Youth Candidate Review - National
In the interests of consistency and as no journalist seems to have adequately done so to date, as promised I would not just take target practice and pummel Labour's dreadful choices for young candidates, but spotlight the National ones as well as anyone else that pops up. Why? Because I repeat:
Ladies and Gentlemen - THESE are the next generation of potential MP's wishing to push their agendas and views on to you. THESE are the people who:
THINK THEY KNOW HOW TO RUN YOUR LIFE AND SPEND YOUR MONEY BETTER THAN YOU DO
Aaron Gilmore (not to be confused with the guy on Dancing with Stars)
Age 34
Born in 1973, Aaron is the 5th generation of his family to be born and raised in east Christchurch, and is proud to represent this growing area. A father of two young children he returned home to raise his family in 2004. Holding a Masters degree with honours in Economics from the University of Canterbury and having undertaken postgraduate training in accounting Aaron is also a member of a number of professional associations.
At 35 he has a string to his bow that the Labour candidates don't have - 2 children.
Having worked in senior management in the finance and manufacturing sectors across 10 different countries has given Aaron a global perspective to go with strong local knowledge. For the past 4 years Aaron has been in the Asian senior management team for major exporter General Cable Corporation, with a particular focus on expansion into India and China and new technologies.
Wide work experience, although not that specific. Could mean anything. But we get the picture. He's actually left the country AND left politics to live in the real world. Strong enough small town community roots to be welcomed back as one of their own.
For this work Aaron was a finalist in the 2007 South Island NZIM Young Executive of the Year awards. Aaron also worked as a public servant to the 1995-99 National Government, including two secondments to the Beehive. A National Party member for over 10 years Aaron has been involved in the party at a policy and Electorate executive level for most of this time. When time permits Aaron enjoys cricket, tramping and mountain biking.
National Party experience including wasting away his youth working in the Beehive.
While Gilmore obviously has good National Party pedigree, there's nothing outstanding about him. No gimmicks. He's the kind of MP that the Party loves to churn out. Loyal, unassuming, hard-working, lived in the area, salt of the earth chap. Not going to change the world, but not going to upset the National Party either. Never going to have a "Brian Connell" and chuck his toys out.
I would go as far as to call him a plodder. But plodders do well in the National Party. Need I list some of the greatest plodders to date who have had long successful careers (if you call longevity in politics a success) - Clem Simich, Simon Power, David Carter, Lockwood Smith, Eric Roy.
Prediction if elected:- Not a reformer, but a loyal "true believer". Strong, solid, would never have a sick day. Would become as well known as Chris Auchinvole. In other words - the Party President would have to ask just who the hell he was when sending out the Christmas Cards.
Nikki Kaye
Age 28
The central theme to Nikki Kaye's campaign thus far has been "Vote for Me I am NOT Judith Tizard". That in itself will not be enough to beat Tizard. It is a fascinating battle and one I will expand on here as for the entire time I have been involved in ACT from the 1996 elections the centre-right has been trying to work out how to bloody beat Tizard. To beat a Tizard there must be a massive (seismic) shift to National - Auckland and Nationwide (yes Nats, the only poll that counts is election day) and Kaye has to convince Auckland Central voters that she is more Auckland Central than Judy T.
Given Tizard is 52 and Kaye 28, there's no point in comparing them at this point in time. So lets analyse it with what they both achieved pre-Party politics to see if Kaye really is all "that" and truly "NOT" Judith Tizard.
"Judith Tizard worked in the Labour Party Research Unit (1976-1977), was a Member of the Auckland Electric Power Board (1977-1983), a Restaurant Owner and Manager, O'Connells Restaurant, Auckland (1978-1982), was involved in the catering industry (1981-1984), and was a Member of the Auckland Regional Council (1988-1991). She has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History from the University of Auckland".
Aucklander, University Degree, member of political dynasty, best friends with benefits forever (BFWBF) with the powerful Prime Minister. Political appointments galore, employed by Labour, Owned and Managed a restaurant, ate food, drink Chardonnay and was a member of the ARC.
"Nikki Kaye was born and raised in Auckland. She was educated at Corran School where she was Head Prefect and gained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Otago, majoring in Genetics. She is also expecting to complete her LL.B later this year. In 1999, Nikki joined the National Party and has held various roles in the Party organisation. She took a professional role as a Researcher in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in 2002, where she supported National MPs on issues such as Justice and Housing. Like many New Zealanders, Nikki took the opportunity to have an “O.E” and moved to London in 2003. She worked in a variety of public policy and frontline delivery roles in transport and social policy".
Aucklander, the ubiquitous Head Prefect, University Degree, best friends without benefits forever (BFWOBF) with the powerful David Farrar, political involvement, exercised well and ate moderately, employed by National.
Then here is where the difference is. While Tizard's never left Auckland other than for Wellington, Kaye bumped off overseas in 2003 and has only just come back in 2007.
The OE to the UK is a fabulous time to indulge in a bit of CV cranking with respect to what you are actually doing. The Herald on Sunday actually captured it better:
In 2003 she set off for the UK, travelling in Europe and taking on short-term contracts with government policy projects. Kaye says she worked with black minority groups, managing welfare-to-work schemes, project managed a transport system for disabled people and worked six months for a Labour minister.
In other words, worked more in politics (including the enemy) and government policy until 2006 when conflicted out by appointment as Vice Chairman of the International Youth Democratic Union (of which no journalist has pointed out that there are actually 10 Vice Chairman's of this centre-right, pick-up-Estonian-girls junket monster). Kaye then picked up work as an IT Manager at a Bank.
In other words, she has one plus or minus one and a bit years of experience in the private sector at this bank. The rest has been policy and political based work. It's all very "Kate" and "Jordan". If you are looking for a stand-out exceptional young candidate under 30 that previously-poked Tony Milne commented in he would only support, then Kaye clearly isn't it either.
This business of her own (UK based with partners if you look at the website) that is pumped by her publicity is a relatively new venture as well, recruitment for non-profit and charity organisations. The website has a lot of "coming soons". Which best describes what Kaye's political ambitions should be. If she stood for National in say twelve years time with "successful businesswoman in Auckland for the past twelve years" on her CV I agree that Kaye would be a perfect candidate. She'd still only be 40.
National missed a great opportunity in Auckland Central to stand this candidate against Tizard not one of promise and potention but of private industry experience, performance and extensive work and Auckland community work history. Party officials shoulder tap these sorts and I can't believe they couldn't have found a better alternative than Dr Jackie Blue. While Kaye is wheeled out as the face of the young in the National Party, she's all a bit too eager and I am sorry, having Michelle Boag ghosting over your camp is just horrid. It's puppetering at its worst. The Boag woman just still has me reaching for the Imodium's.
While I am no fan of Tizard, she has worn a great deal of muck from the centre-right in politics. An awful screaming herdload of it. She deserves some of it and she does throw mud back but of course it must worry her, she has a blub occasionally. She's the punching bag that just wont go away and comes back for more. We know she's next to useless but she keeps coming back.
If you are talking about representation in Parliament it can be argued that no one has (or is capable of) a closer ear to the Prime Minister than Judith Tizard. And the voters like that.
It is going to take a heavyweight National Nationwide swing or a heavyweight candidate to unseat Judy T. and I just don't think Nikki Kaye is it. All Labour have to do when National ask what Judith has done and where she has been for Auckland is ask the questions back about Nikki Kaye.
Tizard always has the ability to turn a campaign into tears and a bitch-fight and this one will be no different.
Prediction if elected:- Arise the Ghosts of Katherine Rich and Michelle Boag.
Sam Lotu-Iiga
Age 37
Ladies and Gentlemen - THESE are the next generation of potential MP's wishing to push their agendas and views on to you. THESE are the people who:
THINK THEY KNOW HOW TO RUN YOUR LIFE AND SPEND YOUR MONEY BETTER THAN YOU DO
Aaron Gilmore (not to be confused with the guy on Dancing with Stars)
Age 34
Born in 1973, Aaron is the 5th generation of his family to be born and raised in east Christchurch, and is proud to represent this growing area. A father of two young children he returned home to raise his family in 2004. Holding a Masters degree with honours in Economics from the University of Canterbury and having undertaken postgraduate training in accounting Aaron is also a member of a number of professional associations.
At 35 he has a string to his bow that the Labour candidates don't have - 2 children.
Having worked in senior management in the finance and manufacturing sectors across 10 different countries has given Aaron a global perspective to go with strong local knowledge. For the past 4 years Aaron has been in the Asian senior management team for major exporter General Cable Corporation, with a particular focus on expansion into India and China and new technologies.
Wide work experience, although not that specific. Could mean anything. But we get the picture. He's actually left the country AND left politics to live in the real world. Strong enough small town community roots to be welcomed back as one of their own.
For this work Aaron was a finalist in the 2007 South Island NZIM Young Executive of the Year awards. Aaron also worked as a public servant to the 1995-99 National Government, including two secondments to the Beehive. A National Party member for over 10 years Aaron has been involved in the party at a policy and Electorate executive level for most of this time. When time permits Aaron enjoys cricket, tramping and mountain biking.
