The line on Little…

155 comments on “The line on Little… ”

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1. Tracey 1

   15 December 2014 at 8:54 am

   GREAT call bounder
2. karol 2

   15 December 2014 at 9:04 am

   And yet Little was far from angry on the recent surveillance Bill.

   Key keeps his aggressive hard man under wraps, then puts it viciously into operation using his slick used car salesman front (or outsources it to the likes of Ede and Slater.
   • Manuka AOR 2.1

     15 December 2014 at 9:07 am

     I think he was angry, but was effectively facing a hostage situation.
     • Colonial Rawshark 2.1.1

       15 December 2014 at 10:12 am

       First lesson of anti-terrorism. You don’t negotiate with terrorists.
       • The Al1en 2.1.1.1

         15 December 2014 at 12:26 pm

         Bullseye
       • McFlock 2.1.1.2

         15 December 2014 at 3:00 pm

         Easy call to make when it’s not your problem.
3. Manuka AOR 3

   15 December 2014 at 9:04 am

   AL is obviously doing something right, to draw that response. One man, taking on the bullies and their thug gangs (cowards!).
4. mickysavage 4

   15 December 2014 at 9:10 am

   Interesting. I was thinking of the weekend of doing a post on how the Nats would spend the summer thinking and scheming and focus grouping and working out attack lines on Little. Looks like they have done the work already …
   • Manuka AOR 4.1

     15 December 2014 at 9:18 am

     There’s be a few more yet, increasing as they start to feel the effects. ..Including recycling that “Beware the Unions” line. They will grab and spin anything they can against him – which is true testament to his strength and effectiveness.
     • Melb 4.1.1

       15 December 2014 at 9:01 pm

       “They will grab and spin anything they can against him – which is true testament to his strength and effectiveness.”

       Pretty sure this argument was used many, many times to justify how good commenters thought Cunliffe was. Look how that turned out.
     • Manuka AOR 4.1.2

       16 December 2014 at 7:46 am

       umm.. I don’t recall the Nat’s going, “Ouch! Ow.. He’s too angry, he’s a hard man..”

       (Slight paraphrase but you’ll get the pic)
   • Bill Drees 4.2

     15 December 2014 at 10:29 am

     Farrar likes front footing the Nats with billable projects.
     The invoice will have been paid already!
   • David Craig 4.3

     16 December 2014 at 9:23 am

     I was sitting in the Koru lounge at Auckland airport a couple of months ago, and Key was holding court with supporters just over my left shoulder. They asked him about the Labour leadership election. After commenting on Grant’s candidacy (‘all hell will break loose if he’s elected”) Key said, “so, looks like we’ll get “Angry Andrew”.

     Hmm: I did a google search for Angry Andrew, and guess where was the only place I found it in reference to NZ politics? Whale Oil, of course! So, Key’s had a label/ frame for Andrew for a while, and has been trying it out on party faithful… and, no doubt, the public from here on in…
5. Clemgeopin 5

   15 December 2014 at 9:10 am

   Andrew Little may be straight up and hard hitting, but the people are beginning to realise that Key is really full of crap anyway and that Little was correct!
   • Chooky 5.1

     15 December 2014 at 11:46 am

     Crapkey..or ….Keycrap..new slang word for Urban Dictionary?
     • greywarshark 5.1.1

       15 December 2014 at 1:46 pm

       @ Chooky
       What about Krupkey? Our heart-rending problems are spelt out in this lively link of
       the song from West Side Story “Gee Officer Krupke”. Enjoy.
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVaYq99yNwY

       Or. Original. Hard to better.
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7TT4jnnWys

       Here’s the anomic path through the realms of government courts, social workers, jail while trying to deal with the unwanted and undeserving (of anything much according to the good people of our society.)

       ACTION AND JETS
       Gee, Officer Krupke, we’re very upset;
       We never had the love that ev’ry child oughta get.
       We ain’t no delinquents,
       We’re misunderstood.
       Deep down inside us there is good!…
       ALL
       There is good, there is good,
       There is untapped good!
       Like inside, the worst of us is good!

       DIESEL: (Spoken, as Judge) In the opinion of this court, this child is depraved on account he ain’t had a normal home.
       ACTION: (Spoken) Hey, I’m depraved on account I’m deprived.
       DIESEL: So take him to a headshrinker…..

       A-RAB: (As Psychiatrist) Yes!
       Officer Krupke, you’re really a slob.
       This boy don’t need a doctor, just a good honest job.
       Society’s played him a terrible trick,
       And sociologic’ly he’s sick! ……

       BABY JOHN: (As Female Social Worker)
       Eek!
       Officer Krupke, you’ve done it again.
       This boy don’t need a job, he needs a year in the pen.
       It ain’t just a question of misunderstood;
       Deep down inside him, he’s no good!…
       ALL
       We’re no good, we’re no good!
       We’re no earthly good,
       Like the best of us is no damn good!
       http://www.westsidestory.com/site/level2/lyrics/krupke.html
       • Chooky 5.1.1.1

         15 December 2014 at 1:55 pm

         yes well that is certainly along the lines …but I would prefer something less supplicatory
         • greywarshark 5.1.1.1.1

           15 December 2014 at 2:01 pm

           @ Chooky
           Yes well… At the end of going through the processes, the gang group together and say to Officer Krupke who has been banging them on the head – “Drop you!”
           • Chooky 5.1.1.1.1.1

             15 December 2014 at 2:04 pm

             lol…but after Ferguson one should NOT laugh!…Green Party non violent Gandhi pacifist resistance is best in the long term
6. Lanthanide 6

   15 December 2014 at 9:18 am

   Did National’s line that Cunliffe was “tricky” ever really get traction? Seems to me like they sort of abandoned it after about May this year – although that was probably because they had so many other opportunities that they didn’t have to rely on their manufactured distortion any longer (sorry for being a man, man-ban (again), trust issues, Donghua Liu, being hated by caucus, Kim Dotcom etc).
   • newsense 6.1

