Not even a hint of contrition
October 29th, 2006 at 12:49 pm by David FarrarA One News Colmar Brunton poll has found 49% of NZers say their trust in Labour has dropped due to the election spending scandal, including 28% of Labour’s own voters/supporters.
In her conference speech she referred to the Auditor-General’s findings as a “dodgy refereeing call made against a sports team”.
It is amazing that Labour still insist than an *election* pledge card which is the *centerpiece* of their election campaign is not an election expense. This is a detachment from reality which is bizarre.
The better sports analogy is that you’re a sports team that has a history of playing dirty. The previous two matches your foul balls were not seen by the referee and the linesman missed them also. This match, despite warnings before the match, your team went out and did the same foul again. The linesman and the referees are all in total agreement it is a foul. So do most of your own fans.
Yet you still blame the ref, not the team.
Related posts:
- Labour MPs not taking the hint
- Previous pledge card funding
- National amendment to remove exemption for MPs
- Heath Ledger
October 29th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
Not only is she blaming the ref, she also expects the fans to pay at least half the penalty. Helen Clark and her cabinet benefited financially (not to mention the benefit of being the government) and should pay ALL the money back – not expect the party to stump up.
I actually think the same about National. The $10-11K that was spend illegally should have been paid the individual MPs concerned – not the party.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Must trust in Labour hasn’t dropped in the slightest over this matter.
Zero is zero and thats all the dial goes to.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
This state of delusion will not help Labour. An ounce of contrition (we stuffed up and we are sorry and we will pay it back) would have got them a pound of political support. They are gambling that a sports analogy will ring better with the public but I do not think so. So they change?? the story again and see if that works. Too late now and an absolute gift for National. But National needs to get the perception of the mexican stand-off over the Leadership settled by the new year at the latest.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Not content with blaming the ref, they then retrospectively change the game rules.
I guess it would get the foul player of a red card, wonder what Darnton would say about that?
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Re the standoff, how about this for something radical…
Brash and Key reach an agreement whereby Brash leads the party to victory at the next election with Key confirmed as the deputy and heir apparent. Brash agrees to lead for one term thereafter handing leadership to Key. And all this is in the public domain.
Might make for an interesting (and constructive) alternative to the dagger-in-the-back leadership politics we’ve been used to. Might also be stupidly idealistic.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
This joke reminds me of Labour’s excuse that they used Parliamentary Service funds for their blatant election advertising in previous campaigns, so they tried it again in 2005:
Two hunters decide to go moose hunting in Canada. They hire an airplane to drop them off in a remote region. The pilot drops them off and tells them: “I’ll be back in one week. No more than one moose – got it?”
One week passes, and the pilot returns. The hunters have two moose. The pilot says: “Hey, I told you guys no more than one moose.” One of the hunters replies: “Look the pilot told us the same thing last year and we gave him a *big* tip to take both moose out.” The three of them argue for several minutes more. The pilot gives up and agrees to take both moose. Well, they load up the moose and fire up the plane.
The plane shudders and strains trying to take off. It finally gets the wheels off the ground 5 feet, 10 feet…. Whoops! It runs out of runway and smashes into a tree. The two hunters, dazed and confused make there way out of the wreckage. One hunter looks at the other and says: “Where the Hell are we?” The other looks around and replies: “About 100 yards further than we got last year!”
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 4:00 pm
It is Andrew. Deals about leadership are pie crust promises – made to be broken. Witness Blair-Brown or Howard-Costello, or Keating-Hawke. Besides they have that hint of arrogance about them – how can two people make a deal over the leadership.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
Tim Barley said “They are gambling that a sports analogy will ring better with the public “.
Agreed. Kind of ironic though because Dear Hell-on doesn’t particularly like sports.
Andrew said “Brash and Key reach an agreement whereby Brash leads the party to victory”.
They may already have such an agreement & would be the ultimate scenario in my view. Except Jerry can stay on as deputy. Being Finance Minister should be enough to keep John happy.
Vote:The trouble is as far as the media is concerned constant speculation about a leadership challenge generates more headlines.
October 29th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
I know it’s nice to rub salt into the wounds … but they’ve agreed to pay it back, which is a fairly crippling blow for the next election. How about moving the energy on to challenging Labour on the policy front?
Labour dragged us all into the mire, but they are trying to climb out. Let’s climb out of it too. Yes, the electorate should be reminded at the next election. Meanwhile, let’s get some positivity back into NZ politics.
