In the big rugby game of MMP politics the Prime Minister has a lot of roles. They are captain of the biggest team, but also they get to be, from time to time, the coach, the referee and the St Johns officer. One thing is for sure it is not a role where you get to follow from the sidelines.
That is why I strongly disagree with Audrey Young’s description of John Key’s role in the Rugby World Cup TV rights debacle. In essence she is congratulating him for dropping the ball, tackling his own players, changing the rules in the middle of the game, and then, finally actually agreeing on some tactics to win the game.
Audrey says Key’s reactive instincts have been good. The problem here is that he was reacting against himself. Due to a seeming absence of any mechanisms for coalition parties to talk to each other Ministers have been undermining each other at every turn. Management of this is Key (and his office’s) responsibility. Even then if we accept Key was not aware of everything that was taking place, when he did become aware, he appears to have gone along with undermining the MTS bid. He took more than a week to find his so-called instincts. If he did not have the instinct to intervene after the debacle of the last week he would not deserve to be in Parliament, let alone be Prime Minister.
This has been a spectacular failure of coalition management, and journalists who are buying Key’s spin need to remember that the PM does not have the option of being a spectator.
Young playsoffensive deleted Trevor Or she gives the impression she would like to be given the chance.
I agree, this whole thing has been a bleeping disaster!
I guess the honeymoon isn’t quite over eh?
So who are the Labour party in this rugby analogy…Suzie the waitress poisoning the food?
With incompetence like this debacle and only one year into his term, it bodes well for Labour at the next election.
An own goal by John Key.
Audrey does a great job as apologist/spinner for our PM. As Grant points out, there is a whole lot of serious incompetencies in the issue. But I suspect that the general population will only hear, “The PM has sorted it out. Well done John.”
What a load of spin by Audrey Young! Does she really expect us to believe Key was only involved at the last minute?? She must think we’re all stupid.
Muldoon-ism at its best if you ask me.
Agree with your points Grant, particularly the time lag for resolution, and I’m amazed that the media seems to be going with a ‘happy ending’ version of this story.
Well Big Cheese, if you really need an analogy – I think the Labour party’s role in this rugby analogy is that of the New Zealand public sitting in their lounges, who greeted the All Blacks getting taken out of the last World Cup by France with a heartfelt “Oh for F***’s sake!”
I think it’s a bloody good strategy National is running. Most gallery reporters have an exceptional sense of self-importance. When they offer advice and then the government follows that advice (as Key has done here by following Audrey’s) it panders to that sense of self-importance. I wouldn’t be surprised if there had been a wee conversation between Kevin and Audrey that went something like “After reading your column John realised what he had to do”
No gallery journo will attack an MP (especially the PM!) for following that journo’s advice because the journo has a personal stake in the outcome. Well played Kevin and John.
I’m a big fan of Machiavelli, so from my point of view the ends will (almost) always justify the means.
Seems to me that Key’s managed to get TVNZ, TV3/Can-West, and MTV, to hold hands and play nice.
Ok Grant, fair points
I think everyone except a couple of National ministers got what was right
So what would have you done if you were in Key’s boots
Oh, that’s right no Maori Party in your coalition
Hello Phil
I’m not convinced John Key aimed for that result. If so, couldn’t the aim have been better achieved without letting the IRB know that the government had stumped up an extra $3 million just to spend on the broadcasting rights, before the bidding starts?
At least it allows the IRB to know where to open the auction.
As for Machiavelli, obviously just looking at ‘The Prince’ grossly simplifies his views: but Machiavelli also recommends a prince should take actions that are decisive, quick and effective.
I dispute John Key acted either quickly or decisively in this instance. I think he bimbled through.
Grant: You describe it better than Audrey.
And “bimbled through” is about right.
I can almost see Key, anxious to be seen doing something, reaching out to tackle someone, anyone, and was almost very grateful to find – as he was biting the grass – that he had grabbed Coleman! (McCully had deftly stepped out of the way.)
@La Grand Fromage – Suzie the waitress poisoning the food?
– I’d say seving them up a dose le Pain (bread).
LOL
Young’s piece so resembles spin that she’s lost any pretence of independence.
Raymon – so you approve of how Key is treating the Maori Party, like lap dogs and pets?
All this talk of dropped balls sounds like the Hand of Satan to me. Could John Key be the Antichrist?
well done John, thank goodness it was sorted out so early. I look forward to how MTV go .. I’m sure Shane Jones will be as well and I hope they make him and indeed all Maori proud in how well they have done in such a short time.
Just as a note to my last comment on this thread, this from Espiner’s on the RWC flip-flop:
colin espiner #75 01:40 pm Oct 15 2009
KiwiKraut, on the contrary, it’s always fun when I post a blog saying something needs to be done and Key needs to intervene and fix things and then he does! Not that I’m claiming to have any influence of course
@Servant of God LOL
– That was fun reading!