     15 December 2014 at 7:02 pm

     you mean when it was all Patrick Gower would ask Cunliffe about?
   • BassGuy 6.2

     15 December 2014 at 7:19 pm

     Maybe it’s time to recycle it, “Don’t be trickey, John.”
7. Rob 7

   15 December 2014 at 9:30 am

   If Key was a used car salesman you would go to any of the others out there now to get an honest deal Just saying.
   • Sacha 7.1

     15 December 2014 at 11:05 pm

     nah, he would have subtly slagged them after his handler in the office told him how.
8. mac1 8

   15 December 2014 at 9:30 am

   I have heard this conception of Andrew Little as angry. It could easily be countered by wide distribution of excerpts of his speech at the closing of Parliament. It was very funny and parts of it should be transcribed- especially the bit at the end about the new films to be released.
   http://www.inthehouse.co.nz/video/35418
   New Zealanders will like his self-deprecating humour.
   • karol 8.1

     15 December 2014 at 9:46 am

     Thanks for the link. Great speech! Freshness and vigour.
   • Manuka AOR 8.2

     15 December 2014 at 10:39 am

     “parts of it should be transcribed- especially the bit … about the new films to be released.”

     Here’s one of them 🙂
     Whaleoil Rider: “A touching story of two nz’ers in search of bromance, a spiritual bond, a clean environment for blue whales, and a decent mobile package with free texting. Filmed on location in the heart of Wellington and suburban north shore.”
     • mac1 8.2.1

       15 December 2014 at 12:33 pm

       And another.
       “Then finally, Mr Speaker, we have “Heavenly Features”, the story of a Leader of the Opposition armed only with his rugged good looks and a new pair of glasses, (much laughter) who takes on a government tired, out of touch, out of time and out of ideas……….. and who wins. A mystery guest star on that one but we’ll soon find out. And a special one, a Lord of the Rings leader, “Return of the King,” (much laughter) and she’s sitting beside me and we’re on our way back…”

       We’re on our way back!
   • Maisie 8.3

     15 December 2014 at 11:17 am

     I’m glad you brought that up! If Key&crowd have stereotyped him as “angry” they’re going to be tripped up. He’s light on his feet and displays a wit and warmth worthy of Lange at times.
     • Tracey 8.3.1

       15 December 2014 at 12:13 pm

       if the economy dips, angry is how many kiwis will feel, so it could work that way too.
       • Colonial Rawshark 8.3.1.1

         15 December 2014 at 12:23 pm

         And that’s relating to a short term dip where the pain is felt over the next 6 months or so.

         However, longer term NZ is well on the way to suffering a lost decade (where 80%+ of people struggle and stagnate along while maybe 20% of people do OK). And on a 20 year time frame the global economy is going into the toilet. That’s guaranteed. You can already see it now where real economic growth is proving impossible for western economies and the powers that be are resorting to gaming the numbers and manipulating the markets.

         A lot of promises are going to be broken and a lot of illusions shattered. “Anger” is not really going to fully describe many peoples reactions when they figure out that they have been had (that they allowed themselves to be had).
         • Lan 8.3.1.1.1

           15 December 2014 at 1:35 pm

           European deflation ..we are on our way there!
   • Sacha 8.4

     15 December 2014 at 11:11 pm

     “parts of it should be transcribed”

     by Labour, yesterday.
     #pffft
9. politikiwi 9

   15 December 2014 at 9:30 am

   I wonder how much Crosby/Textor billed for thinking this line up? Any guesses?

   Whether the image that National are trying to create is accurate or not, now that the line has been drawn it’s important that Labour show Little isn’t a brute or bully but an honest bloke who’s sick of all this shit we’re getting from the Key/Slater government. (A lot of people are.)
   • Tracey 9.1

     15 December 2014 at 9:39 am

     given the would have been engaged to do angles for all 4 nominees… plus curias polling… no change out of 150k is my guess
     • Tom Gould 9.1.1

       15 December 2014 at 12:29 pm

       I understand CT has been on retainer to Key for years.
       • politikiwi 9.1.1.1

         15 December 2014 at 1:10 pm

         Ask him to confirm that.

         LOL.
   • Lindsey 9.2

     15 December 2014 at 1:19 pm

     They stole it from the Republican party of the USA who do the “angry Black man” number on Obama regularly.
   • A Voter 9.3

     15 December 2014 at 2:19 pm

     Sad eh Slater has not even an elected politician and look at all the attention
     He should be in a cell n Guatemala I think Dr Ropata
     About the level of hs intelligence anyway
   • anker 9.4

     15 December 2014 at 10:05 pm

     I saw Little in the house recently and he was relatively low key and it occurred to me then that that might be a strategy as I had heard the Nats refer to him as Angry Andy.
   • Sacha 9.5

     15 December 2014 at 11:27 pm

     “”t’s important that Labour show Little isn’t a brute or bully”

     No. Reacting to the lines of others has not served the left well over the last decade, has it?
10. Bill 10

    15 December 2014 at 9:34 am

    I know that some sensitive middle class types find anger distasteful and problematic, but y’know, this country needs fucking rage, not polite or genial disagreement over a cuppa.

    So Andrew Little’s angry? Not near enough he isn’t.
    • Paul 10.1

      15 December 2014 at 9:39 am

      “I’m mad as hell.”
      We all should be.
      It’s criminal what’s happened to this country since 1984.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGIY5Vyj4YM
      • Paul 10.1.1

        15 December 2014 at 10:02 am

        This cartoon sums up NZ’s apathetic populace.
        It doesn’t highlight the media’s role in generate such torpor.