Bloggers can debate policy you know. The contest of ideas on the web can help to set the agenda for the next government.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 4:39 pm
You nats are feeding the flames on the leadership debate a lot yourselves. You need to stop it. Its my (uninformed) view that Key’s might be too ego-centric and might take the government too far towards a small faction of big business self interest. You must shore the middle ground at all cost – last chance or I can’t see you guys ever really being in NZ government for a long haul. Just MHO
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Why should we be “amazed” by anything Labour and, in partuicular, Helen says…Appalled and disgusted suggest the greater outrage.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 6:36 pm
I suppose when they are $1.4m (as reported on TV1 Gummint TV tonight) in debt there are problems all over the place – they are going to struggle to pay the existing debt let alone raise money to fight an election they are going to lose (and who would want to support a loser.)
And the liars want to go after the “Christian Vote” – bunch of wankers – no decent Christian is going to support a party that is “led” by the anti-Christian godless hypocrites like Clark, Cullen, Wilson, Hodgson, king, mallard and the rest of the socialists.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 6:43 pm
Hang on … watch what you’re saying mate. I’m an anti-Christian godless hypocrite myself.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
kiwi donkey – i am not sure if you are left or right (i probably should know) but the part i can’t stand is the hyprocracy (but since it is labour – it should be expected)
They attack christains one second and the the next they are trying to get their votes. Amazing the arrogance of the pricks.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
Peter mck: I don’t really like the left/right terms, and try to avoid them. I guess I’m a classic liberal – economically right, socially liberal, keen on promoting wealth through enterprise, individual responsibility and moderate sized governent providing social services.
My (somewhat jocular) comment was really to say that I don’t want to see a strong Christian influence in politics.
I think Labour were attacking the EBs rather than Christians. However, I guess you have a point about the hypocrisy given the radical social agenda Labour have pushed. Pretty standard politics, I suppose. The Nats aren’t really any better.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Actually, Christians (a.k.a. followers of Christ) ought to be pushing a radical social agenda. Christ consorted with outcasts (lepers and prostitutes), urged forgiveness and inclusion, had a radical agenda of empowering the poor. It’s not clear that he ever condemned homosexuality, or unmarried mothers, or people who were somehow ‘not as good’ as the rest of society. Seems to me that a lot of people who claim the title ‘Christian’ aren’t followers of Christ at all.
(BTW, I’m an atheist, about all gods, not just the god of the Christians. I don’t believe in the god of the Christians any more than I believe in Tane, god of the forests.)
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
dfr: Ah, yes. That’s why I said I was anti-christian, not anti-christ! Mind you, Christ also recommended paying your taxes (render unto Caesar …). He was also against the money-changers – does that include John Key?
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 7:53 pm
kiwi-donkey, peter mck has it dead right. we have a party that has stated time and time again that they wish to have no part of religon, there is no GOD.
Vote:I would bet good money that the Dear leader and her henchman are considering praying, nothing else will save their sorry arses.
October 29th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Why do they say still say a prayer to open the bullshit sessions in that meaningless shithouse in that horrible city Wellington ??
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 8:25 pm
Side show Bob – exactly that is my point. Labour are history and not even god will save them. (not that he would want to.
I am a practicing catholic, and I like to think of myself as liberal on most social issues (each to their own – so long as the rights and actions of one person do not impinge on the rights of others (like welfare parastes living off the effort of others, or gays who force their views and opinions down the throats of others) this is often a balancing act.
Labour will not win the votes of the “christian” because of the history – it is nothing more than a desperate attemp to try and garner votes from anywhere they can.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
The Labour Party has stated time and time again that there is no god? I look forward to seeing you provide these statements.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 8:42 pm
How can Labour be considered to be seriously courting the Christian vote when they have passed so much legislation which flies in the face of biblical teaching? Clark et al are grasping at straws on this one. As a Christian myself, I find the EB’s somewhat misguided, but Christians nonetheless – it’s a bit odd that Clark etc can be so dismissive of the EB, then extend the welcome mat to all other Christians! Sorry Helen, prayer is indeed miraculous, but it has to be underpinned by at least a mustard-seed worth of faith!
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
And then there was Helen the Popstar making an appearance on NZ Idol tonight (I was watching under sufferance – really!!!) – did I detect a few boos from the young audience?
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
I attended an enthic celebration in Auckland. Helen was the main guest. During grace, which everone was taking seriously, Helen did not bow her head in any sort of respect but stared around the room with a big smerk on her face. Personally,any credibility she had as a person went out the door that day. She was there for the votes and nothing else.
