Rodney’s week of hell
There’s an old saying – when it rains, it pours. Rodney Hide will will it has poured all week. The SST sums up the week:
Hide is under assault on all fronts – voters, the media and now his government colleagues – after one of his worst weeks in politics.
Hide’s horror seven days has been entirely self-inflicted. First he was publicly exposed as a hypocrite for taking advantage of a perk he once campaigned strongly to abolish: taking his girlfriend, Louise Crome, on a round-the-world trip, visiting London, Toronto, Portland and Los Angeles. He defended it on the grounds that he did not spend as much time as he would like with Crome and that he had to work with the system, even though he disagreed with it.
They cover the jibe about Key, the Hawaii trip etc etc.
Rodney will be kicking himself. There can be little doubt there has been damage to both Rodney’s brand and ACT’s brand.
But when you fuck up, there’s only one response. Learn from the fuck up, buckle down, and get back to work.
I think the National-led Government is all the stronger for the inclusion of both ACT and the Maori Party, despite the tensions that arise from varied personalities, policies and priorities.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:45 am
At least Rodders has taken the heat off the brown motherfucker Hone, unfortunately he will suffer electorally while Hone’s mana has risen amongst his supporters. Such is life when you live in a racist, apartheid heading backwater.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Rodney will be fine. His electorate will still love him – even if the rest of the population (myself inculded) don’t, so ACT will survive.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Rodney = Rortney.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Looks like the details, especialy of the Hawaii Trip ( didnt you go about the same time ?) were leaked from National, as payback.
Couldnt find the post you did a few weeks back about the cost of the wedding ( oops Super City Study ) trip.
The SST is saying this” ..Hide first said the real cost to taxpayers for taking Crome was about $5000 when in fact it cost $12,000. ”
So Hide has been caught out lying ( did he lie to you when you defended him ) and also paying back the hawaii trip on the sly.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
ACT are only in Parliament because Hide won Epsom. Although he got a huge majority last year, previously in 2005 he only beat Richard Worth, the then sitting National MP, by 3000 votes.
I think his unwise spending of taxpayers money for overseas travel whose principle purpose was clearly personal, has the potential for a voter backlash in 2011 that could see ACT out of Parliament altogether if Hide loses Epsom. What a fool he is risking all that for the “baubles of office”.
Winston Peters found out the hard way last year that voters do not easily forgive clearly unacceptable behaviour – even if it is not illegal, maybe Hide is destined to have the same experience. He has two years to redeem himself and save himself and his party from oblivion.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I doubt Hide is particularly hurt by the last week.
Most intelligent people, or at least those without a political cause in opposition to Hide, recognise that the whole thing is simply a slime led beat-up aimed at improving the commynist’s poll showings and (latterly) at taking scrutiny off the racist scum and their waste-of-time apologists.
Having said that Hide is a weakpoint in ACT and should be dropped for a more suitable leader.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
And just around the corner there is a vote on MMP. Carry on Rodney.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
The next MP for Epsom is …… Nikki Kay.
Or will he have to give up his principles to get a weak candidate, a hard ask under nationals selection process
Hides majority will disappear like icecream in the hot sun.
The newspapers will love a ‘Beauty and the Beast’ story lines
November 8th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
If you hadn’t heard of ACT before you sure have noticed it this last week. Now not everyone listens to the socialists and MSM, some actually look beyond that. Like Brash before, the source of this will be close to the National Heart. By the way what has happened to that police inquiry or has it again been stalled in the Finance /dept. Eh???
When are we going to clear this mystery up or is it going to be left to rot like the 87% of voter who voted against the Govt doing nothing about the Smacking Law.
Pretty much the hallmark of this Govt so far.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Leave Rodney alone.
He was “entitled”.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Countess can’t count.
The media continued to maintain that Rodney taking his partner with him on his Ministerial travel cost 25K. They repeated it over and over.
They can’t even read a quarterly expenses return.
I seriously doubt anyone in National “leaked” or otherwise released information regarding any other holiday travel.
No MP’s wants to talk about discounted holiday travel. As Key basically observed on Q&A they are all basically at it.
Can’t see discounted holiday travel entitlements lasting now that one MP has refunded what was is squarely within the rules. The entitlement is becoming unusable.
The MPs will want to make their private holiday travelling their private business.
Key needs to gas it both for current MPs and retired ones. Travel solely for the purposes of holidaying should not be part of the remuneration package of MPs. It should never have been.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Chris , yes the media did say it was $25K, but Hide claimed it was ‘only’ $5k.
He lied to them.
Still looking for DPFs post were he pointed out the cost wasnt $25K, has it fallen ‘between the cracks’
November 8th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
This pisses me off. Roger and Rodney are wealthy people, and the salaries they are paid are more than adequate. Nobody is forcing them to do the job they do, and if they find it encroaches on their personal time, they don’t have to do it. And there are plenty of talented people on that ACT Party list who would be happy to take their places.
