The Key Problem
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1:23 pm, March 16th, 2008 - 8 comments
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The somewhat irregular and frequently misguided Chris Trotter occasionally hits it on-the-head. Today’s Sunday Star Times has Trotter running over John Key’s inability to take the heat when it comes to hard questioning. And he further notes that National will be concerned that their man will not stand up to the debates later in the year with Helen Clark.
Trotter is, in my view merely observing the obvious, but it’s a point worth making now. John Key is really a ‘show pony’ for the National Party and a mask to its pernicious agendas to take
Key comes from the world of international finance and money trading. It’s a poker-playing world of dogged self-interest, opportunism and hard questions lots of questions. Key’s approach would have been to ask enough questions of the market to ensure that there would always be enough ‘yeses’ to make lots of money for him and his masters. How does that work now that Key is hoping to put ‘Prime Minister of
Frankly the Labour government and the media have not asked enough of Key, so now is the time to do it. He’s presented a glossy version of his CV so if we, as potential employers of a Prime Minister, want him for the job, we’d better be certain he can handle it. Why is he glibly bagging the Fast Forward innovation initiative; why did he ‘accidentally’ say he’d hope wages will fall; why did he really want us to go into
I think that the electorate deserves some answers to these questions after all we need to employ a government and leader before the year is over.
Here’s an idea from this Standard contributor Helen Clark and John Key publicly debate the major issues early in 2008. Why wait until later? The government will likely say that it should keep its powder dry for later, but that will simply suit Key down to the ground. Labour’s powder is already soaking in sweet smelling honey from the Key charm machine and of course he is avoiding facing the stiffer questions for as long as possible.
But hey, the debate idea is an idle challenge. Labour won’t want it yet and John Key would refuse to accept the offer anyway, so everyone is playing safe! In the meantime, The Standard will keep asking questions.
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The Green Party vows to reinstate the oil and gas ban and revoke permits when it returns to government following the coalition’s introduction of legislation to reopen offshore oil and gas exploration this afternoon. ...2 weeks ago
- Government introduces controversial MACA legislation
The Government’s introduction of its interventions in the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act threatens to throw relations between Māori and Crown into deeper disharmony. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Gun lobby bill removes regulation at ranges
Gun lobbyist Nicole McKee and her conflict of interest has struck again, this time removing safety regulations from shooting clubs and ranges in New Zealand. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt forgetting the 6000 jobs they’ve cut
The real problem in the public sector is ongoing job losses and cuts to the front line. ...2 weeks ago
- Government undermines public service with WFH crackdown
The Green Party says the Government’s retrograde move to tighten up on Work from Home arrangements is the latest in a series of blows to the Public Service. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Ministers oblivious to cuts’ effect on families
The National Government is oblivious to the impact cuts to services will have on New Zealanders who are doing the hard yards caring for mentally ill family members. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Public service set up to fail under National
Nicola Willis has set up the public service to fail to pay for reckless tax cuts for landlords and the tobacco industry. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Coalition cooking up costly RMA replacement
National continues to dismantle environmental protections in the interests of rushing through unsustainable development that will ultimately cost communities. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National red-faced as benefit numbers skyrocket
The economy has stagnated and the National Government is having to face the consequences of its atrocious lawmaking, as beneficiary numbers skyrocket past even Treasury’s predictions. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National allocating police officers not hired yet
There are 104 fewer police officers now than there were when National came into Government. ...2 weeks ago
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Today’s GDP figures combined with the injustice of our tax system will mean more pain for our lowest-income households while those at the top remain relatively unscathed. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: No growth under National, just cuts
The National Government’s decisions have hindered, not helped the economy. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt must act to avoid the worst of NIWA’s climate projections
New climate projections from NIWA underscore how urgently climate action is needed. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: More job losses as Government fails on manufacturing
The Government is failing the manufacturing sector with no plan for its future. ...3 weeks ago
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Kia uru kahikatea te tū. Projects referred for Fast-Track approval will help supercharge the Māori economy and realise the huge potential of Iwi and Māori assets, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Following robust and independent review, the Government has today announced 149 projects that have significant regional or national ...6 hours ago - Fast-track to boost renewable electricity
The Fast-track Approvals Bill will list 22 renewable electricity projects with a combined capacity of 3 Gigawatts, which will help secure a clean, reliable and affordable supply of electricity across New Zealand, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Government has a goal of doubling New Zealand’s renewable electricity generation. The 22 ...6 hours ago
- Fast-track to drive transport projects forward
The Government has enabled fast-track consenting for 29 critical road, rail, and port projects across New Zealand to deliver these priority projects faster and boost economic growth, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand has an infrastructure deficit, and our Government is working to fix it. Delivering the transport infrastructure Kiwis ...6 hours ago
- Fast-track projects released
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- Ruakākā recreation centre opened
