Is No 5 Jim Hopkins?
A well connected birdie has whispered to me, that the mystery number five candidate on ACT’s list may be Jim Hopkins.
I have no first hand knowledge of the accuracy of this, but if true would be a plus for ACT. Hopkins certainly seems to be close to ACT politically, and has always had a fairly strong political interest. He has been the MC for the policy focused Sounds Symposium for many years.
He would be one of the few people who could genuinely increase the party vote for a party, based on his profile. And if he did become an MP, the debating chamber would become a far funnier place to listen to.
So it will be interesting if it is true. And good for ACT if it is, in my opinion.
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Tags: ACT, Jim Hopkins
August 20th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
A very clever move this would be, shame National never managed to secure Michael Jones as he would have come close to rolling someone in the wild west.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Krystal will be disappointed
August 20th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
“Is Number 5 Jim Hopkins?”
Could be. Seems like a prerequisite to being in government is a comedian in the ranks.
NZ first have Luigi.
Labour have Tizard.
Greens have Wussell.
UF have two!
August 20th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
I like Jim very much. A good funny man, but hard hitting. I regard his column on the Kahuis as one of the few great NZ political op-ed columns.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Regardless, it’s a good way to keep the voters interested in your list, to see who the Mystery Guest is. Seems to be a bit of theatre involved here, and unveiling Hopkins at the end of it will be a bit of a coup.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I just asked him and he said, “That’s news to me.” Take from that what you will.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Keeping the fifth slot open is a clever piece of showmanship, which the public will quickly forget but the media will watch with interest.
I guess it means the ACT party gets two lots of media coverage on their list, assuming number 5 is someone of impressive calibre.
I am surprised Kenneth Wang is contesting Botany. He might be popular with the Chinese community, but is he popular enough to get past a resurgent National and a well known Pansy Wong? I doubt that, though if Chinese voters are all tribal and choose Wang instead of Pansy, then he could well do it. Labour have selected some no hoper, so it could well be an ACT vs National stoush like Epsom in 2005.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Pansy Wong gets in either way. If the Asian vote is a) loyal to other Asians (because we all know the Chinese, Japanese etc get on great!!) and b) enough to swing the electorate, then it may well be possible. Also puts paid to that idiot here the other day claiming an 80K bribe to get Wang high on the list…
August 20th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Jim Hopkins would be an inspiring and extraordinary candidate for ACT. Here is hoping the rumour is true. New Zealand needs all the ACT MP’s it can get inside parliament. Where else is talent for the next government going to come from?
August 20th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
More like number 5 had a big dark secret which they only found out at the last minute.
Quick scramble to find someone else, anybody else
The idea that 99.9% of the public would care that there was a secret at number 5 for gods sake!.
Number two maybe.
The spot is unwinnable why would anybody want to be a two time loser
August 20th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
homepaddock your not a journo are you?
Did you think to simply ask…. are you on the list? (ok you did that one)
Or… have you been asked to be on the list?
Or… would you like to be on the list?
Or… Are you number 5??? (mmm, smell so good Jim)
Or… Out with it Jim, Rodney thinks your glasses are hot and wants you in his party friends?
Or… Jimmy, it’s to late to hide, Mr Farrar in his new uniform is going to out you!!
Or… Thanks for your answer Jim (to #1) you will do well in the house, sure you’re not joining NZF?
August 20th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
I doubt that ghostwhowalks2. If there was a ‘big dark secet’ with #5 then ACT could have bumped everyone up one list place…Would have been an easy option.
#5 could be electable depending on who is put in it. Like Don or Ruth? (I can dream!)
August 20th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
How many stand-up comedians from Christchurch are going to be involved with ACT this election? We’ve already got Aaron Keown, myself and now of course Jim Hopkins. It makes sense, he was our “impartial observer” at candidates and campaigners training. Also, Canterbury’s highest ranked candidate from last election, Jo Giles, tried to get him to stand for her local body ticket, City Vision at last year’s local body elections. Incidentally, Aaron Keown is City Vision’s only elected rep.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
If Jim Hopkins is the kind of star-candidate ACT have up their sleave, they’re more irrelevant that even I’d thought. As much as I genuinely like him, it’d be like when NZF rolled in Shadbolt.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Michaels – I’m a journo by training, a bitser in practice. We had a long discussion in which I asked several questions, one of which was if I could quote him. He replied I could quote him saying “Gosh that’s news to me”.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:47 am
I think Jim would be great, if it’s indeed him. Mind you, I think I said the same thing about Deborah Coddington, and for that matter, Bill English before he became National Leader. I don’t think it’s often possible to tell an Apirana Ngata from an Alamein Kopu until you chuck them in there and leave them to sink or swim.
