Comments on: Helen Clark valedictory speech

By: OECD rank 22 kiwi

OECD rank 22 kiwi — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:03:54 +0000

Regime change is complete.

Mission Accomplished.

By: Dazzaman

Dazzaman — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:46:04 +0000

All in all I think Dr. Michael BASSETT summed up her main achievement,” She changed the Labour Party from a Party for the Workingman to a party for the Strident Woman.”

Bassett’s a professional curmudgeon. It’s interesting that it’s all those people that turfed him out that are such bastards. Odd coincidence.

But he’s right Paul. LOL

Handle it.

By: Dazzaman

Dazzaman — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:42:46 +0000

Hopefully this is the last we hear from commie Klark. Good riddance.

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:39:55 +0000

All in all I think Dr. Michael BASSETT summed up her main achievement,” She changed the Labour Party from a Party for the Workingman to a party for the Strident Woman.”

Bassett’s a professional curmudgeon. It’s interesting that it’s all those people that turfed him out that are such bastards. Odd coincidence.

By: baxter

baxter — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:59:48 +0000

DEMOCRACY MUM:………..In adding up what she has cost us you omit to add on the $100 million in excess payments to the United Nations Development Fund which secured her current position as it’s head.

All in all I think Dr. Michael BASSETT summed up her main achievement,” She changed the Labour Party from a Party for the Workingman to a party for the Strident Woman.”

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:35:18 +0000

I am trying to make the point that sooner or later, there needs to be some differentiation made between this government and the last one. What with the fawning over Klark after the way she treated Brash, the appointment of Kullen, the sucking up to the Greens, National risk being seen as just Labour, a gang of crooks and cronyists, in a new suit.

Red, I fear you’ve got a disappointment on the horizon. This government will not likely be nearly different enough to make you happy. Honestly, I don’t think any could. My comprehension isn’t lacking, your sense of proportion needs recalibration however.

By: bwakile

bwakile — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:52:10 +0000

Didn’t waste my time listening to or reading her speech.
The fact that it was her last was the only point worthy of any interest.
Bring on Cullen’s.

By: burt

burt — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:19:08 +0000

Dear Leader which art heading to NY
Helen be thy name
Thy Deputy Directorship has come
Thy will be done in the UN as it were in NZ
Give us this day our daily rebuilding
And forgive us our transgressions when we spend out tax cuts
And never lead us again into the policies of envy
But deliver us by leaving
For thine was the period of most lost opportunity for ever and ever amen.

By: enough rope

enough rope — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:56:22 +0000

your rhetoric and worldview exactly mirror that of the hard left.”
And just like Stalin, a raving mother’s boy. Spooky.

By: Haiku Dave

Haiku Dave — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:37:43 +0000

forgive them helen
for they know not what they do
or say, most of em

By: getstaffed

getstaffed — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:24:56 +0000

The era of the politics of envy is over?

OECD, on hold perhaps… but not over. While there is an identifiable underclass in NZ, they will be manipulated by those socialists who are empowered by keeping those people both poor and dependent on the state for their miserable existences. Helen Clark was masterful at cultivating this power base. Others will follow. Sadly.

By: burt

burt — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:22:39 +0000

3-coil

It was great wasn’t it. Sublimely subtle.

By: burt

burt — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:19:56 +0000

OECD rank 22 kiwi

Yes, finally. Now we can start to celebrate success again. Both are out but only one has left the building. Next.

By: OECD rank 22 kiwi

OECD rank 22 kiwi — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:13:22 +0000

The era of the politics of envy is over?

By: 3-coil

3-coil — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:09:50 +0000

Getstaffed (8:13) – LOL worth 10 karmas that one!

By: OECD rank 22 kiwi

OECD rank 22 kiwi — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:23:32 +0000

Helen Clark becomes other people’s problem now.

By: Ed Snack

Ed Snack — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:14:56 +0000

Yes, I think Calendar girl has the best take. For me, that speech represents much of Clark, essentially souless, echoing her relentless driving passion to garner and use power personally for her own satisfaction. It was an empty speech, and given her previous behaviour, received far better than she deserved. I think it will be trotted out as an example by those too shallow to see what was really behind it, a vacuum of intellect without feeling, of a lust for power that soured and ultimately belittled her personally. It goes through the motions but doesn’t engage.

The UN is the right place, then, for Helen Clark. A place so mired in its own form of power without responsibility, of corruption on a scale both so petty yet so vast and all encompassing, she will fit right in. She will enjoy the illusion and the trappings of power, make a good deal of money, and yet have zero tangible effect on anything in this world remotely comnnected to people’s wellbeing or prosperity.

By: calendar girl

calendar girl — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:50:30 +0000

Helen Clark’s valedictory was a disappointment. It lacked a “sense of occasion” in that:
- it was delivered in predominantly down-tone style;
- despite containing many “thank you”s, it was surprisingly self-congratulatory;
- there was an almost complete absence of humour;
- aspirations for NZ’s future were not evident;
- the speech lacked any call for national unity in meeting future challenges.

For me, Ms Clark’s address encapsulated neatly the political principles and ambitions for NZ of our former Prime Minister. She came across as personally ambitious, dedicated to defined social causes, incredibly hardworking, intelligent, not particularly tolerant of opposing views, not strong on humility, and strangely aloof from what I would regard as the ideals of ordinary New Zealanders. While her political faithful will isolate a number of her statements that they consider worthy of quotation in future years, my overall conclusion was that the valedictory was far from noteworthy or memorable.

By: democracymum

democracymum — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:26:38 +0000

THE REAL COST OF HELEN CLARK

As Helen rides off into the sunset I did a little maths
27 years, (9 as PM) and wondered what did her time
in parliament really cost us as a country.
I guess for about 19 years she earned approximately $100K
so that’s $1.9 million + 9 years at around $250K – that’s another
$2.25 million
So all in all her 27 years have cost the NZ taxpayer about $4.2 million dollars

Value for money?
Or political pimp, spending 27 years prostituting the NZ taxpayer?

By: tvb

tvb — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:24:11 +0000

She played her end game with great skill and professionalism and will serve as a model of exemplary behavior. This was not always present in her career where petty small mindedness was present. But never mind that, she leaves as a true pro’ and I admire her for that.