The right is in disarray

Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, June 26th, 2018 - 163 comments
Categories: act, david seymour, jacinda ardern, labour, national, Politics, same old national, Simon Bridges, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Over the past week Jacinda Ardern has managed to have a baby, organise a feed for the press, recuperate, leave hospital and deliver as beautiful a brief press conference as you could ever imagine. She has worked hard to keep her daughter out of the limelight.  Two discrete photos and a press conference.  This is pretty minimalist.

And a name.

Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford.

What a beautiful name.  What an outstanding beautiful name.

And what is driving the right spare is her unmistakeable authenticity.  Jacinda is the real deal.  Ever since she became Labour leader she has not put a foot wrong.  From wagging her finger at Mark Richardson to destroying Simon Bridges every Parliamentary question time she is without peer in New Zealand politics.

And how is the right responding?

Not very well.

David Seymour has taken to dancing with the stars and wearing wigs.

His performance has been painful to watch. Clearly he cannot dance. He has relied on endorsements from ex socialites and people with too much time and money on their hands mass texting his name.

The whole event reminds me of the Epsom vote. Bending the rules to breaking point and relying on a group’s perception of superiority to win.

Will it work? He has been excluded from further participation in the show.  I can confidently predict that there will be no poll bounce because of Seymour’s dancing prowess or lack thereof.

And Simon Bridges is opening his mouth only to change feet.

His shock jock antics on Radio Hauraki have not gone down well.  And he is refusing to admit that what he said was inappropriate.

From Dan Satherley at Newshub:

National leader Simon Bridges isn’t apologising for saying the Prime Minister’s newborn daughter will be made to go to school in boys’ clothes.

Jacinda Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford welcomed their first child into the world on Thursday. During an interview with rock station Radio Hauraki the next morning, Mr Bridges joked that by being born in a public hospital, had cost the country “a lot” of money.

He then said he’d try and turn young Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford into a National supporter.

“Just because there’s pinko ideas in the parents it doesn’t mean the baby’s taking those on board,” Mr Bridges said, suggesting Ms Ardern had “funny ideas” after spending “too much time in universities”.

Newshub political editor Tova O’Brien said in an opinion piece the Oxford-educated ex-lawyer with two degrees should “unreservedly apologise” for the comments, calling his views “loutish, transphobic rubbish”.

Asked on The AM Show if he’d apologise, Mr Bridges said he wouldn’t be.

“It was incredibly light-hearted and intended that way – an interview on Radio Hauraki. But I wish Jacinda, her partner and little Neve all the very best. Just absolute happiness.

“Look, I know as a father of three little ones what a special time [they’re having]. I’ve got a six-month-old – beautiful, precious little Jemima – so I know just what a special time this will be for them.”

He said anyone who watched or listened to the whole interview would “see the context and understand what it is”.

The problem for Bridges is that rewatching the interview and understanding the context only makes things worse.  And we are in day four of comment about what he said.

Bridges should do a mea culpa and just say he was wrong.  But I would not hold my breath …

163 comments on “The right is in disarray ”

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  1. One Anonymous Bloke 1
    26 June 2018 at 8:27 am

    He has relied on endorsements from ex socialites and people with too much time and money on their hands mass texting his name.

    Not quite: he has become a “meme for shitness”, like Eddie the Eagle and Boaty McBoatface.

    • adam 1.1
      26 June 2018 at 8:56 am

      At least Eddie the Eagle did somthing that requires skill and courage. Unlike…

      • Gosman 1.1.1
        26 June 2018 at 9:00 am

        You don’t think dancing requires skill or courage?

        • adam 1.1.1.1
          26 June 2018 at 9:10 am

          Not for a show such as dancing with stars.

          This on the other hand.

        • Robert Guyton 1.1.1.2
          26 June 2018 at 9:15 am

          Dancing requires…a right foot and a left foot.

          • Gosman 1.1.1.2.1
            26 June 2018 at 9:21 am

            Stated like someone I suspect isn’t big on dancing in any meaningful way.

            • Robert Guyton 1.1.1.2.1.1
              26 June 2018 at 9:29 am

              Like…Seymour?

              • Gosman …
                26 June 2018 at 9:39 am

                Exactly. And yet he lasted as long as he did which says much about his popularity.

                • Robert Guyton …
                  26 June 2018 at 9:59 am

                  Ho hum (regrets entering fray)

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  26 June 2018 at 11:48 am

                  Gosman, seriously, do you think the teens who’ve noticed that he’s a meme for shitness admire him?

                  • Gosman …
                    26 June 2018 at 11:54 am

                    He and others obviously think the strategy was worth pursuing

                    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/06/02/112765/how-david-seymours-staying-alive#

                    • Booker …
                      26 June 2018 at 2:37 pm

                      I think people are confusing being talked about with being talked about favorably. How many people would have voted for Seymour to stay on the show for the continued cringe and laughs?

                    • Gosman …
                      26 June 2018 at 2:54 pm

                      And this harms him how exactly?

                  • Observer Tokoroa …
                    26 June 2018 at 4:55 pm

                    Floored Dancer

                    I thought it was Mr (I am everything) Gosman who coached the unpromising Seymour. It sort of looked like his rather shoddy line.

                    But it may have been Simon. You know who. The Disaster – with no tattoo on his skin but who nevertheless twists, heaves, and screams like a baby in parliament. He is an authority on awkward humans.

                    If only we could get him into a kindergarten. Even if it costs the Nation a fortune.

                    Quite a few people think he is Funny – as in Funny Peculiar. Although Radio New Zealand, admittedly a fairly ordinary lot, sees him as a great God from another Planet.

                    PS: RNZ believes everything the wealthy nationals tell them and nothing else.

                    The RNZ is actually an unrecognised fabulous funny mistake. ! Serious little girls and boys – digging deep into mysterious repetitive off the point nothings.

                    Perhaps if they got a free year at Uni – oh don’t worry – forget it.

          • Psych nurse 1.1.1.2.2
            26 June 2018 at 10:03 am

            And he’s got two right feet, thats why he leans.

          • bwaghorn 1.1.1.2.3
            26 June 2018 at 1:22 pm

            I find large amounts of bourbon helps oh a es back it the day in a far off land

        • Michelle 1.1.1.3
          26 June 2018 at 3:01 pm

          yes dancing requires a lot of skill but he doesn’t have those skills he has no rhythm, bad timing and is stiff as a lamp post and his facial expressions remind me of a puppet of the thunderbirds are go without their mouth moving. He has made a mockery of this show and the unfairness of him making it to week 9 when he hasn’t put in the same amount of work the others have is bullshert and completely unfair when we all know stupid d- head have been voting for him.
          Shaz is a much better dancer than him he should have be gone week 1. Some fools have spent hundreds voting for this clown and the voting process has shown it is flawed and that money talks not talent. This shows voting process needs to change so this doesn’t happen again.

          • Gosman 1.1.1.3.1
            26 June 2018 at 3:18 pm

            He has made a mockery of DWTS?!?

            LOL!

            I think you have this programme mixed up with something a little more serious.

        • mary_a 1.1.1.4
          26 June 2018 at 4:00 pm

          @ Gosman … (1.1.1) yes dancing requires incredible skill, which includes impeccable timing, rhythm and discipline, something most dancers demonstrate with competence and grace.

          However there are some who get out on to the dance floor and are quite at ease disrespectfully mocking and degrading the activity!

    • NZJester 1.2
      26 June 2018 at 11:11 am

      Not quite: he has become a “meme for shitness”, like Eddie the Eagle and Boaty McBoatface.

      Yes, I think the reason David stayed on DWTS was because there are a large number of people out there that love memes and watching disaster videos. They voted to keep him on so they could watch the next dancing disaster and have a giggle.
      In shows like X-factor etc. the most talked about artists in a lot of the earlier shows sometimes are not the ones that pull off the perfect performance, but those who put on a train wreck of a performance and have all the judges reject them. If those shows had only public voting and no judges or the public could overrule the judges a lot of the worst acts would breeze through to later stages of the competitions as people would vote them through just for the giggles of how bad they are.

    • the other pat 1.3
      26 June 2018 at 2:43 pm

      awww nooooo ya canny say that aboot boaty mcboatface laddie!!!!!

  2. Alan 2
    26 June 2018 at 8:38 am

    nice try savage, labour youth camp

    • adam 2.1
      26 June 2018 at 9:00 am

      nice try alan, Hair Pulling Key

        • adam 2.1.1.1
          26 June 2018 at 10:28 am

          I raise you to a staggering level political corruption in the national party leading for police raid that was illegal and unjustified.

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/104638742/police-apologise-to-nicky-hager-over-dirty-politics-raid-as-part-of-settlement

          • Puckish Rogue 2.1.1.1.1
            26 June 2018 at 10:44 am

            I call your diversionary attempt and point out the only NZ MP ever convicted of corruption was Labour MP Taito Phillip Field

            http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2717543/Taito-Phillip-Field-found-guilty

            • NZJester 2.1.1.1.1.1
              26 June 2018 at 11:27 am

              That says more about Labours Integrity than anything bad about the party. National will stand behind the corruption committed by their ranks and brush it under the carpet buy having inquiries that have narrow scopes of reference they can look at.

              • Puckish Rogue …
                26 June 2018 at 11:35 am

                Thats a good one, turning the only corruption conviction into a positive 🙂

              • Baba Yaga …
                26 June 2018 at 11:35 am

                So a Labour MP being convicted of fraud say “more about Labours Integrity than anything bad about the party”? Haha, next you’ll be suggesting the young man arrested this morning was chair of the local #metoo chapter.

                • Puckish Rogue …
                  26 June 2018 at 11:39 am

                  Have to say though that because of reading one too many Jeffery Archer books at an impressionable age I’d be interested in knowing what the alleged perpetrator name was

                  Damn sex scandels

                  • Baba Yaga …
                    26 June 2018 at 2:18 pm

                    Surely his name will be made public at some stage?

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      26 June 2018 at 2:23 pm

                      Well when it comes to cases like this I generally prefer name suppression for the accused and the name should only be realised if found guilty (name suppression for the victims continued of course)

            • Lucy 2.1.1.1.1.2
              26 June 2018 at 12:00 pm

              I’ll raise you
              Gilbert Myles, a former NZ First member and Justice of the Peace, was found guilty of obstructing the course of justice for faking a receipt book while under investigation for fraud
              Douglas Graham and Bill Jefferies guilty of making false statements as directors of the failed company Lombard Finance
              Donna Awatere Huata, jailed for almost three years in 2005 for stealing from a Maori trust which was set up to help under-privileged children.
              David Garrett Fraudulently obtaining a passport and assault

              • Puckish Rogue …
                26 June 2018 at 12:15 pm

                After that I’m glad I don’t vote NZFirst or Act

              • Ross …
                26 June 2018 at 12:37 pm

                Dont forget Roger McClay, former National Minister, who was convicted of fraud.

                https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_McClay

              • Gosman …
                26 June 2018 at 12:40 pm

                You also forgot self admitted benefit fraudster Metiria Turei from The Greens.

                • Ross …
                  26 June 2018 at 1:22 pm

                  I thought it was innocent until proven guilty…

                  • Gosman …
                    26 June 2018 at 1:27 pm

                    Except when she admitted the fraud herself

                    • Marcus Morris …
                      26 June 2018 at 1:50 pm

                      And who outed Bill English over false residential claims. I don’t think that was “self confessed”. But this is all getting childish and silly. As far as I am concerned DWTS lost all credibility with Seymour’s contrived success. While it is a fundraiser it is also a genuine contest and the losers were those dancers with genuine ability who were eliminated because of Seymour’s “Army”. The nature of the competition dictates that there has to be an elimination each week but it must have been galling for any of those who were voted out to realise that a “clown” would be continuing to dance. It has to be noted that the first time Seymour featured in the so called “dance off” the judges very gently and kindly gave him his “marching orders”.

                    • Gosman …
                      26 June 2018 at 2:00 pm

                      It is cute you think (or at least thought) DWTS was a genuine Dance contest. It isn’t. It is a Reality Television popularity contest which just so happens to involve dancing by celebrities.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      26 June 2018 at 2:04 pm

                      “As far as I am concerned DWTS lost all credibility with Seymour’s contrived success.”

                      You think it had any to begin with?

                    • lprent []
                      26 June 2018 at 6:04 pm

                      Had an email through last week with some PR fool wanting to contribute posts on DWTS and implying that there would be incentives to do so.

                      I just ignored it.

                      A: I’ve never seen any of those kinds of programs for the last 6 years because my free to air aerial has been long disconnected. Primarily because there wasn’t anything to watch apart from innumerable adverts.
                      B: I never watched them anyway in the past. Meaningless cooking shows, reality shows, dancing with the stars, sports etc always got the channel change of turn off. I’m not really interested in wasting time on mindless trash.
                      C: The PR approach does explain why the NZ herald and other publications have been filling out columns of idiotic gushing trivia on the DWTS. I wonder what incentives that they got?
                      D: I couldn’t see any reason to bother other authors with it. The only difference between that and the other daily 20 or so emails wanting to write for us (invariably on irrelevant topics), put in links to other sites, wanting write reciprocal posts with another site, wanting to make paid content promoted as opinion (see Whaleoil for examples), etc is that it was a NZ approach.

                      But it does explain to me the current fetish in teh ‘news’ media with that pile of steaming excrement that is DWTS.

              • Jilly Bee …
                26 June 2018 at 1:48 pm

                Lucy, Gilbert Myles was originally voted into Parliament as a National MP – he unseated Phil Goff in Mt Roskill in the 1990 election.

            • adam 2.1.1.1.1.3
              26 June 2018 at 3:30 pm

              “I call your diversionary attempt”

              You so funny. The irony of your remark just had me in stitches. What was the original post again….

              But I’ll raise you a member of The Guard Department of the PLA General Political Department inside national party cabinet, no less. Which has raised questions by other 5 eyes members.

        • adam 2.1.1.2
          26 June 2018 at 10:31 am

          So labour party agrees with letting police do investigation, then agrees with laying charges, and takes responsibility of poorly run event.

          Personal responsibility, odd we never saw anything that crediable with your side Puckish Rogue, what about Farrar’s parties and the rape allegations there that suddenly disappeared?

          • Puckish Rogue 2.1.1.2.1
            26 June 2018 at 10:52 am

            “So labour party agrees with letting police do investigation, then agrees with laying charges, and takes responsibility of poorly run event.”

            Well thats one way of spinning it I suppose, another is that Labour tried to hush it up and only acted after it got into the public realm

            • adam 2.1.1.2.1.1
              26 June 2018 at 3:32 pm

              So they should have followed your side, and lied about it then. Yeah, nah.

          • alwyn 2.1.1.2.2
            26 June 2018 at 12:20 pm

            “So labour party agrees with letting police do investigation, then agrees with laying charges”.
            Well the Labour Party obviously have a great deal more power over the Police Force than does anyone else in New Zealand.
            What you are telling us, of course, is that the Police will not arrest or prosecute anyone unless the Labour Party allow them to.
            Amazing, and very scary, isn’t it?
            Were you meant to make this arrangement Public?

            • ropata 2.1.1.2.2.1
              26 June 2018 at 2:49 pm

              Nicky Hager police raids
              Teapot Tapes police intimidation of reporter
              Murky Nat party dirty dealings with Bill Liu
              John Key’s tax haven legislation
              Culture of OIA obfuscation
              Underfunding the Ombudsman’s office
              Chinese Spy in the Nat caucus

              No comparison, the Nats are a criminal gang in nice suits.

            • adam 2.1.1.2.2.2
              26 June 2018 at 3:33 pm

              Your attempt at spin, failed so epic, it must hurt being so wrong, so often.

              Try again alwyn, there is a coherent thought in there somewhere.

    • Hanswurst 2.2
      26 June 2018 at 12:03 pm

      I love how the best right-wing idiots can come up with here is the actions of some 20-year-old and the behaviour of a man who hasn’t been in parliament for a decade. Keep it coming, guys, and I hope Bridges and Collins have a go with those lines in parliament and the media, too.

    • Daveosaurus 2.3
      26 June 2018 at 5:58 pm

      Took a lot less time for an arrest in that case than it has for the Roastbusters: four and a half years and still no arrests. Remind me: which party was in power in 2013?

  3. Gosman 3
    26 June 2018 at 8:47 am

    How can you state he bombed out of DWTS? Given his amazing lack of dancing ability the fact he made it as far as he did was incredible. It certainly doesn’t qualify as a bomb. A bomb would have been getting eliminated in the second or third week.

