Moore on 2009
Mike Moore writes:
The Prime Minister smiles and sails on, changing tack with the wind. He has this non-political image. A sort of James Stewart, Tom Hanks, Henry Fonda, and golly gee, oh shucks attitude as though it’s all so new and surprising. A bit like the young Anna Paquin on Oscar night.
That the most obtuse comparison I’ve seen 🙂
Nick Smith had an effective year, although there is something extra terrestrial about him. I would not be surprised to learn he collects Star Trek dolls.
Heh. Nick is an engineer – he is more likely to build his own Enterprise!
Transport Minister Stephen Joyce seems in command of his portfolio and gives confidence to bald men everywhere. Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is a real danger to Labour. She is a cheerful, Westie battler whom people relate to and her approach to welfare is firming up National support.
I think Paula prefers her description.
If success is taking money from the many and giving it to your mates then the Maori Party has done well. They have cost the New Zealand people over $2 billion. That’s about $8 million a week for each of the five seats that National promised to abolish. It’s excused as smart MMP politics. Turiana Turia comes across as a kindly auntie and Pita Sharples as the good-natured principal of an intermediate school on sports day. They escape sceptical scrutiny from the lily-livered liberal media. Te Ururoa Flavell shows substance and could make them a New Zealand Maori Party, not just a Maori Party.
Hone Harawira is the kind of angry, insecure bloke I worked alongside at a freezing works in the Far North. He was honest in his vulgar vomit over non-Maoris but the real reason he should be ejected from Parliament is the way he wears his ties.
Hone gets the prize for the most famous line of the year, closely followed by former minister Chris Carter who, when excusing his overseas travel, warmed us with the news that his food bills were small because he and his partner were not big eaters.
I missed that one from Chris.