Posts by George Darroch
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Southerly: Gerry Brownlee: “I Like To…, in reply to Islander,
I needs to get me one.
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Hard News: Triangulated by Fools, in reply to Keir Leslie,
This is not really true, and quite patronising.
Second that. While all parties have lacuna, and their youth take a particular subset of issues as their 'own', there's sufficient breadth and depth amongst YL that a statement like that really doesn't hold water.
However, they can be accused of caring passionately about particular things and seeking to change New Zealand with respect to those issues. That is a very good thing.
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Nearly all the old builders I know have tendonitis in the wrist and elbows. They wish the nailguns had been around years ago.
Stop hammertime.
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Unfortunately most google results for "X with nailgun" (kid, cat, et cetera) result in either tragedy or horror. I do love me a nailgun though, with adequate eye and hearing protection.
I'm also very happy when I see pictures of my two year old nephew trying to drive a digger. Thankfully he has not yet been given the keys.
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Hard News: Calling the race before it's over, in reply to Gareth Ward,
I've often wondered how the Greens intend their structure to work if they actually managed to win leadership of Government... 2.5 days a week each and on-off international junkets?
Usually a special general meeting would be called and a position to take into coalition negotiations worked out by the membership. However, while this works where ministerial positions are possible, it doesn't consider the need to take into account the workings of an election campaign where a deputy PM position is at stake and a position needs to be presented to the public and a incredulous and conflicthappy media. This will need to be addressed before the next election.
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In reply to my above post; I was overseas at the time, but I saw how comments directed towards Sue Bradford's real or perceived inability to lead the Greens, and how her image would hurt the party, were attributed to her as a person. She's a good person, but the process wounded her and is a major reason she left for Mana afterwards.
Politics ain't beanbag, but it needn't be a punch-up on your own side either.
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Being able to speak coherently to media is a bit more basic than that in a political leadership role.
No doubt. But what should concern us is the context under which candidates variously more or less qualified are disallowed from stepping up or down without huge personal loss or gain.
If this is merely about who becomes the next PM, then this behaviour makes sense. But seen from the perspective of a movement, it's intensely harmful. I think all organisations need to develop frameworks which allow their participants to step up into and out of positions as needed, with the support that entails.
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There are many challenging jobs that it is hard to excel in. Not giving outstanding performance in such a position does not make you bad in the field you work in, nor does it make you a bad person. If less was put on the need - created by all sides and interests - to have one person as a man above all others, and we were instead able to treat them as more ordinary humans, I suspect this would all resolve a little differently.
But these pressures will not abate (indeed, for certain corners the resolution of these events is a prerequisite of such a let-up), and things will continue their course.
Witness the recent destruction of another minor god. Humanity is not allowed to get in the way.
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Scott Yorke offers a faithful rendition of a day in the life of Patrick Gower.
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Hard News: Calling the race before it's over, in reply to Russell Brown,
But I really thought Gower was making the story about himself and his attempt to get a gotcha
As you note, there's something to be desired from the pack. But I don't think I've ever seen a story of his which wasn't about shoehorning an issue or event into a conflict, frequently well beyond what actually happened. If it's personal, and he can make himself into the great fisher of truth, then more's the better. If you're ever in a situation where he will report events, think carefully about how he will frame things, and present yourself accordingly.