Vote:She is dreaming if she thinks she can suck up to Christians now. Peter Dunne did that 2 elections ago and last election Christians saw through him and left UF in droves.Even Paul Adams bailed out before the election.
October 29th, 2006 at 9:59 pm
David
In view of where this thread is going I suggest you start a thread on Brash’s excellent speech to the Regional Conference on Saturday.
Read it at
Vote:http://www.national.org.nz/files/Brash-From_the_Cradle_to_the_Jail1.pdf
October 29th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
What Helen may have missed is that you don’t have to be a holy roller in order to appeal to Christian voters. In fact I’d much rather vote for an honourable person of high integrity who claims no Christian faith whatsoever than I would for someone professing Christianity who is demonstratably lacking in those virtues. And I apply the same measure to whole parties. This makes voting at all pretty difficult!
The Bible says “by their fruit you will know them”. Rather gives me a picture of the Labour Tree, denuded of all fruit which is now rotting in little piles on the ground. The tree has had its season but – who knows – it may produce again sometime in the future.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 10:12 pm
Being a member of the human race would have been close enough
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 10:38 pm
Helen Clark tells another big fat lie in her conference speech.
“The truth is the cards were paid for in the same way they always have been, and to which no exception had been taken before.”
Murray McCully says
So just how did everyone leap to the massively incorrect conclusion that the Labour Party is run by decent, law-abiding individuals who pay their own campaign expenses? Well, the answer is simple. Look at the line at the bottom of Helen Clark’s pledge card brochure in 1999: “This card was paid for and delivered by Labour supporters.”
I very much doubt that Mr McCully is unable to read. That means Clark is a bigger liar than I gave her credit for. I would be most interested in getting a digital copy of that pledge card and will post it when I get it.
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 11:16 pm
So if Helen and Liarbour are turning to God, the question is whose God, as it doesn’t seem to be ours!
Ällah akbar!” might be her next cry, despite Islam’s views on wimmin and gays!
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
So if Helen and Liarbour are turning to God, the question is whose God, as it doesn’t seem to be ours!
Ällah akbar!” might be her next cry, despite Islam’s views on wimmin and gays!
Vote:October 29th, 2006 at 11:48 pm
A retospective law change does not equal a retrospective restoration of respect. Labour is f*@ked.
Vote:October 30th, 2006 at 12:04 am
Re: Helen Clark, the godless politician.
Along with Clark, those who specifically opted NOT to swear on the Bible when taking the oath in Parliament included: Don Brash, John Key, Rodney Hide …
(Source: DPF on Kiwiblog)
No idea what on earth (or in heaven?) this has to do with good government, but evidently the unbelievers come in all political colours.
Vote:October 30th, 2006 at 4:18 am
Andrew Davies
I wholeheartedly agree. This is a stunning and powerful speech that gets to the heart of crime and its causes. Before I left NZ, I chaired a Charitable Trust doing similar work. We took no government money of any type in the work we did helping parents get their teens off drugs because our techniques (with a 90% success rate) did not confirm with the prevailing harm minimisation philosophy. Had we been funded with even a fraction of the money wasted on ineffective programmes, we could’ve dramatically expanded the effectiveness of our work.
Vote:October 30th, 2006 at 8:31 pm
DFR, you said:
“Actually, Christians (a.k.a. followers of Christ) ought to be pushing a radical social agenda. Christ consorted with outcasts (lepers and prostitutes), urged forgiveness and inclusion, had a radical agenda of empowering the poor. It’s not clear that he ever condemned homosexuality, or unmarried mothers, or people who were somehow ‘not as good’ as the rest of society. Seems to me that a lot of people who claim the title ‘Christian’ aren’t followers of Christ at all.”
Jesus Christ came with the most inclusive and divisive message ever. He wants (as I do) for all (read: inclusive) to come to know Him as their Lord and Saviour. But by the same token, if you refuse to follow Him as your Lord and Saviour, then (if He exists) you are subject to Him one day (read: divisive). For my part, and I am not perfect at this by any means, I would invite you to investigate the claims that Jesus made in the Bible, and what other people have said about Him [that agree with the Bible]. I believe that you honestly only have heaven to gain and nothing to lose if you follow him.
I am all for consorting my outcasts (I’ve done it myself, but that doesn’t make me perfect) because Jesus asked me to:
“for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”
but I’m also all for adhering to the message that Jesus gave:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”.
It’s a both/and, not an either/or.
Yes, you are definately entitled to ignore the teachings of the Jesus Christ, and even refuse to acknowledge the existince of God. But you are most certainly opening yourself up to correction when you step on territory you don’t believe.
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