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11374134
      • Clemgeopin 10.1.2

        15 December 2014 at 10:16 am

        A new slogan:

        “We are all as angry as Andrew
        And We won’t take Key’s crap
        ANY MORE!”
        • Puckish Rogue 10.1.2.1

          15 December 2014 at 10:48 am

          Yes you will, you and the rest of the left will take it and like it for another three years

          You want an uprising or some such nonsense well tough over a million people voted for National

          Nationals vote went up again
          Labours vote went down again
          The Greens vote went down

          NZ overwhelmingly want John Key as Prime Minister thems the facts, it may well come to pass that next election NZ want change and want Little as PM but until then its John Key running NZ
          • felix 10.1.2.1.1

            15 December 2014 at 11:01 am

            “Yes you will, you and the rest of the left will take it and like it for another three years”

            Anybody know why this cretin is allowed to post things like this here every day, on what is supposedly a blog for the labour movement?

            Especially when he’s been given a three-year ban under his other name…

            [lprent: There is nothing but a certain stylistic similarity to indicate that that they are the same person. I don’t ban on that. ]
            • Puckish Rogue 10.1.2.1.1.1

              15 December 2014 at 11:23 am

              Did you miss the part where I explained why? Probably did because it doesn’t fit in with your narrative but it still doesn’t change what happened
              • felix …

                15 December 2014 at 11:39 am

                Why would I care what you explained? Explaining is losing, dickhead.
                • Colonial Rawshark …

                  15 December 2014 at 11:58 am

                  LOL
                • Tracey …

                  15 December 2014 at 12:16 pm

                  Chuckle
            • Paul 10.1.2.1.1.2

              15 December 2014 at 11:23 am

              If it were an intelligent point being made, I’d listen, but pr, BM, c73 etc just come up with the level of argument you’d expect in a school yard.
              Puerile nonsense, day in day out.
            • Paul 10.1.2.1.1.3

              15 December 2014 at 11:25 am

              Pr is like an annoying mosquito.
            • felix 10.1.2.1.1.4

              15 December 2014 at 11:37 am

              “There is nothing but a certain stylistic similarity to indicate that that they are the same person.”

              There’s a bit more than that. But even stylistically, some of the punctuation habits are so utterly unique that I’ve never seen anyone else use them.

              There’s no doubt in my mind they’re the same person with different phones, but as always it’s your gaff your rules.
            • KJS0ne 10.1.2.1.1.5

              15 December 2014 at 1:11 pm

              lprent: Pretty easy to setup a proxy these days. What evidence besides IP address WOULD indicate that it’s the same person?
          • lprent 10.1.2.1.2

            15 December 2014 at 11:19 am

            Ummm.

            How many people in NZ? 4 and something million
            How many people on the electoral roll? 3 and bit million

            How many people voted for national? Less than a quarter of the people in NZ and less than a third of those entitled to vote.

            Of the people who actually voted. National got less than 50%.

            Of the people who voted for John Key, excluding his caucus, there were probably about 20 thousand in his electorate.

            Underwhelming.

            If you are going to be a fuckwit about numbers, then at least be an accurate one and don’t bullshit like you are a broker inflating the value of penny shares.
            • Puckish Rogue 10.1.2.1.2.1

              15 December 2014 at 11:54 am

              National got over a million votes: fact

              Nationals vote increased from the last election: fact

              National were one vote away from ruling alone which, in an mmp environment, is vertually unheard of: fact

              Labours vote decreased again: fact

              But all of the above doesn’t really matter, all that matters is that National is again ruling and John Keys in charge
              • Colonial Rawshark …

                15 December 2014 at 12:01 pm

                More people voted for parties OTHER THAN National. National formed a government by around 80,000 votes. Sweet FA in other words.

                If Labour and NZF had not been so tactically stupid in Hone’s seat, National’s final advantage would have been a bare 40,00 votes or so.
                • Tracey …

                  15 December 2014 at 12:25 pm

                  Ode to All the Puckish Rogues
                  (with apologies to patsy kline)

                  Sometimes it’s hard to be National
                  Giving all your love to just John Key
                  You’ll have bad times, so he’ll have good times
                  Doin’ things that you don’t understand
                  But if you love him, you’ll forgive him
                  Even though he’s hard to understand
                  And if you love him, oh be proud of him
                  ‘Cause after all he’s just John Key.
                  Stand by John Key write lying blogs for him to
                  Come home to, lie to the press too
                  Poll when nights are cold and lonely.
                  Stand by John Key, and show all kiwis you love him
                  Keep believing all the lies you can.
                  Stand by John Key…
                  • Puckish Rogue …

                    15 December 2014 at 1:18 pm

                    You really should apoligise to Tammy Wynette instead
                    • Tracey …

                      15 December 2014 at 1:21 pm

                      Why am i not surprised you know country (sp) music
                    • Puckish Rogue …

                      15 December 2014 at 3:18 pm

                      Why am I suprised you couldn’t even be bothered to do the most cursory of google checks to find out who wrote and recorded the song

                      Also you might be interested in reading this just so you broaden your horizen a little

                      http://www.salon.com/2013/06/19/country_music_has_always_been_feminist_even_if_taylor_swift_isnt/

                      http://flavorwire.com/250751/a-feminist-guide-to-country-music
                    • Tracey …

                      15 December 2014 at 4:17 pm

                      Now you claim to be a champion for feminism???

                      I googled the lyrics and the song name and clicked the one that said patsy Cline. Tammy wouldnt mind I am sure.

                      Simpering much PR
                  • greywarshark …

                    15 December 2014 at 3:10 pm

                    @ Tracey
                    That is top of the pops. And the sort of people that liked Stand by your Man in the Blues Brothers would probably vote for yek as well. And lovingly throw even more bottles at him!
                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AMMJF5-gMY
                    • Tracey …

                      15 December 2014 at 4:18 pm

                      Great film… And aretha does a star turn too
                  • anker …

                    15 December 2014 at 10:08 pm

                    lol 100 + Tracey.
              • ghostwhowalksnz …

                15 December 2014 at 12:40 pm

                Dont forget Hone s Mana Movement got more votes than MP, more than Dunnes party and twice as many as that cupcake party ACT.

