Hard News: Limping Onwards
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Policies aren’t sufficient, unless you wed them to values and a narrative.
I entirely agree. They're important to some, and I'd like to think they provide a baseline for popular and informed discussion, but ultimately politicians need to convey a sense of purpose and understanding.
In 2008 we knew that John Key was a self-made multi-millionaire and that he would use his economic brilliance to bring about a ‘step-change’ in the economy
And this is the deceit that will undo him. I don't discount his appeal, but it's not nearly sufficient and the NZ economy can't be independently remedied by his willing it so. Perhaps it is because it directly relates to me, but I clearly remember Key wandering around Wellington Stadium promising no more teary goodbyes. Yeah right.
that’s not the real problem – it’s that nobody even knows any of their policies. That’s the problem, and that’s why they’re failing
I think that's premature. Ideally, Labour would have clearly opened up a couple of significant points of difference and they've not, yet. I expect Grant Robertson will in Health and I'd like to see Mallard back in Education - he had the better of Tolley and education is a traditionally strong point of difference. In ACC, I expect National will open another point of difference too.
Where I disagree with the view you're expressing is the sense of it being too late. It's not. Phil's situation with Hughes was terrible. The ongoing dissent is not helpful. A circuit breaker is needed and I'm still inclined to agree with dc_red earlier. It mightn't be the Leader who has to change.
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Sacha, in reply to
I suspect your dream of a single party to help the Nats govern would be NZ First which might scupper the asset selloff.
Imagine the desperation of that being a plausible tactical voting possibility if the others don't get their shit together by election time.
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Jan Farr, in reply to
Or because it was presented and managed in a forgettable way.
I think I'm trying to point out that the voter has some responsibility here.
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Steve Barnes, in reply to
Oops, you need an edit function.
We have one, right next to the reply tag (you have to hover the cursor over it for some unknown reason) ETA (edited to add ;-)) You have only 15 mins to act.
Are you the ex ACT Nick Kearney? -
Sacha, in reply to
And this is the deceit that will undo him.
Not if it is so ineptly personalised as it was in 2008. Hence the need for strong strategy and comms expertise.
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Jan Farr, in reply to
Whoops! Parker.
Thanks - I thought maybe you were being ironic and I'd lost my sense of humour.
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giovanni tiso, in reply to
I think I'm trying to point out that the voter has some responsibility here.
I'd like to think so. The idea that the narrow focus in our media and the difficulty in reaching the public are wholesale 'excuses' nicely exonerates society from taking any more interest in politics than absolutely necessary in order to locate a polling booth correctly on election day. I keep returning to Jesson's analysis of the hollowness of New Zealand society in this respect - I think it still bears true, and it's a genuine constraint on our political class, much as politics itself has contributed to it over time. But I'd like to see people acknowledge that the interplay is much more complex than "if you can't communicate your policies then it's your fault", or that it's up to the parties alone to agitate on the matters that matter in elections.
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Sacha, in reply to
That was in reply to this
Another cool function, Nick: if you highlight some text before you click Reply, it is automatically typed in quote tags for you.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
Read it t'other day ,questioned it myself . didn't check but, said I heard, not that I knew.
Ne'er mind eh?
and what Steve said earlier,(hi there :) I genuinely see basically pretty honest folk of the ones I have met in Labour. I do feel I see their awkwardness sometimes also.I do think Goff is in that group. So should they be different for the sake of politics? I don't know but don't think I would change who I was.Mastering the art of bullshit? Fuck that. -
Sacha, in reply to
the interplay is much more complex
Sure, and civics education would help. But implying the failure to engage is all down to the voters or media as Curran did doesn't leave much room for constructive action. And who wants to support whingers.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
After throwing up in my mouth, I’m now seriously contemplating sticking a fork in both eyes before I have to read some inane lynchmob blog comment or letter to the editor citing this pile of putresence as “evidence” or “research”.
Dalrymple trades on his genuine experience in prisons to a remarkable degree. I read a couple of things he wrote about the New Zealand justice system after his visit here, and they had all the factual rigour of a conversation down the pub. He was repeatedly just wrong. But I presume people who read him are inclined to believe him.
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Clint Fern, in reply to
Imagine the desperation of that being a plausible tactical voting possibility
.
No, I couldn't go there. And I mean no as in the dictionary definition not the Winston definition. -
Steve Barnes, in reply to
I think I’m trying to point out that the voter has some responsibility here.
And people should take the responsibility to vote. I am sick and tired of people telling me they don't vote because they don't like politicians, ignorance I tell you.
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Paul Williams, in reply to
Not if it is so ineptly personalised as it was in 2008. Hence the need for strong strategy and comms expertise.
Labour had three terms Sacha, first time ever. I caught the end of the campaign and actually thought the fact that as Labour went out, they bought so many new people in was pretty good. This isn't a simple tactical matter, it's about rebuilding a party around talented and credible people. I suspect it's why so many people are so disappointed by Hughes. Of course, I'd also rather they were now in a better position to contest the next election too.
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Sacha, in reply to
they don't vote because
.. it only encourages them
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Sacha, in reply to
talented and credible people.
I'm left wondering about the back room, not the faces out front
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Nick Kearney, in reply to
Are you the ex ACT Nick Kearney?
Yes, which is why I commented (sarcastically) on the absurd suggestion David paid for his list position.
And one who can also now use the highlight text/quote function, and the reply function all at once.
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Sacha, in reply to
I'd also rather they were now in a better position to contest the next election
Any musings about why they aren't?
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Paul Williams, in reply to
I keep returning to Jesson’s analysis of the hollowness of New Zealand society in this respect – I think it still bears true, and it’s a genuine constraint on our political class, much as politics itself has contributed to it over time.
Gio, having only lived in the lovely colonial westernised places I have - Australia and NZ - I understand the point you make but have no experience of it. I hang with a political group too. Are you saying that in European nations there is a deeper engagement? I'd bloody love that!
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Clint Fern, in reply to
Yes, which is why I commented (sarcastically) on the absurd suggestion David paid for his list position.
What you mean that Hide fell for the "I'm not a dead baby identity stealer" and "the cheque's in the post" as well?
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...coming into the Lions Den I know....just how I like it.
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giovanni tiso, in reply to
But implying the failure to engage is all down to the voters or media as Curran did doesn't leave much room for constructive action.
And saying outright that it's completely the opposite, as Lew does, seems unhelpful to me as well.
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giovanni tiso, in reply to
Are you saying that in European nations there is a deeper engagement? I'd bloody love that!
In Italy there is a much deeper engagement and I think we can all agree that the results speak for themselves. (But no, seriously, it's enormously complicated. Still, there are aspects of the wretched politics of my home country that I'd gladly import wholesale.)
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Nick Kearney, in reply to
Nah, I won't. Not even at 11:26pm when I'm barely functional.
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Paul Williams, in reply to
Any musings about why they aren’t?
I don't feel sufficiently well informed or connected to comment on this Sacha. I've not lived in NZ for almost eight years.
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