Around and About

From time to time, Adam likes to refer readers to some of the other blogs that comment on similar issues. Today, has been one of those days.

Homepaddock posts on John Roughan’s piece in today’s Herald on Hager the Horrible. Both are worth a look,especially as Roughan has a go, albeit mild at Hager – which makes a change for journalists who seem, many of them, to think NH walks on water. Roughan especially is not impressed by Hager’s feigned outrage over National employing consultants.

The Hive comments on Fran O’Sullivans column on Alexander Downer which is also in today’s Herald and which Adam commented extensively on in this post – What does New Zealand stand for?

Keeping Stock comments on John Armstrong’s column in the Herald regarding Labour’s mistakes in strategy in attacking Key personally. Armstrong identifies that Labour focuses on Key, he understands that because Key is a major factor in National now being electable, but as he notes:-

But Labour’s constant chipping away at Key does not seem to be making any headway.

That is because Labour has failed to display any sense of proportion. It has seized on anything that might put Key in a bad light no matter how small or trivial and brandished it as evidence Key is not up to it.

This has proved counter-productive. Voters _ especially crucial female “swing” voters _ have a profound distaste for politicians launching personal attacks on one another’s character. The Prime Minister’s attack on Key may have done more damage to her credibility than his.

Adam’s emphasis.

The Hive draws attention to the mystery of Tom Gear, apparently on the NZ First Parliamentary payroll, see this DomPost article, who is the Tauranga resident referred to the police for alleged illegal activity under the EFA.

This looks as if there is much more to come on this, the extract which follows can be seen as a curtain raiser:-

A NZ First staffer likely to face police scrutiny in a test of new electoral laws has received hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for a job many in his party know almost nothing about.

Tommy Gear, a close friend of party leader Winston Peters, is expected to be questioned by police following an alleged breach of the Electoral Finance Act.

The case is the first under the controversial new law governing political party advertising to have been referred to police by the Electoral Commission.

Mr Gear is likely to be questioned about NZ First banners that were strung from the remains of his property in Maxwells Rd, Tauranga, in April.

Mr Gear has been employed by the Parliamentary Service, which administers Parliament, from as early as 1998.

He has occasionally used his black Mercedes to chauffeur Mr Peters and carry his bags – but what else Mr Gear has done for a salary in some years of up to $50,000 is a mystery to many party officials.

David Farrar at Kiwiblog also posts on the mysterious Mr Gear. It is interesting is it not that so many of the apparent breaches of the EFA come from those most in favour of it’s passing. Is it possible that these people thought that it would not apply to them? Are they so arrogant?

Mr Farrar has posted on the John Armstrong column, he sees the issues in starker terms than Armstrong and where Armstrong suggests playing the ball, rather than the man, DPF writes:-

I can safely predict there is really no chance of this. Simply put, Labour is desperate and dateless and has nothing else to offer.

He comments as well on Fran O’Sullivan’s article, like others he cannot understand why NZ wants to be on this body.

The DimPost has an item on the truckers protest. DP is not in favour, but it was this comment which struck a chord with Adam:-

This felt more like a piece of political theatre than a genuine protest; a propaganda exercise orchestrated by Road Transport Forum Director and former National Party Minister Tony Friedlander.

Labour could have gone to town on this, accusing the Nats of shutting down the cities, damaging small business’s ect – but they were too busy in the house trying to pin down John Key on some technical and largely meaningless historical share transaction involving the sale of the railways.

Its an effective metaphor for Labour’s current communications strategy: concentrate on some trivial sideshow while remaining oblivious to whatever’s really going on.

Whilst not agreeing with the Friedlander comment, Adam thinks DP is absolutely correct in the rest of the comment. Labour self destructed in respect of the truckers, nobody got to them. This was their very own piece of stupidity.

Adam would like to congratulate the DimPost on the standard which it sets. Great writing, great satire.

The No Minister team continue to draw attention to the imperfections of the left in their own inimitable fashion, giving pleasure to the many and I suspect discomfort to more than a few. Adam shares Gooner’s concern over this rape allegation in respect of the English rugby team. This limbo of public awareness, but no real resolution is just not acceptable.

Jafapete wrote clearly on the Crosby/Textor issue from his perspective .