                Without them Key would Opposition leader leader on 47.04% ( less than previous election with 47.31%)
                • Puckish Rogue …

                  15 December 2014 at 3:31 pm

                  Keep on wishin’ and hopin’
        • Wayne 10.1.2.2

          15 December 2014 at 3:18 pm

          A sharp verbal riposte (as in “Frankly I don’t give a damm”, or “I am as mad as hell and won’t take it anymore”) have their power by their singular use. They are one of those things that should only be used sparingly. Over use, as David Cunliffe tended to do with his various insults, greatly weakens them.
          • Tracey 10.1.2.2.1

            15 December 2014 at 4:19 pm

            How odd, repetition of words and phrases seems to have worked well for the liar in chief
            • Wayne 10.1.2.2.1.1

              15 December 2014 at 7:37 pm

              Tracey,

              There is a difference between a sharp and memorable response, and an “on message” repeated time and time again. They both have their uses, but it is important to know the difference.
              • Tracey …

                16 December 2014 at 10:20 am

                Both are vacuous…
        • Manuka AOR 10.1.2.3

          16 December 2014 at 8:03 am

          “A new slogan”

          😀
      • Potato 10.1.3

        15 December 2014 at 11:06 pm

        Thank you for reminding me of that clip Paul.
        I agree and am mad as hell at what is happening.
        My wish for 2015 is that more people come out of their neolib imposed stupor and get angry too.
    • Manuka AOR 10.2

      15 December 2014 at 9:48 am

      “So Andrew Little’s angry? Not near enough he isn’t.”

      I agree. Go Andrew!
    • Maisie 10.3

      15 December 2014 at 3:01 pm

      Oh gawd. OK let’s all froth at the mouth and sneer at ‘ordinary NZers’ for three years; that will achieve SO much, won’t it?
      • just saying 10.3.1

        15 December 2014 at 3:07 pm

        Because simpering and cowering has been sooo effective.
        Sometimes not being angry just means you aren’t paying attention.
        If you are an “ordinary New Zealander” you have been continuously sneered at for years now.
        Time for the oppostion to be on our side.
        • Maisie 10.3.1.1

          15 December 2014 at 10:57 pm

          Some examples of Little simpering and cowering, please (since he’s the main offender accused of nor being angry enough)
          • just saying 10.3.1.1.1

            15 December 2014 at 11:25 pm

            I wasn’t talking about Little.
            • Maisie 10.3.1.1.1.1

              16 December 2014 at 12:44 am

              Apologies – I presumed you were referring to the bunch of posts immediately preceding, urging Little to become apoplectic on a daily basis from now till the next election.
              • just saying …

                16 December 2014 at 7:47 am

                I don’t think anyone was saying that, Maisie.
                I know it was partly hyperbole on your part, but representing anger by and on behalf of those who have been screwed-over for a very long time as “apoplectic” is a good example of what Bill was talking about at the beginning of this thread. It’s unfamilar and uncomfortable for many people, but it is not some kind of pathological frothing at the mouth for people to stand up for themselves or for the left to stand up to the vested interests that are destroying people, communties and the earth.
                Emotion isn’t a polar opposite of reason, imo.
                • Maisie …

                  17 December 2014 at 2:55 pm

                  Thanks for the lesson … and another point for anyone interested; you can be really, really angry without a hint of frothing and yelling. People of this sort (and I suspect Little is one of them) turn their anger into effective action, rather than pointscoring or flailing about.
11. Marty 11

    15 December 2014 at 9:42 am

    Little was doomed from the start. The Nats so love their alliterations. I’m also already over all the puns to do with “Little”. Typical Crosby Textor approach – tear at he credibility so they don’t have to talk about the issues. Whenever Little gets genuinely passionate, he’ll be labelled angry. In the mean time, this country continues its downward slide.
    • Sabine 11.1

      15 December 2014 at 1:12 pm

      well i sure hope he is angry enough to raise hell.

      or as the dixie chicks sang so nicely a few years ago “I’m not ready to make nice “
12. One Anonymous Bloke 12

    15 December 2014 at 9:44 am

    Will Key be needing even more Diplomatic Protection Service bodyguards to keep him safe?
13. Gosman 13

    15 December 2014 at 9:53 am

    Not sure what the problem here is. Labour has had a number of attack lines on John Key over the years. I remember when it was that he was an intellectual and political lightweight that wouldn’t be able to foot it with the heavyweights like Clark and Cullen. This is no different to what National is doing to Little. It is called politics.
    • Paul 13.1

      15 December 2014 at 9:57 am

      So speaks a member of the Key cult.
      • Gosman 13.1.1

        15 December 2014 at 10:02 am

        I have no great love for Key. He is in fact far too left wing economically for my liking. He is a consummate politician though and he winds hard core lefties like you up so I do have a sneaking admiration for him.
        • Paul 13.1.1.1

          15 December 2014 at 10:13 am

          Right of Key.
          Sociopathic then.
        • Tracey 13.1.1.2

          15 December 2014 at 1:32 pm

          You might find the following article of interest because it partially addresses the idea of Key being a consumate politician ( leaving aside the obvious point that he was nothing of the sort until 2002).

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/510500/Nats-secret-advisers-accused-of-dirty-tricks-in-Aussie
    • felix 13.2

      15 December 2014 at 10:10 am

      Hi Gosman.

      Given that the post is about politics, and it’s published on a well-known political blogsite, your observation “it is called politics” is hardly a revelation.

      Or to put it another way, I find your incredulity highly disingenuous.

      Or another, feck off you most boring trool.
      • Tracey 13.2.1

        15 December 2014 at 12:27 pm

        He is here to correct wrong headed thinking…
    • Tom Jackson 13.3

      15 December 2014 at 11:49 am

      Key, like all conservatives, is an “intellectual lightweight”, so the people who said it were pointing out a fact rather than making something up.

