Americans use the phrase ‘giving it a bit of english’ meaning to spin something - usually a ball (like a billiard ball). I reckon over at Kiwiblog DPF is giving it a bit of english for English and is spinning for all it’s worth.
As we have opined frequently on this blog, DPF is a pretty loyal member of the travelling circus that is the National Party. But he does have personal loyalties too. DPF is clearly in the pro-English camp. So, it’s fascinating to watch how he spins for National but sometimes within that subtly spins for English.
It’s clear Davey wants to whistle-up support Bill’s cause whenever he can. But DPF also knows he has to be careful - the timing is lousy. And, for the Party’s sake he’s got to talk up Key. The EFB has proven itself to be a great opportunity for DPF to pump Bill’s cause while still seemingly doing the Party’s bidding.
Take the latest bit of English english - the YouTube footage of Bill’s second reading yell speech. Davey’s subtle spruiking of English was sufficiently overt to set some of the dogs running:
“it seemed to me the kind of speech a leader would give, more for the troops than the opposition, when they feel they are on the front foot. Has John Key given a speech like this yet?”
Really? English is showing leadership and Key’s nowhere? I see Davey jumped in to defend the honour of his Leader. Not!
So, if we take Farrar’s efforts as being emblematic of wider sentiment within the wider Party, I think it fair to speculate that Key has got some real problems ahead.
Tags: election
November 25, 2007 at 9:34 am
I wouldn’t take Farrer’s efforts as being emblematic of anything to do with the National Party. He may have been an employee of the Nats at some stage, but that’s as far as it goes. He is not a Nat representative and under a centrist leader like Key his recent behaviour is likely to be less than favourable, bearing in mind that it was ACT party candidates like Stephen Franks that accompanied him on the march and that it was Annette King that linked Bill English to DPF in the recent confrontation in parliament, not the other way round. As I have said before, I think that DPF’s association with the Nats could be more damaging to the Nats than beneficial.
And, sure, Key’s leadership will have problems, but so does every leadership. Personally I support a change of govt and new leadership. The present govt is old and stale. The Key to Key is to steer his govt away from the far right, which tried to steal the last election and keep him in the centre. The way to do that is to use MMP to provide ample centrist parties with which he has to learn to compromise.
November 25, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Is this a case of wedge politics as whinned about by you boys when anyone (DPF) poses a likely difference of opinion in the Labour ranks