Here’s the NZ prime minister John Key delivering a ‘personal explanation’ to Parliament yesterday for his misleading answer to a question about the appointment of his school friend Ian Fletcher to the job of Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau, GCSB.
Well, that puts that matter to rest, doesn’t it? Ya think? (What do you make of the body language?)
– P
See also (related posts):
• John Key is getting a reputation as a liar (PM’s ‘unfolding’ disclosures about his involvement in Fletcher appointment as GCSB head.)
• John Key toughens up? “Forearmed is forewarned (sic), I’m going to change.” (John Key on answering questions, and accusing the media of deliberate imbalance.)
• Apropos the ‘reputation as a liar’ thing for John Key (Questions raised about integrity of PM and government.)
Liar liar … pants on fire …
Hmmm that’s perhaps a bit too harsh? But he does look a bit like he’s covering embarrassment with faux flippancy. That’s a common enough response.
– P
You asked me (after all who else could you be addressing) to comment on his body language.
I did – didnt say i was correct …
Just gave my opinion …
If you had a prepackaged “acceptable response filter” … you should state same … instead of an all titillating “read it as you will and i’ll come-back with a tut-tut response …” sort of thing.
My observation implies too … if he is gaining a reputation as a liar … his approach to reverse-thrust rewriting of history .. only solidifies that reputation.
And there i was thinking i had finally managed to give a cryptic one-line response for a change … “fair rips ya undies dunnit”
Cryptic? LOL.
Hey, relax, I’m not in the slightest attempting filter your response.
As for Mr Key’s personal explanation: yeah, he looks uncomfortable — politicians HATE doing that. The imperative is generally to head off a charge of ‘misleading the House’.
Im very relaxed Pete … just felt like giving you the old one two and a kick in the balls as well.
As usual .. it sailed right over your beemer … unrecognised …
My greatness is lost on all … sigggh.
Scandals such as this won’t bring the government down.
I suspect that the most important criterion for voters choosing a government is credibility with regards to managing the economy.
In response to Key’s determined centerism, the Labour brand has been forced far to the left, and as such they have lost a lot of economic credibility.
Socialism doesn’t deliver the standard of living voters want and expect?
Rgds,
*p*
Cheers poormastery,
You’re probably right about the fall of the government. Naturally the political horse race commentators lurve a scandal and gladiatorial conflict between political personalities. It’s akin to soap opera.
I’m sure that’s a huge factor. And certainly few voters would be so scandalized by allegations of cronyism, sleaze and corruption that they would deliver power to a group (centre-left coalition Labour-Greens) if that group didn’t appear to be a credible government-in-waiting.
Hence, I think, the huge effort the Greens have gone to to ‘mainstream’ their image, and shed the eco-warrior/tree-hugger fringe image.
Has Labour really gone ‘far-left’? What policy announcements would you cite to support that suggestion? Capital Gains Tax? Opposing asset sales? Greater regulation on electricity market? Independent inquiry into intelligence agency surveillance of Kiwis?
As a landlord, I note it’s Mr Key’s government that disallowed depreciation on buildings, and is making noise about implementing a Warrant of Fitness for rental properties, and legislating to ‘control’ the property market targeting prices through increased banking/loan regulations.
– P
PM … that is bullshit and you know it … your entire analysis is flawed and silly both at the same time.
Move to the left?? You have to be kidding me.
Economic credibility … pah … the Nats are using shock doctrine tactics and relying on fearmongering and smokescreens via one minister in particular to keep their voter base (who normally wouldnt vote for them) in the fold … what will bring this pigswill govt down is the fact that geo-politics and global economics will one day turn ‘tits-up’.
No wonder you dont live in New Zealand … wise person.
That sounds like a recitation of an article of faith (or fond hope?) rather than a serious prediction Ivan, if you don’t mind me saying.
See this Washington Post summary of research that suggests “Most politicians survive scandals”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/07/mark-sanford-is-no-exception-most-politicians-survive-scandals/
Now, whereas political enthusiasts/people like YOU keep track of the stench of ‘sleaze’ and hope there’s a cumulative effect from the episodes of [allegedly] shonky dealings (Sky City pokies/conference centre dealings, John Key’s Dotcom dance of a thousand veils, John Banks donation scandal, various crony-esque appointments, GCSB & police running rogue surveillance operations, etc) afflicting the Key/Joyce government, it’s possible the general population (those Martyn Bradbury decries as ‘sleepy hobbits’) don’t roil with the same effervescent outrage.
Poormastery may be absolutely right.
– P
I agree with PM in the sense that the voters dont really seem to see the issues (witness my other inane ramblings) … what i do believe is that it will come to a head …
Unfortunately by that time – it will be too late and it will be a less than full rebuild opportunity.
Its just that Pornographymastery just pisses me off so i always feel i need to jab him with a sharp stick.
But i doubt he can even feel it … he’s too well padded with smug success.
Pisses me off – i tell you – it really does.
Ah well …
Sadly you could be saying that deceit – corruption – maybe even that thing called Evil … always wins and gets away with it.
Or goes to live in Switzerland (im talking about Sir Michael Fay by the way …)
Or launches their privileged daughter with big eyebrows on a music career thus leapfrogging the rest of the great unwashed.
Even Koatimundis and bushbabies can achieve greatness …
Hi Peter,
To address your points in turn:
“As a landlord, I note it’s Mr Key’s government that disallowed depreciation on buildings, and is making noise about implementing a Warrant of Fitness for rental properties…”
Yes, this is a good example of what I was saying regarding Mr Key’s appeal to the voters using pragmatism and centerism. The average voter doesn’t like landlords so much…
“Has Labour really gone ‘far-left’? What policy announcements would you cite to support that suggestion? Capital Gains Tax? Opposing asset sales? Greater regulation on electricity market?”
For example… More importantly, they are now completely dependent on support from the Greens…
“Hence, I think, the huge effort the Greens have gone to to ‘mainstream’ their image, and shed the eco-warrior/tree-hugger fringe image.”
As you know, I don’t live in NZ, so I have missed the Greens’ latest marketing campaign.
Irrespectively, I remain to be convinced that the Greens have abandoned their Ethiopian inspired economic policy yet…
Rgds,
*p*
None of those labour policies are far left … dont be such a complete ‘nong’ for gods sake …
Goodness me … you arent a reincarnation of Milton Friedman (if he is dead … i certainly hope so …). Or are you channelling Maggie T already … presume you may be a well heeled pom by your approach.
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