One-point-one percent blogger Cactus Kate has written a well-worth reading column for the National Business Review website with the engaging title Who is John Banks? (I’m not kidding.)
I agree with this part (below) and have said something similar for years:
Three sides to Banks
I believe there are at least three sides to John Banks. The social conservative. The entrepreneur. Then there is the deep political pragmatist. He’s lost elections and he’s won them. He remains as emotionally void and cold in victory as he does in defeat.
Of the three sides to Banks I can identify I respect the hard-working street fighting entrepreneur. I can laugh off his moments of deep social conservatism. I can also see the advantage now in ACT having a deep political pragmatist.
As I said pre-election in Banks: Doing the basics very well the guy is an unquestionably good communicator, whether you like him/agree with him or not — being a protege of arch-populist Robert Muldoon has done him a lot of good.
Why is he now leader of ACT? Read Cathy’s column and let me know what you think…
– P
Mr Banks and ACT are now too depressing to be allowed to continue.
Can someone please shut this ACT Party down, and send Mr Banks home. While they are at it, they might as well send Mr Peters home as well.
These dinosaurs from the 1980’s (or the 70’s) are past their used by date…
Turn out the lights!
Rgds,
*p*
I’m personally all for ACT continuing to thrive … they are a living embodiment of all that is secretly at the heart of the Key government – sealed with a cup of tea…. they are the joke that people are slowly beginning to “get” (hopefully).
Key is possessed by the Dinosaur of the worst of Nationals beginnings in the 20th century – so are ACT.
Peters however – is it seems – the living embodiment of the democratic principle and kiwi ethos of “keeping on …” …. he got real votes and real support (Under the system of the day) – Banks was a National Party jackup. You simply cant compare the two.
The real dinosaurs – are those still clinging to the failure of unrestrained thatcherite, friedmanesque neo liberal thought and action.
Those who dont learn from history are doomed to repeat it … or words to that effect?? Perhaps?
[…] thinking … and his life. He is, as we have discussed, somewhat of a split personality (see: Three faces of Eve … er, John Banks). He sometimes appears capable of massive, unselfconscious hypocrisy to observers not from his […]