Transtasman on Robertson and Cosgrove
July 12th, 2012 at 1:35 pm by David FarrarTranstasman reports:
Cosgrove’s party did not exactly leap to defend him either.
Deputy leader Grant Robertson said all Cosgrove did was help a constituent, and everyone immediately recalled the last Labour MP this defence was used for, Philip Field, went to prison.
What’s more, Robertson was in then-PM Helen Clark’s office when she used the defence. It is theoretically possible Robertson’s comments were made innocently, just as it is theoretically possible to build a perpetual motion machine.
Heh. I actually think the phrasing was incompetence, not malice, but I seem to be in a minority on this issue.
Tags: Clayton Cosgrove, Grant Robertson, trans-Tasman
July 12th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
You are in the minority. Robertson’s comment was very malicious and aimed at undermining Plughead’s position.
Vote:With friends like Grant, who needs enemies.
July 12th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
I could accept one mistake as perhaps being incompetence, but the rest of the comment where he moved from ‘trying to help “hundreds of constituents”‘, but later on slips up with ‘motivated by finding the best outcome for one of his constituents’. This stretched the bounds of coincidence.
Vote:July 12th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
I bet Transtasman misuses “literally” as well.
Vote:July 12th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
I think that DPF is correct, Cosgrove may be a plonker, and didn’t connect to dots as such, but I am fairly certain he’s not dodgy.
Vote:July 12th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Can anyone from inside the ‘beltway’ (more like cheap piece of rope-way in Wellington’s case) explain to us the tension between Robertson and Cosgrove? Is Cosgrove a known Cunliffe supporter? Or does Cosgrove just have two testicles too many for the likes of Robertson?
Vote:July 12th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
billr
I think he may not be dodgy but he has got that arrogance that comes with too many years as an MP that as long as he tells us great unwashed how he has spent our money then it is his business whether the spending is right or wrong. Remember this is the man with a trail of missing suitcases and new suits on our dollar and lavish meals at our expense.
This has all the whiff of a cosy mates’ arrangement and our knowing about it doesn’t make it any less acceptable.
Especially as he has always bayed for the blood of better men for lesser offences.
Vote:July 12th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
EWS: Whatever makes you think Cosgrove has big balls? He is a little man in every sense of the word, with the worst case of small mens disease I have ever seen (other than my brother’s)…Horrid little fellow..
Vote:July 12th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
The following appeared in today’s DomPost page A3:
“Correction – Labour deputy leader Grant Robertson was incorrectly reported on Monday as stating that Clayton Cosgrove was trying to achieve the best outcome for “one of his constituents”. by drafting legislation helping some landowners near Christchurch Airport. Mr Robertson actually said Mr Cosgrove was trying to help “his constituents” in general.”
I doubt it makes much practical difference.
Vote:July 12th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
It wouldn’t be a bit of factional infighting?
Vote:Chauvel got the cold shoulder with the ‘alcohal reform’ bill.
Robertson taking it out on Cosgrove?
July 12th, 2012 at 8:05 pm
BeaB
I don’t disagree with anything that you have said. After all it was JK who said this week that parliament is full of Alpha males. and he’s got a double or triple dose if you include short mans complex and a plugged cap.
However that said, dodgy, nah!
Vote:July 12th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Robertson is just jealous because Cosgrove is so handsome I guess.
Vote:July 13th, 2012 at 6:27 am
… just as it is theoretically possible to build a perpetual motion machine.
I’d love to hear the Transtasman authors describe this theory.
Vote:July 13th, 2012 at 11:15 am
PM, simple, just postulate “if we ignore friction and losses in conversion….”
Vote: