There will be lots of analysis over the weekend of Act’s week.
Yet to see any acknowledement in mainstream media (or whaleoil, penguin press or the standard) for Red Alert being the first media to foreshadow Roy’s demise. Maybe they don’t like admitting being off the pace.
The Herald has three stories. I think John Armstrong’s column is pretty good.
So Rodney Hide ends the most calamitous week in his party’s history having won (at least for the time being) the debilitating power struggle that has been consuming the Act caucus and the wider party for months.
But at dreadful cost. This is the most pyrrhic of victories – a variant on the old Vietnam war adage of having to destroy the village in order to save it.
In conspiring to oust Heather Roy from the deputy leadership, Hide may well have destroyed Act not only as a parliamentary force, but also wrecked its capacity to resurrect itself
and :-
For many members, the attraction of Act has been as the party of ideas and ideals, not personality. Or the kind of pragmatism that many members see as compromising too much in National’s favour.
At the party’s annual conference this year, both Roy and Douglas argued strongly for Act to get out of the shadow cast by National.
Hide – still weakened at the time over his scandalous use of ministerial perks – appeared to listen.
He delivered stinging criticism of National’s emissions trading scheme, National’s endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Waikato River treaty settlement.
Then he stopped
There are small stories on Act minor players. Peter Tashkoff who is 2 off being an MP confirms Hide is not a worthy leader and there is the familiar tactic of blame the staff being used to finger Roy’s advisor Simon Ewing-Jarvie.
The Dompost has a similar take. Martin Kay describes the results as toxic for Act.
The chaotic and at times bizarre handling of Mrs Roy’s dumping as ACT deputy this week was “not very tidy” in the same way the disintegration of the Alliance in 2002 could be described as “a bit messy”.
Even as the fallout over her sacking reached its most toxic, with the leaking on Wednesday of her claims of Mr Hide’s shouted abuse and stormy corridor rows
Act will now have no choice but to focus on winning Epsom – the Nats are already publicly moving to the right making it easier for Labour to win back the centre ground.
Still a way to go but thanks for your help Rodney.
Commentators like to focus on whether Hide will win Epsom (I think he will, voters often have to hold their noses and pick the lesser evil, which Hide is, from a right-wing POV).
But the bigger picture is how that affects John Key. The Prime Minister lives and votes in Epsom, and will be dogged by media during the campaign (”Who are you voting for?” etc).
What matters most here is not the Epsom result, but the wider ripple effect on ‘nice’ National’s image. They must seriously be asking if they want to lose 3-4% of centrist swing voters (people who like Key, but loathe Hide), for the sake of 1% on the ACT fringe.
So anyway, Prime Minister, who are you voting for?
Bye bye ACT
Nah sammy, we have yet to suffer the new super city costs that we ratepayers will be footing along with the RWC, and National and Hide are at the centre of all that.A concerted effort to highlight every extra cost and lay it at the feet of NACT (for which it is) should be a wake up call. I know Epsomites that want an alternative. A fairly strong conservative Labour candidate could convince the Epsom voter. Plus the Greens should follow the same path. The target in that area is pretty much middle to upper income, so that means eco friendly also.
Is Parnell Epsom or Central Ak seat ?
Sofie, Parnell (John Key’s home) is in Epsom.
Labour won’t win Epsom, if National put up a candidate. But if National withdraw, to save Hide, then that’s a much bigger story – and as I said above, it would probably be a net loss for National.
The voters who matter here are the 5-10% who like Key, not the Right. They’re the ones who deliver those National poll ratings. They think “Key”, not “NACT”.
Still, if (as I believe) the Epsom seat was won with tactical/strategic voting, then surely, surely they have seen the smokesreens since, and may not want to look like idiots (to us sensible folk down the road) again next time round.
And, how insulted did Mr Worth feel then? Hung out to dry like the obvious unimportant candidate they revealed.Some (not me) may be fawning over the “Key” Party,but more the fool them.Jus’ sayin’
Yet to see any acknowledement in mainstream media (or whaleoil, penguin press or the standard) for Red Alert being the first media to foreshadow Roy’s demise.
Oi Trev! http://thestandard.org.nz/final-act-for-roy/
We always hat tip where due…
I apologise Trevor
and this weeks winner of the chocolate fish for scooping the bloggerati on political matters is…
…wait for it
Trevor Mallard
congratulations Trevor, though being firmly ensconced in the corridors of power i’d be surprised if you weren’t the winner very week…happy now ?
I hear from the Nats that Aaron Bhatnagar who is running John Banks’s campaign is looking to stand in Epsom because the local members and voters are sick of Hide. National will look to get rid of ACT like Labour got rid of Alliance by standing a candidate that sends a signal to their voters they want them out (like Harre). Act is a mirror image to the Alliance without the split on principle.
“National will look to get rid of ACT like Labour got rid of Alliance”
Um, Labour weren’t trying very hard to get rid of Jim Anderton, from a seat he held. That’s the relevant comparison here, not Laila Harre.
I hope National want to get rid of Hide. But why would National do what I (we) want? Again, it all comes back to net gain v loss, as explained in my first comment.
It’s not an easy call for them, that’s for sure. They have to decide who those potential National voters dislike most: Rodney, Winston or Hone! Because they’re going to need somebody … (Dunne wll be done).
Surely sense will prevail and Rodders will be gone. He has blatanly attempted to de fraud tax payers and only because he got found out he re paid the money he stole from you and me. Agree Labour will need a huge swing to capture this seat but I for one will be glad to see the back of Act.
“Are you the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers?”
“Eff off! We’re not the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers! Were the Consumers and Taxpayers Association!”
“Splitters!”
Trevor you and your lot are dreaming if you think disgruntled former ACT voters are going to move to Labour.
Looks like he could receive a hiding in the polls
Hide deserves to go . He is a hypocrite and I am fairly sure that most Aucklanders feel he is a bully. How long will the child bride hang about once the big salary is gone? Perhaps I am a cynic and it really is true love. To me , he is just another man brought down by a woman…the price of ”love”
Daresay he won’t be the last.
National needs ACT, some body to put all the “to hard to sell” stuff to, like privations etc… just say it was ACT idea therefore Mr Key stay squeaky clean. Hopefully thou ACT will disappear and National will have to take the fall.