The clean man

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 9:22 pm, July 8th, 2008 - 76 comments
Categories: brand key, national, spin - Tags:

Has anyone else noticed John Key’s absence from the media in the last few days? I finally clicked to it while listening to RNZ this morning when we heard yet another “a spokesperson for John Key’s office says” comment.

This is a pretty standard technique from the Crosby Textor hand book. I like to call it the “clean man”. You see Brand Key is all about the nice stories and, as the ‘Sod has so verbosely pointed out, it takes its value from association with nice things.

But dirty old Aussie spin doctors are not nice things

and flogging off ACC is not a nice thing

and taking rights from working Kiwis is not a nice thing

and ditching the charter is not a nice thing

and, come to think of it, cutting back people’s retirement savings is not a nice thing either

So what do you do when these not so nice things come up? Well you put up poor old Bill to do the dirty work or when you are really pushed you get a “spokesman” or a minor backbencher to say it for you. And you get as much of it out of the way in as short a time as possible.

The main thing is keeping the clean man (and his brand) clean. The way I see it Vernon Small busted them over ACC and now they are pushing out all of their unpopular policy in one hit in an attempt to make this a bad news blip. It’s like ripping off a bandage. Best done fast.

You’ll note, as many in the media have, that while they are doing this John Key is kept far far away from it. I imagine he’ll be back when the focus is back on Labour. In the meantime have a wee think about what kind of anonymous “spokesperson” could publicly censure a democratically elected MP like Shane Ardern.

76 comments on “The clean man ”

Comments are now closed

Rex Widerstrom 1

8 July 2008 at 9:32 pm

It’s a tad “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” though, isn’t it?

If any political leader is out front all the time, critics and the media portray him or her as a totalitarian and their Cabinet / spokespeople as simpering wimps without an independent thought. I’ve heard this very criticism of Clark.

If indeed it’s always “A Spokesperson” who’s doing the talking, then I agree with you – but not because I think it ought to be Key.

Personally I’d like to see much more of various people in all the parties rather than this “Presidential” style of campaigning, of which Labour are just as guilty as the Nats.
Monty 2

8 July 2008 at 9:43 pm

You guys need to worry less about John Key and worry more about Labour own terrible poll ratings. Have your focus groups not told you that your fixation with the ever popular and likeable John Key will send your poll ratings further through the floor? When is Labour going to release policy? what is Labour going to do to kick start the economy? Where are Labour’s ideas to deal with crime, to make NZ more competitive internationally? to improve after tax incomes? to generate electricity so the country does not lurch from shortage crisis to crisis year after year.

Labour are out of ideas and the country is going to evict Labour from office. John Key’s new government will not mean doom and gloom for the country – hell his policies may even work for all New Zealanders. (except unionists) You just continue to attack him when he is in the media, and then he does not say anything for a day or day and you attack him again for not being in the media? Please answer this honestly – Is this all you have? Is this going to be the basis of Labour’s whole election campaign. Has the Labour Party / 9th floor given the instruction to attack John Key no matter what? Does you polling really tell you this will work?

So enough of the attack – it obviously is not working (except for National) and start focusing on your own internal issues, and your simply bloody awful polling – and take a hard loook at yourselves, rather always looking around at John Key. Why not address your won issues and make this a good positive campaign instead of one of being bitter and twisted and obsessed?

and get some bloody humour into your lives.
IrishBill 3

8 July 2008 at 9:44 pm

Rex, I agree there is a presidential style of campaigning going on here but the difference is Key is being highly managed as a brand. To her credit I don’t think I’ve ever seen Helen go MIA when she has been attacked. In fact the reverse is true, when things get bad publicity-wise she steps in and takes control. Key on the other hand is shepherded away by his handlers and others are left to clean up his mess.
IrishBill 4

8 July 2008 at 9:45 pm

Monty, you claim Labour has run out of ideas. Feel free to tell me what fresh ideas National is offering.
Razorlight 5

8 July 2008 at 9:50 pm

I totally agree Rex. National will use all their talent to front up, not just the crown jewel that is Mr Key.

But in saying that, was it not Mr Key who fronted up outside the debating chamber last week to confirm ACC would be opened up to competition.
Razorlight 6

8 July 2008 at 9:52 pm

I am in moderation….why?
Steve Pierson 7

8 July 2008 at 9:58 pm

razor. dunno. IP address?
IrishBill 8

8 July 2008 at 10:05 pm

was it not Mr Key who fronted up outside the debating chamber last week to confirm ACC would be opened up to competition.

Yes and then disappeared. I never said they were perfect operators. Just well funded ones.
Monty 9

8 July 2008 at 10:05 pm

these are the Values that I support that National wants to acheive – i am sure these guiding principles are also why National is 25% points ahead in the polls –

â€¢ National and personal security
â€¢ Equal citizenship and equal opportunity
â€¢ Individual freedom and choice
â€¢ Personal responsibility
â€¢ Competitive enterprise and rewards for achievement
â€¢ Limited government
â€¢ Strong families and caring communities

all that Labour seems to care about is destruction of John Key – when will you focus on the issues that New Zealand care about?
IrishBill 10

8 July 2008 at 10:18 pm

Monty, you have provided a series of catch phrases. They might as well be straplines for brand key. I’m surprised you didn’t add “ambition for New Zealand”.
sean 11

8 July 2008 at 10:20 pm

Monty – they are so desperate, that they are trying the approach of slinging as much mud as possible to try and get something sticking.

It speaks volumes for their belief and faith in what Labour is doing – they wouldn’t need all these pathetic attacks, they would have positive stuff to blog about.

The ironic thing, after all the mud clears at the end of each week, is that the economy and the country in general, is still in an absolute shambles, and Labour are the ones in charge of it all, and at fault for most of it.
IrishBill 12

8 July 2008 at 10:27 pm

sean, I don’t think Labour has done as well as it could. I think National would do much much worse. If you want to talk about the economy then perhaps you could explain what policies National has to make it all better. They didn’t do too good a job last time.

And for the record I’ve seen a few recessions in my time and I have never seen the country in as good a position to weather one as it is now.
dave 13

8 July 2008 at 10:29 pm

feel free to tell me what fresh ideas National is offering.
A new Government
A new leader with a nice smile
Tax cuts
National and personal security
Equal citizenship and equal opportunity
Individual freedom and choice
Personal responsibility
Competitive enterprise and rewards for achievement
Limited government
Strong families and caring communities
Decent education system
A better television charter
No Helen Clark
No Michael Cullen

THere, that took 10 seconds…
IrishBill 14

8 July 2008 at 10:33 pm

And again, no real policy or plan. Thank you for providing the classic example of the hollowness of a National party offering. Now, back on topic. What will happen when the clean man is put in a position where he has to get dirty? I’m picking the first leaders’ debate.
T-rex 15

8 July 2008 at 10:38 pm

Monty, I doubt you’re even capable of comprehending what delivering on your values would really entail.

Sean, I could destroy your second paragraph without breaking a sweat, but I’m trying to give it up. There’s no future in trying to argue with self interested idiots.

There’s a lot more mileage in talking to the people you and yours have been trying to sucker.

How come you guys are here b*tching rather than over at Kiwiblog extolling the virtues of the National party? I think you saw 08wire’s video yesterday and felt a chill.

We’re not desperate, we’re angry. You are a bunch of f*cking liars, and you’ve got a long way to fall. There are some decent, honest guys arguing the case against Labour – a lot of them have fair points. You are not in that category.

Even if this National wins this election, we won’t go away. You know what you should really be worried about? When all’s said and done – we’re just plain smarter than you. Though you shouldn’t really worry either, because the society we imagine and will create is just plain better than yours as well… and you’ll get to live in it 🙂

A rainbow for you to go to sleep with.

I’m off to talk to some people. Better hope I’m worse at it than you are…
darryl p 16

8 July 2008 at 10:38 pm

IB, I’d love to share your optimism about the coming recession but there are going to be a lot of people struggling or going to the wall over the next few months. Our dollar is looking shakey at best and once that goes down then the pressure is really going to go on. It’s a great situation for anyone involved in exporting goods but most people in New Zealand are not, so unfortunately we are going to see a lot of hurt.
DS 17

8 July 2008 at 10:42 pm

“these are the Values that I support that National wants to acheive – i am sure these guiding principles are also why National is 25% points ahead in the polls – ”

Monty, mate, those are slogans.

Being for “strong families and caring communities” is like being for cute kittens and sunshine (though if the Nats are for caring communities they’ve got a damn strange way of showing it).

