Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Politics of Absence

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  • LegBreak,

    Think there might be a typo in there...

    " Fenton never complained when Veitch was Clark's handbag. "

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Well when one is that well off, all one has to do is smile and wave 'cause Im awwwrite mate!

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to LegBreak,

    Think there might be a typo in there…

    Indeed. It's funny what you don't see.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • David Hood,

    Vandalising of hoardings (at least those scarce few that seem to be up, which are aimed at the party vote rather than candidate) is underway in Dunedin.

    Dunedin • Since May 2007 • 1445 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I'm thinking Key's new nickname should be Nero.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Ben McNicoll,

    We've been quietly thinking about how to creatively rebrand the "Building a brighter future" billboard that popped up round our way (Mountain View Rd in the Morningside/Western Springs 'hood).

    Best idea so far: "Building a blighted future." Should be doable with some white duct tape.

    But someone has already cut out our beloved leaders face within a few days of it going up.

    Grey Lynn • Since May 2007 • 115 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Such sentiments are widely -- if somewhat lazily -- accepted in the political blogosphere as proof of Labour's "arrogance". But Labour doesn't have a lot to be arrogant about at the moment. What you're hearing there is grief, anger and frustration.

    Labour reliably shooting itself in the foot every time they gain any momentum on policy would be enough to frustrate most except the government. The party's ongoing lack of coherent communication is just mystifying. How does such incompetence keep anyone in a job?

    And there has certainly been some arrogance in the succession of ego-ridden outbursts. Curran's earlier unwarranted sense of entitlement to the votes of the left still seems shared by the armchair warriors on Te Standard. Little sign of any listening or learning. Thank goodness the Greens seem to be doing better lately so at least there's some choice. If you believe that's permitted..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    Labour reliably shooting itself in the foot every time they gain any momentum on policy would be enough to frustrate most except the government. The party’s ongoing lack of coherent communication is just mystifying. How does such incompetence keep anyone in a job?

    But it’s like calculating National’s performance by Tau Henare’s tweets. It doesn’t reflect Labour’s comms strategy or anything of any actual importance beyond the game.

    If anything, Curran and Fenton demonstrated the flaws in the idea of political outreach via social media. Neither of their whoopsies ever got near a media strategy. They’re simply what happens when less talented communicators get un-managed access to a keyboard.

    I consider Curran’s blurt about the Greens to be of much less importance than her inability to speak engagingly of Labour’s forthcoming broadcasting policy.

    Thank goodness the Greens seem to be doing better lately so at least there’s some choice. If you believe that’s permitted.

    A large proportion of the MPs I admire are Greens. I’m less sure about the party’s ability to translate that agency at Parliamentary level into effective campaigning at ground level. Labour’s people will, as they ever have, go out and put up hoardings, and door knock, and deliver leaflets, and get the elderly or disabled to the polling place. That’s still important.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Green candidates - both in Southern Maori and on the West Coast-= conspicuous by their absences...

    A leetle bet: 2 Maori seats will swing back to Labour and one southern Nationally-held seat will also change.

    Tapping only the whanau voting base: there is a conspicuous move to give the party vote to Greens...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    .. Helen Clark was patron of the Mt Albert Rugby League Club since forever... and she never hesitated to use the fact to burnish her own class credentials...

    I never knew league was such a big sport amongst Waikato farming families, or indeed Auckland University lecturers. I wonder if she's been finding time to go and see the US league-topping New York Knights in her spare time over there. Or to visit Wigan or Bankstown for a British or Aussie game? Somehow I think not.

    Let's face it, politicians all engage in various pastimes, not for personal joy, but because they reckon it'll help them engage with their public. For Labour politicians, it's standing in a damp stadium on a winter day watching some blokes throw/kick a ball/themselves around. For Tories, it's wearing a Nazi uniform while snorting coke off hookers breasts.

    Each to their (public's) own.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Once again, as mentioned in another thread, I interpret the Mad Butcher as politically bisexual. Richard Branson cosied up to both Thatcher and Blair not too long ago.

    And then, as news broke on his show that a second global ratings agency had lowered New Zealand’s credit rating, the Prime Minister said “It’s the prime minister’s hour and we’re having fun.” He really said that.

    By order of the Stepford community constable, please move along, there's nothing to look at.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • John Holley,

    Hi Russell. Peter sold his business to the CEO, Mike Morton, some time ago.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    I’d suggest Dan Carter’s groin would probably be a good place to start looking.

    I had to quickly check this wasn't Emma's column I was reading.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    it’s like calculating National’s performance by Tau Henare’s tweets.

    If that was all the public heard, sure.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Lilith __,

    she's everywhere, you know

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Islander,

    Green candidates - both in Southern Maori and on the West Coast-= conspicuous by their absences

    You're saying Kevin Hague isn't prominent on the Coast? One of his party's stronger performers this last term.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Neither of their whoopsies ever got near a media strategy.

    and that is a failure of political management and media strategy in itself.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Sacha,

    Has never made a presence known south - and wasnt even recognisable by self, or 3 neighbours to whom I just whisked round your email - Who? was the uniform answer...now, we are a tiny village but we have wide-ranging connections both here, elsewhere in ANZ, and overseas.... we are leftist, environmentally *very* pro-active, and willing to support the Greens who, very obviously arnt doing something publicity-right.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It doesn’t reflect Labour’s comms strategy or anything of any actual importance beyond the game.

    If they even have a comms strategy in the first place. Social media is a double-edged sword.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    Neither of their whoopsies ever got near a media strategy.

    and that is a failure of political management and media strategy in itself.

    I suppose the question is to what extent the occasional brainfart of a fringe MP can reasonably be attributed to the party itself. Fenton has already apologised and withdrawn herself from Facebook. I’m not sure what further punishment she should suffer.

    It did strike me that the motivation for Curran’s whoopsie – she’d actually been out door-knocking and meeting families who were struggling while, in her view, the liberal commentariat carped from their keyboards – was rather overlooked in the pile-on. I found the nature and degree of scorn it attracted a bit silly. I frankly don’t care much about it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    If they even have a comms strategy in the first place. Social media is a double-edged sword.

    I think that's actually the main point here. It could be strongly argued that Labour should back the hell out of this social media nonsense, and manage communications in a more formal fashion. Or at least exercise some quality control.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis, in reply to Islander,

    I have heard similar talk, certainly think you could be right on the Maori seats but have my doubts about the National seat as unfortunatly the Labour man is almost invisable
    I am not a betting man but would be prepared to take that leg of the trifecta

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Raymond A Francis,

    Yes- agree that the Labour person actually does need - impetus & publicity (a kick-up-the-arse isnt.....quite the message that should be out there) and I think we should go for the trifecta - a couple of freshies and a k of bait to?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    hoardings up in sunny newlands. someone even took the time to cut chauvels face out of one. strangely enough this made you pay more attention to the name, ie. "who's that who's been vandalised?"

    even saw him waving a placard with some slightly unenthusiastic-looking apartchtiks on saturday.

    whu-who... election...

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Islander,

    wasnt even recognisable by self, or 3 neighbours to whom I just whisked round your email

    he's the ex-boss of your local DHB.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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