It is sad to watch the terrible debilitating effect of Key Derangement Syndrome on opposition politicians and their pet lap-blogs. Every week there is a new attempt to smear John Key with some sort of scandal. Each week is more pathetic than the last. This past week we have had the unedifying sight of Labour politicians attempting to suggest that the blow-out in the budget of the diplomatic protection service is all John Key’s fault. This, despite the fact that the DPS has been over-budget for at least the last four years.
Frankly, I would not be surprised if it is always over-budget. After all, it is hard for anyone to judge whether such money is well-spent. One can hardly deliberately reduce expenditure until a politician is successfully attacked and then gradually increase it until politicians are safe – which would be the only “evidenced-based” way of doing it! No, the only way DPS can be judged is against past performance and the current level of security required for other leaders in similar positions.
It is, of course, utterly absurd to suggest that Key asks for diplomatic protection while on holiday just because he likes to feel important. While it is true that Helen Clarke used to request that the DPS did not accompany her while she was holidaying, that would be more because she tended to holiday in remote, out of the way places, to which she went fairly anonymously. Contrast this to the fact that Key spends his holidays at a well-known, well-travelled destination. It is not surprising that the DPS are considerably more keen to provide protection at this venue. They are certainly one of those services that has no margin for error.
All this is not very relevant, of course. The simple fact of the matter is that Labour’s incessant trivial mud-slinging is clearly having the opposite effect to that which is intended. Key’s popularity remains little diminished and Labour languish in the doldrums of 30% support. This is because they present no alternative to a National government, all they have is “get John Key”. And the situation is not helped by a media that seems to think that such trivia is “news”.
Lest you think I am being too harsh, here is Chris Hipkins and this week’s manifestation of KDS. Apparently, maintenance of government buildings is John Key’s fault as well…
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May 8 11 7:53 pm
The increased DPS whilst on holiday is probably also a function of the fact Key has children to protect.
May 8 11 11:22 pm
Excellent point. And one completely overlooked by every journalist in the country, sadly enough.
May 8 11 8:14 pm
Taking 4 people with you sounded excessive (for NZ) to me until I realised that 4 people wouldn’t actually all be working at once. Certainly the people I’ve spoken to recently are amazed at the stupidity of Labour – the comment was that they were effectively putting up a big “don’t elect us” sign.
I also wonder at those who can’t work out that, when it costs tens of thousands to paint an ordinary house, painting government residences is going to be very expensive. They’re simply large buildings.
scrubone´s last [type] ..Rage
May 8 11 11:23 pm
Labour have been erecting “don’t elect us” signs for several years. Some of them are stop-sign shaped…
May 8 11 8:27 pm
. After all, it is hard for anyone to judge whether such money is well-spent.
Of course we can. Clearly even one cent spent on protecting a leftist is one cent too many.
Labour languish in the doldrums of 30% support.
24% on current indicative polling.
NZ has a clear choice – want Labour/Key policies to continue, or want a move left – electorate vote Labour or National (your choice); Party vote National.
want Brash policies – electorate vote National, Party vote ACT or Labour
want to “increase the contradictions” ? vote Mana
Why does a Labour vote help Brash? Because the important vote isn’t really the election: its forming the National+ACT coalition afterwards. At least half the National caucus will vote Brash for Finance Minister – at least for a year or so. If you don’t want that to happen, don’t want the 2025 reports to become law in an emergency budget in November, the only way to stop that is to vote National. A Labour vote basically gives English one less vote against Brash.
May 8 11 11:21 pm
A not unreasonable summation. I rather suspect that the more National needs Brash, the more likely he will be finance minister.
May 8 11 9:45 pm
With the painting of Premier House costing that sort of money, it’s just as well all the tiling was done under the previous Administration then.
May 8 11 11:19 pm
The cost does seem excessive, if it is just for painting. I suspect there is more involved than a simple paint job and Labour, as usual, are intentionally over-simplifying.
May 8 11 9:47 pm
Deep down, I think that Hipkins (Chippie to his mates) probably blames John Key for Hipkins being a redhead!