      It’s just a euphemism for “thick” because it’s not considered polite for politicians on the left to point out that right wingers, are in the main, deeply stupid people with no worthwhile ideas. Sure, they may be good accountants or farmers or whatever, but when it comes to actually running things, they’re just stupid. Reality, like universities and science, has a liberal bias.
      • Gosman 13.3.1

        15 December 2014 at 12:45 pm

        It must be gutting for you that such an intelligent lot of people are regularly defeated politically (and economically) by a group of people who are so thick. How do you cope with it?
        • Tom Jackson 13.3.1.1

          15 December 2014 at 12:56 pm

          For the most part by laughing at your feeble efforts to justify what in the end is nothing more than an appeal to base prejudices.

          And in the long run you lose. For example, conservatives have been roundly beaten on race, gender, the family, the welfare state, the gold standard, and pretty much every evil, idiotic idea they ever stood for. Even Key’s moronic, useless government has had to tow the Clark line for the most part.

          How does it feel to be backing an eternally losing philosophy?
          • Gosman 13.3.1.1.1

            15 December 2014 at 1:07 pm

            I’m not a conservative. Neo Liberalism seems to be going great guns though. Even the left in most Western nations have bought in to the basic concepts. That must be galling for you?
            • Tom Jackson 13.3.1.1.1.1

              15 December 2014 at 2:08 pm

              As David Graeber has pointed out, it’s a failure as an economic ideology, since it’s failed to appreciably shrink the size of the state and it has led to periodic economic crises (about one every ten years). It certainly hasn’t led to great growth because growth was much higher under the previous Keynesian regime. Even then, the right can’t kill welfare state capitalism: all they do is muck around with it and piss people off. And hey presto, there’s an OECD report this week pointing out that NZ has missed out on a great deal of growth because we allowed the dumbs like Kerr and Deane too much influence in politics.

              As Graeber also points out, neoliberalism has been a great success as a political ideology, because that is really all it is. But, in politics nothing lasts forever and all it has really done is slowly hand China (a communist country) the reins of global power. It’s really just coasting on the fact that there is a larger voting bloc of older people than might otherwise be expected – it’s just the boomers at the trough for the most part (any fool can see that the electoral popularity of neoliberal policies tracks the boomers lives – it starts right about the time they started paying more in to the welfare state than they were getting out). But they won’t live forever.

              The truth is that the right are useless. They do nothing other than slowly screw things up. It’s because they’re stupid, like you and the other trolls or the economically illiterate monkeys who post at Whaleoil or Farrar’s sewer.

              ————

              BTW. If someone says they are a classical liberal or libertarian, that is secret code for “idiot who doesn’t understand how modern societies work”.
              • Murray Rawshark …

                15 December 2014 at 7:09 pm

                Can’t argue with that apart from the emphasis on boomers. If you’re going to blame us for everything, your strategy only needs to be to wait until we die out. I can’t see that working.
                • Colonial Rawshark …

                  15 December 2014 at 11:37 pm

                  The problem isn’t boomers per se. The problem is with those who hold the largest share of wealth and assets in our society. And they are the people over 50 years of age.

                  The people who have really fucked this nation are the people who were in charge of it during the 1980’s and 1990’s. These people are almost all 70-80 now.
              • Colonial Rawshark …

                15 December 2014 at 11:47 pm

                China is *not* a “communist country.” The officials of the Chinese government’s top ruling committee are far wealthier than their conterparts in the American Congress.

                In fact, Chinese rulers believe in Communism just as much as US law makers believe in free markets and non-state intervention.
        • Tracey 13.3.1.2

          15 December 2014 at 1:36 pm

          It is sad, cos a very small number are leading others up the garden path

          “… But the techniques work much better when the public is unaware that professional manipulators are at work. This helps explain why John Key has kept his Aussie minders secret. His chief press secretary, Kevin Taylor, even told The Press that “National has a policy of not naming its consultants or advisers.” Approached for this article, Key’s staff declined to respond to a written question asking whether National was using Crosby/Textor. …”

          …

          “… National was secretive about hiring Crosby/Textor in 2005 as well. Asked if they were advising National, Brash initially said `no’. When I publicised National Party board minutes discussing Crosby/Textor’s work for National, they changed to saying the firm just did “a bit of polling work for us”. In fact they were overseeing all the major election strategies and messages.

          Like Brash before him, Key’s choice of advisers is at odds with his natural, straight-talking public image. With all politicians, what’s not being said, and not being seen, may be much more important than all the prepared speeches, photo opportunities and carefully scripted media answers.

          THE CROSBY/TEXTOR FILES

          The Crosby/Textor public relations and polling consultancy in Canberra was formed by Lynton Crosby and Mark Textor in 2002. Crosby, who started his political career as a Liberal Party official in Queensland, played a key role in John Howard’s election victories in 1996, 1998 and 2001.

          Crosby/Textor were consultants for Howard at his fourth win, in 2004. Mark Textor was one of Australia’s 10 most powerful people according to the 2002 Australian Financial Review . According to British and Australian media reports, Textor and others were forced to pay $A80,000 to a Labor candidate in the Canberra by-election after telephone canvassers wrongly suggested she supported abortion up to nine months of pregnancy.

          In 2005, Crosby was recruited as campaign director for the Conservatives in the UK but the Tories and its candidate, Michael Howard, lost. The same year, Crosby/Textor was also recruited by the National Party to assist Don Brash in the leadup to the election. The Nats lost.

          Newly-elected National leader John Key sought his first meeting with Crosby/Textor in 2006. Last month, Crosby/Textor controlled the public image of Conservative candidate Boris Johnson to help him win the London mayoralty. The company’s other high powered clients have included Telstra, British American Tobacco and Qantas….”