    • Robert Guyton 3.1
      26 June 2018 at 9:14 am

      Incredible!
      Indeed.

      • Gosman 3.1.1
        26 June 2018 at 9:21 am

        We are in agreement it seems Robert

        • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.1
          26 June 2018 at 9:26 am

          Incredible
          impossible to believe.
          “an almost incredible tale of triumph and tragedy”
          synonyms: unbelievable, beyond belief, hard to believe, scarcely credible, unconvincing, far-fetched, strained, laboured, implausible, improbable, highly unlikely, not in the least likely, questionable, dubious, doubtful, inconceivable, unthinkable, unimaginable, impossible, astonishing, astounding, breathtaking, staggering, absurd, preposterous, phenomenal, extraordinary; More

    • Venezia 3.2
      26 June 2018 at 1:47 pm

      The ability to dance would appear to be irrelevant on a show like DWTS. Isn’t it audience phone in votes that count? ( which means keeping public watching so they can be delivered up to advertisers.) That is what it is about. I can assure you that people really interested in dancing do not bother to watch this crap.

    • mauī 3.3
      26 June 2018 at 2:07 pm

      …the fact he made it as far as he did was incredible.

      I might have to agree with you Gos.

      Take a look at the faces on the audience members behind him. They look incredulous and ooze incredibility.

      Edit: RG beat me to it! I concur.

  4. marty mars 4
    26 June 2018 at 9:16 am

    It is a joke that sigh has a double degree – shows what an embarrassment so called degrees are.

  5. grantoc 5
    26 June 2018 at 9:18 am

    Desperate stuff Mickey; basing your argument on two pieces of totally insignificant and insubstantial fluff.

    How about this as an alternative: Labour Party in complete disarray after failing to care for minors at a Labour youth summer camp earlier this year; leading to arrests.

  6. james 6
    26 June 2018 at 9:19 am

    “Ever since she became Labour leader she has not put a foot wrong. ”

    Plenty who would disagree.

    • Robert Guyton 6.1
      26 June 2018 at 9:27 am

      Haters will hate

    • Marcus Morris 6.2
      26 June 2018 at 1:54 pm

      So easy to say – list the incidents you and the “plenty” would allude to.

      • Baba Yaga 6.2.1
        26 June 2018 at 2:26 pm

        It’s a long list. Let’s start with failing to deal with Clare Curran.

        • Puckish Rogue 6.2.1.1
          26 June 2018 at 2:34 pm

          How about being absolutely clear about not having a conversation Taranaki before, or after, positively laying the smack down, economically speaking

          • Baba Yaga 6.2.1.1.1
            26 June 2018 at 3:40 pm

            Or the disgraceful way she exploited partnership school children for a photo op, but has allowed ideology to trump common sense on the future of their schools.

            Or sitting by while Andrew Little minimises sexual assault.

            Or failing to consult with NZF on repealing the 3 Strikes legislation.

  7. Alan 7
    26 June 2018 at 9:25 am

    what happened to that nice Mr Kirton, you know, the one that wanted to become a labour mp one day????

    • adam 7.1
      26 June 2018 at 9:32 am

      What a Farrar clone, throwing as much shit as possible praying somthing will stick.

      Not realising that what little bit of credibility they had, just gets washed down the drain, with ever drooling childish puffery they utter…

      • Alan 7.1.1
        26 June 2018 at 10:00 am

        the person heralded as the strongest most capable manager in labour suddenly goes, – puffery?

        • adam 7.1.1.1
          26 June 2018 at 10:17 am

          Squark!!!!

          Squark!!!!

          Squark!!!!

          Partisan attack line, repeat at will

          Squark!!!!

          Squark!!!!

          Squark!!!!

        • Marcus Morris 7.1.1.2
          26 June 2018 at 1:59 pm

          Hi signalled during the election campaign that he was heading for another position outside the party -probably already been “head hunted” by Air New Zealand where, I understand, he is taken up a management position. I expect you’ll be flying Jet Star (not a bad airline) with that bit of news Alan.

    • james 7.2
      26 June 2018 at 9:39 am

      They are saying that it had absoultly nothing to do with the sexual assults at the labour camp (which it could appear from what was in the papers he tried to cover up).

      At least the police thought it was worth arresting and charging the person concerned.

      • Gabby 7.2.1
        26 June 2018 at 11:40 am

        And we know the police require a high standard of evidence from l’affaire roastbuster don’t we jimbo.

  8. Nic the NZer 8
    26 June 2018 at 9:47 am

    I don’t expect Simon Bridges will back down from his comments. This was most likely intentional as may be large parts of his present persona. There is a political fault line in the electorate between the well educated professionals and the less well credentialed trades and Simon’s media persona is a direct appeal to the latter. At present it appears not to be succeeding in the media, but I think the goal of such a strategy would be to swing trades people to National with Bridges media personality safe in the knowledge that the core of National party constituents have nowhere else to go anyway.

    When thinking about strategy Labour should keep in mind that this fault line runs right through the middle of their support.

    • mac1 8.1
      26 June 2018 at 10:54 am

      Nic, your comment is true. Bridges’s attack is based on dislike of ‘pinkos’ which is a political slur that goes back generations. It is based similarly on dislike of academics and well-educated people, another ancient dislike rooted in negative emotions. It was based thirdly on dislike of transgender people. All attacks on the ‘other’, the ‘different’. Attacks based on fear, ignorance and the unworthy seeking of advantage.

      It was an appeal to some very deep prejudice within our society, and as you say, the fault line (good choice of word, ‘fault’) runs through both parties, just as the socially conservative are found in both. What Bridges is appealing to is the worst end of the socially conservative spectrum- the prejudiced, the bigots, the haters.