Unlike other MPs who have never pretended not to be troughers, these two should apologise, and work with the PM to set a cut-off date for the travel perk. That’s the only thing likely to redeem them in the eyes of voters.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
“The next MP for Epsom is …… Nikki Kay.”
I fucking hope not!, the last thing Epsom needs is a snivelling socialist.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
The last thing any of the electorates need is that but we seem to have a bloody long line up from both major parties that fit that description.
Add the pretty boys and girls that have been snuck into the lineup and it doesn’t look good for NZer’s.
-
November 8th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Association for the Consumption of Taxation?
November 8th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Once Rodney became the ‘perk buster’ he pretty much ruled out ever being able to use the perk himself. I remember at the time he led his crusade on perks that this was pointed out. It’s pretty obvious.
I think the whole thing is a conspiracy to knock out MMP. Many of ACT’s backers are reluctant pollies and ACT was only formed once FFP went out. Without MMP ACT would never have been formed, and to this day a sizable core of ACT’s supporters want to dump MMP.
So there it is – Rodney deliberately undermining MMP – a clever strategy indeed!!
November 8th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I think you will find that Nikki Kaye already has an electorate – Auckland Central – and she will be defending her seat in 2011. Going for a carpet-bagging trip across the Domain would be political suicide for her.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
A see a billboard
One side: Perk Buster
Otherside: Trougher or I did not have perks with that woman
Pay it ALL back Rodney
November 8th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
‘association of consummate troughers’..?
‘association of cant and turpitude’..?
‘association of cynical turncoats’..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
November 8th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
The perkbuster turned out to be a big trougher himself. His credibility is shot for good and his political career is finished.
ACT would do well by inviting him to step aside and selecting a new leader. Out with the dead wood, I say.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
“The next MP for Epsom is …… Nikki Kay.”
More rubbish coming the Epsom way? Hell, no!
November 8th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
and someone else has asked the question:
‘what does rodney drive now..?
surely something larger than that shopping cart he pretended to use..?
during the election campaign..?
you can’t have a decent mid-life crisis..in something like that..eh..?
and..does the lucky young lass get ‘lil’ rodders ..(formerly ‘big rod’) .. to ‘wear his jacket’..?
(if you know what i mean..?..)
(shudder..!..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
November 8th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
National’s strategists will be noting the fall from political grace experienced by Mr Hide. The question of a serious National contender in Epsom in 2011 must be in their minds. The support of a political mess (which is now what ACT looks like) isn’t much help. Then there is the emerging mess that is the Maori Party……. Mr Dunne looks a reasonable bet for now.
November 8th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
There’s really nothing more entertaining than a Grade A midlife crisis being worked through in public.
As my Ma used to say, there’s no fool like an old fool.
November 8th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
has rodders ..’lapsed perk-buster’..joined l.a..?
(lapsed-anonymous)..
does anyone know..?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
November 8th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Hopefully this means the good folk of the Epsom electorate, of which I am one, will have their eyes opened to this deceitful fellow and vote accordingly to dump him in two years time.
It would help if the National party selects a proper candidate in 2011; somebody ‘normal’ for instance.
http://www.nightcitytrader.blogspot.com
November 8th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
‘association of convertible truisms’…?
phil(whoar.co.nz)
November 8th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
What will be even more interesting is how his fellow ACT MPs deal with it. Until now, they only had to deal with the fact that their glorious canary had turned into the pinstripe breasted tit. It was all just mind-boggling stupidity until the small oversight regarding Hawaii. That not only puts an even less flattering and somewhat dodgy complexion on things, but in the light of Rortney’s (thanks Mike S) less than contrite response when this first all popped up, he has now demonstrated that he could have been quite at home in the last Government. Convenient memory lapses in the face of this sort of public pressure just don’t seem too convincing somehow.
If they are indeed the party of principle, then its inconceivable that he can continue as its leader without compromising the integrity of the rest of them. Will they walk the walk?
November 8th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Oh do fuck off you silly indolent little magpie mini-man.
We’re more interested in hearing whether you’ve joined the workforce. When will you succumb to Paula’s warm embrace of personal responsibility and opt to join NZ society?
November 8th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
“Dunne looks a reasonable bet for now.”
Even a confessed atheist would say: God help NZ if our hopes are with Dunne, the ultimate political prostitute.
Go the National Party and make a deal with this “for sale” politician.
November 8th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
It would be wrong to call Rodney Hide a consummate Liar so I won’t! Hide is of course a two faced ..”Don’t do what I do.Do what I say” hypocrite
In my view if National put the right candidate in Epsom Hide is a Dead Man walking
[personal comments on Rodney and Louise are offensive, deleted and 30 demerits. This is why your earlier posts did not appear.]
Well I suppose as the saying goes.. “Theres no fool like an old fool”
BTW DPF , I’m impressed with John Key.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Just seen Hide’s apology on the news. This is the best he could have done, and more than most MPs would do (Hone?). If he follows up by proving the lesson has sunk in – demonstrating sufficient humility in line with the level of power he has, and obviously no more travel perking – he should be able to recover from this. Stuffing up once can be forgiven, repeat infringements will not. In his language, another strike and he will probably be out in 2011.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
He’s apologised now. Admitted he was wrong. As much as I hate to say it, that will be the end of the matter.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
hope my 100 demerits don’t stop my opinion.
I think that Rodney has started to believe his own publicity .. losing weight, dancing with the stars, young chick, partner in Govtmt etc .. his apology this afternoon seems to have brought home the fact that he is not as important as he thinks he is.
The Rodster has some major crawling to do.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Ok philu, are you going to apologise?
Rodney:
“Act leader Rodney Hide has apologised for claiming taxpayer money to take his partner on overseas trips and says he will repay all of it.”
Hone:
“I don’t give a shit”.
Are you going to come out and call Hone a trougher and a racist is well? Or is the brown man off limits for censure?
I await with bated breath your apology.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
De Bres’s got Hone’s back, bros gotsta right to do anytin, dawg!
November 8th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
excusesofpuppets
The prob for Rortney is that he has just undergone a credibilityectomy. Perceptions of his credibility are all that got him there.
Its not good enough to say “sorry” in this case. This is a cornerstone issue that goes to the heart of his creds. He started off stupid and then got worse.
Saying sorry in these circs is the equivalent of saying “sorry I got sprung and hope that won’t happen again”. “Sorry” costs nothing. The public have had enough of weasle politicians. He could have come out of this with not only his credibility in tact, but possibly enhanced by dealing with it differently at the outset. Instead we were treated to the beligerent ‘I’m not a martyr’ response that has exploded in his face big time. Methinks that was the real Rortney talking. He just couldn’t help himself. Why? Perhaps ’sorry’ is too inconsistent with his new found image and sense of self-importance that is revealed in his comments about Key and his fellow ministers.
November 8th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Surely in the case of his tart he could use that time honoured old c**t of an excuse.
“If it please your honour I was c**tstruck”.
Not sure if that would go down well in the case involving JK though.
“If it please your honour he’s just a lazy c***”.
November 8th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I’m satisfied that Hide’s apology came across as genuine, along with an admission he got carried away with power. Better than most (Claytons) apologies. If he has learnt from it should make him a better MP. Auckland in particular will benefit if he becomes more realistic.
November 8th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I read down the list of blogs and thought Jesus I’ve got my addresses mixed. This must be the Standard. Because that’s about the quality of a lot of this stuff on here today. Apologists for a party that has been troughing large for the last 50 years and has yet to tackle the issue and indeed has resisted any change. Of course it didn’t need to while it was supported by its socialist partners at Liarbour.
If any of you think that Key should pay personally for Mrs Key to accompany him when he goes away anywhere, even within NZ but more particularly oversea’s then you are sad bastards. Key is our PM and his wife and family share that with him and we should be proud that they do. The opposite extreme is the pink cardy wearing Naomi Lange, (which was maybe before a lot of you were old enough to be out of nappies), what a disgrace to the Office of PM she was.
or more recently the spectacle of a bearded weirdie who was supposed to be Clarks “husband”. ( cast your minds back to last year and further).
Are these the people that we really want or do we want balanced people.
We need nice, good, happy people and we don’t get that with screwed up relationships. Good God the country is full of you sick buggers.
The issue here really is to pay these people properly and to ensure that there needs are properly recognized, as most of them are people with families and other responsibilities.
We can do that, cause Kiwi’s can do anything. Bill says so. All except to sort out the National Party Perks.
[DPF: 20 demerits for remarks on spouses. You can make your point without being nasty about people who are not in politics. I have a lower threshold for what I will allow about spouses]
November 8th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Well Rodney has aplogised. Now for Sir Roger.
And Hone, for doing a Richard Worth.
And hasn’t the Labour Party done well to keep out of this? When Labour MP Prasad, in Brussles with Hone, is reported to have said “what happens on the trip, stays on the trip” or words to that effect, you get the impression that Prasad was quite comfortable with Hone skiving off. Was it because he was glad to see an enemy about to get in the poo, or would he like to do the same thing?
November 8th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
The Hide apology today was sincere and fulsome. He sure as hell isn’t the first of us to succumb to a burst of irrationality in our 40s. If Rodney keeps to what he promised today, he should hold his electoral seat and keep ACT in the House.
Dr Jekyll has gone, Mr Hide is back.
November 8th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
As an ACT voter, Rodney went down a few notches in my estimation with this spending
But with the apology he is back to square one
I can’t recall seeing any other public apologies like that except where someone had apologised for cheating on their spouse
November 8th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
A proper apology – which is just what I suggested the other day. Well done to Rodney for waking up.
I doubt the voters of Epsom were going to thrown him out anyway over this, though it may have affected his branding around NZ.
He gets a second chance, though he needs to understand the voters will forgive him once, probably not a second time for egregious mistakes.
November 9th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Rodney’s week of consequences??