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/510500/Nats-secret-advisers-accused-of-dirty-tricks-in-Aussie
          • A Voter 13.3.1.2.1

            15 December 2014 at 2:12 pm

            This is why they get away with no accountability to the public that can be enforced by a governance system that is independent and powerful to define the difference democracy and a coercive system of lobbying that is implemented by legalized abuse of the publics right to know
            All of what our political parties do should be accountable in full the public thru free press disclosure
            “Nothing to hide nothing to fear”
            Suck on your own words Key
      • Wayne 13.3.2

        15 December 2014 at 3:21 pm

        Tom Jackson,
        And your attitude is why you lost. Never a good idea to insult the people who you are trying to get votes from.
        • Tracey 13.3.2.1

          15 December 2014 at 4:10 pm

          Did you read the SST article on Jane Kelsey yesterday?

          http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/64084998/law-professor-is-all-about-the-issues

          I ask because she notes she isnt really interested as such in the trade aspect but the legal/regulatory framework that surrounds it.

          “..It is these regulatory provisions which concern Kelsey.

          “I’m not interested in trade agreements, certainly not in the old-fashioned commodity part of them,” she says.

          Her concern is that international trade deals include clauses that affect how governments can regulate their countries’ affairs, particularly because she sees them as entrenching right-wing economic policy. …”

          I note you criticise her often here in replies, for never agreeing with an Fta, despite you never having disagreed with one. But most interestingly to me, you as a lawyer and current law commissioner appear to revert to the alleged positives of the commodity aspect and a “just trust them” attitude to the regulatory framework. As all ftas include these regulatory frameworks, abdicating the sovereignty of our govt to a tribunal, often held in secret, rpresided over by international business lawyers, it is not surprising she has never agreed with one but you, more surprising perhaps is that you,aw commissioner and lawyer have never objected to such abdications.
          • Gosman 13.3.2.1.1

            16 December 2014 at 10:02 am

            This is seriously off topic.
            • Tracey 13.3.2.1.1.1

              16 December 2014 at 10:26 am

              FOG

              Wayne, law commissioner and former cabinet minister insulting the people who voted national is off topic? I simply responded to his chastisement of Tom with an example of my own involving him.
14. Blue 14

    15 December 2014 at 9:58 am

    I don’t think it’s specific to Little. Key has come out with this shit before. Remember his claim that the Greens ‘go really hard’ and trying to say they were the nastiest party in Parliament?

    He just can’t handle anyone calling him on his bullshit and his natural reaction is to accuse the caller of being ‘hard’ or ‘aggressive’ and pleading for public sympathy for what he has to put up with.

    It’s a bit like his persistent fantasy that he gets a hard time from the media. He has a siege mentality.
    • A Voter 14.1

      15 December 2014 at 2:01 pm

      Yes exactly Key is also a arch manipulator of all that comes his way
      Dont forget he had real power in the US Fed
      You cant believe any of his poor me shit hes ruined this country continuing Roger Douglas ‘s crap that killed the labour party
15. Manuka AOR 15

    15 December 2014 at 9:59 am

    When Andrew was calling “Cut the Crap” it reminded me of some really old John Wayne type Western, where a new sheriff rides into a town that’s being held hostage by greedy crims. There was the sense that finally, some of these will be held to account.
16. ghostwhowalksnz 16

    15 December 2014 at 10:02 am

    Interesting to see Key is the one using the attack lines himself, rather than letting all the heavy lifting to his proxies in the blogs and elsewhere.
    Expect Hosking to suddenly use this approach in the New Year
17. Paul 17

    15 December 2014 at 10:04 am

    Breakfast TV fanboy Christie still doing Key’s dirty politics work.
    What a wretched excuse for a journalist.
    • Bill Drees 17.1

      15 December 2014 at 10:31 am

      Christie a journalist? You are shitting me!
18. Skinny 18

    15 December 2014 at 10:14 am

    I haven’t heard one detractor, quite the opposite from my broad mix of friends concerning Andrew Little. People like his straight shooting honesty.

    Where as Key’s reputation has taken a noticeable hit. As much as possible I refer to him as ‘crap happy Key’ which gets a positive reaction with punters joining in to call him a lying prick, not to be trusted, con-artist and the likes. No one likes being played for being a fool, and Key happy to spin bare faced lies and expecting the public to swallow it is a real turn off, especially by a politician.

    I noticed Gower being quite disrespectfully snaring at Andrew Little on the Nation Xmas special, a sure sign those idiot reporters with an ideological bias will continue the crap of the last 6 years.
    • Paul 18.1

      15 December 2014 at 10:16 am

      We are so poorly served by our media.
      • Skinny 18.1.1

        15 December 2014 at 11:34 am

        The main players are way overpaid, and played as a result. Many of them will be receiving their box of JK pinot & basket of treats.
19. Colonial Rawshark 19

    15 December 2014 at 10:15 am

    Andrew Little can afford to give the Hard Man meme a little bit of a run. It’ll be good for Labour to be seen as staunch again.

    And BTW Little should keep getting lots of pet cat and pet dog photos out there into the public arena in order to maintain that ongoing soft PR 🙂
    • Anne 19.1

      15 December 2014 at 10:25 am

      And BTW Little should keep getting lots of pet cat and pet dog photos…

      He did comment on The Nation that Buddy (the cat) had taken to lying out on the front path/driveway (whatever) all day. He suspected Buddy was looking for more public attention.
      • Manuka AOR 19.1.1

        15 December 2014 at 10:46 am

        Buddy needs his own BLOG!

        With feline insights into the household and general life of the PM in Waiting 🙂

        With new budster pics often, – it could be a very popular blog.
20. Patrick 20

    15 December 2014 at 10:15 am

    And all this from a man who calls other MPs “muppets” – FFS!
    • Paul 20.1

      15 December 2014 at 10:18 am

      And who apologises to Slater.
21. Colonial Rawshark 21

    15 December 2014 at 10:20 am

    I should add that deployment of this line via twitter is still very much “test phase.”

