wasting our time trying to engage with you in good faith. I have a solution for that 😉
You may want to explain how the PM appearing alongside the DGH during lockdowns was, for all intents and purposes, free ads for the Labour Party. In some parts of the world, people were dropping like flies and we were watching party ads!? You’re starting to test the boundaries of incredulousness.
Rather like the"bit", I admit I only saw as it's paywalled, from Audrey Young on Collins "She was well turned out in a smart blue wool coat, fine jewellery and "
With a link https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/audrey-young-election-2020-national-leader-judith-collins-almost-a-pro-on-the-campaign-trail/WWFEAOBL6UUSLJ2MVUXM4LE7CE/
Because the success of NZs response was the success of people being compliant with the lockdown.
And the compliance was down to leadership and communication.
To not be there would be have been shirking the responsibility and failing to lead, leaving people aimless.
There is a difference between not being there at all and getting a free ad for your partyevery day for weeks
Really difficult to understand that sentence, Chris T.
You really have thrown yourself into this thread though, if you don't mind me saying so, you've made no headway at all!
Would you have preferred cowardice?
https://twitter.com/ChristnNitemare/status/1329962014857437190?s=20
We will all remember National being happy with John Key's "celebrity" photo ops and smiling and waving! So rather hypocritical for Goodfellow to bemoan Jacinda's popularity. Clutching at straws. Pathetic.
Perhaps he should have focussed on the grubby tactics of some of their MPs and party members during this election year. And demanded some ethics and decent behaviour in future. Labour also ran an excellent campaign in comparison.
You probably don't want to go down that road.
Neither do you – if the full extent & where Falloon & co's efforts were displayed & what they were people will really see & understand why Muller panicked. That Collin's utilised her favoured "double down" on ILG's family will show clearly what her nature is like – it's more than overdue.
Do tell..!
Do you have a link to this?
Thanks
Collins' statements about doubling-down and revenge are well known. This is not an admirable approach to managing personal relationships or political matters, in my opinion. She said it loudly and clearly, proudly even, and in that we take her at her word; she said she would, she did and will continue to behave appallingly when she chooses to.
You missed posting a link to "Collin's utilising her favoured "double down" on ILG's family"
It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to learn that she had done that.
Would you be surprised?
I wouldn't be anything till I saw some actual proof of accusations.
I wouldn't be anything till I saw some actual proof of accusations.
Ha! I see you've doubled-down!
There are somethings you won't actually see word for word in writing but the double down/pay back double is an accepted trait of Collins & exactly the trait shown when she shot a warning bullet across the bows of the govt by revealing ILG's personal indiscretion to the entire country. IMO which I'm allowed to have it was a sort of an insurance against the scope of the imagery Falloon was distributing & the fact it wasn't limited to him. Stuff & Barry Soper both alluded to it briefly but were shut down by a more dignified set of behaviour on the part of govt.
Not sure what exactly you’re chasing after or what windmill you’re tilting at but FWIW here’s the opinion of a ‘hard lefty’ on JC in context:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/122222331/ministerial-takedown-offers-a-glimpse-into-a-judith-collins-premiership
Incognito, exactly. I found the same article as an answer to Chris T's demand for proof of accusations. Didn't bother to respond. Thanks for doing so.
Just based my comments on the fact unfortunately because I saw the "image" as the "spreading"of it was wider than Falloon – he was reckless enough to be caught. Whether it was a "meme" that was bring trolled around or a "porno" image it was briefly referred to (in a Stuff – I think – story) as something targetting a "Government MP – I'll have another go at finding it). Barry Soper also tried to raise that aspect of it at a stand-up press conference at the time & was dismissed with a dignified silence. The detail of all that is, once again IMO, why I believe Collins made an "example"of ILG is I have no doubt any pursuing of the scope of spreading of the image out anyone with skeletons in the closet on notice,
Too late Chris T, sorry. A lot of extremely alert people were watching your fellow legionnaires ignoring the blind bends, potholes, impassable slips and sudden drop-offs in their bold march along that particular road. As they do now.
Well we complain here enough about Labour.
And then we get to see the alternative. Life isn't so bad after all.
It came across to me like the good cop/bad cop routine being played out in reverse order:
Goodfellow was the bad cop pandering to disinformation and prejudice which would have appealed to a significant chunk of his audience and probably assured him a further term as party president.
Key followed with the good cop drill pointing out the reality of their loss and what they needed to do about it or else fade into obscurity.
Very little happens by chance in the National Party. There is always calculated method in their apparent madness.
Given the choice was between Carter and Goodfellow, he may even have been the lesser evil.