      As for his defence that it was only humour. That is the defence raised, in my experience, by people who know better, but still give vent to their prejudice.

      By being passed off as being an attempt at humour, in essence telling us “we can’t take a joke”, tells me that Bridges knew what he was doing, its target and its effect. It was very disrespectful.

      It’s also bringing families, even for heaven’s sake newborns, into the political arena, and it’s called an arena for a good reason. No place for children or partners, unless they choose to enter that gate. Some areas of life are outside where politicians should go.

      But, Bridges won’t apologise. He meant it. He deserves the sole company of bulls, trout and solitary sign posts.

      He needs people to tell him, as did Tova O’Brien did, where exactly to go with his comments, where to get off, where decency lies.

      • Venezia 8.1.1
        26 June 2018 at 1:53 pm

        Yes. Brava Tova O’Brien. Is Simon Bridges trying to channel Donald Trump with these antics? Will it appeal to NZers? Most trades I know say they have always done better under a Labour government, both for their family and in business.

        • Bewildered 8.1.1.1
          26 June 2018 at 4:10 pm

          Don’t you love confirmation bias, probably the most predominant of all irrationalities

    • Anne 8.2
      26 June 2018 at 11:18 am

      An astute observation Nic the NZer. And mac1’s response is equally on the mark.

      Simon Bridges is taking a leaf out of Rob Muldoon’s book but with less finesse. It was Muldoon who first used the phrase “pinkos” in NZ along with a number of other degrading slurs. I remember Labour produced a pink t-shirt with the slurs listed on the back which sold like hot cakes. It helped make a laughing stock out of the Nats although there were no doubt some who were too stupid to realise it was a joke.

      It also culminated in the formation of “Rob’s Mob” made up of the 70s version of ill-informed bigots. Their founding leader was “John Slater” – the father of Cameron Slater. Need I say more.

  9. Puckish Rogue 9
    26 June 2018 at 10:38 am

    “The right is in disarray”

    https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2018/06/may_public_polls-5.html

    National is currently polling at 45%

    • marty mars 9.1
      26 June 2018 at 10:50 am

      It is a shambles mate and you know it. Long time before the election so it hardly matters – maybe brash will get back into his parachute and drip in to save them again lol.

      • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1
        26 June 2018 at 10:55 am

        I think we’re all pretty aware of who I think will take National back to power:

        https://www.whaleoil.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/1478989_561528227258268_120535684_n.jpg

        • Wensleydale 9.1.1.1
          26 June 2018 at 2:32 pm

          Does Judith know you hide in the shrubbery outside her house every evening?

          • Puckish Rogue 9.1.1.1.1
            26 June 2018 at 2:36 pm

            The all seeing eye of Jude knows all and sees all

            • mac1 9.1.1.1.1.1
              26 June 2018 at 2:56 pm

              Puckish Rogue, ‘all-seeing”? I wouldn’t wish that cross on any one to bear, especially when one considers what may be lurking in the shrubbery!

              I saw Judith give a look, twice, at Bridges behind her bench mate’s back just after Simon Bridges finished question 2. Simon had just lost on points to Winston Peters at Question Time today. Peters had just told Bridges that he hated having to engage in a verbal contest with an unarmed opponent.

              The look was not supportive. What she was foreseeing there was her quarry stretched on the sand of the arena awaiting the thumbs down from her caucus colleagues.

              • Puckish Rogue …
                26 June 2018 at 3:02 pm

                Ezachery! Cry havoc and let slip the Judes of war!

              • ianmac …
                26 June 2018 at 4:26 pm

                The Bridges Rant straight after the Budget presentation had glimpses of Judith contemplating Bridges with a smile and a look which would cause most of us to head for shelter.

    • Sabine 9.2
      26 June 2018 at 10:58 am

      which is at least 6 points short of winning anything.

      Sad!

      • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1
        26 June 2018 at 11:02 am

        Its actually a very good position for National to be in, 45% even with a leader like Simon Bridges

        Imagine what would happen with a half decent leader 🙂

        • Sabine 9.2.1.1
          26 June 2018 at 11:09 am

          There is one thing i expect to happen, Nationalists will vote for National if you be appointing a turd for PM. That is just a given. – a bit like the US.

          the No mates Party will be simply impotent pearl clutchers unless and until

          you find another 6 % to vote for you come election day………:)

          As for the No mates Party finding a half decent leader?

          I suggest you bake one, cause the current lot in the No mates Party are generally speaking petty, vindictive, unsavory, unpleasant, liars, grifters, self dealers that are – to be polite – simply of putting.
          So really I can’t see how you could find ‘half decent’ in that assembly of people without friends.

          • Puckish Rogue 9.2.1.1.1
            26 June 2018 at 11:21 am

            “There is one thing i expect to happen, Nationalists will vote for National if you be appointing a turd for PM. That is just a given. – a bit like the US.”

            Bill English (in 2002 anyway) would disagree with you on that little assumption

            “the No mates Party will be simply impotent pearl clutchers unless and until

            you find another 6 % to vote for you come election day”

            NZfirst is currently polling 3.3% and the Greens 5.4% so (at the moment( arn’t guaranteed to get back in either

            “As for the No mates Party finding a half decent leader?

            “I suggest you bake one, cause the current lot in the No mates Party are generally speaking petty, vindictive, unsavory, unpleasant, liars, grifters, self dealers that are – to be polite – simply of putting.
            So really I can’t see how you could find ‘half decent’ in that assembly of people without friends.”

