National Party On Again, Off Again Message

It's been a while between drinks here at Just Left so I thought I'd get the ball rolling.

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First thing first; if you're looking around for someone to defend Taito Phillip Field, keep on looking because you're unlikely to find it here. I hope they throw the book at him.

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Isn't it amazing how almost every cabinet minister has turned the ministerial housing issue into a family issue - "we want to live with our families", "this job puts presure on our families", "please don't make me send my family back to Dipton, Whangarei, where-ever-the-hell-they-come-from".

I have a certain level of sympathy for the workload placed on Ministers and their respective families. Being away from home five days a week would be tough, especially if home is two flights away (such is the case for English and Heatley). At the height last year's campaign, I caught up with the spouses of several Labour candidates - the pressure that was put on them by their partner's campaign was immense, especially those with young children. Anyone who thinks politics is a glamour sport should think again.

Where I start to loose sympathy is when the likes of Bill English claim $900 a week for his 'secondary' residence in Karori - which just happens to be where Mrs English and their children have lived for two years. Mr English (and John Key) then startto talk about Mrs English and associated sprogs being forced to move back to Dipton if the deputy Prime Minister doesn't receive the ministerial allowance. Despite a pay increase of almost $100k. Plus the fact that he could afford it while being deputy Leader of the Opposition. Plus he's overseen the review of government department budgets, resulting in thousands of redundancies. Whether he's entitled to this or not, it's not a great look Bill.

Plus the "we're family men" isn't as potent any more because, well, the child-less Helen Clark lives in New York now, and Phil Goff has a family. After a decade of the Tories holding the fact that Helen didn't have children against her, the Nats all of a sudden have to look for a new song book.

And what's with John Key spitting the dummy at his Post Cabinet Press Conference on Monday? The first time the Prime Minister gets angry about anything is defending how much his ministers get in allowances. In the height of a recession. Also not a good look.

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It appears that the reason that so many people are loosing their jobs is because the opposition keeps talking about it. John Key wants it to stop - Loose lips sink ships - or at least the economy. So if we're not allowed to talk about it, why does Bill English use it to try to change the topic from the expenses he's claiming?

And then, John Key tells Keisha Castle-Hughes to "stick to acting" rather than commenting on climate change. I'd rather Key had stuck to currency trading rather than trying his hand at leading the country, but this is a democracy and everyone (even Mr Key) has a right to an opinion. In the name of consistency, I assume Mr Key will in future not be calling on Michael Jones or Va'aiga Tuigamala to do anything other than chuck a rugby ball around?

Not a great week for the Nats and it's only Wednesday.

Comments

[Clint Heine]

I don't have any sympathy for politicians who choose to go into this profession. Comparable jobs in the private sector wouldn't dream of offering such perks - so why is public money regarded as a plaything by politicians. Labour were quite open with their disregards to public money and I'll be honest I didn't expect any better from the Nats.

Err, Helen had "off days" with her press conference. The difference is that John doesn't call people names. Chinless scarf wearers, ferel and inbred, cancerous and corrosive..... she set a rather low standard to follow :)

John was bang on about Keisha though. Last thing we need are these "actors" suddenly becoming experts and thinking that they have a right to tell others what is best for us. Whatever next?

[Jeremy]

What are the comparable jobs in the private sector, Clint? I would like to either agree or disagree with your statement, but I can't think of anything in the private sector that's even close to being an MP. I would have thought the level of responsibility that MPs have would get paid better (much better) in the private sector, but have nothing to back that up :)

Key was 'bang on about Keisha', but is more than happy to weigh in with Michael Jones and Inga the Winger during the election? What about washed up radio hosts telling everyone they have a right to beat their children? The wider issue is, should the PM tell anyone to stay out of politics - NZ is, after all, a democracy - even NZers living over seas have a right to voice their opinions in a public forum if they wish - I may disagree with what you say, Clint, but I'll fight to the death for your right to say it... :P

Keisha Castle-Hughes can command an audience and should have a right to use that without the PM telling her to shut the f*ck up.

[GNZ]

FWIW being able to tell some one to STFU is one of those acts of free speach which are protected - you just cant enforce it.

If the public pay attention to actors comments on scientific issues it is the public that is the fool not the actors. What Key really wants to say is that the media and the public shouldn't pay attention to what famous non experts (and non policy makers) say but of course he can't say that.

On the other hand from a political point of view Key should probably just not comment on what someone like her says which I guess is Jordans main point.

[Clint Heine]

We have CEOs of companies that would probably pull in more than the Kiwi GDP - especially now with the ridicukous growth rates we are experiencing after 9 years of disasterous economic policy. :)

Errr, what did the ex ABs do comparable to what Keisha was talking about? I don't see why you bought that up? Key didn't tell anybody to stay out of politics he told her to stick to acting. Huge difference Jeremy!

I may disagree with you, but if you told me how to do my job I'd suggest the same thing :P