Don’s decision
April 23rd, 2011 at 2:55 pm by David FarrarTracy Watkins in the Dom Post reports:
Former National leader Don Brash is making a bid for a political comeback as ACT party leader – if it will have him.
Dr Brash confirmed yesterday that if he was offered the ACT leadership he would take it, after previously rejecting behind-the-scenes efforts to woo him back to Parliament either as ACT leader Rodney Hide’s deputy or as co-leader.
Dr Brash said he would not contemplate returning to Parliament under either of those scenarios but would if offered the leadership.
I do hope for Don’s sake, that he is not offered it. I don’t think he’ll find it a pleasant experience, and I don’t think he’ll achieve what he wants to achieve. My thoughts are:
- Don will not become a Minister, regardless of how ACT polls. John Key declined to offer Don a significant role straight after he replaced him as leader, so I can’t see that he will be of a different mind now. All Don will achieve is a different platform to complain spending is too high (which incidentially I agree with him on). But he won’t actually get to change that.
- ACT’s internal politics are toxic at the best of times. If Don replaced Rodney as Leader, he’ll inherit all the infighting and bitching. If he thinks the party will unite behind him, he doesn’t realise ACT is very different to National where there is greater discipline and loyalty.
- Don leading ACT will force John Key more to the centre. in fact Key will come under pressure to rule out more and more policies in advance, as the left will have greater ability to scare-monger on them.
- Don will be seen as a temporary leader due to his age. No one will thinks he would be leading the party into the 2014 election as he would be 77 by the end of that term.
- Don is such a convenient target for the left, that his assuming the leadership will be a significant help to Labour. Problems of morale, activists, union support and even money will be partially solved if he offers himself up as their target. You’ll have Matt McCarten and Chris Trotter both praising Phil Goff as the only man who can save NZ from the spending cuts seen in Ireland and the UK.
The article also says:
There is also speculation that former Auckland mayor John Banks would be keen to stand in Epsom if approached by ACT, suggesting he could be on a Brash ticket. The two men have business ties and speak regularly. Polls have shown that Mr Banks would win Epsom if he stood.
First of all, polls have not shown any such thing.
Secondly I consider John Banks a friend, as I do Don Brash. I certainly think John could still make a contribution to national politics. However I am not sure his brand is that compatible with ACT.
ACT at its heart is a classical liberal party – economically and socially liberal. They have not always kept to that, but many of their key activists are classical liberals. I don’t think John would describe himself as a classical liberal.
There is in fact a nice spot in the political spectrum for a party, which John Banks would be a potential leader of. That is a traditional conservative party – like the Nationals in Australia. Think of it as a party for talkback callers. Now at present NZ first sort of occupies that spot on the spectrum but Winston is of course toxic. But once he is properly buried, then there could well be a role for a conservative party, as well as a classical liberal party.
If I was on the board of ACT, I would not be panicked into anything. They should focus on lifting the party vote and winning Epsom. If going into the election that are polling at 2% or more, then that should give Epsom voters enough of an incentive to vote tactically to ensure John Key remains Prime Minister.
UPDATE: John Banks has said he is definitely not standing.
Tags: ACT, Don Brash, John Banks
April 23rd, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Thought DPF would be sweating the cold stuff on this news.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 3:19 pm
ACT is the natural party for Don Brash, who should attract a number of disillusioned National voters pissed off with smile-and-wave Key for not delivering on what he promised before the election.
Brash has integrity, quality at odds with today’s National Party “leaders”.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Manolo
Vote:More importantly, Brash has policy.
April 23rd, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Comedy gold from DPF:
Yeah, because nothing proves discipline and loyalty like the email leaks and Bill English white anting Don Brash ever chance he had leading up to the 2005 election. At least that kind of behaviour isn’t rewarded in the National Party. What is Bill English doing these days?
[DPF: As I said, Don has seen nothing yet. Bill did not once publicly while ant Don Brash when Don was leader. And I believe the emails were obtained by someone hostile to National]
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 3:31 pm
Comedy platinum from DPF:
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 3:33 pm
“3) Don leading ACT will force Shonkey more to the centre”. So I take it Shonkey will have to move from the left to the right if Dons the man? If you claim that Shonkey is to the right of center at present and moves further left then yes Liarbore will be seriously pissed, they have even less to offer .