    Key’s spinmeisters will be monitoring and assessing the Twitter reactions of various notables, media personalities and opinion makers to the comment.
    • Paul 21.1

      15 December 2014 at 10:22 am

      And TVNZ do his bidding and amplify the message.
22. vto 22

    15 December 2014 at 10:24 am

    It not anger which Little is showing, it is aggression. many people confuse aggression with other things like violence and anger, but it is not the same thing.

    Andrew is definitely not afraid of showing aggression and that is a very good thing – about time somebody with guts stood up to the crap that has been going on for so long now.

    Andrew should make no apology and go hard. (maybe just do it with his sly sense of humour at times too…)
    • felix 22.1

      15 December 2014 at 10:29 am

      +1
    • Puckish Rogue 22.2

      15 December 2014 at 11:02 am

      Maybe throw in a dance or two?

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6wBcwj59F4
      • mac1 22.2.1

        15 December 2014 at 12:43 pm

        Thanks for that, Puckish Rogue. Good for two things. It reinforces my belief in Little’s sense of fun and humour and secondly, it points out that what you do and say lives after you.

        For example, compare Little’s dance and horse-riding humour with John Key’s throat-slitting gesture.
        • Puckish Rogue 22.2.1.1

          15 December 2014 at 3:10 pm

          Key doesn’t always get it right but and its a pretty big but hes won three elections whereas Little has failed to win an electorate

          [lprent: Continued boring trolling way off topic and with an apparent astro-turfing intent – banned 3 months. ]
          • mac1 22.2.1.1.1

            15 December 2014 at 3:15 pm

            There’s a difference between not always getting it right, and doing wrong.

            The first involves good intentions, the second does not.

            The first can be used as an excuse to disguise what is actually the second.

            The throat slitting gesture I cannot understand to be caused by less than malice.
          • Paul 22.2.1.1.2

            16 December 2014 at 2:40 am

            With pr and c73 both in the sin bin, wonder what identity the next tr*** will take.
23. saveNZ 23

    15 December 2014 at 11:48 am

    If Little wants to win he needs to do the opposite from last time. i.e. Keep the economy policy neutral and then slam the Americanization of NZ which is a big justified fear in the psych of Kiwis. (Think David Lange and the anti Nukes, Gone by Lunch time was not the Nukes but actually Don Brash).
    Labour need to get it back to policy and not be influenced by subtle and not so subtle attack politics taking Labour policy down (i.e. MSM is telling Labour how great they are to support National on the surveillance bill hehe and voters are so uninterested in dirty politics – surprisingly MSM readership is also declining with these pearls of wisdom and insight). Maybe it did not occur to Little that splitting the Labour vote with the 24 vs 48 moral ‘compromise’ is another tactic to destroy them.
24. esoteric pineapples 24

    15 December 2014 at 12:58 pm

    One word – “hypocrisy”
25. Sanctuary 25

    15 December 2014 at 1:17 pm

    Good grief, I see Slater has developed an elaborate fantasy about being polled just so he could work in the new attack line.

    Jesus that guy is an insult to the shit you scrape off your shoe.
26. Ant 26

    15 December 2014 at 1:26 pm

    So obviously this “hardness” is Little’s strength that they want to trick him into not using. Time for Little to focus on being “straight up” and “telling it how it is” otherwise National win.

    They did the same thing with Cunliffe and the “arrogance” meme (really it was competence/intelligence), too bad Cunliffe and his advisors listened, he changed his rhetoric and it made him come across as insincere.

    Hopefully whoever is in the Labour leaders office has learnt from letting National dictate how a Labour leader behaves.
27. A Voter 27

    15 December 2014 at 1:28 pm

    Key is a tyrant Yuppie prick who should just get out of the country
    We don’t need his sort destroying the integrity of this nation
    In the old world he would never have been acknowledged as A GENTLEMAN by his betters and because hes a [Deleted – too far sorry AV. Keep the criticisms civilised – MS]
    And who in their right mind would believe that Key is anything like what his band of benders would have us believe he is
    Hes the worst thing that has happened in this country’s political history next to Sid Holland
    He should declare his hand and resign then he might get respect
    If you want to beat Key you cant give him any credit for anything his govt does
    It might take enduring all the NP BS for 3yrs but Labour has to promote every positive they have to win against the continual negativity of this govt

    [lprent: Indeed. Looking back through your comments here, I’m failing to see what you add to the debate. It isn’t that we mind mad rants. However when I read a page of 50 mad rants over the months, I have to wonder why I should allow you to persist in leaving them.

    Improve the quality and content in your comments, and learn to restrict the crazed ranting to an occasional artform. ]
    • greywarshark 27.1

      15 December 2014 at 3:17 pm

      @ A Voter
      Votre>nous? I might vote you 10 for today’s feisty rant. But 1 only for the racial and cultural slur of connection with Jewishness.
      Are you one of those RW interlopers that are being talked about? They insert themselves in blogs and threads and draw people’s attention to their chosen agenda, and disrupt lines of thought. My thought is that you could be quite good at that.
      edited
      • Once wasTim 27.1.1

        15 December 2014 at 5:56 pm

        yep – it was a goodie. Haven’t heard that expression ‘bender’ in a while. It may not add to the debate (which is the primary reason I follow TS), but at least its allowed me a smirk for the day. My image of Key as the used-car-salesman equipped with the lingo to match and a following of utterly un-original, self-obsessed nouveau-riche was getting a bit stale. I’ll go with benders from now on

        Ohhhh! I see it has been RE-popularised by Futurama – still with characteristics that fit (such as over-inflated egos, etc.)
      • Manuka AOR 27.1.2

        16 December 2014 at 8:53 am

        “Are you one of those RW interlopers that are being talked about?”

