No byline

Written By: - Date published: 11:43 am, July 25th, 2011 - 26 comments
Categories: Minister for Overseas Holidays - Tags: ,

Gotta love the piece in the Herald today about Key[s]’s meeting with Obama. No mention of what was discussed or achieved (nothing). Just ‘oh they got along. And Key would have made Obama laugh. If Obama wasn’t busy with important stuff’. Best part in this non-bylined article is the list of what makes them such good buddies.

From the moment they met at the United Nations in 2009, they got on. Reasons include:

* They have a lot in common.

* They are both leaders of their countries.

* They were both elected to high office in November 2008.

* They are both married with two children.

* They both turn 50 next month.

* They both have homes in Hawaii.

By that logic, I like every 33 year old whose been a union delegate since 2004, has a 5 year old kid, and likes to go to the beach for their holidays.

Bitter experience has proven that’s not true.

If Obama and Key were really such good mates, Key wouldn’t have given a scared taonga as a present and got back a toy sword made in Wellington.

Honestly. Who writes this garbage? Reads like Kevin Taylor wrote a ‘what they have in common’ list for the journo to use. And they just copied it out.

Let’s drop the myth that Key and Obama are best pals. Course Obama is friendly with foreign leaders of friendly countries. It’s kind of in the job description. Course he calls him by his first name. That’s what more American leaders do to assert dominance while suggesting closeness. Watch a movie. Course Obama can rattle off a couple of nice things about Key and New Zealand. That’s what briefings are for.

Fact that Obama doesn’t know Key[s]’s name tells you how much he actually knows and cares about him. The guy’s got bigger things on his plate. Why do we have to pretend there’s a personal relationship where there clearly is not?

26 comments on “No byline ”

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  1. Stan 1
    25 July 2011 at 11:55 am

    If it was HC you would have a different opinion

    • Lanthanide 1.1
      25 July 2011 at 12:01 pm

      If it were HC:
      1. It wouldn’t have obviously been a publicity stunt
      1a. HC would only have gone if something useful were resulting from the visit.
      2. HC wouldn’t be gushing about how she was the “luckiest prime minister in 25 years”

      We should expect to see some trite comment from Key on the 6pm news today about how he just got back from the US where it was 40c and now he’s back in blizzard conditions.

      • higherstandard 1.1.1
        25 July 2011 at 1:20 pm

        • rosy 1.1.1.1
          25 July 2011 at 4:07 pm

          Good ink HS, Lanthanide is absolutely correct.

          • Lanthanide 1.1.1.1.1
            25 July 2011 at 6:22 pm

            I’m not sure about 1a, but the things she talked about did seem a bit more important than inviting the marines over for a look-see.

        • felix 1.1.1.2
          25 July 2011 at 4:15 pm

          What a contrast to “Gee it’s so awesome meeting Mr Obamas, he even let me touch him! I think we’re going to be friends! Look out for Arabs!”

      • Anne 1.1.2
        25 July 2011 at 2:56 pm

        We should expect to see some trite comment from Key on the 6pm news today about how he just got back from the US where it was 40c and now he’s back in blizzard conditions.

        And all the stupids (and we do seem to have a lot of them) will be thinking: ha ha ha, he’s right again… gosh he’s reeely nice that man. I’m going to vote for him.

        Depressing isn’t it.

      • mik e 1.1.3
        26 July 2011 at 8:44 pm

        If it was HC She wouldn,t get a plastic sword

    • Blighty 1.2
      25 July 2011 at 12:09 pm

      so, you’re conceding the coverage is facile but refusing to condemn it because the guy is your ‘side’ and you claim we would do the same? Is that really what politics comes down to for you?

      • Tigger 1.2.1
        25 July 2011 at 12:17 pm

        Actually if it was HC I would be hiding my face in shame just like I am now at what pathetic lapdogs we’ve become for the American Empire. So no, I wouldn’t have a different opinion.

  2. felix 2
    25 July 2011 at 12:34 pm

    No no no they’re besties and Keys can ring him up anytime he likes and Obamas answers the phone it’s true.

    Sometimes Keys rings Obamas just to ask what he’s up to. They talk about NZNTM (Obamas’ fave show). Obamas goes “you hang up!” and Keys goes “no you!” and then they just lie there listening to each other breathing.

    Sometimes when they get together they strip down to their gruds and have waterfights it’s soooo awesome.

  3. Colonial Viper 3
    25 July 2011 at 12:38 pm

    Key got to fill his photo scrapbook up with the last pics he needed. Now he can happily leave the PMs job, head overseas and make some real money again.

    • Lanthanide 3.1
      25 July 2011 at 1:08 pm

      Probably the only noteworthy English-speaking head of state he hasn’t photo’d with yet is the PM of Cananda.

  4. Bill 4
    25 July 2011 at 12:46 pm

    All political leaders of small countries seek association with and kudos to flow from ‘contact’ with the really important and recognisable political leaders of the moment

    It’s always been an opportunity for spin and always will be.

    John Key and his advisers seem to be quite good at it in the eyes of some. So what? Nobody really cares, do they?

  5. whocares? 5
    25 July 2011 at 12:58 pm

    Key is 51 next month.

    • Tigger 5.1
      25 July 2011 at 3:58 pm

      And his wig is 8.

    • Jasper 5.2
      25 July 2011 at 4:38 pm

      Fail. 09/08/1961. 2011 – 1961 = 50.

      But, who cares indeed. No doubt we can wait with bated breath for the John Key Memorial Holiday on August 09 so we can all pedal in adoration whilst gushing forth soliloquies, down the Sir John Phillip Key Memorial Cycleway, thinking about how that nice man Mr Key has made us all so much poorer but it’s not his fault, after all there is a depression shaping up and he didn’t do anything contributory.

      • Drakula 5.2.1
        25 July 2011 at 9:15 pm

        “Didn’t do anything contributary” Jasper you must be jesting a foreign exchange dealer at Elders, Wellington then Merrill Lynch in London, followed in the foot steps of George Soros, speculating on the currency market. Was he trading the NZ currency down the river?

  6. Terry 6
    25 July 2011 at 1:10 pm

    What a big “to do” we have through our media over a Whale meeting a Minnow for all of 30 minutes. Obama congratulates the P.M. on keeping our military in Afghanistan precisely when
    America is in a process of withdrawing troops. The two leaders do not literally each own a “home” in Hawaii. Key owns a MANSION (to go with his several Mansions throughout the world). I am sure that the two men have one thing in common, the strongest support for Israel
    regardless of anything.

  7. mickysavage 7
    25 July 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Michael Cullen had the best description:
     

    “Barack Obama … shares other similarities with him [Key]. As, indeed, a reader of the New Zealand Herald pointed out, “They are scientifically similar in that they are both male bipedal mammals with an identical number of arms, legs and internal organs.’ The difference, of course, is that Mr Obama stands for change you can believe in.”

    • Tom Gould 7.1
      25 July 2011 at 1:52 pm

      Fair point, and I’d bet the Washington Monument that Obama would never vote for ‘Mr Keys’ if he was able to … he’s way too ‘socialist’ …

  8. Craig Glen Eden 8
    25 July 2011 at 1:51 pm

    Of coarse Key commented on the weather thats whats tourists do,he will wopp out his photo albulm next, thats once Duncan forwards the photos from his phone.I suppose that it would not be Duncan to Keys it would be DG maaaate.

  9. seeker 9
    25 July 2011 at 3:08 pm

    …But, but… President Obama was reported as saying that he thought John Keys was “intelligent and thoughtful”!!
    Either this does not say a great deal for Obama’s powers of perception,or it was meant as a throw away comment to please “Keys” and shake him off his heel.
    Of course it could have been double speak for ‘cunning and starstruck’ in which case those of us with perception would agree.

  10. tc 10
    25 July 2011 at 3:57 pm

    look over here at me with Obama….saying and doing nothing in particular just diverting your attention away from that 10Bill Budget hole we shonkeyed past you thanks to a compliant MSM who have no grasp of fundamental economics, mathematical comprehension or memories on such porkys as ‘fiscally neutral tax cuts’ to name but one ….jeez this is such as awsum job I even get to pretend I’m commanding our armies…..maybe next chopper ride I can fire a gun.

  11. Draco T Bastard 11
    25 July 2011 at 4:18 pm

    That’s what more American leaders do to assert dominance while suggesting closeness. Watch a movie.

    Or, even better, read Dale Carnegies’ How to Win Friends and Influence People. The psychopaths manual to manipulation of other people.

  12. Tel 12
    26 July 2011 at 3:48 pm

    I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned on the Standard or not, but why was it necessary for John Key to wipe his right hand on his trouser leg immediately after shaking hands with Barack Obama in front of a hoard of media and camera’s? (Can be spotted on the TVNZ news coverage on the 24th July on Sunday night news.) Some sicko photo-op this turns out to be. Can someone image capture this, because I’d like to frame it in memory of this disgusting little man representing our country!

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