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:06 pm
The sad fact for Don is that minor parties actually have very little ability to get their agenda implemented. If National tells Act NO to what it wants, what is Act going to do? Vote for a Labour government? Likewise the Greens. Sitting on the flank, they have no leverage. The tail does not wag the dog.
So DPF is right: Don would find it very frustrating. Just like Hide, all he would be able to get from the Nats in policy terms is scraps from the table.
The real positive a party like Act can achieve is changing the debate (something the Greens have had some success doing). Get the issues on to the table, and shift the weight of the public mood. THEN it can pursuade its larger partner to move (and get the credit for doing so). A thankless role, but a useful one.
In the long term, winning is not just getting the policy you want. It is persuading the broader public to want the same thing. This was Maggie Thatcher’s great triumph: that she changed what the public were prepared to tolerate from the left.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Maybe he has just had enough of watching the real socialists (National) spending billions on new roads (haven’t they heard of user pays and tolls), buying up insurance and finance companies (talk about Welfare dependence or what), splashing out on ETS subsidies and who knows what else to buy off your political partners (plastic wakas, Americas Cups syndicates). Meanwhile personal and government debt keeps climbing.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Nevertheless Brash would be better than Hide. But agree he is too old.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Why would you say that Ruth. You haven’t thought about the situation at all. National would just sideline Brash despite the seat numbers and carry on regardless. Its in their nature to behave that way. They just can’t help themselves.
They wouldn’t even care for the ability of others to cobble together any effective Govt. will be very limited. Better feet under the table with a chance to make changes than being out in the cold.
You had better hope the racists don’t gather to many seats as well.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Perigo and Brash
Vote:
April 23rd, 2011 at 4:36 pm
..Meanwhile, off the East Coast, the Maori opposing seismic surveying are portraying their interference in a lawful activity not as a protest, but “defending our (sic.) tribal waters”. If that whole nonsense – that iwi had/have any dominion over waters 35 miles offshore – is not stopped immediately, this will become the new default position.
But what did the Nats expect, creating expectations that Maori had legitimate claims over the seabed out to 200 miles?
I’ve got a pretty good idea what Don would say about this … be interesting if he will do so publicly…
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Why would you say that Ruth.
Well for a start Brash has more brain-power than Hide. And more business acumen.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Not necessarily so, just different personalities.
Vote:The two of them would be formidable as a team as both have similar objectives and similar thinking.
Problem remains that Key will work with Rodney and the Nats will die in a ditch before they will ever work with Don.
Especially as long as double Dipton remains.
April 23rd, 2011 at 5:47 pm
I hope Brash does get offered it and takes it.
There would be a huge swing away from National if Brash were to head ACT, and this is of course what DPF is worried about. Brash appeals to the Asian vote big time, because he does not put up with the racist bullshit that we get from our brown skinned cousins in this country.
Brash heading ACT would be a disaster for the left in this country, as it will force National to govern with ACT, therefore moving Key away from his socialist doctrine. English would be cut loose as Finance Minister, as Brash would get the job in a coalition gummint. Brash also would not tolerate having the maori party in gummint either, meaning we can kiss goodbye to those racist assholes too!
With a bit of luck, Brash would also have the cahones to invite David Garrett back into the ACT fold, possibly Muriel Newman too!
It would be like all my Christmases at once.
Go Brash, go ACT. Two ticks ACT!
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 6:04 pm
National have failed to deliver. Sadly. If they want to be Labour-lite, that’s their call.
The rest of us are looking for something with economic vision.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 6:04 pm
NZ desperately needs debate on where the country is heading. Labour are in a hopeless position (thank God), but National are not capitalising sufficiently on their position as government without effective opposition to roll back the worst forms of mismanagement under Labour. Advancing the debate on whether or not National is doing enough to save NZ from developing a structural deficit would be much welcomed. I think there would be agreement over removal of interest free loans, scaling back WFF, and raising the age of entitlement to a pension. Brash can do this – whether taking the debate forward or providing support for those who do. National must be held accountable to their core beliefs.
