Posts by nzlemming
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Hard News: Jonesing, in reply to Henry Barnard,
True. As I said, the MP who really likes him is Collins – a mutual feeling, I wouldn’t be surprised.
I think he more fits the role of Useful idiot as far as the Nats are concerned.
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Hard News: Jonesing, in reply to Alex Coleman,
Would Gower really take an off the record quote from the DC camp, and spin it as Cunliffe’s opponent’s hating his guts? That’s a pretty big assumption to make, no?
Disagree. This would be business as usual for Gower who has no form on inside gossip in the Bubble, but thinks he's some sort of oracle.
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Hard News: Jonesing, in reply to Russell Brown,
Gower has just sent a couple of tweets:
Cos Gower is sooo reliable #spull
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Curia rang me last night regarding a "political survey". I declined to participate because I don't think much of them but I kind of regret not getting the questions first.
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Hard News: Jonesing, in reply to BenWilson,
It wasn’t only him who chose him. I think they did it too damned fast – it was straight after an election, it would hardly have mattered if they’d taken their sweet time about it.
This. Cunliffe wanted it, a significant enough group didn't want Cunliffe. They asked Shearer as a compromise (i.e. no-one disliked him enough to oppose), and he said yes. They paired him with Robertson, an experienced operator, did the dog and pony show with Cunliffe and Mahuta and bingo! Shearer is leader. Can anyone point me to a statement before that election where Shearer declared that he really wanted the leadership? I know pundits were saying he was a future leader, but I don't know that he ever did.
People, good people, go into Parliament full of good intentions and high ideals and get chewed up by the brutal process of tribal politics. Shearer is a service-oriented individual. Being asked to serve, he accepted. I doubt he will stay in Parliament, and that's a waste of a good man.
Haven't you ever taken a job and woken up one morning to say "This crap is not what I signed on for!"?
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Hard News: Jonesing, in reply to Henry Barnard,
Does Shearer really believe that those who do the work in the `arena’ don’t also want to be able to make a change to New Zealand just as much as he does?
Perhaps his disdain is for the arena, not the people.
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Hard News: Jonesing, in reply to Sacha,
Our lack of hard evidence to link to about Mallard and others undermining their caucus over the past few years is a natural conclusion of increasing ‘access journalism’.
Cheers, and fair point.
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Hard News: Jonesing, in reply to Joe Wylie,
I'm not saying he never fucked up. But he always owned it. Maybe you've heard nothing because he's learned from incidents like that not to comment where his knowledge does not extend (there are other opposition MPs actually from the Garden City). And I have heard him in the House criticising CERA and Gerry in particular, so he's not totally MIA.
Look, I'm not his apologist, but he deserves a bit better than he's been given in this thread.
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Hard News: Jonesing, in reply to Sacha,
Involved in what passed for strategy at least until the last election, leading ABC club member, likely source of many a leak, seems more concerned about his own interests than his party or NZ. Machiavellian bitch, in short.
I call bullshit on that. Mallard is truly a team player who regularly took one for the team under Helen. Anytime someone else had seriously stuffed up, Trevor would suddenly say or do something outrageous to divert the fickle news cycle. Whether he's ABC or not, I don't know, though I doubt he and Cunliffe would naturally be best mates in any other walk of life. What I like about Trevor is his basic honesty. Brutal it may be, but he was probably the best Minister I ever worked for (SSC) apart from Bill Birch (IRD) who was simply one of the smartest men I have ever met (politics aside). Trevor never blamed his officials, even when offered an out by doing so - if he stuffed up, he took the hit. Can't see that happening with the current Government front bench, or even most of the opposition.
Machiavellian? Isn't any politician? Bitch? Definitely not.
You used to argue facts, Sacha, not ad hominem. Not a good look.
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Apropos of nothing at all, I just picked up a copy of Beat groups & courtyard parties by Gordon Spittle from 1996 at Slow Boat Records. Looks like a lovely little book I shall enjoy reading.