        An infatroller glovepuppet .. hiding right stripes
        (either that or he sees TS as a public loo)
        • greywarshark 27.1.2.1

          16 December 2014 at 10:14 am

          @ Manuka
          lol
    • Manuka AOR 27.2

      15 December 2014 at 3:17 pm

      Voter’s comment needs editing.
      It has crossed a line.
28. newsense 28

    15 December 2014 at 7:08 pm

    Little should run a line:

    He’s still talking crap. Cut the crap PM. Cut out paying spin doctors hundreds of thousands so you can hide behind them. Come out and admit that you ran a smear campaign from your office. New Zealand is waiting for you to say sorry and admit what you did, not run crying to your pollsters and Aussie spin merchants with hundreds of thousands of dollars so they can help you can pretend you didn’t.
29. Atiawa 29

    15 December 2014 at 8:11 pm

    Andrew will not lower himself by name calling and trivia. His focus will continue to be about the things that matter most for working people, as he again proved today by withdrawing the Lees-Galloway private members bill regarding legalised euthanasia and replacing it with a bill to outlaw zero hour employment contracts.
    He is a very smart politician .
    Give yourselves a big pat on the back for helping him become the leader of labour.
    • Manuka AOR 29.1

      16 December 2014 at 9:02 am

      “and replacing it with a bill to outlaw zero hour employment contracts.”

      True Labour movement – essential stuff
      Big thumbs up
30. Red delusion 30

    15 December 2014 at 8:37 pm

    I do think little is a step up on recent labour leaders but he has limited cross over appeal beyond labour base constituency as 2 pc fluctuation in roy Morgan poll shows, he is also pretty hamstrung with a talentless and 3 election loosing caucus, nz has moved on and is just not buying what labours selling, suggest 2017 will be same old same old, even if labour improve fear of the greens will keep them out
31. felix 31

    15 December 2014 at 8:45 pm

    A lot of advice here. Andrew should do this, Andrew should do that.

    Looking at the reaction from the govt and their proxies in the media and the blogosphere, and looking at the first poll, I’d say Andrew should carry on following his own instincts.
    • anker 31.1

      15 December 2014 at 10:19 pm

      Felix @ 31 100+
32. Peter W 32

    15 December 2014 at 8:56 pm

    Surprised more are interested in commenting about A Little than the sydney seige.
33. Red delusion 33

    15 December 2014 at 9:04 pm

    I can’t see one piece of advise in my comment, simply observation rightly or wrongly, to date been pretty much on the money re labours fortunes, No great feat however the obvious stares you in the face barring if your left wing tendicies stop you looking beyond evidence or common sense that supports your mixed up worldview.
    • felix 33.1

      16 December 2014 at 8:18 am

      Is that directed to me?

      I have no idea what you’ve advised, as everything you write is:

      a) out of sequence,
      b) vaguely arrogant and mildly offensive, and
      c) borderline incomprehensible

      If you want people to read your comments and respond to them with any seriousness it’s best to use the reply button on the non-mobile version of the site. Or at the very least, address the commenter by name and quote the comment number.

      Otherwise you’re just wasting pixels really.

      [RL: deluded has copped a weeks ban for wasting pixels already]

      edit: Thank feck for that, RL. It was making my eyes bleed.
34. Wendigo Jane 34

    15 December 2014 at 9:05 pm

    I wouldn’t underestimate “angry”. Key has perfected the glib, smug, “I’m comfortable with that” affect and the passionless people admire it. I meet people all the time who imitate this grinning, inane stance, life is gooooood, nothing to see here, move along. Middle noo zild is very emotionally beige – and smug about it. Displays of emotion are OK at the rugby, and teary Facebook posts about the kids, but the rest of the time it’s smiley face and bray about how great this place is. Off to the gym, busy at work, lovin’ it… Of course we’re all mad under the surface, popping anti depressants and with high rates of violence and bullying etc. But from “she’ll be right” to “comfortable with that” NZers are NOT comfortable with displays of emotion – it must be left simmering below the surface at all times apart from above-mentioned sports, and public displays of emotion about love of families/whanau. The rest of the time, don’t get yourself worked up about stuff and make a spectacle of yourself, etc. Proudly “not interested in politics”, etc. Only silly people, crazy people, get excited about debating ideas.
    • felix 34.1

      16 December 2014 at 8:24 am

      I think that’s a very fair assessment of the general middle nz psyche. It’s exactly what Crosby Textor have tapped into with the Key project.
35. Red delusion 35

    15 December 2014 at 9:21 pm

    Interesting view Jane. How are you so in tune with the emotional state of every New Zealander, truly remarkable 101 psychobabble
    • Wendigo Jane 35.1

      15 December 2014 at 9:37 pm

      I didn’t say this about every New Zealander, it was a comment about the zeitgeist as I see it – at work, on Facebook, and in general coming from people who vote National and admire Key. Instead of insulting me, why don’t you describe why you think “angry” won’t work as a way of demonising Little? What’s your opinion about why people admire Key? Do you think some people copy his affect, his manner of speech or not? And you’ll note I referred to the passionless people – I suggest anyone who hasn’t reads The Passionless People Revisited, my take on the beige and intellectually lazy NZ character and why Key appeals isn’t new.
      • Maisie 35.1.1

        15 December 2014 at 11:08 pm

        Do you believe everything you read, Wendigo? (especially everything by Gordon McLachlan!) The patronising tone of that book sickened me – and a few weeks after I finished it the Springbok tour happened… passionless? yeah, right! A lot of us just know that there’s no point in expressing anger unless something can be achieved by it. Ranting for its own sake is ridiculous and adolescent.
36. SPC 36

    17 December 2014 at 2:48 am

    Confound the strategy before National run with it – they do it to hold the women’s vote they have got since Clark left.

    Throw in Little John – to cut the PM down to the opposition leader size – 2 equals.
    Then lob in “angry key” as a generic term to describe government spending cut policy, such as to health spending.

    Pose people impacted as the sacrificial victims of government aggression because of an almost angry obsession to balance the books and offer a 2017 tax cut – all before repaying any debt or putting a penny into the Super Fund. And connect this to the previous reduction in top rate of tax – without which we would have budget balance already.

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1. Andrew Little’s adjournment speech « The Standard: posted on 15 December 2014 at 10:05 am

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