The Nats are using the Maori party (& the Maori seats) to hold onto their currently centrist position by alienating Act. In doing so they push Labour further left. It is working, and hence the need to satisfy Maori over the foreshore & seabed and not actively seek to remove special Maori representation measures implemented in the early last century as the anachronism they are. But is this best for New Zealand? It may be a pragmatic means to go forward and slowly implement change – but perhaps it is too slowly for the challenges we face. Over time, the desire to shut out a left wing government by remaining centre left in appearance, and will dwindle our enthusiasm for National as an instrument of positive change. C’mon National, now is most definitely the time to take a bit more risk and promote changes people don’t necessarily want but the country needs to get through the present crisis.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 6:39 pm
At the moment National is competing with the left, be good to see a true liberal party to drag them back to the middle. there is a huge gap in NZ for a party that looks out for consumers and taxpayers. Just look at milk prices (farmers benefit), mobile phone charges (corporate protection), watering down of parrelell importing (retailer protection), broadcasting (sky TV).
Vote:I travel overseas regularly and NZ is getting outrageously expensive because of the cosy little deals and politicians of all stripes looking after the top end of town.
Anyone who said termination rates are at 2c, texts are free, the commerce commision will set the wholesale milk price, power companies are no longer around to re-value their asset base to justify ramping prices, climb into the banks over their huge margin between the wholesale and retail rate and you can import gst free to 1k will get my vote.
April 23rd, 2011 at 6:47 pm
Hear hear, mattyroo! But further, I honestly think that Don Brash has the capacity to lead a party (any party, but lets just say ACT for the moment) to get 10 or 14 seats and become a real force in the next government rather than an irritating itch,which is all that Hide ever hopes for even on his good days. I think this is a real possibility and people in the National Socialist circles must be absolutely shitting themselves at the prospect.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Unfortunately, the National Party leadership lacks the vision and the testicles to make the changes the country needs.
Vote:Key and English seem either aloof or paralysed by fear, and only move (in the wrong direction) when prodded by the racist Maori Party.
April 23rd, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Brash is yesterday’s man. Getting Brash into ACT would be about as useful as getting Roger back proved. It’s the media floating thoughts that they think are interesting, but that have no real chance of becoming real. ACT need to get their shit together and unite behind Rodney, or otherwise accept that it’s all over, and just pack up shop. Whatever the problem is, I’m pretty sure that Don Brash isn’t the answer to it – unless the problem is how to make yourself even more irrelevant than you already are.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 7:11 pm
And I believe the emails were obtained by someone hostile to National
Yes, who was that middleman who passed them on to Nicky and who had the resources, skills, time and authority to put it all together, before it all played out, officially, as it did. Skill enough to foil the police’s computer forensic people who presumably have formidable skills and resources themselves.
I wonder.
Brash is the only alternative ACT has to Rodney, who is toast. This front-page story just puts the official seal on it.
He’s not the long-term candidate, TBC. Franks isn’t it, he’s not a political leader, not enough charisma and screen presence, but would be an outstanding number two. As I’ve said before, I personally think the ex-Treasury Head Graham Scott would be amazing, but that is my own opinion and I don’t know him, at all.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Don hasn’t got a shits show of usurping Hide.
Now Pauline Hanson? Well that’s another matter.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Mattyroo: genuine question…why would Key make Brash finance minister when he could have done so ( made Brash finance spokesman) after he deposed him? It seemed a no brainer to me at the time, but obviously if Brash was offered anything at all, it was spokesman on Customs or something…
He (Brash) publicly said that if he was offered something serious, he would stay…he clearly wasnt, so he went…Why would Key – relected for a second term with 5 or even 10 ACT MP’s in support – do what he wouldnt do in 2006? And back then it was only a spokesmanship, not a Ministerial warrant he was being asked to give…
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Just a thought – Key could use Brash to implement some of the more unpalatable economic decisions and keep his hands clean. I always thought Key kept Brash out of his circle to enable an unencumbered run – not that he thought Brash incompetant.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 7:57 pm
“Just a thought – Key could use Brash to implement some of the more unpalatable economic decisions and keep his hands clean.”
Isn’t that what Key keeps the Maori Party for?
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 8:04 pm
Balance at the right hand end – with some brains.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Why are some of you assuming Brash would demand anything from Key? Even if ACT required at least one then who says it has to be given to the party leader? Say if Franks was in,
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 8:20 pm
Now you are talking reid!
A hugely wasted talent!
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Is Franks sttanding again? Last I heard he was promoting his practice. Hope he does
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 8:44 pm
No idea Nookin but would be good if he did. I don’t think the Nats are prepared to give him a spot he deserves, with his experience, which is puzzling, until you understand Finlayson couldn’t tolerate the competition, for he would lose, big time, in any showdown whatsoever and I think he knows that and he can’t stand it.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 9:11 pm
Unfortunately the Nats don’t really understand the concept of MMP, and Shonkey will continue to fail to grant any substantial policy concessions to potential coalition partners if he wins a second term.
s.russell is partially right, but credit where it’s due, Winston Peters was the master negotiator in the MMP environment.
Vote:Peters extracted quite reasonable policy wins even when he didn’t have huge numbers, and Helen Clark to her credit recognised that it was necessary to give her coalition partners a few decent wins that they could claim for themselves.
April 23rd, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Act have managed several good wins. Start with things like three strikes, removing old legislation, Super City would have been ok but for the Nats insisting the racists get a say.
Vote:A number of others as well.
April 23rd, 2011 at 9:40 pm
Unfortunately the Nats don’t really understand the concept of MMP, and Shonkey will continue to fail to grant any substantial policy concessions to potential coalition partners if he wins a second term.
I disagree dave. Bolger showed a fine appreciation of it and that institutional knowledge within the National Party doesn’t just vanish in a puff of smoke. Key is targeting the MP cause one of Liarbore’s key constituencies used to be the Maori vote. It will take generations to get National onside, way beyond Key’s time, but many Maori have a lot of respect for what Doug Graham achieved and Key is building on that.
Personally, I think its great, because I think once you get past Liarbore’s superficial working class brother meme, Maori mentality deep down has much more in common with conservative mentality. This is because, deep down, both are warrior mentalities. The Liarbore mentality is a soft, fluffy naive childishly idealistic and unrealistic mentality. When you boil it all down it simply pretends the world would be a happier place if we all just hugged each other a little more. Newsflash: world does not equal that. Reality is, it’s currently, a jungle. This is why conservatives and Maoris connect. We both get that, it’s part of our DNA.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 9:41 pm
As I said before: Don Brash would be a kiss of death for ACT. These “disillusioned National voters” who would they be? Where are they? Why so silent? Why haven’t they run already? Oh that’s right, John Key. The man who’s kept Labour out and will win National the next election and based on the polls, without needing ACT. Most sane National voters know that the gradual changes brought about by this govt and (compared to Labour) fiscal restraint are a damn sight better than throwing it all away on an ACT inspired fools leap in policy which would put Phil Goff and the Greens in the driving seat.
Vote:Poor old Don would just face more bitter disappointment as leader and watch ACT continue its slow motion self-destruct sequence.
April 23rd, 2011 at 10:03 pm
These “disillusioned National voters” who would they be?
Why the link I gave previously explained exactly who they were Richard and I think the phrase you’re looking for is:
“disillusioned ACT voters” but never mind.
Poor old Don would just face more bitter disappointment as leader and watch ACT continue its slow motion self-destruct sequence.
Well as the link explained Richard, Hide’s mission was to recapture those disaffected
NationalACT supporters and he hasn’t done it. Brash can, in a heartbeat. That’s the point, really.Most sane National voters know that the gradual changes brought about by this govt and (compared to Labour) fiscal restraint are a damn sight better than throwing it all away on an ACT inspired fools leap in policy which would put Phil Goff and the Greens in the driving seat.
Actually Richard once again you’re quite wrong, in my opinion. You see I actually think and this blog is only one exemplar, there is a strong feeling National isn’t doing enough, in these straightened times.
Just take this blog which is a tiny microcosm of conservative thought and look at the number of posts that decry National’s timidity on the economic front.
Fact is Richard I don’t know if you are a lefty or a conservative, I don’t know. But what I do know is that this country is not aided by the lack thus far of a credible, well articulated conservative alternative economic plan. Brash is more than capable of spelling that out in great detail, showing us with bar graphs and other charts just precisely where National is going wrong. This country needs that information, in our heads, prior to November. They are not going to get it from Rodney. No way.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 10:20 pm
An interesting scenario, yet I’m surprised that it has taken this long.
It has been plainly obvious for sometime, and especially so on this blog, that die-hard National voters are getting increasingly pissed off at the centre-left position that National has adopted – National has drifted into a party of popularity, not principles, nor policy of any substance.