National Party experience including wasting away his youth working in the Beehive.
While Gilmore obviously has good National Party pedigree, there's nothing outstanding about him. No gimmicks. He's the kind of MP that the Party loves to churn out. Loyal, unassuming, hard-working, lived in the area, salt of the earth chap. Not going to change the world, but not going to upset the National Party either. Never going to have a "Brian Connell" and chuck his toys out.
I would go as far as to call him a plodder. But plodders do well in the National Party. Need I list some of the greatest plodders to date who have had long successful careers (if you call longevity in politics a success) - Clem Simich, Simon Power, David Carter, Lockwood Smith, Eric Roy.
Prediction if elected:- Not a reformer, but a loyal "true believer". Strong, solid, would never have a sick day. Would become as well known as Chris Auchinvole. In other words - the Party President would have to ask just who the hell he was when sending out the Christmas Cards.
Nikki Kaye
Age 28
The central theme to Nikki Kaye's campaign thus far has been "Vote for Me I am NOT Judith Tizard". That in itself will not be enough to beat Tizard. It is a fascinating battle and one I will expand on here as for the entire time I have been involved in ACT from the 1996 elections the centre-right has been trying to work out how to bloody beat Tizard. To beat a Tizard there must be a massive (seismic) shift to National - Auckland and Nationwide (yes Nats, the only poll that counts is election day) and Kaye has to convince Auckland Central voters that she is more Auckland Central than Judy T.
Given Tizard is 52 and Kaye 28, there's no point in comparing them at this point in time. So lets analyse it with what they both achieved pre-Party politics to see if Kaye really is all "that" and truly "NOT" Judith Tizard.
"Judith Tizard worked in the Labour Party Research Unit (1976-1977), was a Member of the Auckland Electric Power Board (1977-1983), a Restaurant Owner and Manager, O'Connells Restaurant, Auckland (1978-1982), was involved in the catering industry (1981-1984), and was a Member of the Auckland Regional Council (1988-1991). She has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History from the University of Auckland".
Aucklander, University Degree, member of political dynasty, best friends with benefits forever (BFWBF) with the powerful Prime Minister. Political appointments galore, employed by Labour, Owned and Managed a restaurant, ate food, drink Chardonnay and was a member of the ARC.
"Nikki Kaye was born and raised in Auckland. She was educated at Corran School where she was Head Prefect and gained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Otago, majoring in Genetics. She is also expecting to complete her LL.B later this year. In 1999, Nikki joined the National Party and has held various roles in the Party organisation. She took a professional role as a Researcher in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in 2002, where she supported National MPs on issues such as Justice and Housing. Like many New Zealanders, Nikki took the opportunity to have an “O.E” and moved to London in 2003. She worked in a variety of public policy and frontline delivery roles in transport and social policy".
Aucklander, the ubiquitous Head Prefect, University Degree, best friends without benefits forever (BFWOBF) with the powerful David Farrar, political involvement, exercised well and ate moderately, employed by National.
Then here is where the difference is. While Tizard's never left Auckland other than for Wellington, Kaye bumped off overseas in 2003 and has only just come back in 2007.
The OE to the UK is a fabulous time to indulge in a bit of CV cranking with respect to what you are actually doing. The Herald on Sunday actually captured it better:
In 2003 she set off for the UK, travelling in Europe and taking on short-term contracts with government policy projects. Kaye says she worked with black minority groups, managing welfare-to-work schemes, project managed a transport system for disabled people and worked six months for a Labour minister.
In other words, worked more in politics (including the enemy) and government policy until 2006 when conflicted out by appointment as Vice Chairman of the International Youth Democratic Union (of which no journalist has pointed out that there are actually 10 Vice Chairman's of this centre-right, pick-up-Estonian-girls junket monster). Kaye then picked up work as an IT Manager at a Bank.
In other words, she has one plus or minus one and a bit years of experience in the private sector at this bank. The rest has been policy and political based work. It's all very "Kate" and "Jordan". If you are looking for a stand-out exceptional young candidate under 30 that previously-poked Tony Milne commented in he would only support, then Kaye clearly isn't it either.
This business of her own (UK based with partners if you look at the website) that is pumped by her publicity is a relatively new venture as well, recruitment for non-profit and charity organisations. The website has a lot of "coming soons". Which best describes what Kaye's political ambitions should be. If she stood for National in say twelve years time with "successful businesswoman in Auckland for the past twelve years" on her CV I agree that Kaye would be a perfect candidate. She'd still only be 40.
