Campaigning for votes in Mana in Australia
September 14th, 2010 at 1:54 pm by David FarrarPhil Quinn blogs:
Embattled Mana nominee Kris Faafoi has taken to Radio Australia to press his case. Radio Australia.
Is this poor guy getting the worst political advice since someone told Napoleon to invade Russia in winter?
First, they are in such a rush to shunt him into Mana, his backers have appointed his replacement in the Labour leader’s office before he has even won the nomination. Next, they send him to a [meet] the candidate’s Q&A forum ill-prepared and underwhelming. Now the global PR strategy: ”Here’s an idea, Kris: the locals in Mana think you’re a fly-by-nighter and a carpetbagger — do as many interviews with foreign broadcasters as you can!”
I have given a lot of poorly conceived advice to politicians over the years, but — by and large — I was intoxicated at the time. What is their excuse?
Quinn’s post has me trying to think of what was the worst advice I ever gave while intoxicated? Sadly, I can’t recall 
Related posts:
- Phil Quinn on Mana and Faafoi
- Faafoi confirms Mana nomination
- An office battle for Mana?
- McCarten for Mana
September 14th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Some other examples of pissed up political advice:
Just use the 800k for your campaign helen, no one will notice.
What about if you start walking like a cowboy Phil.
You should go on more overseas trips Chris. It will give you an international statesmen look and everyone will love it.
Rodney is there for the taking Heather.
Vote:September 14th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
“Garrett may look and sound like a rabid foaming loon but I’m sure the majesty of office will sort him out Rodney. And think of all the SST votes we’ll get”.
“Decisiveness is never a good look, Phil. Just let him go on indefinite sick leave while we bleed all over the floor”.
“Yes, Alamein, that furniture would look great in your whare”.
“Don’t worry Shane, they’ll just think ‘Biggest Boobs Ever’ was a doco on Parekura”.
“No worries Trev. If the rest of us can shag our secretaries and get pissed in here I’m sure giving someone a clip round the ear won’t matter”.
“None of the peasants ever get to go faster than 100, ma’am, or else your hand-picked constabulary rob them blind and take them off the road. They’ll have no bloody idea what 160 even looks like”.
“That’s it Winston, just put all your trust in Michael. After all, you’re at 30 percent, what could possibly go wrong?”.
Vote:September 14th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
I understand that Phil’s advice was ignored whether he was drunk or sober, such was its quality.
Vote:September 14th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Napoleon didn’t invade Russia in winter, it was autumn. And he didn’t take advice on it, he was the freaken emperor. He also wans’t beaten by the weather, he plain got his ass kicked and his live off the land policy turned out to be bollocks if you have to reteat over the same ground.
Try to get a grip on you historical facts before launching into your hysterical ones phil.
Vote:September 14th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Inviting a nuclear powered LA Class sub to NZ when pissed was pretty good, not so much advice, but still pretty good.
Vote:September 16th, 2010 at 1:07 am
Murray: you have exposed my frail grasp on European history. Wasn’t really the point of my post though…but fair cop nonetheless. Also, I am not entirely sure that my tone could be fairly characterized as “hysterical”, but who am I to argue with your interpretation?
Vote:Tom: You’re right, and so were they to ignore me; I am embarrassed to think how callow and stupid I was back then. I will no doubt feel the same about the current me in the future, too. One of the few upsides to getting older is an ever-expanding awareness of your limitations. However, I am interested more in whether you have grounds to think I am wrong in my assessment that the tactic of engaging with Radio Australia in the context of the Mana nomination battle is unwise. Neither my admittedly patchy track record as a political adviser in the early nineties, nor my flawed historical analogy, really takes away from that central point, does it?
September 16th, 2010 at 1:16 am
And, in due deference to Murray, I have amended the post accordingly. I did not include the point about Napoloen not taking advice because he was a General; let’s face it, it does neither of us any credit to gave that rather odd argument any further hearing.
Vote: