Friday, 25 August 2006, 4:52 pm
Column: New Zealand National Party
Plain English – Thoughts from your MP for Clutha/Southland
There is No Shame
“The New Zealand public will ultimately decide the standards of public probity in politics. If they let [... get] away with … rort, then standards of transparency and honesty will drop across the board. … New Zealand politics stays clean because all politicians have presumed the public don’t tolerate corruption, and because politicians do not want the shame of being seen as anything but squeaky clean – until now that is. … believe that … can tough it out, that if … doesn’t admit any wrongdoing, the media will eventually drop it, and the public don’t really care. … doesn’t appear to believe the idea than any rules of public probity should get in the way of [the party's] interests.”
Thanks to Jack McDonald commenting on the Standard.
Doesn’t need much elaboration.
Well I can’t say I disagree with anything English says here…
Yeah, that’s a pretty good piece.
Blatant trolling. Use your one month ban to decide if your talents better used on sites run by penguin and blowhard. Trevor
Bit reluctant to delete but just over the line Trevor
Double Dipton’s comments say as much about the MSM as it does about himself and the National party, in my view.
What goes around…… I think I can write a Letter to the Editor, quoting Bill and praising Bill for his wisdom.
Perhaps others might try that with something similar in their own paper?:
We do admire Bill English’s wisdom. It seems like only yesterday that he wrote this fair and reasoned piece in his column 25 August 2006: “Thoughts from your MP for Clutha/Southland”.
“The New Zealand public will ultimately decide the standards of public probity in politics. If they let [any MP get] away with … rort, then standards of transparency and honesty will drop across the board. … New Zealand politics stays clean because all politicians have presumed the public don’t tolerate corruption, and because politicians do not want the shame of being seen as anything but squeaky clean.”
Great thinking from an honest man.
Fine sentiments but exposed as rank hypocrisy.
It’s pushing the envelope; sailing close to the wind (and all those cliches) but it’s not corruption. That’s pretty hysterical.
@Trevor –
okay.
Thats some terrible editing there Trev. It seems this site has dropped to a new low. Have the guts to print the whole article with all comments in context. This is just disgusting.
Whats worst is that when this first broke I was after Bill’s blood as much as anyone. After the constant beating on it here I just don’t care anymore.
Not my edit Geek. I’m happy for you to link if you think it is unfair – but don’t try your normal off thread tory diversion trick because your time commenting here is rapidly drawing to an end.