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@gt12 said in NZ Politics:
What do you and others reckon his thinking was here? By quitting, after what? A couple of weeks?
He comes across to me as a bit of a pussy. He became leader and seemed to expect that he wouldn’t be faced with scandals and difficulties.
First scandal, he quits.
Who knows. Alexander Downer famously was drafted in to take the Liberal leadership in Australia and I believe is on the public record as saying the same day he realized he had made a mistake - with similar results to Muller.
It's maybe one of those opportunities where if you are in the business of politics and the opportunity arises you simply have to take it because you may never get another chance. The National leadership is a lolly scramble now after no one else having a sniff for a decade - funny how that works.
In NSW we saw a federal opposition leader and then state opposition leader exit in pretty dark circumstances in consecutive years in the mid-00s so I really do hope the media goes easy on him if some of the mental health rumours are true.
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@Paekakboyz said in NZ Politics:
@Donsteppa dude, this 1000%.
In a semi-related segue we moved to Outlook from Google mail at work last week. I flipped the table as it was one more bit of (unwelcome) change in a year that has been a shambles. Didn't matter if it was good or bad change, I was just utterly done on change.
No matter how resilient we are feeling this year has done a number on us. Far more of us running around on a hair trigger than we might expect or admit.
I hear this mate. I'm a grumpy cnt most of the time right now. Got to keep reminding myself to go easy on the kids, it can't be easy for them too.
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I had missed the happenings last Friday when Muller tried to hold up the Christchurch rebuild as an example of the Nats ability to fix things after a crisis.
I wondered if that would come to bite them but expected an attack on Brownlee as being the avenue not a shot aimed directly at the foot.
"Don't mention Christchurch" should have been on a post-it stuck to Muller's speechwriters laptop. -
Confirmation that Leader of the Opposition is the toughest job in politics. I hope Muller comes out of it OK, he seemed like a decent guy. Heard Garner on the subject this morning (was a Newshub clip in the story about the resignation), and Garner said Muller and Kaye were the number counters, not the intended leaders, which explained why they were not really ready for it.
Collins would make a good "saving the furniture" option, but it's a tough gig to go in as the nightwatchman.
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I'm wondering if they might look at Brownlee to take the nightwatchman spot and sell it on a basis of best placed person to see the formulation of alternative recovery options. Long track record as a minister, used to dealing with the shit etc.
It's obvious that he will retire soon but can be sold as stepping up to get things kickstarted.Massive Achilles heel on Christchurch recovery though.
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@Crucial Every potential National candidate comes with baggage
Soimon - unlikeable twat
Collins - Oravida
Brownlee - Chch
Kaye - too many recent embarrassing faux pas
Mitchell - who?Could Amy Adams be a dark horse? I know she was going to quit politics not long ago but when English stepped down she was considered a front runner. Having a low profile the last couple of years could actually be a real benefit
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@Godder said in NZ Politics:
Confirmation that Leader of the Opposition is the toughest job in politics. I hope Muller comes out of it OK, he seemed like a decent guy. Heard Garner on the subject this morning (was a Newshub clip in the story about the resignation), and Garner said Muller and Kaye were the number counters, not the intended leaders, which explained why they were not really ready for it.
Collins would make a good "saving the furniture" option, but it's a tough gig to go in as the nightwatchman.
agreed, obviously hope he can get things together once out of the spotlights
re the lead of the opposition role, i feel sometime they do bring some pressure on them selves, national has been doing the same thing that Labour did in their last stint in opposition...they take the term opposition literally, as in they need to come out opposed to "everything" the government tries to do, even if it makes them look a bit silly
whether you like or dislike Labour/jacinda when she came in she just started talking about what plans they had rather than just bagging nations...and people responded
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It was Adams that made the recent blunder calling out a colleague as Chinese when they are actually Korean.
Being defeated by Soimon in one leadership vote could make her get tagged as a Second Chance Charlie, especially after only changing her mind on retiring after getting a plum role under Muller.
Not that much baggage though and given the referenda this time she could be well placed (pro life choice, currently holds drug reform portfolio). Socially liberal too with a voting record for gay marriage and abortion rights.
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@Kiwiwomble said in NZ Politics:
hey take the term opposition literally, as in they need to come out opposed to "everything" the government tries to do
that was the odd thing, MUller said they wouldnt be oppositional for the sake of it, yet they did just that.
BUt as above posts say, I have heard he has some health issues to deal with too, so if he has to deal with that, better to do so without the added strain of being leader of the opposition.
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I know Simon has alot of support in the National ranks (well we are told he does) but surely going back to him would be a massive mistake?
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@taniwharugby It would be a massive mistake. Public don't like him at all. Muller got that boost at the start because he wasn't Bridges.
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@JC said in NZ Politics:
My sauces are whispering that Muller has been given some very bad health news...
If so he should have said so. I must unfortunately and with great regret quit the leadership as I have been diagnosed with X and start X treatment next week. He would have had had all the sympathy.
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@Crucial said in NZ Politics:
Not that much baggage though and given the referenda this time she could be well placed (pro life choice, currently holds drug reform portfolio).
She's literally had the drug reform portfolio for two weeks.
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@Smudge said in NZ Politics:
@Crucial said in NZ Politics:
Not that much baggage though and given the referenda this time she could be well placed (pro life choice, currently holds drug reform portfolio).
She's literally had the drug reform portfolio for two weeks.
Two weeks is a long time in politics.
It’s on her CV
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@Donsteppa said in NZ Politics:
@dogmeat said in NZ Politics:
He did look all at sea though almost from Day 1. Job was clearly much harder than he expected it to be. Corporate world clearly wasn't preparation for the death stare politicking no matter what Winnie says
I have a half baked theory that 2020 has taken a lot more of out of some people than they realise, and when they go to step up a few gears all of a sudden they can't quite do it the way that they once would have. Todd isn't the only one I've seen along those (very broad) lines.
Wouldn't surprise me at all.
Being in the full glare of the political spotlight probably isn't a good place for most people. There are many completely heinous things I'd rather do than be there!
I recall Nick Smith got appointed as Deputy leader after Brash rolled English, and almost immediately got sent off on stress leave and replaced shortly after.
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