Signature performance

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1. Tim Ellis 1

   25 November 2008 at 10:02 am

   This is really pretty puerile stuff SP. What are you, fourteen?

   I know you do your best to find something evil to say about John Key at every opportunity, but it just looks like sour grapes. You ran a constant campaign against John Key, painting him as the most evil possible person to be leading New Zealand. New Zealanders disagreed with you. Did it ever occur to you that Labour’s attempt to demonise him might have backfired?

   What next have you got? “John Key pooed his pants!”
2. vidiot 2

   25 November 2008 at 10:07 am

   Settle down Tim, we have 3 more years of SP’s posts to digest, don’t give him any ideas.

   ON HELEN CLARK

   “I said to her when I get back I thought I might ask her if she wants to come up and have a chat before the East Asian Summit. She was genuinely very good and so knowledgeable about these things. Her personal assessments were highly accurate. Generally I said to [leaders] that I had spoken to Helen Clark before I left and she passed on her warm regards. She is well thought of.”

   Not a hint of negativity from him either.
3. Rocket Boy 3

   25 November 2008 at 10:07 am

   Got anything positive to say about Key’s trip to APEC?

   If leaders are to make any progress on the Worlds problems then surely the first step is to actually talk about them. Meeting and talking with other leaders may not solve anything in the short term but it is a step in the right direction and a hell of a lot better than not meeting and talking.

   As anyone in business will know it is all about relationships and the first step is building those relationships is getting out and meeting the right people.

   Sure John Key comes across as the ‘new boy’ in these sorts of things but it is only a matter of time before he will be the old hand.
4. Tim Ellis 4

   25 November 2008 at 10:16 am

   If the story had been about Helen Clark’s attendance at APEC, SP would have been gushing.

   SP you don’t do yourself a lot of justice when you write such partisan crap like this. Let’s see. Try responding with something other than “Oh, I was just winding you righties up”.

   It’s not a wind-up. It’s just rubbish SP.

   The fact that you can’t find a single published commentator or columnist bagging Key’s performance at APEC doesn’t mean that all the media is against you, APEC. It probably suggests he’s done an okay job.
5. Ianmac 5

   25 November 2008 at 10:18 am

   Tim said:”I know you do your best to find something evil to say about John Key at every opportunity.”
   Tim. I thought that Steve’s post was a casual comment but you can see that it pointed to “evil!” So I wonder how you manage to alert us to the sinister aspect of the Key progress. Do know of some horror that has escaped me?
6. leftrightout 6

   25 November 2008 at 10:21 am

   What an embaressment for New Zealand, its Prime Minister running around looking like a bewildered 14 year old girl at a celebrity party in Hollywood. “Like OMG theres like Hu Jintao lol-my-god”.

   Helen Clark always represented New Zealand well on the international stage.
7. Steve Pierson 7

   25 November 2008 at 10:35 am

   Tim. evil? no. disappointing? yes.

   I didn’t ‘gush’ about Clark ever and certainly won’t have if she had listed the highlight of a major international conference as meeting famous people.

   Look at Key’s replies – there is nothing aobut the substance of the conference (and it’s not because of the questions he was asked, those are jsut headings Young has put on his statements), it’s mostly about him or about people he wants to be like.

   It’s just a bit embarrassing.
8. burt 8

   25 November 2008 at 10:39 am

   I agree with Tim.

   SP: Are you still bitter and twisted that Labour got tipped out on Nov 8th?

   Look on the bright side, Key can also wear trousers to meet the Queen.
9. Felix 9

   25 November 2008 at 10:41 am

   Tim of course Key isn’t the most evil possible person to be leading New Zealand, Rodney Hide is. Silly goose.

   But really Tim, if Steve’s writing bothers you so much there are other blogs where you can read nice things about your hero. You might get bored pretty quick though.

   Good to hear that Key and Clark are co-operating on international matters. Key would be foolish and Clark selfish if they didn’t so well done both of them.
10. Tim Ellis 10

    25 November 2008 at 10:42 am

    I’m not embarrassed SP. But be honest now. You are so partisan that there’s nothing that John Key could do or say for you to feel good towards him, is there?

    Try to answer that without a cute, pointless backhanded jab against John Key.
11. Robinsod 11

    25 November 2008 at 10:48 am

    Oh dear – the John Key fan club is getting very defensive… Wassamatter girls? Your wee man needs big ol’ yous to stand up for him???