@ad..(to your glib conclusion..)..um..!..no..!…and in case labour don't realise it yet..if they fail to deliver they stand to bleed large amounts of votes to greens and maori party..and a certainty is they can wave bye-bye to the maori seats…unlike the clark years (the incrementalism on real issues and middle-class/corporate welfare ardern is aping) there are now those two parties there to pick up those 'transforming' reins discarded by labour…this may be a time of great success for labour (of course explained by handling of covid/national in disarray) but it is also a time of great peril for them….if they don't deliver real reform on poverty etc (and only what she promised in 2016 after all)…that support/mandate will disappear like a sandcastle facing the incoming tide..
From Key's view – far more representative and politically experienced than yours – the risk is the opposite: Labour in power for 12 years or even more.
Sometimes politics really is a popularity contest.
That is a very f.p.p.-based prediction…I tend to think we are reaching a new maturity in m.m.p….i don't see the maori party going away again anytime soon…and they will soon enough own the maori seats..(a good thing..to my mind)..and I see the green party support growing…reasons:they aren't seen as scary any more ..and the growing climate change imperatives becoming normalised..mean that they are a/the party for these times…and the left/social-democrats in labour will see more and more merit in voting for the greens ..to have more chance to get the political outcomes they so desire…so yes..labour may well be part of coalition governments for the foreseeable future…but it will be as a far more equal partner to both the greens and the maori party..this period of them ruling alone is an aberration..with a use-by date of 2023…and if labour continue with their neoliberal incrementalism…they could end up squabbling with national over that ever-diminishing pool of voters continuing to support/cleave to that bankrupt/tattered ideology…(think nz first nativism as the blueprint for their rump-party future..)
Are you sure you're not on Trump's election fraud litigation team?
You'd have to be for that amount of foolish optimism.
Labour just ate the Greens' lunch, threw a scrap to the Maori Party, and have had the highest vote share since Norman Kirk.
Not only are the Greens now irrelevant to government, the entire left is now irrelevant.
If you want the attention of this government, own a business.
All of which supports what I said…and the reasons why,.not the least of which is the hubris amplified/personified by your words..(oh.!.and your (obligatory?) insult is a tad laboured..eh..?..
Was “Merv” re-elected?
Merv was so confused that he ended up calling the AA for directions to the venue, which he couldn’t remember the name of. Mervellous!
I'm not sure Goodfellow is a necessary loss for National, given that the Boagiewoman has removed her shadowy presence from National's campaign. But the dirty tricks that became prevalent under Key are not consistent with the image they mean to project, as a party of competent managers – safe hands on the wheel for the choppy seas of the post – Covid world. Dirty tricks come with invidious impressions:
CUNNING, n. The faculty that distinguishes a weak animal or person from a strong one. ~ Ambrose Bierce.
If National want to regain their lost voters, they need a bit of ἀρετή. Ardern has some.
I thought that central quote of Key's, re leaking, was disgraceful. Such deceit – the very idea that the public should know what these people are like and how they operate is grounds for expulsion?!
Ugh.
I am picking Collins to be rolled before the next election. The poison cup she currently holds would not be a popular thing to inherit I think. A number of National MP's will still be holding their noses having Collins as leader. The pong will not be very pleasant. Any time Collins preaches loyalty the malodour of hypocrisy will be stronger still. As she stands she won't lead National to victory in 2023. If she is their best bet it illustrates just how deep down into the barrel National is stratching. Muller was right when he stated "National won't win the election with Bridges as leader.' The same applied to him and applies to Collins.
Judes warming the seat for Luxon who has parliamentary ropes to learn first then she'll likely be shuffled aside.
Uncomfortable questions from a decent media would be around this perceived arrangement or simply why is she still there after even Nationals base seemed to reject her.
I realize that the "1 pm" myth is now ingrained in the National party folklore, but just for historical accuracy, this was what happened …
May 22 2020: Caucus coup against Bridges, Muller new leader.
July 14 20201: Muller quits, Collins new leader.
Before, during and after those dates, a hundred stories (and that's no exaggeration) about the National party, all created by the National party. Too many to list, pick almost any date at random, you'll find a resignation or a row or a gaffe or a leak. They were incredibly creative in finding ways to grab the headlines – all bad.
Between those dates (and 102 days in total) … Covid-19 cases: zero. Ardern gave only a handful of press briefings, and hardly anybody watched. Because it wasn't the news.
The National party was the news. Every day. And that is all on them.
I think they are crazy to keep Goodfellow on, but not surprised about Judith staying as leader.
They make a great pair. Good for the government. It’ll be business as usual at nat headquarters.
Will Carter get his Knighthood in the New Year's List or in the June lot?
According to Willie Jackson, Goodfellow said:
“Democracy gave way to a time to a form of temporary tyranny; no-one should fear death threats or violence for voicing an opinion no matter how much you disagree, but that was the reality in a Jacindamania world and I’m sure you felt that too throughout the year, I certainly did,”
Idiocy.