Equal citizenship and equal opportunity? Dogwhistle (let’s be frank: it’s a polite way of expressing the age-old right-wing tactic of the poor white guy being set against the poor brown guy while the rich white guy laughs all the way to the polling booth).

Individual freedom and choice? You mean like civil unions and what have you? Or the freedom to not be treated like a serf by your employer? Oh sorry, I get it now. You mean the freedom for rich people to make themselves even richer at the expense of everyone else.

Personal responsibility: another lovely little meaningless slogan imported directly from right-wing think-tanks (via talkback radio). Sounds lovely, until you start thinking about what it really means (“Damn lazy poor people!”).

And so on.
lprent 18

8 July 2008 at 10:48 pm

Monty:

all that Labour seems to care about is destruction of John Key – when will you focus on the issues that New Zealand care about?

That list are all supported by Labour. For instance the last time we had unlimited government was under Muldoon. Labour devoutly doesn’t want to go back to that level of socialism.

The difference is that Labour has policy saying how they are going to get there. The Nat’s currently have vacuous rhetoric. There is no real point in pointing out the flaws in a vacuum (unless you are a physicist).

Labour’s policies are fairly clear and are documented, costed and detailed. The Greens have piles of documentation on their policies. Even ACT and the other trivial parties have written policies.

The only two announced major policies by the Nat’s that have some detail and a few costs are

1. we want to win power
2. we are willing to do anything to acheive (1)

So the writers here tend to focus on those policy points – especially point 2 – a major part of which is JK and his association with political scum.
IrishBill 19

8 July 2008 at 10:48 pm

darryl, I wouldn’t go so far as to say “optimism”. There is a pretty major international crisis out there. I don’t have the stats at hand (that’s more Steve’s thing) but we are still an export nation and a lowering dollar is not bad at all. There are issues around imported inflation, specifically fuel, but there is also money in the pot to stimulate growth through expanding infrastructure: a move that increases our productive capacity for the next boom.

Businesses that are well managed will have banked capital to use to expand as labour and resource pressures ease. Those that have spent their way through the good times are not running a viable long-term business model and should probably fail for the greater good of the economy.

It does pay to remember that we are not facing the mortgagee sales the US is nor do we have a government too crippled by debt to stimulate the economy. The thing people have to understand is we live within international capitalism and there will always be hard times. It’s not nice but without sound economic governance it could be a lot worse (and was in the late eighties and nineties).
Monty 20

8 July 2008 at 11:09 pm

Much more fun over here than at Kiwi blog and as long as a Stay awat from certain issues i don’t seem to get banned. But I take 100% full responsibility for my life. I really don’t give a shit about people like my wifes brother who is a loser and no longer deserves any help because he refuses to help himself because he has never accepted responsibility. The stupid idiot has never made an intelligent decision in his life including his political record of voting for a socialist government.

Okay – some reasons why I support National

1. They fought against the democracy corrupting Electroral Finance Act. This is a dispicable peice of legislation and no government deserves to be re-elected solely on the basis of support for this Act.
2. labour interfere in my life too much.
3. I am sick to death of being over taxed so parasites can sit on Welfare instead of taking personal responsibility for their lives.
4. I will not have to wait nine years for tax cuts – I am pissed that this year I willhave to pay $100,000 in tax to support pricks without the ambition to look after their kids.
5. Clark and her ministers are jsut so bloody feral and negative – they really have to be evicted to learn a lesson in humility.
6. They waste money – the expansion of the public Service in Wellington has been outrageous. National should slash and burn – but politically they will not do this – but at least cap the growth.
7. The focus of National will go back into front line services rather than growing the public service. Less “policy advisers cannot be a bad thing.
8 The reform of the RMA will be a massive boost for the country. That is a National high priority.

You socialists think you are the saviours to the poor and downtrodden. But all you do is trap them in their dependency.

I will await the detailed policy from National – but it does not really matter – you guys will be toast as the country simply cannot wait to get rid of Clark at the earliest opportunity. I am not a policy writer or a student of politics – but rather a guy who works hard, pays more tax in a year than you would gross in a year, and wants the best for my family and friends. I like to help those who want to get on with their lives (but not make stupid decisions and expect the taxpayer to fund my stupid decisions.

You run your negative campaign – and remain obsessed with John Key – you carry on thinking we are self interested (- I can tell you that the most self interested person is Clark annd the Labour Government who are obsessed with power – and that is a good reason for your eviction to the opposition benches for a long long time. The Country has decided to destry you and your party. Your rebuild will only start once you realise that you have major internal problems.

