National’s handling of this Richard Worth affair has been bad, both ethically and politically. Even worse for them, Labour leader Phil Goff has come out of it smelling like roses, ratcheting his profile up a few notches.
I assume Crosby/Textor are on holiday (celebrating a 2-point clarification from Nicky Hagar, perhaps?) because even John Key himself, who’s spin is usually water tight, is beginning to fall over.
For instance, this interview on RNZ Checkpoint last night is an absolute stunner. Key refuses to answer questions, attacks Goff, attacks the victim, defends Worth and gets caught out lying.
Hmmm, as much as Paul Henry gets my goat, the reality is that he grills John Key better than anyone else currently in the media, it’s always as if as a former National Party candidate that Paul has been personally offended by the Prime Minister’s lack of a red neck. –Bomber Bradbury
Also… Textses? Piggy in the Middle? Was also funny to hear him saying “I don’t sack ministers on unproved allegations”, when that was what he was calling Clark to do to Winston last year. What happened to 1-strike you’re out?
“I am tired of politicians who say it is probably inevitable we will become a republic at some stage, but who are unwilling to do anything to bring it about – that is extremely weak.”
– Peter Dunne, Time to have our say on republic issue – 26 April 2009
So we’ve had a few weeks under a National-lead government so far. Parliament hasn’t sat yet, but if you watch closely you can see the changes already.
I will happily admit that the way John Key assembled his government struck me as decisive and honest, which we hadn’t seen a lot of from National recently. I especially applaud his movements to incorporate the Maori Party into his government, handing out some very important portfolios such as Maori Affairs and assorted associate roles.
This would have been absolutely unthinkable even three years ago, even seemingly to Labour after Helen’s “last cab off the rank” comment. I believe it goes to show that one of Labour’s highest achievements from their 9 years in power is how they have forced the National party to change into something that is palatable to the general population.
However, it’s not all sunshine and lollipops. In forming the government John Key has had to make some dangerous concessions to the small red devil on his shoulder that is ACT.
National want to take the ETS back to Select Comittee, and ACT wants the Select Committee’s terms of reference to include a complete review of the basic science behind anthropomorphic climate change. Science which, even the President-elect of the USA believes is “beyond dispute” as he takes steps to sign the USA to Kyoto and implement their own Emissions Trading Scheme.
In this light, it makes New Zealand’s rhetoric and slack efforts even more hypocritical considering our clean, green image. Something John Key, as Minister of Tourisim, might want to take a note of before he disassembles and delays our sole response to climate change (and paying our $2bn Kyoto liability which would otherwise be picked up by the taxpayer) even further.
It’s this position that he’s taken that makes his little tantrum about the UK’s environment-inspired long haul flight tax seem even more ironic. If we were fighting from a position of strong action on climate change, it could be validly argued to have the tax waived for NZ flights as we do our own bit to control our carbon footprint and combat climate change. The same premise we’re going to have to rely on when we try and sell our exports once food miles are taken into account.
But instead he directly attacks the UK’s government spouting “significant concern”, fear of a “contagion effect” and letting them know that their tax policy is “not necessarily rational”. I’m sure that’s just what they want to hear from a trumped up little pipsqueak that was only sworn in a few weeks ago. Especially after pulling such tricks as spending the last year blaming the Labour-lead government for our current economic woes then giving a speech at APEC proclaiming that it’s the fault of his money-trading mates that, well, might have gotten a bit greedy.
So Key needs to ramp himself down from campaign mode, stop attacking things that threaten him and, most importantly, he needs to not be a Rodney.
Although, it seems, they’ll be able to sit this one out. John Key seems happy enough to carry on their legacy for a time to come. There’s only so many dead-rats you can swallow (whole, mind you) under the guise of “policy inoculation” before you’re actually selling out.
It’s obvious National will do anything to win.
Some of the most hotly debated policies and programs of the Labour Party have been promised to also exist under a National government, should you be so good to, you know, vote for them.
Interest free student loans? Check! Working for Families? Check! Kiwisaver? You betcha! Aside from the 90-day fire-and-forget bill, ACC and the promise to look at the public broadcasting charter, most of their policy appears to consist of keep, retain and continue.
Who’s This Guy?
I'm Chris. I live in Auckland, New Zealand.
Web Developer by hobby, then by trade. I am currently rendering my services to the great Mighty Ape with one or two personal projects currently in early stages. Hopefully more on that later.
I work on Mac's, but game on my PC's - can currently be found on Borderlands, Dragon Age: Origins, Borderlands and Homerun Battle 3D on my Nexus One :)
You're likely to find posts here about my life, my work, technology and some politics - all with a New Zealand twist!