However, if justice is to be served, #5 should be occupied by Lindsay Mitchell. The Board is mad if they think they can insult her, and us with anything other than a single digit position for her. It’s a complete disgrace.
August 21st, 2008 at 10:04 am
You have to admire ghost whotalkscrap. He’s NEVER afraid to publicly demonstrate how really stupid he is.
Finest advertising money can buy. Question is which party has to declare him as an expense because while he thinks hes working for lairbour hes doing a bang up job for Key.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:40 am
There’s another comedian on the ACT list — Clint Heine!! Bloody hell, they must be desperate.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Jim Hopkins would be superb. As a previous attendee to the Summer Sounds Symposium David referred to, Jim was an excellent MC. He is a deep thinker, well informed, very eloquent and can turn on a twist of humour at every turn.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:23 pm
It is certainly an interesting notion, considering the large blood red glasses in full comical twist on issues such as constitution and social productivity. I doubt it though. I don’t think he is a liar by nature, although instead hopefully he would (point observed homepaddock), (for once and at long last) bring the parody and fiction of parliament, its false sovereignty and the plastic Monarchy to the public’s attention with sense, applause and humour.
Saying this though, I am sure he’s as likely to forget about dads, and their education and support as being the obvious answer to society’s ills: Just like everyone else tends to want to forget.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:51 pm
The man us an up-himself clown. He would suit what ACT has become admirably.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:19 pm
The latest is that they are searching for a guy under 40.
Thats right Hopkins would too old.
Since number one is male number 2 is female, then there is the old white haired guy, then the next one has to have a vagina so that leaves 5th spot for someone with natural hair on their head and a penis ( unless theres a Clintonesque third way)
August 21st, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Hopkins is 62!! Born 1948
Clever trick to use ‘young’ glasses to make him appear younger
August 21st, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Ah the return of the ghost.
So far we have been reminded that Ghost is 1) Sexist 2) Ageist 3) Racist and 4) Ghost thinks it is fun to laugh at those who need glasses.
He also confirms that the pinkos opinion of somebody totally depends on their politics, if Ghost had heard a whisper about Hopkins being prepared to run for a political party but was not sure what party it was going to be for he would have had two responses all sorted out depending on what side Hopkins decided to support.
Response 1,
Jim will make a great addition to the Labour caucus, I can just see him making mince meat of the Nat’s in the debating chamber and that well known baby eater John “rich prick” Key in particular.
Jim has a long history of socialist struggle and has waged a never ending war against corporate corruption and the exploitation of the worker
Response 2,
Hopkins is 62!! Born 1948
Clever trick to use ‘young’ glasses to make him appear younger.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
ACT is the party giving list spots based on ageism sexism.
Im happy for them to have Hopkins at number 5 or 55 , doesnt worry me.
The headline said they are looking for ‘young guy’ not me.
Act seeking young blood for list spot says NZherald
Got your tits in a tangle again ‘big blowhard’
August 21st, 2008 at 7:01 pm
God that was way too easy.
I guess thats what a raw nerve looks like folks.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I just had botched root canal done so you no sweat BB.
Must have been an ACT dentist
August 21st, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Probably was Ghost, they can tell when a patient is a sponging socialist or not.
First of all they have no dental cover, teeth covered in plaque, a mouth full of fillings and the first question they ask is can I get this done on ACC.
I hope the good man also went light on the anesthetic.
All that does not excuse the fact that I have obviously hit a raw nerve with my comments on how you view somebody like Hopkins, I suspect that you had him pegged as a out and out pinko and you were devastated to find that the man is a lot smarter than that, that devastation is obvious by the way you reacted so strongly.
Never mind Ghost, you had better get used to that feeling of loss and disappointment as you are in for a hell of a lot more.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:37 pm
“I suspect that you had him pegged as a out and out pinko ”
pleeeese!
I have allways known him as a ruling class boot licker
August 21st, 2008 at 8:40 pm
No. 5 is Steve Crow.Hes Liberal and sticks it right up the prune faced moralising moronity wankers that infest this septic little shithole of a country.
Go Steve!
August 21st, 2008 at 8:54 pm
James – buy a plane ticket, one way to anywhere away from NZ.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Sushi Goblin says at 8:54 pm:
Well that’s appears to be Labour’s main election strategy for the last nine years. But having once migrated, people are still free to vote for ACT in the upcoming election and as an added bonus, boot Hels out of office.
I think it will be Hels buying a one way ticket (At taxpayer’s expense) after 8 November.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:55 pm
If it is Jim he might have to give up his red glasses
http://www.kiwipolemicist.wordpress.com
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:41 am
# Sushi Goblin (253) Add karma Subtract karma –1 Says:
August 21st, 2008 at 8:54 pm
James – buy a plane ticket, one way to anywhere away from NZ.
Whats the matter kiddo….telling it like it is upsetting you? ….aww diddums!