            I’m not surprised you don’t see the talent and hopefully everyone on the left has the same attitude because nothing sinks a government like complaceny

            • Sabine 9.2.1.1.1.1
              26 June 2018 at 11:45 am

              Puckish, really you are still trying to tell us that the double Dipper was ‘half decent’?
              The man defrauded the NZ Taxpayers to the tune of 40.000 odd Dollars and pretended to not know the rules. This man who never spend a day working in real life but has been hogging the back bench for all of his working life ‘did not know the rules’. Gosh your party needs better liars.

              No one in their right mind would vote for that half dead bore, and very few did. 🙂

              The Greens and NZF got enough votes to get in last time around to from a coalition. OOOPs.

              The same can not be said of the No mates Party. Cause all of their support parties are gone the way of the Dodo, canibalised by the atrocious work of the No mates Party. OOPS.

              You say i see no talent? – I did list it tho, grifting, self dealing, liying, doxxing of citizens, ‘oravida’ing’ and and and.

              As for complacency, that one is your fault. Your No mates Party was complacent the last election around.
              The double dipping house allowance fraud really thought people would vote for him and that unpleasant women Paula Bennett with nothing but a housing crisis to run on. .
              He should have worked harder. 🙂 Cause you guys lost.
              And considering that you are now supporting a ‘leader’ who bad mouthed a new born i really can’t see the attraction.

              • Puckish Rogue …
                26 June 2018 at 11:53 am

                You said:

                “There is one thing i expect to happen, Nationalists will vote for National if you be appointing a turd for PM. That is just a given. – a bit like the US.”

                – I disagreed and used Bill Englishs 2002 experience as an example

                “The Greens and NZF got enough votes to get in last time around to from a coalition. OOOPs.”

                – They did but currently its not looking good for either, especially NZFirst, given that most support partners lose votes

                “As for complacency, that one is your fault. Your No mates Party was complacent the last election around.”

                – Well not mine but yes National were very complacent (amongst other things) and paid the price, which is a salient lesson Labour don’t seemed to have taken on board

                “And considering that you are now supporting a ‘leader’ who bad mouthed a new born i really can’t see the attraction.”

                – I support Judith Collins. I don’t think he was bad mouthing a baby (no matter what you think) but instead was attempting to be matey-matey with the radio station

                • sabine …
                  26 June 2018 at 12:30 pm

                  well 2002 means nothing, the last time he ran was 2018 and he lost again. Must be all that talent that allows for a looser to run twice.

                  We will see how the Greens and NZF do next time ey?

                  Well considering that Labour won the last election i think we can agree that they were not quite as complacent as the No mates Party.

                  OH, you support the Oravida Grifter, the tough on crime grifter who cuts the police force,. Oh well, taste we all have it. right?

                  As for Bridges, he maligned a new born and her Mother. Full stop. Nothing funny about that joke, just some sexist bullshit in regards to a baby that has yet to learn that gender exists and that ‘half decent’ leaders like Bridges want to enforce rigid gender roles….,. i guess to make him feel a little less impotent then he is.

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    26 June 2018 at 12:54 pm

                    “well 2002 means nothing, the last time he ran was 2018 and he lost again. Must be all that talent that allows for a looser to run twice.”

                    – As I said said National were, amongst other things, complacent

                    “We will see how the Greens and NZF do next time ey?

                    – My prediction for what its worth (given that its this far out) is that NZFirst are gone and the greens will sneak back in

                    “Well considering that Labour won the last election i think we can agree that they were not quite as complacent as the No mates Party.”

                    – They were right up until they removed Little however my point wasn’t about Labour being complacent in opposition but rather being complacent in power, like National were

                    “OH, you support the Oravida Grifter, the tough on crime grifter who cuts the police force,. Oh well, taste we all have it. right?”

                    – Yes

                    “As for Bridges, he maligned a new born and her Mother. Full stop. Nothing funny about that joke, just some sexist bullshit in regards to a baby that has yet to learn that gender exists and that ‘half decent’ leaders like Bridges want to enforce rigid gender roles….,. i guess to make him feel a little less impotent then he is.”

                    – No he didn’t, you are trying to make something out of nothing. End of.

            • Marcus Morris 9.2.1.1.1.2
              26 June 2018 at 2:14 pm

              There is absolutely nothing surprising about National’s polling and I don’t think it will change over the next two years. It is essentially a cohort made up of the “baby Boomer” generation (I have no scientific evidence for this statement) who have done exceedingly well economically and thrived in the neoliberal economics which have prevailed since 1984, when their wealth generating activities (largely investment in property) would have accelerated. Having made these gains they will be very reluctant to share them, no matter what the overall cost to society may be.

    • Bewildered 9.3
      26 June 2018 at 4:12 pm

      What word was used for labour not long ago when they where at 24pc, disarray would simply not cut it 😊

  10. Ankerrawshark 10
    26 June 2018 at 10:40 am

    Digging himself in deeper mr Bridges then when talking about his own family, said he goes to parliament to get away from it”……………….really going for the female vote…..not

    Having said this I am mounting a campaign “keep Simon”. He is a real asset for labour

  11. Bill 11
    26 June 2018 at 10:54 am

    I hadn’t listened to the interview before now.

    All I heard was what should have been a half arsed and mostly lame attempt to skewer a right wing politician who…well, the fact he actually took those poorly or obviously baited lines is what got me more than where he ran to with them.

    And sure. He’s got a head on him that should be filed in the folder marker “inept social/cultural dinosaur”.

    Pressured to apologise? No. I don’t think so. He wasn’t being deliberately cruel or any such like, and the Tova O’Brien’s of this world need to get real and get down off their high horses. Bridges is inept and stupid. End.

    Meanwhile, the rest of us might want to reflect on the calibre of person we’ll happily promote to positions of leadership (Bridges isn’t an outlier).

  12. Sabine 12
    26 June 2018 at 11:12 am

    why maligning a new born is as No mates Party as it gets.

  13. roy cartland 13
    26 June 2018 at 11:40 am

    Don’t feel too sorry for them, Mickey. There are hordes of voters who couldn’t care less about competence.

  14. Stuart Munro 14
    26 June 2018 at 12:08 pm

    I think Simon is spending too much time in his own echo chamber.

    There are many things to criticize about any government, but having a baby isn’t one of them. It is as close to a universal good as it gets, 好, the Chinese character for good is comprised of a mother and child because there is simply nothing bad about that.

    I suppose his problem is that any genuine public interest criticism is immediately rebutted by looking at what a lousy job National did in each portfolio in office, the depredations of Key for which Simon is carrying the can.

    This week he would have been better to breathe through his nose and let someone else make the mistakes. I wonder why his media advisers neglected to tell him that.

    • Puckish Rogue 14.1
      26 June 2018 at 12:20 pm

      You’re mostly right in that I don’t think he was criticising the baby, it just a lame joke that didn’t take. I suspect that his advisers are trying to make him into John Key 2.0 and he simply isn’t that

      • Robert Guyton 14.1.1
        26 June 2018 at 1:31 pm

        (He’s) “a lame joke that didn’t take.”?

      • Stuart Munro 14.1.2
        26 June 2018 at 3:22 pm

        He was deliberately incoherent, which makes it possible to deny that to some degree, but there are conventions in our society which one breaks at one’s peril. One is that one doesn’t criticize newborn children. Another is that one doesn’t go after family members unless they’re making the news in their own right.

        The Gnats are a pitiful shadow of the party my grandfather supported.

        There are a lot of notable Trumpisms in Bridgespeak, and neither we on the left, nor the media commentariat are their target. It remains to be seen whether he can scare up an inside straight of deplorables without playing Trump’s immigration card.

        • Puckish Rogue 14.1.2.1
          26 June 2018 at 3:37 pm

          Deplorable like targeting a group of people on the basis of Chinese-sounding names?

          • Robert Guyton 14.1.2.1.1
            26 June 2018 at 3:42 pm

            Stuart said “incoherent”, not “deplorable” (just saying’ – gotta maintain your standard, Pucky, such as it is).

          • Stuart Munro 14.1.2.1.2
            26 June 2018 at 3:50 pm

            Unrelated Pucky.

            And legit as it happens – once you know a bit about how language corpora are used you can unearth surprising amounts of information from such things. The Gnat outrage stemmed from being caught privileging foreign speculators over New Zealanders – electoral death among the very folk Bridges is trying to seduce.

  15. Enough is Enough 15
    26 June 2018 at 12:28 pm

    “Ever since she became Labour leader she has not put a foot wrong”

    Do you actually believe what you write. I think Jacinda herself would concede there are things that she would do differently if given another chance. You only have to speak to people of Taranaki to realise consultation on some positive initiatives should have been handled a lot better. That shows a lack of leadership.

    I don’t think there is any benefit in acting like the sycophantic lovers of John Key did and be blind to the things can be improved.

    The political management of this government is average at best and certainly needs massive improvement.

    • Robert Guyton 15.1
      26 June 2018 at 12:39 pm

      She’s not perfect, EoE, but she’s performed very well wherever she’s personally the focus; some of her Ministers have wobbled, as you’d expect, and some issues have created anguish, as you’d expect, but Jacinda has appeared alert and adroit in handling most things. I reckon that’s pretty impressive.

  16. Hongi Ika 16
    26 June 2018 at 12:33 pm

    New Zealanders are lapping up Jacindarella and the new royal baby.

  17. Hongi Ika 17
    26 June 2018 at 12:37 pm

    ACT will be confined to the annals of history after the 2020 Election along with the old fossils Douglas, Gibbs, Banks, Brash, Prebble, Hyde & their new protege David Seymour IMHO.

  18. patricia bremner 18
    26 June 2018 at 2:15 pm

    The approval rating of 65% tells how NZ sees the current Government. In this next month many households will be financially better off. ( However that has already been pruned by greedy Landlords and soon greedy Bankers!)

    I think this Government will keep adding improvements like the “winter warmth payment”. They are working to change many aspects of life for the betterment of New Zealanders. There will come a tipping point where it will be evident these actions are working.

    Currently a rabid group on the Right desperately want Jacinda to fail. She has dealt decisively with any hiccups, (large or small) and has been an excellent ambassador for us on any forum.

    Seldom have I heard the journalists and press corp clap a PM. It was heartwarming, and the cause of bitter grief for some righties who could’t leave politics out of the birth.
    For Simon to say the silly things he did, you have to know such comments have been thrown about before, such as “a pretty little communist” He just doesn’t have the wit to know how revealing it was.
    Some highly educated people can lack social and emotional intelligence, so they do not predict the reactions to their comments…. then they try to rationalise after the fact, but true to type they never admit their mistakes, and counter with “why does that worry you?”

    We on the left are uplifted by such an excellent leader as our PM. That gives us hope. The competence of her team will grow, and she recognises and uses talents and strengths. She has resisted “knee jerk” responses to problems and shows resilience respect and courage in the face of great provocation and downright nastiness.

    Other World Leaders see her qualities and accepted her as an equal, or even a Leader among Leaders, as when she was asked to address the Commonwealth gathering. Jacinda and Clarke will do us proud, and this sensible couple know how to give their daughter a good foundation to become the best she can be. 2018 a special year.

    • Marcus Morris 18.1
      26 June 2018 at 3:02 pm

      An excellent summation Patricia. I wholeheartedly endorse your sentence “we on the left…….PM.”

      • patricia bremner 18.1.1
        26 June 2018 at 4:05 pm

        Thanks MM, I half expected a few comments about being a “Cheer Leader!”

        IMO we don’t acknowledge how hard it would have been to rise above the filth bandied round about Clarke, and her dignified response and dedication to the “job”, has increased her stature in every way.
        He has also largely stayed above that, and his name for the muckrakers,”bottom feeders” described them well, leaving a clear mental image!!

        If Jacinda has 4 terms this country will be blessed. She will then be months away from 50 years of age… the new 40!!
        That is my hope. I am 76 so may not see it.

        • Marcus Morris 18.1.1.1
          26 June 2018 at 4:22 pm

          1941/2 were very good years! I, as well, will probably not be around to celebrate her 50th birthday.

  19. Marcus Morris 19
    26 June 2018 at 3:06 pm

    A late reply to early comments from Gosman and Puckish Rogue re my assessment of DWTS. You are right of course and I have been silly to equate it with “Strictly Come Dancing” the superb production BBC (non commercial of course) the format of which forms the basis of the New Zealand production.

    • McFlock 19.1
      26 June 2018 at 4:01 pm

      Jeez, the Tories don’t like it up ’em, do they…

      H/t Clive Dunn.

      • Puckish Rogue 19.1.1
        26 June 2018 at 4:05 pm

        I certainly don’t mind admitting to not watching the program because I think its a pile of garbage

        • McFlock 19.1.1.1
          26 June 2018 at 4:52 pm

          That’s nice. You’ve gone to great lengths to show us all how not bovvered you are. Thankyou.

  20. patricia bremner 20
    26 June 2018 at 4:14 pm

    Thank you Micky.

  21. Marcus Morris 21
    26 June 2018 at 4:23 pm

    You have permission to speak Sir.

  22. ScottGN 22
    26 June 2018 at 4:35 pm

    Hey Mickey,
    I’m sure somebody has already asked but is it possible to fix the spelling of disarray in the title? One S two Rs. Cheers

    [lprent: Done. ]

  23. mosa 23
    26 June 2018 at 5:15 pm

    Why did only Newshub cover this disgusting comment by Bridges on the 6pm televised news spot ?
    Here is the man who could be leading the country and represents 44 % of those who would vote National and yet this was ignored by TVNZ.
    This should have been addressed.
    Once again the bias is evident and this coalition of parties governing the country should be concerned.
    It is time for a major shake up or maybe incremental changes i don’t care as long as it happens.

  24. Observer Tokoroa 24
    26 June 2018 at 5:22 pm

    Nasty National – Blatant

    The words of national will come back to them.

    Especially when their Leader loudly calls a 2day old Baby – a Pinko. An Abuse word used by Capitalists to degrade the Workers and the poor.

    It won’t look very good on Election Banners. National crushes a newborn Child.

    Why, to increase his mana with the useless wealthy national followers who hate Workers.

    • Robert Guyton 24.1
      26 June 2018 at 5:31 pm

      Did he though, call the baby a pinko?
      “”Just because there’s pinko ideas in the parents it doesn’t mean the baby’s taking those on board,” Mr Bridges said.
      Is this quote wrong then? Just askin’

  25. Observer Tokoroa 25
    26 June 2018 at 8:06 pm

    Hi Robert Guyton

    I didn’t “quote” anyone – as you will have noted. I simply pointed out he pushed the 2 day old baby into a degraded category that he would not have shoved his own child within.

    The Baby he mentally threw about would not have known what he said. But the wealthy caste would have have applauded him immensely.

    Simon is very conscious of his caste. As you know.

    • Robert Guyton 25.1
      26 June 2018 at 8:56 pm

      Hi, Observer Tokoroa
      I understand what you mean, which is different from what you said:
      ” when their Leader loudly calls a 2day old Baby – a Pinko ” (my bold).
      Some people, myself included, read for meaning and get tripped up when what is written isn’t what’s meant. No big deal, just saying’, for some of us, accurate language matters.

    • Hongi Ika 25.2
      27 June 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Maori done good ?

  26. mac1 26
    26 June 2018 at 10:41 pm

    Another serving for Simon Bridges.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/06/opinion-please-join-me-in-the-exorcism-of-simon-bridges.html

    The opinion writer argues that Simon Bridges needs to find his own voice and values; not that of John Key’s voice echoing inside his head.

  27. Hongi Ika 27
    27 June 2018 at 1:42 am

    The Far Right & Neoliberalism is dead in the water, the Neoliberal Experiment has been an abysmal failure with plenty of pain and no gain for the average worker ?

  28. Observer Tokoroa 28
    27 June 2018 at 8:26 am

    Hi Robert Guyton

    Do you have difficulty understanding what your hero Simon Bridges said of the Baby and Family Gayford?

    Then you should seek assistance from normal people – or failing that from Teachers.

    Either the Baby was released onto the world carrying an insulting slur as a Pinko – or the Baby was not.

    Was she Robert – or was she not? Or will you evade again Robert?

  29. Hongi Ika 29
    27 June 2018 at 4:12 pm

    Maori done good ?

  30. JessNZ 30
    27 June 2018 at 4:39 pm

    Simon’s ‘humour’ appeals to the same audience as Gareth Morgan’s ‘lipstick on a pig’ jibes. There is a surprisingly big audience who applaud the jokes as plain speaking and anti-PC, so not even ashamed of their regressive attitudes.