I’ve just rung my youth MP Billy Clemens to commisserate with him about the vagaries of media – this is the photo in today’s Press of him in the House yesterday. No need. Billy has already put the photo on his Facebook page and was quick to say the big yawn snap could only have been taken when Gerry Brownlee was speaking!
And, he reckons he was able to use his supplementary question to Stephen Joyce to get a commitment to dealing with recidivist drunk drivers as well as being tough on under-20s. Billy is a natural, a credit to Papanui High School and clearly one of to watch. Though having met a bunch of them at Parliament on Tuesday, he’s got company.
LOL
I wonder if the Youth MPs were given the treatment and experienced the back-biting, cheating, drinking, manouevering, climbing over others, swallowing personal convictions, about face, boredom, following stupid instructions and so on of daily political life?
As an example of about turns: I emailed Tau regarding the need to support the “Anti-smacking” Bill way back then. He did reply with one word. “Idiot.”
The following day the Nats did an about turn and supported the Bill.
Some sage words from J.R.R. Tolkein for the youth MPs to consider
He he he – great quote quoth
QtR: Very apt. It sort of fits also for the sort of person who wants to be a policeman, or traffic officer, or MP, or teacher. The non-bossy ones seem to have the quiet humnaity better suited to the job but yet are often un-noticed.
Poor boy – representing Labour in the opposition must be so boring.
Does this reflection of enthusism for youth back-bench opposition hold true for the real opposition back-bencher where you are not much more than a cheer-leader for your party (be it National or Labour who are in opposition)?
I would love to see some photos of each youth MP with their Host MP for the comparison. Sometime owners look like their pets – will the same hold true in this instance????
“Sometime owners look like their pets – will the same hold true in this instance????” ROTFL
I’d love to be a backbencher – great pay, 3 years of guaranteed income
Get on the list Spud, that’s the easiest way. Just don’t sell your soul.
poor lad – but perhaps he’ll remember to put his hand in front of his mouth next time!
@Brendon – good on you for talking with Billy. He seemed a fine youth MP to me, as were all of the others.
I don’t know if I have the bazookas to try for the list, though it would be fun!
@QtR
I’m not sure if the word existed in Tolkein’s day, but his sage words are reminiscent of a mildly afflicted sociopath?
Oh, and I’m not suggesting all politicians are afflicted with the condition, but some current government ministers do spring to mind and they’re not all men.