Gee, I’d just had a chat with myself after writing my last post criticising the competence of this government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis. “Danny,” I said to myself “perhaps it’s time to back off a little and stop sniping at them. Try to look for some positives.”
Well, as it happens, that turns out to be about as easy as trying to board an international flight during this lockdown.
Hot on the heels of writing about my “tool of the week” taking his sign written van to go mountain bike riding, we hear that the same “tool of the week” is angling for “tool of the year” if not “tool of the century”.
“Health Minister David Clark has narrowly avoided being sacked after taking a 20 kilometre trip to a beach amid the coronavirus lockdown. Clark, in a statement issued early on Tuesday morning, said he had informed the prime minister of his breach of the lockdown and offered his resignation.”
He later told the AM Show he felt “like a complete dick” when he realised his mistake.
There’s a very good reason why he felt “like a complete dick” and frankly, that’s about as strong an insult to “dicks” as you could find.
Meanwhile, Her “Princessliness” Jacinda Ardern again delivered a classic fail by letting him off the hook
“Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in a statement issued the same time as Clark’s, said in normal circumstances she would “sack” Clark for the indiscretion.
“But right now, my priority is our collective fight against Covid-19. We cannot afford massive disruption in the health sector or to our response. For that reason, and that reason alone, Dr Clark will maintain his role.
“But he does need to pay a price. He broke the rules.”
Instead, he would be stripped of his associate finance minister portfolio and be demoted to the bottom of the Government’s Cabinet rankings. Ardern said there were no excuses for his actions.
She’s right about one thing. There’s no excuse for his actions. So why is he still Health Minister?
We all know the talent pool she is leader of is as shallow as a midsummer’s car park puddle and only a few centimetres in diameter, but accepting his resignation, Covid crisis notwithstanding, was the very least she could do.
The thing about politics is that it’s all about grandeur and posturing. In six months, if he’s been a good boy, he could easily be eased back into the cabinet but right here and right now Jacinda, you needed to go early and go hard. Literally.
How many fails can this government wrack up before the public sees through them?
Watch this space over the next two weeks.
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