It seems to me that whatever Luxon says or doesn't say the right voter doesn't care. Nat's terrible management won't impact on them just on the 'bottom feeders'. So far National's campaign is very Trumpian - be outrageous, lie, half truths, talk loudly, talk over every interviewer, repeat a few key phrases, appeal to the voters' prejudices.
he is so not as good as John Key at fudging the issues while coming across as everyone's benevolent uncle. More like a marshmallow toasting in the heat. but maybe going to the bench wouldnt help them because their policies are wretched and indefensible. i just had a look at their housing growth policy. It was obviously written by property developers wanting to reduce their costs (e.g. cost of land) and bribing councils to help property developers do more. And have private funders of infrastructure which property developers will probably invest in for a return. If only we had a media that cared to let us know about the wretched consequences...
Having a Plan B would indicate you have a half decent Plan A. Plan A is falling apart. When Jenna and Claire start questioning National and Luxon there is something very unusual going on. During the Q&A Luxon initially talked about the 32 page plan, then later in the interview it became a 30 page plan. If you go on their website there is a 28 page plan. Which one is it. Sounds pretty basic stuff to get wrong. Getting stuff wrong seems to be a fine art at planet National. Perhaps pages with too much information the the public might be interested in are getting shredded??? Love Darrens analysis and his little ditty - very clever and so very apt. Cheers Nick - enjoyed your post on this today.
I am going to be really clear with you and what I am saying to you is this, National are deceptive and outright liars! Luxon is not up to the task of being a Prime Minister and his party he represents are not people I want to be running the country.
Kia ora Nick. What the weekend has revealed in even starker terms is how badly this country will fare with a National Act NZ First coalition. Any two of these is a guaranteed coalition of chaos with policies so abhorrent they defy belief. Add to this a PM who is so out of his depth that he will back pedal on anything demanded of him because all he wants is the title. Is this an Aotearoa we want?? Not me and I hope and pray not a majority of voters either.
I'm hoping, (but not overly optimistic) with Seymour's assertion that, unless ACT are given full partnership in government they will only support National on matters of confidence & not supply, that a big-arse DANGER! DANGER! alarm starts ringing in people's heads. I know, for some people, this won't matter at all, and is the best of both worlds, but for others loitering on the blue edges, maybe it will frighten them out of camp and back towards the left. All those egos fighting for being in power? How friggin unstable and frightening is that! All those National patsy promises? They don't stack up under scrutiny now, but imagine being in government and having your 'partner' hang out your dirty laundry. DANGER!! DANGER!! WILL ROBINSON!!!!
"Like the first term MP that he is." Exactly! Being John Key's mate and looking a bit like him, isn't quite enough to cover the fact that he barely knows what he is doing.
It was a baffling display...starting off with full confidence that he will not be questioned deeply on anything...and then when questions come, and a non-answer won't suffice, red-faced and blustering but still not actually answering anything. I was glad he got questioned instead of high-fived for once...but really, how does anyone think that was acceptable?
It seems to me that whatever Luxon says or doesn't say the right voter doesn't care. Nat's terrible management won't impact on them just on the 'bottom feeders'. So far National's campaign is very Trumpian - be outrageous, lie, half truths, talk loudly, talk over every interviewer, repeat a few key phrases, appeal to the voters' prejudices.
Spot on Mary.
he is so not as good as John Key at fudging the issues while coming across as everyone's benevolent uncle. More like a marshmallow toasting in the heat. but maybe going to the bench wouldnt help them because their policies are wretched and indefensible. i just had a look at their housing growth policy. It was obviously written by property developers wanting to reduce their costs (e.g. cost of land) and bribing councils to help property developers do more. And have private funders of infrastructure which property developers will probably invest in for a return. If only we had a media that cared to let us know about the wretched consequences...
That benevolent uncle pretty soon became the very creepy uncle.
If you say K O instead of Kainga Ora confidently several times, that means you are on top of the entire situation.
Excellent work from Jack Tame. He actually is a journalist.
This is why the televised leaders debates will possibly decide the election, if Luxon does the same vs Chippy .. it won't end well .
Fingers crossed
Having a Plan B would indicate you have a half decent Plan A. Plan A is falling apart. When Jenna and Claire start questioning National and Luxon there is something very unusual going on. During the Q&A Luxon initially talked about the 32 page plan, then later in the interview it became a 30 page plan. If you go on their website there is a 28 page plan. Which one is it. Sounds pretty basic stuff to get wrong. Getting stuff wrong seems to be a fine art at planet National. Perhaps pages with too much information the the public might be interested in are getting shredded??? Love Darrens analysis and his little ditty - very clever and so very apt. Cheers Nick - enjoyed your post on this today.
I am going to be really clear with you and what I am saying to you is this, National are deceptive and outright liars! Luxon is not up to the task of being a Prime Minister and his party he represents are not people I want to be running the country.
Kia ora Nick. What the weekend has revealed in even starker terms is how badly this country will fare with a National Act NZ First coalition. Any two of these is a guaranteed coalition of chaos with policies so abhorrent they defy belief. Add to this a PM who is so out of his depth that he will back pedal on anything demanded of him because all he wants is the title. Is this an Aotearoa we want?? Not me and I hope and pray not a majority of voters either.
I'm beginning to believe the words of Patrick Gower.
National was "just going to bluff and bluster their way through their jiggery pokery and hope that Kiwis don't understand and don't care", Gower said.
"I tell you what their tactic is, it's: 'Keep going... we'll just say we're going to do it and we reckon we will just get through'."
If you tell a person something often enough they will believe it. Trump demonstrated that !!
But isn't he wonderful at goofing around playing the part of a swashbuckling pirate.
Rather like John Key's planking..pointless.
I'm hoping, (but not overly optimistic) with Seymour's assertion that, unless ACT are given full partnership in government they will only support National on matters of confidence & not supply, that a big-arse DANGER! DANGER! alarm starts ringing in people's heads. I know, for some people, this won't matter at all, and is the best of both worlds, but for others loitering on the blue edges, maybe it will frighten them out of camp and back towards the left. All those egos fighting for being in power? How friggin unstable and frightening is that! All those National patsy promises? They don't stack up under scrutiny now, but imagine being in government and having your 'partner' hang out your dirty laundry. DANGER!! DANGER!! WILL ROBINSON!!!!
"Like the first term MP that he is." Exactly! Being John Key's mate and looking a bit like him, isn't quite enough to cover the fact that he barely knows what he is doing.
Omg watching now, he knew he was totally getting owned.
It was a baffling display...starting off with full confidence that he will not be questioned deeply on anything...and then when questions come, and a non-answer won't suffice, red-faced and blustering but still not actually answering anything. I was glad he got questioned instead of high-fived for once...but really, how does anyone think that was acceptable?
As far as I can remember, the worst interview ever from a wannabe PM!
Great column Nick - thank you.
Luxon makes butthead look intelligent.
Luxon is "reinstating the incentives that lead to the (housing) problem" (Tame, 2023) by pushing it back on 'ky-an-Ga oi-ra'.
Luxon still hasn't learned the other official language of Aotearoa-nz.
Luxon still doesn't understand NZ politics.
This is the first of many debates that expose luxon as a nasty, angry Tory.
National are not fit to govern.