Interesting to see a meeting between John Key and Joe Biden being spun as a major victory for Key.
Of course it is a good thing. Any opportunity to push the trade agenda with the administration is a good thing.
But lets not pretend this is a big win. Key was pushing for a formal meeting with Obama. He didn’t get one.
In Super 14 terms this is like a loss with a bonus point.
And what are the odds of the President putting his head into the meeting to give John another chance to smile and wave to the cameras.
Will almost certainly happen but will still be a loss with two bonus points.
Sort of like the Hurricanes rather than the Crusaders – may be a bit of feel good but no one believes they are really going to be there when the real business is done.
Stuff is reporting a “surprise visit to the White House” and the Herald that Key has “brought forward his arrival in Washington” for an “unscheduled” meet with the Veep. However the Herald also reports that the meet is a “formality” as everyone at the ‘nuke gig’ gets to meet either the Veep or the Prez. Aint spin is a wonderful thing.
I heard this on the radio this monring. Is it usual for a meeting like this to be decided only 24 hours out? Or is it the announcement of the meeting that is only 24 hours out?
Key is trading on the cred of his predecessor. Obama’s pretty smart though, won’t take long to see he is all talk and no substance.
Trevor did you feel the same way when Winston Peters went to the White House? Because I can’t help but think you are a bit envious if not jealous.
Sounds like they only get a ‘grip and grin’with Biden at the very last minute.
This is so humiliating for Key.
Dozens of world leaders have actually walked into the oval office but they can see a publicity hound a mile off.
Perhaps JK can get some tips from the couple who gatecrashed the state dinner
Winston was the Foreign Minister, hes supposed to get meetings like this with the second tier
Thought Winnie did it with real class – and it wasn’t spun well beyond the facts. When it was really important he knew the value of understatement.
And most people know I have no diplomatic ambitions. Not my style really.
Trevor
“Thought Winnie did it with real class”. As I recall Winston had a tanty with the kiwi press core during one of the press conferences. Yeah, real class.
BTW, from memory the last person to make a genuine “surprise” visit to the White House and be let in was Elvis. I wish the folks reporting this garbage would grow a brain.
Even I’ve been to the darn White House! They’ll let just about anyone in there…
Winston struck up a real rapport with Condi Rice, gawd knows why. Real question is, will Trev’s slur on the ‘Canes go unanswered??
Trevor, you’re not helping with the spin!
If the NZ PM meeting the President and Vice-President is a loss with two bonus points, what do you call it when you get booted out of office, and the only way you get to meet Obama is to have your successor introduce you to him at dinner?
David, are you aware of a formal meeting with the President for John Key or do you mean the usual meeting accorded to leaders at such conferences? (Am not casting aspersions, am confused about who JK is meeting and in what format).
Oh JK is not having a formal meeting, just a brief chat – which is all that is expected. I’d be amazed at anything more than that with 45 leaders attending. My expectation is a formal meeting and visit probably later in the year.
I just can’t resist tweaking at the bitterness emanating here that he even gets to do that, let alone the need to comment on it. It looks bitter and petty.
Understood David, thanks for that.
David, your diversion attempt gets you a loss with no bonus points.
Why would anyone want to meet Obama?
According to France’s Nikolas Sarkozy, the US president is ‘insane.’
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/21864
well, Sarkozy ought to have the inside poop on unstable, that’s for sure
Ahh ok … can someone point out to, for eg, Audrey Young and Tracy Watkins that it will be a “brief chat” and to convey that more clearly next time for someone a bit slow like me?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10637833
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3570934/Surprise-White-House-visit-for-Key
“I just can’t resist tweaking at the bitterness emanating here that he even gets to do that, let alone the need to comment on it. It looks bitter and petty.”
Some people must have been taking lessons from you Farrar!
Someone should arrange another appearance for Jonkey Dead Eyes on Letterman. That was priceless. Or perhaps he could join Paula Shipley later in the year on the Tea Party? Proud to kay ways.
Farrar is pouting that Helen didnt meet Obama.
Of course not , she wasnt PM when he took office.
Ok guys lets get a few facts strait.
JK is the term used for John Kirwin. Please give respect where it is due and stop calling John Key JK.
The crusaders are the real deal, the hurricanes are good at the fancy stuff and as such are only worth 2 bonus points wearas the crusaders know that you have the grunt the ball up in the forwards to wear out the oppososition before you give it to your backs to finish them off.
Teams that are flashy and have great PR spin will eventaully be found wanting, normally at finals time.
Farrar – the bitterness is at the breathless excitement with which these run of the mill meetings are being trumpeted.
Funny thing is, Obama has gained a reputation for some strange behaviour.
He reaches out to the bad guys like Hugo Chavez or he will bow before Saudi princes.
Yet, he is cruel to America’s friends like Britain.
So, maybe we should fear an embrace from the ObamaMessiah.
John Key could well be honoured should he receive a box of movie CDs.
Fairfacts, how many copies of ‘Wall Street’ does Johnboy need? He’s memorised the Gordon Gecko part.
You’re right, waterboy, we don’t want JK to be getting depressed again now do we.
I wonder if Smile and wave will try to trump Letterman in his PR stunt – Opera? Dr Phil? Dr OZ – now that would be impressive – or perhaps he might get a slot on ‘good morning america’.
I’m surprised his backroom boys stuffed up and didnt have him on the 18th at Augusta!
If JK’s half hour with the Veep is so unimportant, why is so much effort being spent by so many trying to rubbish it?
@George: the rubbishing is of the NZ media’s reporting, not of the event itself – do try to keep up
@Dorothy – I suggest that you read the main post again, then all of the comments, then take your own advice to keep up…
I’m sure the nats will be desperate enough for a trade agreement they will sell us all down the river to get it.