    Oh and on the matter of JK’s APEC (non) performance? I think he did okay for a noob but he’s s’posed to be a big money expert and I haven’t read anything from him that shows he knows that much about the economy. Finance, yes – but that’s like a kind of really complex game of Dungeons and Dragons rather than a grounding in real-world economic problem solving…
12. Tim Ellis 12

    25 November 2008 at 10:50 am

    Felix, I get bored reading pointless partisan crap about Labour or National, pro or anti. When there’s no useful analysis, it’s just a waste of time. SP does sometimes come up with useful analysis, but too often descends into puerile school-yard name-calling. I do enjoy the analysis from a lot of the other writers here, even when I disagree with their views, because they put those views forward succinctly and maturely.

    I do agree with your point though about Key and Clark cooperating. After nine years of being PM, Clark has a pretty strong reputation and knows all the leaders probably better than any other New Zealander. It’s good that she’s sharing what she knows, and good that Key is taking on her advice. As much as SP wants to demonise John Key, he has New Zealand’s interests at heart. I’ve never doubted that Helen Clark has New Zealand’s interests at heart either.
13. ak 13

    25 November 2008 at 10:53 am

    Yes, very reassuring isn’t it – a spoilt seven-year-old with a new bike responsible for our international reputation (but how touching that dear old Granny Tim won’t hear a bad word about him – settle down dear, you can’t mother them forever you know)
14. Tigger 14

    25 November 2008 at 11:05 am

    This quote from Key about Rudd said it all:
    He was very kind to me. He made a real point of introducing me to people and particularly yesterday [first day of the summit] when I didn’t know people he was a bit of a guiding hand.

    Oh. My. God. Our PM needs someone to introduce him around? What is he, a debutante? Colour me utterly embarrassed.

    I didn’t think SP overemphasised the inaneness of Key’s gushiness over meeting his idols. This man is meant to be standing next to Bush, not acting like a love struck schoolgirl (apologies to all lovestruck schoolgirls by the way).
15. Daveski 15

    25 November 2008 at 11:10 am

    It’s ironic that Key and Clark can work together without any sense of partisanship on a matter of vital importance to NZ while SP and his disciples continue with the “Key Sux” campaign.

    They remind me of the Japanese soldiers hiding out in Borneo for years not realising the war is actually over.

    Given he’s hardly been in the saddle a couple of days, it was more than an acceptable performance. There was even a comment that a took a harder line that HC would have on economic matters and blame but you won’t see anything positive here about that.
16. Sarah 16

    25 November 2008 at 11:39 am

    Someone give Clint a muzzle. His posts are progressively becoming more and more childish and puerile.

    What happened to the old intelligent SP?

    [lprent: I’ve roughly translated that as “I don’t like the posts”.

    Now I just looked back through 4 pages of your previous comments. I can see that you’ve never liked any posts by anyone here. In fact I can’t see a single complimentary comment about any of SP’s posts. So I’d say you’re just lying and probably a troll. Of course rereading your previous comments about me didn’t help. To me it looks like your only reason to come here is to attack the site and its authors. Pretty boring.

    I can’t think of a particular reason that I shouldn’t give you a ban for attacking the site – specifically for trying to tell Steve what he should write (see the About and Policy).

    Banned 2 weeks]
17. ghostwhowalks 17

    25 November 2008 at 11:47 am

    The Minister of Tourism has spent most of his time in the first class cabin, the economy can wait cant it. Its on to London and the palace. Cant wait for his impressions of the decor

    I suppose he would have also taken the Job of Minister of Railways, given his big interest in the area when first in parliament.

    Pity the job doesnt exist anymore since he could have stayed at home more
18. Kevin Welsh 18

    25 November 2008 at 11:54 am

    I guess “time for a change” doesn’t look that great an idea now, huh?

    Bit sad when the new leader, needs to have Helen hold his hand and tell him what to say and do when he is off on his first trip to the big city.

    I doubt whether Helen needed Jenny’s guiding hand when taking on the big jobs.

    And while we are at it, how long before Uncle Michael gets the call to give some financial advice?
19. ghostwhowalks 19

    25 November 2008 at 12:00 pm

    Didnt Jenny allow Bolger to head off to his last APEC with her knife in his back.

    She could wait to get her feet under the 9th floor desk, while JK was off to Peru like he was to receive the weekend Lotto prize draw cheque.

    Could it be in 2 years from now he will again head of to APEC with a new national leaders knife in his back. Que Sera
20. Tim 20

    25 November 2008 at 12:02 pm

    You lefties are so funny when you try and talk like adults.
21. leftrightout 21

    25 November 2008 at 12:06 pm

    You righties are so funny when you dont try and address the issue.
22. Kevin Welsh 22

    25 November 2008 at 12:11 pm

    Well Tim, I would rather be funny trying to talk like an adult, than be an apologist for a sock puppet.
23. Ianmac 23

    25 November 2008 at 12:19 pm

    On Nine to Noon I heard part of Rod Oram’s talk this morning and he was commenting on the curious content of John Key’s speech. In short what the PM was saying at Apec was nothing like what he has been saying to NZ about the Economic troubles. Podcast:
    http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ntn/ntn-20081125-1110-Business_with_Rod_Oram,_Business_and_Economic_commentator-048.mp3
24. Tim Ellis 24

    25 November 2008 at 12:38 pm

    Funny how some of the commentators–ghostwhowalks is classic–begrudge John Key going to APEC, when Helen Clark attended every one, was the most foreign-going PM New Zealand’s ever had, and was just a few weeks ago trumpeting Clark’s superiority in foreign affairs as a major reason to vote for Labour.

    I guess the real gripe that they have is that John Key is turning out to be not a bad hand at all on the international stage. Surprisingly good, in fact. Just as John Key showed he had a few clues about MMP–Labour’s other rallying point–by setting up a multi-party governing arrangement in record time.

    Now I understand. The real difficulty that the Left have with John Key is that all of their put-downs and panic-spreading and lowered expectations of him are turning out to be very shallow indeed.
25. Santi 25

    25 November 2008 at 12:52 pm

    SP, I fear for you after a posting of this caliber and feeblemindedness.

    Are you getting enough? 🙂

    [Santi: I’ll assist you in getting enough – banned 2 weeks. Don’t attack the sites authors at a personal level if you want to continue commenting here]
26. Kevin Welsh 26

    25 November 2008 at 2:25 pm

    Tim, you really are taking the piss now.

    Statements like ‘Surprisingly good’, ‘not a bad hand’, ‘had a few clues’ have basis in what?

    What did he do at APEC? Got his photo ops and autographs for the scrapbook, made a speech stating the obvious and actually looked like he would be great company for GWB.

    So far John Key has met my expectations completely so I am not disappointed. Whilst it is way too early to be shouting ‘the emperor has no clothes’, I fully expect to be making that statement in the future as well.
27. Rex Widerstrom 27

    25 November 2008 at 2:59 pm

    New Prime Ministers from insignificant countries tend to act like dicks round important people they’ve seen on the telly, alas. It’s kinda pathetic but it’s by no means confined to Key. Bolger used to pick up their accents, remember?

    It used to bemuse me that I’d be out with Winston and everywhere we went he was greeted as a celebrity, offered drinks and generally fawned over. Yet if a high profile rugby or league player walked in, he was like a schoolgirl at a Bay City Rollers gig ( yes that is the most up-to-date cultural reference I have 😛 )

    I’m sure Key will get over it, as Rudd seems to be managing after a year. Not so sure about Winston though.
28. ghostwhowalks 28

    25 November 2008 at 3:20 pm

    TIm Ellis , Im sure Helen didnt throw good government out the door JUST to be in a photo op at APEC.

    Remember his own timetable, as admitted by Key, was to be sworn in before APEC, and coalition negoiations were irrelevant, to be rushed through to suit the self appointed Minister of Tourism.

    I wonder if Mrs Key and children have also flown to London at taxpayer expense so they too can share the thrill of meeting the Queen.

    Lucky she can spot the noveau riche a mile away and it will be a case of Hello Mr key, Im must be going!!
29. Tim Ellis 29

    25 November 2008 at 3:44 pm

    Kevin:

    Statements like ‘Surprisingly good’, ‘not a bad hand’, ‘had a few clues’ have basis in what?

    By “surprisingly good”, I mean contrary to the predictions from the Left that Key would be a bumbling disaster on the international stage (you may have missed SP’s “ruch as well as thuck” commentary”, there has been a lot of coverage subsequent to and during Key’s APEC visit, almost all of which was positive. In fact, I haven’t seen a single criticism of Key’s conduct and performance at APEC, with the sole exception of here at the Standard where SP predicted Key would be an embarrassment, and his post-APEC wrap-up, which concluded, perhaps not surprisingly, that Key was an embarrassment. It’s good to see that he’s consistent.

    What did he do at APEC? Got his photo ops and autographs for the scrapbook, made a speech stating the obvious and actually looked like he would be great company for GWB.

    There has been some talk that Key’s speech at APEC was “bold”. While Key wrote it himself, there has also been comment that Clark would have made the same points had she been there instead. He did what Helen Clark would have done had she been Prime Minister: travelled to APEC, meet with leaders, discuss the most pressing issues of regional concern. I think it’s a bit petty to try and score partisan points out of it. Phil Goff has the good sense not to.

    Key scored a side-meeting with George Bush at APEC. How long did it take Helen Clark to get a meeting with him? Eight years, wasn’t it? Can you seriously tell me that no cameras were present when Clark met with Bush in 2007?

    As for autographs, that’s just made-up nonsense.

    You’re all class, GWW. In case anybody thought that muck-raking and bringing political families into the debate was restricted to the Kiwiblog Right, you prove otherwise. Are you Janet?
30. QoT 30

    25 November 2008 at 4:32 pm

    I actually feel sorry for Key on this one – Clark always looked so darn good in the host country’s cultural-shirt-of-the-year (admittedly probably because they so often had to whip one up specially for the sole woman attending) and the poor guy gets saddled with a beige poncho first time out!
31. Rex Widerstrom 31

    25 November 2008 at 5:23 pm

    QoT:

    Clark always looked so darn good in the host country’s cultural-shirt-of-the-year

    Geez, I know you lefties are ideologically blind, but it seems to be becoming a physical impediment as well 😉

    APEC costumes are specifically designed to make important people look as out of place,uncomfortable and just plain daffy as possible and Clark was no exception.

    I suspect APEC is secretly run by a bunch of anarchists. The meetings are just an excuse to line up world leaders for a photoshoot that is guaranteed to make most people laugh our asses off at the powerful. And I’m all for that 😀
32. J 32

    25 November 2008 at 5:26 pm

    “I wonder if Mrs Key and children have also flown to London at taxpayer expense so they too can share the thrill of meeting the Queen.”

    Why not, if it’s good enough for Mike Williams and his researcher to be flown to Australia to dig up political dirt then its good enough for the Key family to be flown to London for a legitimate purpose.
33. northpaw 33

    25 November 2008 at 6:41 pm

    Tim Ellis,

    painting him as the most evil possible person to be leading New Zealand.

    Goodness gracious me! Instance these ‘evils’ and justify them else backoff.

    Voters of any stripe would require a political leader to prove themselves. Your loquaciousness in support of your preference amounts to a disservice. To the new PM. Suggest you backoff there also.. in his interests and, longer term, your own.

    vidiot,

    the point, surely, of including reference to the former New Zealand leader, PM Helen Clark, might so very readily be seen as a modern ‘letter of introduction’ in political credit. Present at APEC as a stranger among what for him would be strangers also, a tacit word or two would be little more than par for the course. Such is leadership and delegation politics.
34. ghostwhowalks 34

    25 November 2008 at 7:52 pm

    Notice too that Key blamed the financial mess on the crazy risks taken AFTER he left Wall St….

    me thinks we have heard this one before…. the illegal currency deals at Elders AFTER John ‘Goody two shoes’ Key left the company.

    And we found out he had lied over this to put some distance between him and the corruption of his work colleagues.

    he doing the same about the culture in Wall St.
    Liars Poker by Michael Lewis was written in the 80s and showed how the culture was screwed even then.
    The author has been in touch with those who were checking what was going on in the last 5 years and it was the same but different.

    I think the snake is calling the cobra slippery

    http://www.portfolio.com/news-markets/national-news/portfolio/2008/11/11/The-End-of-Wall-Streets-Boom#
35. ghostwhowalks 35

    25 November 2008 at 8:06 pm

    Heres the money quote from the portfolio story on the End of Wall St- apart from the one about they ALLWAYS lie to you.

    …We have a simple thesis,’ Eisman explained. “There is going to be a calamity, and whenever there is a calamity, Merrill is there.’ When it came time to bankrupt Orange County with bad advice, Merrill was there. When the internet went bust, Merrill was there. Way back in the 1980s, when the first bond trader was let off his leash and lost hundreds of millions of dollars, Merrill was there to take the hit. That was Eisman’s logic—the logic of Wall Street’s pecking order. Goldman Sachs was the big kid who ran the games in this neighborhood. Merrill Lynch was the little fat kid assigned the least pleasant roles, just happy to be a part of things….
    page 7

    And we have just seen the little fat kid happy just to be at APEC
36. maxx 36

    25 November 2008 at 9:24 pm

    Stevies still upset his party lost and he no longer has the key to the 9th floor lavs or the pm office travel budget.

    [lprent: troll line – pick up your standard please. I’ve already banned two people today and I’d hate to break my quota]
37. maxx 37

    26 November 2008 at 12:45 am

    but you know my comment about the lav key is funny.

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