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- Extra Government support for farmers and growers in Southland and parts of Otago
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced up to $50,000 in additional Government support for farmers and growers across Southland and parts of Otago as challenging spring weather conditions have been classified a medium-scale adverse event. “The relentless wet weather has been tough on farmers and ...2 days ago
- Government welcomes move to delay EU Deforestation Regulation
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today welcomed a move by the European Commission to delay the implementation of the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by 12 months, describing the proposal as a pragmatic step that will provide much-needed certainty for New Zealand exporters and ensure over $200 million in ...2 days ago
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Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has confirmed the final appointee to the refreshed Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board. “I am pleased to welcome Brett O’Riley to the EPA board,” Ms Simmonds says. “Brett is a seasoned business advisor with a long and distinguished career across the technology, tourism, and sustainable business ...3 days ago
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The Government has approved a $226.2 million package of resilience improvement projects for state highways and local roads across the country that will reduce the impact of severe weather events and create a more resilient and efficient road network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Our Government is committed to delivering ...3 days ago
- Doubling road rehabilitation this summer to prevent potholes
Kiwis will see fewer potholes on our roads with road rehabilitation set to more than double through the summer road maintenance programme to ensure that our roads are maintained to a safe and reliable standard, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key ...3 days ago
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- FamilyBoost payments make ECE more affordable
Parents and caregivers are now able to claim for FamilyBoost, which provides low-to-middle-income families with young children payments to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs. “FamilyBoost is one of the ways we are supporting families with young children who are struggling with the cost of living, by helping ...3 days ago
- South Pacific defence meeting fosters collaboration
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Introduction Good morning! What a pleasure to be back in the stunning West Coast at one of my favourite events in the calendar. Every time I come back here, I’m reminded of the Coast’s natural beauty, valuable resources, and great people. Yet, every time I come back here, I’m also ...3 days ago
- Positive progress on Government health targets
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- Supporting better access to data for Kiwis
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- Progressing remote building inspections
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- PPTA accepts charter schools
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- South Pacific Defence Ministers meet in Auckland
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- Children’s Unit opens at Rotorua Hospital
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti today opened the refurbished Children’s Unit at Rotorua Hospital, which will provide young patients and their families in the Lakes District with a safe, comfortable and private space to receive care. “The opening of this unit is a significant milestone in our commitment to improving ...5 days ago
- Minor variations no longer major problem
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- New diplomatic appointments
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A new Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund will help councils and landowners clean up historic landfills and other contaminated sites that are vulnerable to the effects of severe weather, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. "This $30 million fund, part of our Q4 Action Plan, increases the Government’s investment in ...6 days ago
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Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...6 days ago
- Foreign Minister completes successful week of international engagements
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today wrapped up a week of high-level engagements at the United Nations in New York and in Papeete, French Polynesia. “Our visit to New York was about demonstrating New Zealand’s unwavering support for an international system based on rules and respect for the UN Charter, as ...6 days ago
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- Four new laws to tackle crime passed in Q3
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- Reforming the building consent system
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- Cost-benefit analysis for potential third medical school completed
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The three deputy commissioners are trying to turn the public health system around. ...14 hours ago
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HIDDEN AGENDA!!!!111one
anyone that’s watched Key closely over the last year shouldn’t be surprised at impressions of his ineptitude.
what is interesting though is that an msm publication is now running such a line (albeit carefully innoculated by having Trotter as author). wasn’t that long ago it’d be unheard of. a couple more blunders and it’ll become commonplace, and not just by so-called leftist writers.
now is the time for a few more invitations to Key to open his mouth.
So now the National strategy is not only “release as little policy as possible, but when confronted with um er eh ah I er.. of Key, the answer is get “English” as a second language
i like the idea of a debate – but there would need to be some thought given to the audience. I remember last election they were noisy and painful (and added little). A quiet studio – with Kim Hill. Now wouldn’t that be interesting?
How about the old “crossfire” method?
Probably more accurate to say that they leech money.
They no more leech money than electricity traders, traders in spices, oil traders, and cargo traders.
How did owen glenn get rich? Trading space on containers. Is he more, less or the same of a leech?
The problem with an early debate is that it’s giving Key practice for the campaign, and results would get skewed by the talking heads doing the post-analysis anyway. I don’t think there’s anything in it for Labour this far out.