Over-hyping
September 11th, 2012 at 2:00 pm by David FarrarThe headline in the Herald was:
Henare not up to the job, indicates PM
The first paragraph was:
Prime Minister John Key has given a brutal assessment of what he thinks of National MP Tau Henare’s qualifications for the job of Speaker.
So what brutal things did John Key say about Tau?
Mr Key said National would work with other Parliamentary parties to find somebody who was acceptable to them
That’s it? Out of that statement you run a headline of PM indicates Henare “not up to the job” and call that a “brutal assessment”.
It is quite reasonable to do some analysis of context and speculate that the PM’s comments indicate he may not think Henare would be acceptable to other parties. Reading between the lines is part of the job.
But you can take that too far. In no way did the PM indicate Tau is “not up to the job” let alone make a “brutal assessment” of him. How can anyone call his fairly bland comment a brutal assessment? There is also a difference between being supported by other parties, and being “up to the job”. Before he became Speaker, Labour were very hesitant about Lockwood becoming Speaker – and he turned out to be brilliant.
A brutal assessment would be saying “MP X is not up to the job of Speaker, and would not be acceptable to Parliament”.
Tags: Media, Speaker, Tau Henare
September 11th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Come on DPF, everyone is thinking it. What has Henare ever done in Parliament besides being the rebel NZ First MP who joined National? Name one single achievement.
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Minister of Maori Affairs springs to mind Jimmy
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
I doubt he’d be much good, but then can he be worse than Wilson?
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
OK. But why in Zeus’ name is this separatist being the leader of such a ministry somehow considered an asset to one’s CV? It is a liability to the nation and one Maori ought to be ashamed of.
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
This sort of bullshit is why I will,never pay another penny to read the Herald. On line or on paper.
If you cut it up into squares and hung it in the dunny it would outstink all the other shit.
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
You asked for an achievement Jimmy being a minister of the crown is an achievement. Scrubone it is been there done that in Tau’s case
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
If you think question time with Winston is fun now, it would be a true riot if Tau was made speaker,
I have to wonder if he is taking a “poacher turns gamekeeper” approach to this whole thing…
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
The NZ Herald is a shit newspaper. All the warm-fuzzy quazi-historic billboards won’t make up for its bad journalism and crap content.
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Looks like the tabloid has now become Long-drop dunny paper.
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Seriously, you guys are taking this game too far. There isn’t really a print version of the Herald; only a fool would pay for it.
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
just a garbage newspaper.
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
He did show the world what Mallard is made of.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10471953
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
Oh and BTW, happy birthday DPF
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
A brutal assessment would be saying “MP X is not up to the job of Speaker, and would not be acceptable to Parliament”.
So who is this “MP X” and if they’re not acceptable to Parliament then why the fuck are they even in there, let alone be a candidate for Speaker?
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Seriously though Tau must be on Niburu Minor (NASA’s name for Planet X) to publicly put his name forward for this role. I mean what doesn’t he understand about his own reputation he’s assiduously cultivated over the years?
This quote seems aposite:
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 9:12 pm
Lockwood Smith is going to be a hard act to follow. Might I suggest a head kindy teacher would be suitable for the role?
Vote:September 11th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
I don’t buy it ‘cos I’m a tight bastard. I read the one at work because it’s there and I scan the online version. Why would you buy something that’s about 40% advertising material, with shameful grammar & spelling as an added bonus?
Editorials are often quite good, J Armstrong etc and I also enjoy the letters page.
I can guarantee Tau won’t get the job. Requires just a modicum of gravitas
Vote:September 12th, 2012 at 6:13 am
I never thought Tau would be the right person, he would probably be ok, but Lockwood is a very hard act to follow.
But we’re missing the point a bit, the fact is the Herald is once again, fabricating what has happened. At least they did not supply any supporting evidence to show the “brutal assessment” ever took place.
Vote:September 12th, 2012 at 7:24 am
I’m no fan of Winston Peters, but I reckon he would make a brilliant Speaker. Imagine the put-downs.
Vote: