Dim-Post on why Clark isn’t losing it
Some people have suggested that Helen Clark is losing it, with his smear this morning against the Serious Fraud Office. Danyl at the Dim-Post though has a more logical explanation:
At first glance the Prime Ministers allegation that the Serious Fraud Office is in league with the National Party – for which she has not a shred of proof – suggests that she has joined her former foreign minister for a stroll in the gloomy sunless woods of paranoid delusion.
I mean it is extraordinary to have the Prime Minister accuse the SFO of actively working against her Government.
I don’t think the PM is losing it – I think she’s partly throwing shit in the hope that some of it sticks but I also think Clark assumes that the SFO staff abuse their authority to empower their friends and destroy their enemies through leaks and political theater because that’s what she would do if she ran the department. The notion that these public servants carry out their investigations with integrity and diligence without turning them into a savage partisan farce is simply unimaginable to her.
I wouldn’t want to argue that Danyl is necessairly wrong!
September 1st, 2008 at 1:42 pm
It still adds up to shes losing it.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I think it makes complete sense… sure, she’s questioning the independence of the SFO, which is, as you say, extraordinary. But the average voter isn’t going to think that. If they’re inclined to think National are dodgy, all they’ll hear is “National is dodgy” and they won’t think it’s unusual for the PM to be making these kinds of accusations. She is very good at appearing sincere.
Labour are focussing on shoring up their base, and sowing as much fear as possible about National. It doesn’t matter if they lose a few votes from people who know what they’re up to.. they’ve lost them all long ago. If they were further ahead in the polls they’d have to tone it down, but they’re not, so they won’t. It’ll only get nastier from here, because shit-throwing works, and they’ve got nothing else.
September 1st, 2008 at 2:04 pm
This is what happens when you judge others by your own low standards.
September 1st, 2008 at 2:19 pm
IMHO the reason for Clarks outburst is that she sent H2 to give Liddell his riding instructions and unlike her favorite Police Commissioner Big Howie who rolls over for her Liddell told H2 to piss off.
Reason Liddell has enough evidence on the Scampi affair to put Luigi away Forget the Jones and Vela stuff Thats small change.
LIddell knows that if he can put Luigi away he wont have to deal with H1 and H2 after election 08 and that the Nats support keeping the SFO functioning and may increase its resources to start to tackle the so far untouched cases that need looking at.
Clarks got the PC on Thursday and the likelihood that Luigi will go inside for a spell of porridge hence she most certainly is losing it and big time.
Suddenly on a week shes gone from having a surplus of coalition partners to just the Greens and Jimbo
the Nats on the other hand now have ACT the Maoris and Dunny if they need them.
September 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
DPF:”I wouldn’t want to argue that Danyl is necessairly (sic) wrong!”
Faint praise, DPF, faint praise! That well-said effort by Danyl deserves better.
September 1st, 2008 at 3:44 pm
First there was the loudmouth domineering WILLIAMS QC. trying to intimidate the SFO by claiming he would produce his set of books which would clear the allegations up in five minutes.
Then CLARK publicly stated that she EXPECTED the SFO to clear the matter up quickly.
Now we have her stating without any evidence that the SFO leaked material to National…She clearly thinks that the example she gave when she underhandedly leaked lies to the DOM in order to provide grounds to dismiss Police Commissioner Peter DOONE would be followed by others in positions of Absolute Power.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Dead right DF. It is a known truth that we attribute other people with our own ethics. Therefore, an honest man assumes others are honest while a corrupt man ‘knows’ others are just as corrupt. QED: HC is corrupt!
September 2nd, 2008 at 6:35 am
I’m with gazzaj – this is Clark playing to her base. She’s also playing offence in advance of Glenn’s and her appearance before the PC. If 2-3% of voters stick by Labour because Clark sows seeds of doubt as to the motivations of the SFO then politically that blunts the likely loss of support over her tardiness in dealing with Peters and her sitting on the Glenn donation revelation.