Editorials on first 100 days
Both The Press and the ODT review the first 100 days. The Press says:
In reality the Government has ticked off most, if not all, of its promises about what it would do in its 100 days of action.
About half a dozen of these pledges have been in the law and order area, including the introduction to Parliament of high-profile feel-good measures to tighten parole for repeat violent offenders and to curb the drug trading by gangs. But the Government has also made good on its vows to pass its tax package, introduce a bill to reform the Resource Management Act, review state sector spending and pass a relief package for those made redundant. In addition, it has honoured health and education promises, including the voluntary bonding system for teachers, doctors, nurses and certain other medical staff.
For good measure it has repealed Labour’s perfidious Electoral Finance Act, which was one of the most undemocratic laws passed in recent New Zealand history.
And we must remain vigilant against future attempts.
The ODT:
The progress to date, however, shows a Government with impressive energy and a single-minded focus that belies Mr Key’s easy-going manner.
I remember all those on the left proclaiming Clark would destroy Key in the campaign, and how even if he won he would be a weak and vacuous Prime Minister. They seem to have gone quiet.
For it is the Opposition that seems frozen in the headlights of the looming economic juggernaut.
In times of imminent crisis, conventional wisdom requires a degree of national unity and in meeting this expectation the Labour Party in particular has appeared unremarkable.
The news of Helen Clark’s application to a top United Nations post and rumours of Michael Cullen’s possible early departure cannot have helped.
But it should also be noted that the country seems genuinely to be enjoying the change from the managerialism of Miss Clark to the affability of Mr Key.
This has put Labour Party leader Phil Goff in a difficult position, reflected in the party’s terrible recent polls: damned if they do rail against policies, many of which do not differ hugely from their own, and damned if they don’t.
Mr Goff also suffers by the closeness of his association with Miss Clark, and a similar personality: a highly competent politician, but lacking the easy charisma of the prime minister.
Goff is highly competent. But different skills are needed as a Minister and as Opposition Leader. He needs to stop lecturing the Government on what he would do if it was him.
March 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I remember all those on the left proclaiming Clark would destroy Key in the campaign, and how even if he won he would be a weak and vacuous Prime Minister. They seem to have gone quiet.
Sounds perilously close to gloating there… which would be just about as bad as what you are criticising, wouldn’t it?
[DPF: Pointing out that all the lies people spread about Key, turned out to be false, is hardly gloating. Sounds like it is a bit tender for you]
March 1st, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Phil-in is proving himself to be nothing but w whiner and whinger (such as we have come to expect from the left). Phil-in has nothing to contribute and him and his party are now irrelevant.
Thanks to Clark’s absolute domination of the Labour Party, they have no one who is capable of leading (something Clark made sure of during her tenure) and as one comentator said- the next Labour Prime Minister is not even yet in parliament.
Key and National are off to a great start and I am positive about the future with this very talanted cabinet.
March 1st, 2009 at 5:32 pm
DPF wrote:
Not only has he been a strong, decisive leader, John has dispelled the myth that is Helen Clark.
All the media driven bluster about HC’s international expertise & finely honed political management really counts for nothing & was really only a front for the gaping hole in her economic knowledge.
March 1st, 2009 at 5:32 pm
“Sounds perilously close to gloating there” and of course those of your ilk Ratbiter wouldn’t have a gloating bone in their bodies, give me a break. If you noddy’s had won the last election gloating would now be a recognised sport.
March 1st, 2009 at 5:39 pm
I don’t see goff as highly competent, he has no real life skills, has never been anything other than a political mechanic, you surely need to have spent a reasonable portion of your life in the private working sector, aka John Key.
I think goffs claim to working life fame may have been an after school job in an abattoir.
He needs to realise that his party lost.
ratbiter, you know what DPF says is correct, that is why over the last week we have seen an invasion of you and your trolling mates, very good news polls such as the country has just experienced hurt you trolls don’t they?
Add to this that hardly a soul reads the stranded, so you MUST come here to disrupt, as this is where the crowds gather, to enjoy the sweet taste of victory.
March 1st, 2009 at 5:59 pm
lofty – I have said on numerous occasions that in spite of my left-voting background I have been impressed by Key’s style and his actions so far. Surely that is not an impossibly sophisticated political viewpoint for you to try to understand?
You need to learn that if someone disagrees with X, it means they disagree with X. It does not necessarily mean they disagree with the whole National/Act/whatever manifesto; that is only your assumption and unless you enjoy arguing past someone it is unhelpful to create pigeon-holes of your own for everyone around you.
Or do you prefer the black-and-white “you’re either with us or you’re against us” kind of mob-mentality that the more extreme screaming nutbars on here constantly extol?
March 1st, 2009 at 6:21 pm
“Goff is highly competent. But different skills are needed as a Minister and as Opposition Leader. He needs to stop lecturing the Government on what he would do if it was him.”
But that’s just it.. he patently wouldn’t do what he’s saying now.. and everyone knows it.
JC
March 1st, 2009 at 8:23 pm
No No rat you do not ever tell me what I need to learn, I have been where you are and moved on.
I know you are a troll, I know that you re a bit like Douglas, Prebble, Clark & co. Hijackers of thought & of principle.
Like I always say rat..you cannot con a conner. or bullshit a bullshitter.
I know you and your kind.
By the way what about my comment on your ratshit leader, on the mark or not?
March 1st, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Lofty: “I know you are a troll…”
Lofty, I have tried to stay on topic with you. If you’re not interested in having a civilised discussion, well I can’t really understand why you bother coming on here to be honest! Also please note how I have done you the courtesy of correctly using your logon name and not some scatological corruption of it.
DPF: “Sounds like it is a bit tender for you”
Wrong – I do not recall being involved in any of the smears around Key, or being convinced by any of them. I thought my 5:59pm on this thread would have made this pretty clear. I have told you via private e mails what I do for a living and it has nothing to do with the Labour party or any sort of politics.
March 1st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
I love the smell of napalm in the morning!!
It smells like Victory!!
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 am
and as one comentator said- the next Labour Prime Minister is not even yet in parliament.
I’ll be happy when it’s;
“The next Labour Prime Minister’s grandparents haven’t been born yet.”