Labour portray nothing but a desperate and sad bunch of socialists who want to return to the glory days of 1972. – Why have the people desserted you ? answer that – if you can. I doubt you can.
IrishBill 21

8 July 2008 at 11:15 pm

Well you can’t really argue with that. Nor would you really want to. Thanks Monty, you only missed the bit about Helen Clark being worse than Hitler.
ramsey 22

8 July 2008 at 11:27 pm

Shit sticks and Clark is the only person chucking it and around on the TV for it to land on.
infused 23

8 July 2008 at 11:28 pm

It’s a view shared by many people. You don’t seem to be able to grasp that though.
Monty 24

8 July 2008 at 11:28 pm

And of course my views are backed by over 50% of the people – my in laws (parents of usless parasite brother in law) have not once in 18 years been able to give me a good reason why they support Labour except ” they help the poor people”

How so I respond – by trapping them in Welfare? by paying them to breed kids they can’t afford. By releasing them from personal responsibility?

Well no worry – at Farrar says in his polling newsletter “The average of the public polls has National 23% ahead of Labour and easily able to form a Government alone. The gap last month was 19% and in April 15% so there has been an 8% increase in two months. ”

I expect the trend to continue and guess that come election night you guys may even score 20.8% (doing better than Bill English in 2002.
Blar 25

8 July 2008 at 11:34 pm

Er Bill, have you forgotten the “minor backbencher” is in fact the Broadcasting spokesman? I think you are clutching at straws if you think having a spokesperson announce a policy is proof John Key is being hidden in a closet by his advisors.

There does seem to be a more logical explanation – one that doesn’t require you to say a spokesperson announcing a policy is somehow out of the ordinary. That is that as has been widely reported, Key has spent the last few days on holiday with his family. It’s the start of school holidays and all that.
Blar 26

8 July 2008 at 11:44 pm

PS

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22helen+clark+said+through&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryNZ

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22a+spokesman+for+the+prime+minister&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryNZ (maybe half of these results relate to other countries)

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22a+spokesman+for+Ms+Clark&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryNZ

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22a+spokesperson+for+helen+clark&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryNZ
http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22a+spokeswoman+for+helen+clark&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryNZ
http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22a+spokesman+for+helen+clark&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryNZ

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22a+spokesman+for+clark&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryNZ
http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22a+spokeswoman+for+clark&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryNZ
http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=%22a+spokesperson+for+clark&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryNZ

A small selection – most relate to tricky or unwelcome issues. It’s pretty standard to use spokesfolk either when the politician is away or doesn’t want to be directly drawn on a topic.

I think it’s probably fair in either instance not to name the press secretary in question.

[lprent: please – fewer links. That one went straight into the akismet spam trap]
Justin 27

8 July 2008 at 11:53 pm

The reason why John Key is absent from the media, is because he’s on holiday with his wife and kids. Nothing ‘Crosby/Textor’ or any sort of Hollow Men conspiracy.

Just a father spending time with his family, which if anything is to his credit. Its hard juggling family and politics and it shows he makes time. A good thing.
IrishBill 28

8 July 2008 at 11:54 pm

No Blar, Coleman is a light weight that few have heard of (excepting the cigar punch up) and if this was a “good news” policy he would have been made to stand in the background while Key made the announcement.

As an aside would you like to take a punt at why an unnamed “spokesman” would be allowed to call Shane Ardern to heel? And if it has been so widely reported that Key is on holiday then please feel free to provide a link to said report/s.
illuminatedtiger 29

8 July 2008 at 11:56 pm

Meanwhile Key is holidaying in his million dollar beach home while the rest of us work and freeze our asses off. John Key – YOU’RE out of touch!
Robinsod 30

9 July 2008 at 12:03 am

The bro takes a lot of holidays – He better not get too used to that if he’s gonna be PM…
r0b 31

9 July 2008 at 12:04 am

Why have the people desserted you ? answer that – if you can. I doubt you can.

The people haven’t deserted Labour. Labour’s vote in the last three elections (% of list votes):
1999 38.74%
2002 41.26%
2005 41.1%

Labour’s current polling is in the range of 30 – 35%, including polls which historically underestimate Labour’s vote in elections by about 4%. In short, Labour’s vote is fairly solid. All that has happened is that opposition to Labour has consolidated around one big party instead of being spread over lots of little parties.

