Valedictories
September 25th, 2008 at 12:00 pm by David FarrarI’ll put some video up later today,, but for now here are four stories on retiring MPs
While totally respecting her decision, I am still really sad and cut up about Katherine leaving. Katherine would have been a superb Minister and she is just one of the neatest people you can ever get to meet. I have absolutely no desire to work in Parliament again, but if I did I would want to work for Katherine if she had stayed on.
Katherine, Clem and Mark are all from the socially liberal “wing” of National. National’s strength is that blend of conservatism and liberalism. There is a healthy acceptance that National needs both. The “liberals” don’t want to turn National into a conservative free zone, and neither do conservatives want to have National without its blend of liberalism.
The challenge for classical liberals like myself is to make sure the liberal wing is not so small as to be ineffective or invisible. But luckily both the 2005 and the likely 2008 intakes have or had reasonable proportions of “social liberals”.
Tags: classical liberal, Clem Simich, Katherine Rich, Margaret Wilson, Mark Blumsky, National
September 25th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I will personally shoot anybody who starts saying nice things about Wilson just because she is retiring.
The woman is corrupt, hopeless and downright evil, on top of this she is the worst speaker this nation has ever had, she has protected this corrupt govt for the last three years and has let Klark get away with murder in the house.
She is ANOTHER one that will not be missed.
Vote:September 25th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I agree re. Katherine Rich. She is a bit hippy liberal for me
policy wise but is a fantastic and talented MP. I recall in 2002 that the only highlight from a grim result was Katherine Rich sneaking back in on the recount. Her decision is totally understandably but without getting silly about it her family’s gain is her nation(al)’s loss.
Vote:September 25th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
DPF You realise that you will need to provide a translation of liberal and conservatism for the LEFTIES.
They only understand the concepts of Socialism and Communism
Vote:September 25th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
“She is ANOTHER one that will not be missed.”
I’d hope at least a couple of rounds would be on target.
Vote:September 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
BigBruv
Vote:Wilsons valedictory vindictive should read – I fucked up so I’m fucking off to fuck up the brains of the young in the Waikato.
September 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Here Here Big Bruv. I so agree!!
Personally, I’m shocked that Waikato would lower themselves to employeing such a useless cabbage of a person. Good luck the the poor students of Waikato whose fees will go towards this fu**tard’s salary.
Vote:September 25th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
DPF,
I’d be interested in your assessment. Who are the remaining liberals in the party? Finlayson springs to mind. Who else?
Vote:September 25th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Hey himself is somewhat liberal. Maurice. Paula B. Simon P. The Hawkes Bay MPs somewhat. Nicky W. Jo G I’d say.
Vote:September 25th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
what is socially liberal DPF?
Vote:ACT say they are the true liberals and everyone else has highjacked the term, rather like that wonderful old world word, gay.
Terms and meanings are essential to good communication and snafus, so how about it?
September 25th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Bloody hell, if you really want to see what Labour have in store for us over the next three years should they manage to steal another election then have a gander at the crap Maharey is spouting in his valedictory speech.
It is frightening.
Vote:September 25th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
I’ve got a nice thing to say about Margaret Wilson.
Vote:If she’d been a Cabinet Minister she’d have screwed up service delivery somewhere important.
September 25th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
And something else that is a nice thing to say about Margaret Wilson: she resigned.
Vote:September 25th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Of course Margaret Wilson was a minister- I should have said if she’d remained a Cabinet Minister. Still, my point is valid- as Speaker she did less harm than she did as a Minister.
Vote:September 25th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Turpin, there was this from Roger Douglas on being socially liberal
The voting record doesn’t say much for their social liberalism IMHO…
Vote:September 26th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I like the distinctive wings of conservative and Liberal in the National party.
I think if the distinctions were emphasised, Nationals PR campaign would get a real boost.
Nationals problem is still that it has the image left over from the eighties when the ultra conservatives held too much sway in the party and there was no balance.
George Gair, George Chapman and the like did a lot of damge to the parties reputation and that lasted a long time.
Someone above talked about the difference between being liberal and being socialist. That was a stroke of brilliance.
If National gives the impression it has ears, it will receive a voice.
Vote: