What is up with Nick Smith
Posted by Trevor Mallard on October 13th, 2009
In 1999 and 2000, and again in the few days he was deputy leader of the National Party, Nick Smith has shown an inability to cope when the pressure comes on.
Widely circulating Beehive rumours now indicate that John Key has overloaded him giving him Climate Change and ACC at the same time.
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I must remember to link to this post in 2011, when reminding people why not to vote Labour.
Reluctant to edit David but you have gone one step further than I did and that takes it beyond my limit. Trevor
Argh.
I’ve voted Labour the last 3 elections and have a broad sympathy for your positions.
I even think that Nick Smith is an idiot.
But this is just really nasty.
Well Mr Smith does not seem to have much empathy for other kiwis short edit Trevor with the changes to ACC services for sexual abuse and other trauma customers that have been raised in the last few days.
I love it when old dogwhistle Farrar gets on his moral high horse.
Fact is it’s legitimate to question whether a cabinet minister can perform under pressure. Nick Smith clearly can’t. You’re the only one who brought up (edit Trevor ) here David. For shame.
Would that be Farrar reminding us in 2011 not to vote labour or will he like last time ‘channel’ Mugabe to tell us to not vote Labour.
I think the posts reflect quite clearly the fact that nick smith is obviously under pressure We can see that by his poor ,somew ould say dishonest handling of the ETS and Acc fiasos not to mention him swearing at journalists. Although do understand that is what National Ministers seem to be doing as a matter of course
Farrar – I would say that stunts like rorting accommodation expenses, diddling NZOA funding and fiddling the ACC figures are far less popular with the public…
I dread to see what is going to happen with ACC!
Priceless! Farrar emerges from his [pre-emptive self-deletion] to decry a comment as heinous as…wait for it…”inability to cope”!!!
Best laugh all week – it’s like Family Guy without the class…
Although I rarely agree with him- I think Farrer has a point in this case. To me he always seems to be one of the more coherent ministers. He is also one of the few ministers who shows some understanding of climate change issues, even if he does exaggerate a bit when discussing how much his ETS can achieve.
Careful what you wish for- who would you more prefer in the Environment portfolio, Nick smith or Rodney Hide?
In order for this blog to be successful it is absolutely necessary that the Labour-left not criticise a comment made by a right-winger (like Farrar and myself) just because it is made by someone who you don’t like.
I personally think Nick Smith is a brilliant Minister and that he is handling all his portfolios well.
Nick Smith is a whining The rest is too abusive. Edited Trevor
Seriously, SimonM! Focus on the issues. Smith has been left with 2 portfolios that should be easy but aren’t because of how the Labour party treated the issues.
Nick Smith comes across as a twit at
times and at other times quite clear and
thoughtful.
I consider him a major worry with his
responsibilities.
balance deleted Trevor
Bob,
What has gone wrong with ACC SINCE Smith got handed the portfolio?
Can someone in the know confirm whether Nick Smith shares the same political faction as the PM within the National party ??
Navigating ACC and Climate Change issues is like sailing between Scylla and Charybdis. If Nick Smith can’t negotiate his way through the challenges, he would be smashed up … conveniently and in the nick of time for the PM to shuffle him off to the sidelines part way through the electoral cycle.
I remember seeing Nick Smith speak out about the EFA on the steps of Parliament, he was quite inspiring that day…
Is Red Alert to become: The Trevor Mallard throws dirt at Nat MPs blog..?
Kiwiteen and Jeremy .. you are running close to the wind here but for what it’s worth, I agree .. where have you seen this statement:
“These are the voices of Labour MPs on issues that we care about – and we’d like to hear what you think too. What you’ll read are the individual opinions of MPs. We won’t always agree with each other and sometimes our opinions may change”
When Key gave Smith climate change it told me all I needed to know about National’s commitment to stopping global warming. And I assume he got ACC to further soften it up for privitisation. Nothing like a failing compensation scheme to make competition look enticing…
Make no mistake Smith is a very very impressive speaker but is a bullshit artist extraordinare .and does have an anger management problem to boot.
So yes, he is great political operator but not to be trusted as far as you one can throw him.
Its staggering that someone so incompetent keeps on winning the Nelson electorate seat by so much, even beating long time Nelson resident Maryan Street. It must say something about the intelligence of the voters there
Smiths tells lies about Acc K123 its that simple Acc is a good system which works and its cheap. Smiths rhetoric is nothing more than blind ideology. David Farrar that gets shortened to D… F…. and enough said really.
Oh my god. Absolutely wetting myself at David Farrar popping up to criticise such an innocuous post about a Minister who has clearly demonstrated his lack of empathy with ordinary NZers in the last few days. What irony, when he lets such vitriolic commentary about “leftie scum” populate his own blog…..this is going to keep me amused all day. Ah, the irony of the right…
@ rsj131 – I agree completley. One day it’ll change, and Maryan Street is definatley the person to do it.
Trever,
could it be that the reasons behind Smiths earlier “inability to cope” have no relevance to being” overloaded”. That was a nasty post.
Thanks Cal. I’m working on it. You might have noticed that at the time the tide was coming in across the country for the Nats, It was going out for Nick. He was the only sitting Nat MP who was returned with a reduced majority. By 23%. So rsj131 – Nelsonians are waking up to the fact that they have a real choice.
A choice between Nick Smith and Diana Mellor..?
So Trevor you deleted some of DPF’s comment highlighting your nastiness towards Nick Smith.
Play the issue not the man you say when anyone brings up your personal issues.
How about some integrity from yourself on this?
Labour were chucked out because of two things, nanny state arrogance towards us and your spending of our money and viciousness towards people who oppose you.
Mike Mckee – Seatoun
So Trevor you deleted some of DPF’s comment highlighting your nastiness towards Nick Smith.
Play the issue not the man you say when anyone brings up your personal issues.
How about some integrity from yourself on this?
Who had ACC for 9yrs lads??
You forget Labour were chucked out because of two things, nanny state arrogance towards us and your spending of our money and viciousness towards people who oppose you.
Mike Mckee – Seatoun
rjs131 and the follow up by Maryan, so because Nelson votes for Nick Smith, they must be dumb? you still don’t get it do you?
Maybe smith is finding it hard to fill the $4.5b hole you left him?
Isn’t it hilarious whenever the bloated ego of David Farrar pops up to “tut-tut” all the nasty lefties? His hypocrisy knows no bounds! It’s actually quite amazing that he finds Trevor’s comments offensive enough to dedicate a whole post to them, yet is happy to link to and travel in the “blog-mobile” with someone who takes great delight in making fun of dead children. Bu then again, I guess Farrar doesn’t have to worry about Trevor going rabid on him if he gets off-side.
If Trevor’s comments make the Left nasty, then the Right must be pure evil.
a cheap shot from a cheap thug….
How can anyone be overloaded with climate change? it’s just watching the weather.