I love trite and there's nothing in the news that's more trite than the chimps' tea party at Epsom.
What a farce. Banks in his goggle-glasses and Key with his sharky grin, it really was a low point in the campaign, for the public at least, who deserve better than this monkeying around. The oily matey-ness between the two right-wing politicians was enough to put me off my own cup of tea, but that was nothing when compared with the nonsense around the spilled 'private' conversation. Private my wine-biscuit! Looking at photographs of the tea party, with its clusters of media people pressed against the glass of the cafe, microphones pointed at the political 'chumpions' and cameras rolling - if Banks and Key expected to have a private conversation under those conditions, I'll be a monkey's uncle!
12 comments:
So the fact the media were ushered out of the cafe so they could have a private cup of tea is irrelevant to you?
Typical lefty Greens - all about principle whilst it suits them but as soon as they see some potential political mileage they're all over it like a rash. I really don't care what Key and Banks said. They could have talked about putting Nuclear power stations in Riverton for all I care. At this stage of the election it's only just talk.
What is worse is the Greens acceptance that the type of skullduggery that News of the World undertakes as acceptable in Godsown when it suits them. That is truly disgraceful.
Paranormal
The media were 'ushered out of the cafe', on whose authority, Anonymous? A cafe is a public space. Why should a member of the public have to leave, simply because two puffed-up politicians want to have a chat? No reason at all. The media had every right to stay, sit down, have a cuppa themselves.
You don't care what Banks and Key talked about? Mind your own business then and leave the issue alone.
Your 'News of the World' allusion is straight from Key and nothing but pish. News of the World! Ha! Yeah right!
The 'disgraceful' aspect of the 'microphone on the table' incident, is the incompetence of Key's protection squad. How on earth could they have missed that???
Unbelievable! What if there'd been something dangerous in that black bag, like Winston Peters, for example?
Anon 8:05 - The media were invited to the cup of tea to suit their own agenda's! The fact that it has backfired on them - horribly - is the most entertaining thing that has happened in their very boring, fake, and dishonest campaigns!
And what is up with Jonh Bank's Harry Potter at 60 look?
Weird!
If they have nothing to hide then what is the big deal? I know i would not be going to all the trouble, and suffering the shocking publicity that this is receiving if i was proud of the conversation.
Never say something about anyone, that you would not say if they were sitting right next to you. Perhaps those two could learn from my Dad's advice.
I think they are playing it just right - look at all you lot spreading their name - as the marketers say 'any publicity is good publicity'. How else does that plonker Peters stay in the spot light.
The irony is that Act, the ultra free market party, is being bailed out by National, the other free market party, playing a state role.
They are insulting Epsom voters and the country as a whole. What's odder is that Key has outdone Helen Clark for a what the right would nastily label a Stalinesque response. They like it both ways, the ol' right wing eh?
Jacqueline - nicely put. There's been some catching-out, that's for sure. Even if the discussion was trite and inconsequential, Key's reaction, "I'm telling the police on you!" makes him look foolish. Your Dad's advice was very good.
paranormal - sorry for the scratchy tone of my response to you. I only saw, "Anonymous" at the top of the comment. I know you are more reasonable than that comment indicated.
Robert,
The cafe is not a public space, it is private. Much like pubs, restaurants, shops, etc.
My interpretation of the whole event that the taping is a set up by Key and National and done with a great insight foresight.
They knew exactly what was in the black bag just centimetres away(why else would the DPS leave the black pouch lying on the table in plain view?).
This allows Key to take the moral high ground.
After all if the police need a judges permission to tap conversations, should journalists not abide by the same rules?
On that tape about the only incriminating stuff will be a discussion on Brash leadership of Act after the election.
Probably along the lines of "Brash will be as likely to lead Act as Goff will be leader of Labour after the election".
Thanks for your moral suport on frogblog. Cheers.
Animal/AlexIV/Ross
That's right - spreading Bank's name around the country will greatly benefit ... someone... and the idea that the two of them were saying things they aren't willing to share with the voting public? Priceless! What a coup!
Cafe space is private, eh! I guess you are right, Gerrit. Who then, has the right to ask people to leave? The owner, I'm guessing, rather than Key's media manager. You'll doubtless know where that authority lies.
Your scenario is one I've considered too, from the outset. It seems almost impossible that the security people didn't see the bag immediately. After all, they are trained to do so. You'd have to assume then, that the cameraman was in on the scam, along with the newspaper. Risky strategy from Key, if that's the case and very Machiavellian, but the most reliable assumption in cases like this seems to be that the simplest answer is the best. Will this sideshow mean that the Government can continue to keep discussion on policy etc under wraps til the election? If not this, then some other frippery would have sufficed. I think the whole tea party come privacy scandal makes Key look stupid, but there are others who will see him as impressive because of it. Such is political life in NZ.
As for Froggy's blog, you provide a very necessary measure there, of credibility. It's important for all of us to be able and willing to say, yep, I was wrong about that.
Anon 10:08 is spot on.
If i was lucky enough to be an Epsom voter - i would be insulted by this behaviour.
Banks and Key are treating the Epsom voters like they are stupid.
Oh for a couple of strategically placed lip-readers.
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