Wendy
It’s unscientific, but the AM Show poll puts Bridges ahead of Ardern for the next PM. It seems that people are finally getting it. Policy is just as important as personality. Phew! Wednesday’s poll may be a snapshot in time and it’s early days but there are signs people are starting to see the leader of the ‘most open and transparent government ever’, for what she is. Full of hot air, smiles and promises but soft on delivery.
National is already using the slogan ‘First rate at announcements but third rate at delivery’. Simple but very true and coincidentally matching the facts approach Jacinda is insisting on in election year! This will become National’s catch cry, driving Labour insane as it reverberates in their ears. It is the truth, not fake news! They have failed to deliver on their promises.
The hosts agreed with Richardson that Bridges was ‘definite’ in his interview on Wednesday. Simple, definitive and repetitive could be working for the Nats. It is working with their social media campaign. My advice for him is to keep his own commentary simple and free of platitudes and flowery language. Leave that to the virtue signaller. An example when a metaphor didn’t work was at Ratana where Bridges, amongst other things, had to compete with a toddler.
He referred to the Government having soft hands as they had not done the work for Maori. Ardern a master at deflecting, obfuscating and denying grabbed this, played with it a bit as a cat does with a mouse and threw it straight back in his face, diluting his message. She is quick-witted; she has to be as she rarely knows the answer or is busy hiding it from view, enabled during Q & A in the House by a compliant Mallard.
An alternative line could have been ‘The government has failed Maori.’ This is blunt, plain language and with no room for misinterpretation. Like their campaign strategy, I suggest plain, unadulterated language appeals to us simple folks out there, Simon.
He was at his best responding, in a stand up with the media, regarding the government’s infrastructure lolly scramble announcement on Wednesday. He is always prepared and better informed than Ardern (on all her policies) and he spoke knowledgeably and well, with some humour thrown in, courtesy of the government, on light rail. Keeping the fancy language to a minimum works well for him. He had a quiet confidence about him with reporters showing maybe a bit more respect for, and eager for the opinion of, someone who had done the impossible and overtaken their global superstar, even if just in one online poll.
Here and worldwide the largely left-wing media tend to take the default position that being tough on crime is red-necked and protection of our borders is racist. We have heard it here with Bridges’ announcement of his intention to be tougher on gangs if reelected. Despite the criticism, he has not relented and his approach has largely been proved right with the recent increase in violent gang activity. What is heartening is that New Zealanders appear to be making up their own minds and ignoring the media who like to relentlessly instruct us on how to think.
National has said that they will repeal the potential UN controlled, migrant pact and last year I heard Gerry Brownlee speak of the fear of unsavoury immigrants slipping through if we are not tougher with our borders and more careful about whom we invite in as refugees. Predictably Green MP Golriz Ghahraman called him racist. Hope to hear more from National on this.
US bound, over stayer ‘refugee’ Behrouz Boochani here on a one month’s visitor’s visa, must like our socialist government and welfare system better. Isn’t that nice. When he arrived the Immigration department had declared that they are not extending his visa, but have publicly not taken steps to remove him. Some facts are required on this matter, Jacinda.
Commentator and Labour supporter Chris Trotter in an opinion piece on minister David Parker, now a firm believer in free markets and free trade, ridiculed him as ‘Stunningly wrongheaded’ in his approach to trade and economics. Like all socialists Parker sees Boris and Trump (and no doubt Bridges) as misguided populists, a dirty word. After protesting against aspects of National’s TPP Agreement during the last government, since becoming Trade Minister Parker has had his ‘come to Jesus’ moment, and now credits almost the whole current deal to their genius despite most having been negotiated during the last government.
National has some mileage to make up with many of their supporters over their ill-advised move in supporting the government in their toothless Carbon Zero bill. This was a chance to show another point of difference, instead, they tried to take a bob each way, to be all things to all people. This is risky, particularly when their seven intended changes will make the bill virtually unrecognizable and much more fair, practical and workable for our economy, our farmers and the rest of the population. So was it worth it? All will be revealed on the 19 September.
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