And of course my views are backed by over 50% of the people

You see yourself as something of a leader figure I see there Monty. Good for you.
Blar 32

9 July 2008 at 12:06 am

I can’t be bothered doing a media digest for you Bill, but it was made clear on TV3 last night: http://www.3news.co.nz/News/PoliticalNews/Clarkswillnotstanddownbeforeelectiondespitepoorpollperformance/tabid/419/articleID/62188/cat/67/Default.aspx

Your point about Coleman being a lightweight is irrelevant. Marion Hobbs was a lightweight no one had ever heard off when she got the portfolio and pretty much stayed that way. The fact is, broadcasting isn’t exactly a high-profile portfolio that requires a political heavyweight behind it. That’s probably why Key didn’t interrupt his family holiday to leap out in support of it – it’s not exactly a top of mind issue for most voters.

IT – it’s really no different to Clark fucking off up some mountain in Norway. Neither are particularly working class pass-times but the fact is, all MPs earn at least six figures and are going to have holidays that match.
Razorlight 33

9 July 2008 at 12:18 am

‘Meanwhile Key is holidaying in his million dollar beach home while the rest of us work and freeze our asses off. John Key – YOU’RE out of touch!’

What a silly thing to say. Why can’t John Key go on holiday. What does the temperature in New Zealand have to do with it.

Politics of envy at work again
Monty 34

9 July 2008 at 12:19 am

Rob – what matters now is

National 2002 – 20%
National 2005 – 39%
National 2008 – 55% (and Labour 25%) (note the pattern here???)

For six months National has polled over 50%. people are settled and accept and trust John Key to lead a majority government. All Labour has is an obsession with John Key –

a message – if you want to recover (and stop the slide into opposition) then you need to …

Oh bugger it – there is nothing you can do – the election is lost, Labour have no money, supporters are not turning up to campaign meetings – give up and regroup for 2011 having learnt your lessons.
Justin 35

9 July 2008 at 12:21 am

In the latest Roy Morgan poll (which had the most accurate polllast election, Labour is down 1% at 51.5%. All the polls are lining up the same. This is incredible so close to an election.

And yet today Tim Barnett says “We’re not convinced those polls are accurate at all”.. which suggests a man and a Government wildly out of touch.

Professor Nigel Roberts at Victoria was quoted in the weekend Sunday Star-Times as saying he believed the odds were now even for National to win a majority on its own.

Rob, Labour has little to no chance. Its too late. The mood is pretty clear and we’re going into a recession.

Unless John Key gets caught doing something with a donkey or something worse, there is a change of Government this year.
r0b 36

9 July 2008 at 12:38 am

Monty: For six months National has polled over 50%. people are settled and accept and trust John Key to lead a majority government.

Well if that polling holds up during the campaign proper you can draw that conclusion, until then I think you are guilty of counting your chickens before they are hatched.

Oh bugger it – there is nothing you can do – the election is lost, Labour have no money, supporters are not turning up to campaign meetings – give up and regroup for 2011 having learnt your lesson

I’m sure you’d love us to give up Monty. Sorry! And as to money and supporters, doing very nicely thanks, and I’m actually involved in the campaign, where I’m kinda guessing you’re just making shit up.

Justin: Rob, Labour has little to no chance. Its too late.

Possibly Justin, indeed. We’re going to lose an election one day, maybe the next one, maybe not. The big old electoral wheel keeps turning, and people like to vote governments out. The sad part about it is that this doesn’t always mean that people know what it is that they are voting in.

we’re going into a recession.

We’re facing some huge coming problems, economic, environmental, and through those issues, social. I sometimes wonder if National and its fanbois are really going to enjoy the poisoned chalice that they are so intent on grasping. We shall see perhaps.

Goodnight.
Razorlight 37

9 July 2008 at 12:45 am

rOb
I am fairly certain National are not going to enjoy the poisoned chalice that will be handed over to them in a few months time.

Just like 1990 and unlike 1999 the incoming government is inheriting a dog of an economy and has its work cut out for it. It will not be enjoyable but it will be a relief to have them in charge rather than the over spending Labour mob they are replacing
ramsey 38

9 July 2008 at 12:56 am

Monty: For six months National has polled over 50%. people are settled and accept and trust John Key to lead a majority government.

Rob: Well if that polling holds up during the campaign proper you can draw that conclusion, until then I think you are guilty of counting your chickens before they are hatched.

>> True, just watch the spit flecked invective laced politics of hate increase labours goodwill burn in the electorates.

Monty: Oh bugger it – there is nothing you can do – the election is lost, Labour have no money, supporters are not turning up to campaign meetings – give up and regroup for 2011 having learnt your lesson

Rob: I’m sure you’d love us to give up Monty. Sorry! And as to money and supporters, doing very nicely thanks, and I’m actually involved in the campaign, where I’m kinda guessing you’re just making shit up.

>> The ODT is speculating that JetSet Goff is sharpening the knives for Clark. How does that sit with the lection strategy? Integral to the Party strategy or is Clark running the Party now?

Justin: Rob, Labour has little to no chance. Its too late.

Rob: Possibly Justin, indeed. We’re going to lose an election one day, maybe the next one, maybe not. The big old electoral wheel keeps turning, and people like to vote governments out. The sad part about it is that this doesn’t always mean that people know what it is that they are voting in.

>> Voting in a fresh hand on the tiller with new ideas and no party baggage.

Justin: we’re going into a recession.

Rob: We’re facing some huge coming problems, economic, environmental, and through those issues, social. I sometimes wonder if National and its fanbois are really going to enjoy the poisoned chalice that they are so intent on grasping. We shall see perhaps.

>> The problems of today and tomorrow are different to the problems of yesterday which is why yesterdays solutions arent working. Here is hoping that those picking up the baton have a more inventive and innovative problem soving approach than those about to hand it on.
lprent 39

9 July 2008 at 1:02 am

Razorlight: I think that the biggest issue for the Nat’s if they manage to win this campaign isn’t going to be any of those things. I think the biggest issue is that they are in about 3 minds about what they are wanting to do.

I think that the factionalism inside the nat’s will cause them to fall apart. The reason they are following the C/T line about no policy so closely is because it allows them to defer those battles until after the election. That is a recipe for disaster because they have bugger all experience at the top and that is where those conflicts are strongest.

One way or the other The Standard’s bloggers will have a field day both before and after the election with the Nat’s lack of coherent thinking.
Razorlight 40

9 July 2008 at 1:10 am

lprent – “One way or the other The Standard’s bloggers will have a field day both before and after the election with the Nat’s lack of coherent thinking.”

I think they will also have a field day because nothing will improve over the next 12 -18 months. In fact alot of things will get worst, like unemployment and filling that car up.

I can already see SP making some nice little graphs in a years time showing the increase in unemployment since National took over.

The criticism that National will face in their first term will be as a result of the current econommy. Something they are not responsible for now but will have to fix soon.
ramsey 41

9 July 2008 at 1:20 am

I’d say John Key and the national leadership team would be very happy to wait out the frankly disgusting binge of gutter sniping being spewed out by labour. The polling graphs are following trend.
Oliver 42

9 July 2008 at 2:33 am

Helen uses spokespeople an awful lot, does that mean she’s evil?
all_my_electorates 43

9 July 2008 at 4:28 am

Dear Oliver,

Only if Helen were a National Party member would she be evil. National are eveil, Labour are good.

I hope this helps calrify the situation.

love and kisses
Clint Heine 44

9 July 2008 at 7:00 am

Who cares. You guys are all toast, has beens, Labour/EPMU hacks and all out in the open.

Live by the sword, die by the sword chaps. Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving bunch.
Robinsod 45

9 July 2008 at 7:34 am

Hey Clint – if you really really believe it, it’ll come true. The Standardista’s have really got under your skin eh? Is that because they are smarter than you? Poor wee jealous man…
all_my_electorates 46

9 July 2008 at 7:42 am

robinsod – eh, no, incorrect…you are the bitter wee man eh. If the due paying union punters knew how much of their money is supportiing latte sipping numb nuts you’d be out of a job mate, thats assuming you actually do contribute to society…eh!?!
Robinsod 47

9 July 2008 at 7:51 am

Ah yes – keeping it positive I see.
Clint Heine 48

9 July 2008 at 7:51 am

Me bitter? Na bro – I am enjoying watching them be smeared about the blogosphere as liars. It’s good viewing!

If I was paying Union dues I’d be pretty pissed off right now. Although as a taxpayer I would like to know why tax dollars are paying Labour staff to spend their days blogging. You might have no problem with that Robinsod – but you are a little strange about other peoples money bro.

*edit*

Ahhh no, Robinsod doesn’t contribute much to society. Care to disclose who pays your wages there boy?
Solidarity 49

9 July 2008 at 7:54 am

“One way or the other The Standard’s bloggers will have a field day both before and after the election with the Nat’s lack of coherent thinking”

When Labour lose the election a couple of you “standinistas” will have to find new jobs and your new boss might not be as keen to let you spend all day spewing bile on the internet.

And of course if National outlawed unions that would be the other half of you gone as well.
Clint Heine 50

9 July 2008 at 7:58 am

I agree Solidarity. I am peeved people are paid out of the taxpayers pocket to play on the internet.
all_my_electorates 51

9 July 2008 at 8:01 am

>>Hey Clint – if you really really believe it, it’ll come true. The Standardista’s have really got under your skin eh? Is that because they are smarter than you? Poor wee jealous man <<

You are a numbnut mate, whats positive above? Besides your chances of being named twat of the day?

Get a real job and contribute to society.
Robinsod 52

9 July 2008 at 8:04 am

Ahhh no, Robinsod doesn’t contribute much to society. Care to disclose who pays your wages there boy?

As I’ve said in past threads. I contract and I make very good money doing so. Now Clint – what do you do (apart from exercise your impotence by photoshoping pictures of HC onto porn)? And while we’re being all transparent about stuff how about you tell me Boom Town Prat’s real name and occupation oh, and don’t vote labour’s – I mean anonymity is such a terrible thing after all…

edit: AME – is that the best you’ve got? No wonder your not satisfied with life.
Solidarity 53

9 July 2008 at 8:05 am

” I am peeved people are paid out of the taxpayers pocket to play on the internet.”

So the taxpayer pays people to play on the internet if I could find examples where the taxpayer pays people to drink beer and masturbate as well then I think I would be the perfect candidate for the civil service.
all_my_electorates 54

9 July 2008 at 8:11 am

“As I’ve said in past threads. I contract and I make very good money doing so” – well lah de dah. Contracting to a government department on a useless web project no doubt ‘boy’.

All_Your_Electorates_Belong_To_Us.
Clint Heine 55

9 July 2008 at 8:17 am

Difference is Robinsod you have your sticky little hands in the public trough and my co-bloggers don’t. You have the stench of “other peoples money” keeping you warm at night while the public, who you pretend so much to care about, help line your nest.

Is that your new fancy way of saying you are up to your neck in it? “Contracting?” Nice one son.
Robinsod 56

9 July 2008 at 8:17 am

So AME – what do you do for a living (if you could call being you “living”)?

Oh and Clint? Is that the best you can do? You coward…
all_my_electorates 57

9 July 2008 at 8:22 am

I asked first – be polite. You are a government employee arent you?

Dont you just live John Key’s honest engaging smile? He’s just so, New Zealand – self made, family man, mixes with the people, wont engage in gutter talk.
Steve Pierson 58

9 July 2008 at 8:23 am

Let’s ease off on the personal abuse here.

Razorlight.
Yup I and the other Standardistas will, if National win, be exposing National’s failure to deliver on the huge promises it has made.
all_my_electorates 59

9 July 2008 at 8:26 am

Yeah robinsod – play nicely please eh?
Robinsod 60

9 July 2008 at 8:29 am

I asked first – be polite. You are a government employee arent you?

The last contract I had that involved government money was in 2003. I’ve a funny feeling my taxes are paying for your benefit though…

Now it’s your turn. Or are you just another coward like Heine?
Clint Heine 61

9 July 2008 at 8:32 am

Pfffft, did I touch a nerve Robinsod? Poor baby.

You never did answer my question though, but if calling me names is your way to deflect it.. well whatever floats your boat.
all_my_electorates 62

9 July 2008 at 8:33 am

You havent answered the question directly buddy, so you obviously are playing word games, again.

Please stop the personal abuse, I nor Clint are a coward – those who cast the first stone.
Tane 63

9 July 2008 at 8:59 am

Clint, you’re banned, and so are your mates. No taxpayer money is used on this blog, and no one blogs on the dime of their employer.

Been nice knowing you. Keep up the nude photoshop jobs on HC. All class brother.
Robinsod 64

9 July 2008 at 9:04 am

Yawn – what are you guys? The special needs tag team? Like I said – I contract. That means I work for myself. Hold on I think I hear my “boss” coming to tell me off! No wait that’s me – “good work robinsod take a well deserved break”.

Thanks boss – I think I might use it to take the piss out of these tards a bit more.

So Clint, Aye – either of yous gonna answer a simple question? No? I guess that makes you cowards then. Get back to work and stop stealing your bosses’ money. Parasites…
Robinsod 65

9 July 2008 at 9:07 am

Aww Tane – now Clint and his sockpuppet will never get the chance to come clean. I guess I’m just gonna have to find out the answers old fashioned way… Hey what do you think Clint’s boss would think of that porn photoshopping and the anti-Islam hate speech anyway…

[Tane: Sod, don’t encourage the trolls. If you continue to stoop to their level it’ll be another week’s ban]
lprent 66

9 July 2008 at 9:08 am

I see that Clint and his bedmates have demonstrated this morning why we have and use a moderation policy.

‘sod: Did you really have to play with them here? Why couldn’t you have played with them at your blog? They leave all these messy comments around that say little about nothing.
Tane 67

9 July 2008 at 9:11 am

Back on thread – Blar, fair point, but I’d argue there’s something odd going on when a party decides to release major policy while their leader is on holiday. Doesn’t that just reinforce Bill’s point about John being the clean man?
Robinsod 68

9 July 2008 at 9:25 am

‘sod: Did you really have to play with them here? Why couldn’t you have played with them at your blog? They leave all these messy comments around that say little about nothing.

They’re all too scared to comment on my blog.

Tane – to reiterate you back-on-threadness. Agreed – I’d say if you wanted to keep “Brand Key” clean then Hawaii would be a good place to stash it while the sh*t hit the fan…
Phil 69

9 July 2008 at 9:44 am

“They’re all too scared to comment on my blog.”

Most people avoid your blog because it’s the internet equivalent of the sound of one hand wanking, erm… clapping.
Blar 70

9 July 2008 at 10:02 am

Back on thread – Blar, fair point, but I’d argue there’s something odd going on when a party decides to release major policy while their leader is on holiday. Doesn’t that just reinforce Bill’s point about John being the clean man?

Broadcasting is a second-tier policy area. It’s not consumer affairs, but it’s not exactly health so I don’t know why you are calling it major.

I think this is more of a “keeping your powder dry” approach than a “clean man” approach. Key is clearly going to be a huge part of National’s campaign and wearing him out on Agenda week in, week out and with every second tier policy launch.
Robinsod 71

9 July 2008 at 10:06 am

Phil – oh no – they read it bro and I see where from. They’re just too scared to say anything…

Blar – broadband is also a second tier policy. Who fronted that one again? I’d say if the broadband policy was to further deregulate the industry then Williams would have handled it… Coleman is a tainted asset due to the outing of his ties with the tobacco industry. No loss for his to take a hit…
Blar 72

9 July 2008 at 10:10 am

Sod, things generally stop being second-tier policy areas when they require $1.5b in funding.

I can’t speak for anyone else but I don’t comment on your blog because there hasn’t been much activity there recently.
Robinsod 73

9 July 2008 at 10:36 am

So I’m assuming that you think a policy of organising free muesli bars to schools is a “first tier” policy? I mean he fronted that didn’t he? Oh and the sports club stuff? You are not a very good apologist, blar.
Blar 74

9 July 2008 at 10:48 am

Sod, I said:

“Key is clearly going to be a huge part of National’s campaign and wearing him out on Agenda week in, week out and with every second tier policy launch.”

In a nutshell, Key can’t do “every second tier policy launch”. You seem to be under the impression I said Key can’t do any second-tier policy launches, ever. My bet is the rest of the second-tier policy launches from now until the election are handled more often than note by spokespeople.
mike 75

9 July 2008 at 11:38 am

IB, He was on leave for a couple of days. As he said on Breakfast this morning he works big hours but has 2 children as well and wants to some time with them. Good on him.
Rob 76

9 July 2008 at 3:28 pm

Very interesting report today about Chris Carter refusing to obey the ombudsman and release a report on a College principle who was a sexual deviant.

Apparently they were warned twice by an Auckland Lawyer not to take him on but they still did. Tell me what has Chris Carter and the Education Department got to hide why won’t they release it