This is precisely what politics are here in America, at least in the deep south where I’ve spent my entire life. Reading about what’s been happening in NZ now that the conservatives, rather than the liberals are running the country (or whatever term NZ uses to describe the right-and-left wings, seriously my knowledge of NZ politics isn’t exactly broad, I had no idea what the PM of NZ was named until I stumbled upon TDB’s article about Keys pulling a waitresses hair). Everything, from his claiming to be Christian while acting like anything but, to his disrespect for anyone who’s not a white, Christian man, to his supporters inevitable attempt at damage control by down playing Keys actions mirrors exactly what the Tea Party (as the farthest right wing group in America) and many other less fanatical but just as bad conservatives do whenever they are caught red-handed being complete douches (I hope using that term isn’t offensive enough to get me banned. Seriously, I know very little about NZ, but I’m trying to learn and I won’t make the same mistake twice if it is an offensive term). We have a hard enough time keeping the conservatives from ruining our country when there are liberals who can try to check the conservatives’ power, but if they gain control of the presidency and supreme court after the upcoming election, they will control the entire government. No good can come of that. What’s happening in NZ should be a cautionary tale for American voters, but I doubt anyone will listen. From your comment, I concur that NZ must have the same problem with the apathy of voters that America has. One of the reason the conservatives have been gaining control is that American voters simply don’t care. To be fair sometimes people want to vote but can’t due to the conservatives’ tactics to inhibit the right to vote for all citizens, but the only reason these tactics work is because people who can vote and change the country simply don’t care if it doesn’t directly affect them. And please don’t think I’m glorying in the fact that NZ’s government is as broken as America’s government. It’s just nice to know Americans are not alone as we ride in this handbasket taking us to hell. Welcome Aboard. 😉

I think you got it in one…

“They either went to the same media coaching school or one idolises the other. ”

That would be Crosby/Textor media coaching school.

Winston has summed it up nicely today calling Key a dictator, in reference to Keys abject failure of the Auckland housing scenario and his commandments to the Auckland City Council.

It’s called “alchemy God complex” RC.

Creating reality out of utter bullshit.

“The reality is…
“The facts are..
“the truth of the matter is…

But, we the Kiwi public, have the choice to how we judge Bill English’s budget, National, ACT, Maori Party and United Future and it will be all about the way that National, ACT, Maori Party and United Future treat the weakest members.

“Ultimately, you judge the character of a society, not by how they treat the rich and the powerful and the privileged, but by how they treat the poor, the condemned, the incarcerated.” https://www.facebook.com/TED/posts/10155075167340652

In Kiwi society under National, ACT, United Future and Maori Party how do they treat the the rich and powerful?

In Kiwi society under National, ACT, United Future and Maori Party how are the poor, the condemned, the incarcerated. treated?

How about those living in cars, or 21 in a two bedroom house? Or those young people shut out of house ownership under National, ACT, Maori Party and United Future? How about the working poor?

Grant, you provide a very astute analysis of Bill English’s character, agenda and motivations. The personality traits you describe apply to National Party members and supporters as a whole. They evidently believe in advantaging themselves at the expense of the majority of society. It is ironic that English purports to be a Christian, yet his actions and his Government’s policies reveal their greedy, self-serving, disingenuous and manipulative attitude and behaviour, which has resulted in New Zealand’s current socioeconomic disarray.

Grant, this is one of the best comments I have ever read, anywhere, regarding Bill English and his fellow National MPs’ willful, infuriating ignorance and arrogance.

Steven Joyce uses his prevarication start , “What Steven Joyce uses his prevarication start , “What I can say to you is …” like it’s going to be followed by some profound truth.

Key does it all the time as well

“yeah, nah, ekshully, what I can say is…”

They either went to the same media coaching school or one idolises the other.

Yes we have witnessed the complete gowerisation of TV news.
The desolation is complete.