Which is why I see that ACT under Brash has the potential to attract around 7-10% of the party vote – mostly disillusioned National voters and Winston First.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 10:29 pm
reid: How much of the
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Around about 3.7% Richard.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 10:40 pm
reid: how much of the vote has ACT managed at its best? Do u really think its possible for Don to do even that (assuming the toxic mess that is ACT internal politics and ego’s didn’t drag him down first)?
“Brash is more than capable of spelling that out in great detail, showing us with bar graphs and other charts just precisely where National is going wrong.”
Yes he can, I’ve sat through a lunch watching him do it and Douglas has been doing the same for years. They are ignored by most of the electorate. Shouting in the wilderness.
The “disillusioned ACT voters” ran like hell into John Key’s arms when he became leader and given a choice between JK in charge or standing on the purest fringe and letting Goofy and the Greens take the wheel I know what they will choose.
Vote:Dreams however are free, I leave you to enjoy them.
April 23rd, 2011 at 10:53 pm
National has drifted into a party of popularity, not principles, nor policy of any substance.
noskire my theory is National miscalculated the depth of disquiet last election and consequently underpromised in terms of what they could get away with. It’s been meaning to correct this ever since 2009, but it didn’t need to show its hand anytime soon.
The reason why Liarbore launched early with its Stop Sign
failurecampaign, I believe, is to begin implanting the idea into the public mind so when National finally announce it they’ll turn round and say told you so but most importantly so when National announces it they can play on the meme they are currently setting up, which makes people think, of course, I KNEW they were going to do that. That’s what this Stop Sign Campaign is about – to setup the asset sale meme, and this is why Mallard is desperately pushing the asset-sale message even on this and Whale’s blog whenever stop sign is raised.So what this means to me is, the saucer people in conjunction with the Rand Corporation…
No, this means Key’s political skills are going to be needed, on the assumption they really do want to do the right thing and indeed execute heaps of asset sales, in their second term.
Trouble is, he doesn’t have any, apart from being calm under fire. This is the only skill he has so far demonstrated to me. Sure, he’s also a quick study, but that’s not a skill, that’s a pre-requisite.
But what else does Key have, in terms of all the sly nouse, the strategy, the contacts and networks, you would need make wholesale asset sales happen, actually happen?
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 11:01 pm
reid: how much of the vote has ACT managed at its best? Do u really think its possible for Don to do even that (assuming the toxic mess that is ACT internal politics and ego’s didn’t drag him down first)?
He doesn’t have to Richard for ACT aren’t relying on the party vote so much as winning an electoral seat.
A great deal depends on where Brash stands.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 11:56 pm
reid, agree that National played a cautious hand last election – the key (pun intended) was to avoid targeting opposition personalities, play the middle-ground without upsetting too many, and throw in some Liberal bait-hooks. That worked.
The danger for National now is that they are a one-trick pony, and that pony may have a saddle that doesn’t fit.
Vote:April 23rd, 2011 at 11:59 pm
As for ACT under Brash, they’ll get 10%.
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 6:30 am
As reported by the Huruld:
Act leader Rodney Hide’s brand is “toxic” and “people don’t like him”, says the man who wants his job – his old mate Don Brash.
The former National Party leader upset his usual mates yesterday when he described Prime Minister John Key as “mooching” the country into debt then saying he wanted Hide’s job. Brash also raised the stakes for Act by saying he might launch his own party if he doesn’t get Hide’s job.
Brash described Hide as a personal friend, then he said: “His brand has become toxic. People don’t like him. I have to assume that’s a significant reason the Act Party vote is fluctuating around the margin of error.”
Brash said it was partly scandal that harmed Hide’s image. First, Hide lost his “perk buster” image with the taxpayer-funded trip around the globe with his now-wife Louise.
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 7:47 am
Manolo: In the above quote, you omitted Fisher’s next sentence regarding my actions. If you were trying to spare my feelings, I thank you.
For the record, I NEVER “campaigned against name suppression”, and scum repeaters like Fisher know it. They write complete lies about me because: 1) their lawyers have told them I cannot successfully sue because I no longer have a reputation to protect; and 2) they know I do not have the resources to do so, even to establish the falsity of their claims.
The most I ever said about name suppression – either before or during my time in parliament – was that it was an issue that needed to be thorougly looked at, particularly where “celebrities” were involved. In 2005, when I was granted name suppression, I was the farthest thing from ” a celebrity.”
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 8:19 am
Brash described Hide as a personal friend, then he said: “His brand has become toxic. People don’t like him. I have to assume that’s a significant reason the Act Party vote is fluctuating around the margin of error.”
Does Brash think that his brand isn’t toxic? Does he think is generally liked? He was a major factor in National’s loss in 2005. He failed then. He is a face of the past. Sure he may claw back a few disgruntled Act voters, but I’d be surprised if he makes a major difference.
Can he even win an electorate? He has never been tested going for an electorate. Hide has stuffed a bit up, but he knew how to work Epsom, I can’t see Brash putting the sort of work in that Hide did. Would Brash just stand on the list – again – and rely on Hide to retain Epsom?
Who would be his deputy? Boscawen? As much as I respect him, and he’s young enough politically, beside an aging Brash it would have an old white male look. Would they resurrect Roy to give a better balance? Act need wider appeal to increase their votes.
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 9:04 am
Resurrect Roy? Are you dreaming?
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 9:15 am
What are the options, apart from an old white male/middle aged white male ticket? Calvert is hardly a vote grabber. Recruit some diversity? Or just target a narrow niche vote?
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 9:42 am
David Garrett said:
I believe Key would have to make Brash Finance Minister due to the size of the vote ACT would get under Brash. I think Brash wouldn’t demand it, but strongly push for it.
Being an Epsom voter and aware of the political mood of the electorate here, I know for a fact that Brash would romp in to the electorate seat, first he must get the party nomination though – this is where I see the problem for Brash. ACT is just about as factional as the labour party, but only a fraction of the size! It is hard keeping all those factions happy and I’m not sure that Brash can/could do it. However, if he does, voters will be voting for a Brash led ACT party, not the faction that represents their views.
I see Brash driving some voters away from traditional ACT, but gaining a swag from the conservative side of National and also the Asian vote. He is unlikely to dent the Green or labour vote though. If Roger Douglas was completely gone from ACT too, Brash could also drag a swag of farmers from National.
My pick for a Brash led ACT vote is >7%.
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 10:42 am
Matty: thats an interesting analysis…and I agree with some of it. to take your last point first, I have a great deal of time for Roger Douglas who taught me a great deal – but he is and always will be anathema to farmers, and I agree that there is a solid constuency going begging there for ACT. They are particularly aware of the damage the ETS will do them for no gain to anyone else.
With respect, how can you “know for a fact” that Brash would romp in if he stood in Epsom? Have any polls been done on that question? DPF seems to suggest not…
And with respect to Don – who I have only met twice I have to say – my impression is that he would have no show unifying any ACT caucus – unless they were all clones of himself, which is hardly likely. From what I have been told, ACT caucuses have always been a herd of cats, and even Prebble had a great deal of trouble herding them.
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Has Roger Kerr shown any political inclination? I don’t think he would have a particularly broad appeal but he isn’t ancient and is probably in the same intellectual ballpark as Brash, but without the “Maori-bashing” reputation.
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Brash’s reputation as ‘maori bashing’ is left wing propaganda.
Brash is guilty of calling a spade a spade on the issue of race based/ political affirmative action, and questioning whether it is warranted in the 21st century with the current robust state of Maori politics in this country.
Perhaps he is still ‘ahead of his time’ on calling time on the Maori seats. But debating this issue and challenging Maori who are quite capable of standing on their own in general electorate and list based seats does not make him a racist – if anything it could be said he is *more ambitious* for Maori to move forward/ grow up politically, than Labour or the Maori party, and it may be said, National under Key.
The issue is communication. Outline a vision of where we should be in say 25 years. Work out the steps needed to get there, and involve in this process Maori leaders themselves – grass roots and current political leaders. There may be more work needs to be done in schools, community groups and marae around the country to enable future political leaders who are maori and will champion their concerns to be nurtured regardless of political stripe. I think they are currently there already; the current and future demographics of NZ would suggest that Maori actually don’t need race based seats in order to have suitable/ fair political representation.
Vote:April 24th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
Your logic is essentially ACT should not get Don Brash on board, rather better to cower in fear of Labour/left wing insults of dubious merit.
Vote:Part of politics is articulating policy, something that Rodney Hide is not really achieving at the moment. The purveyors of the policies of the last decade need to be held to account for the position we now find ourselves in.