You may recall the howls of derision in 2005.
How on earth can you be a minister and remain outside the government? they demanded.
That was then, this is now. This morning's paper tells me:
Mr Key acknowledged yesterday that he was wrong and "in hindsight" it had worked well.
I recently had the pleasure of hearing some of Frank Sargeson's old friends reminisce about his life and work. Frank would rise each day to craft a modest 300 words. 300 is not a large number. Frank did not have the benefit of a computer. Such marvellous machines they are. You can excise the wrong word in an instant; you can drop in new lines just as swiftly.
A busy journalist knows how to make the most of such a tool. Frequently-used phrases can be pasted into a story faster than you can say "auto correct".
We can surely expect certain lines to become very familiar in the medium term.
Insert name here acknowledged yesterday that he was wrong and "in hindsight" it had worked well.
Perhaps something from Mr Brownlee about our light bulbs? And, given the pressing need for our little nation to become better savers, would a "hindsight" reconsideration of KiwiSaver rates and the independence of the Superannuation Fund be too much to hope for?