National missed a great opportunity in Auckland Central to stand this candidate against Tizard not one of promise and potention but of private industry experience, performance and extensive work and Auckland community work history. Party officials shoulder tap these sorts and I can't believe they couldn't have found a better alternative than Dr Jackie Blue. While Kaye is wheeled out as the face of the young in the National Party, she's all a bit too eager and I am sorry, having Michelle Boag ghosting over your camp is just horrid. It's puppetering at its worst. The Boag woman just still has me reaching for the Imodium's.
While I am no fan of Tizard, she has worn a great deal of muck from the centre-right in politics. An awful screaming herdload of it. She deserves some of it and she does throw mud back but of course it must worry her, she has a blub occasionally. She's the punching bag that just wont go away and comes back for more. We know she's next to useless but she keeps coming back.
If you are talking about representation in Parliament it can be argued that no one has (or is capable of) a closer ear to the Prime Minister than Judith Tizard. And the voters like that.
It is going to take a heavyweight National Nationwide swing or a heavyweight candidate to unseat Judy T. and I just don't think Nikki Kaye is it. All Labour have to do when National ask what Judith has done and where she has been for Auckland is ask the questions back about Nikki Kaye.
Tizard always has the ability to turn a campaign into tears and a bitch-fight and this one will be no different.
Prediction if elected:- Arise the Ghosts of Katherine Rich and Michelle Boag.
Sam Lotu-Iiga
Age 37
This guy presents as the PI pin-up boy of the National Party and perhaps their best ever candidate from the Islands. Even though he's 37 years old so a little older than the candidates I have profiled, it seems about as young as the Tories get.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga was born in Apia, Samoa. He was raised in Mangere and currently resides with his wife Jules in Onehunga. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and went on to the University of Auckland to attain BCom/LLB and MCom(Hons) degrees. He also holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge (Queens College).
Aucklander, University Degrees for Africa.
He is currently an Auckland City Councillor (Tamaki-Maungakiekie ward) where he is Chairman of the City Development Committee. He has also worked as a solicitor for Russell McVeagh, a financial analyst for Bankers Trust (London) and as an executive consultant for Macquarie Bank (Sydney).
Went overseas, has seen the world. Good work experience, came back and is involved heavily in the community at large. Doesn't need to go into detail about his work experience or endless garbage about what he did at Auckland Grammar School. Looking at this outline, we just know what the guy did at school. Everything he could as well as he could do it.
Sam is a leader within the Samoan community and was conferred the high chief title of Peseta. He enjoys sport and has played rugby for the New Zealand Barbarians, coached the Auckland Under 14 rugby team and was Chairman of Table Tennis New Zealand.
Sells itself. Not a fat tonne of useless lard.
He takes a keen interest in social services through his tenure on the Boards of Primary Health Organisations of New Zealand, Penrose High School and Great Potentials. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Penrose and Greenlane Christian Centre. Sam is also a mentor for the I Have a Dream Trust.
Sells itself.
On paper Sam is the best of the young candidates that National has to offer so far and now is the right time for him to get into National politics if he wants that. The only issue is of course how the Party actually treats him. They should give Sam a higher list ranking than even some sitting MP's with what he has to offer the Party.
As with many past candidates for National, Arthur Anae springs to mind, Sam needs to exorcise the ghosts of PI National past and prove that there are good candidates that are entrepreneurial in more important ways than Tiler Phillip Field or diddling the Church money, to come from the Islands.
Prediction if elected:- Lets just hope he doesn't get pissed off with the Toryism and move to Labour.
Simon Bridges
Age 31
In his younger Young Nats days, former Auckland Club bar-dude Bridges used to be a dead-ringer for this guy:
Bridges at 31, gained the first load of attention from the media for being the one to replace Clarkson and stand against Winston in the winnable Tauranga seat. While I think he can and will win the seat, Simon's long-term career would have been better served waiting at least two more terms to stand for Parliament. He doesn't have his PR team in place to whip up a proper candidate biography as of yet so I will ad-lib my own.
Of all the Young Nationals around the era of my own initial involvement in politics, Simon was never one that I would have picked to be in the first wave of candidates standing for Parliament. He just seemed awful sensible and a little bit goody-two shoes dull. I mean dull obviously in a nice way, but his repertoire was rather one dimensional and stage-managed to impress old people, right to his voice. So either he's dropped himself a large personality on the way, he's learnt how to be spontaneous or New Zealanders have stopped watching Shortland Street.
Hence my giggle when I read this from the Sunday Star Times article last weekend. The journo couldn't have said "ran around like John-Boy's lackey" any better:
Next, Key led a small posse into Tauranga's shopping district, Bridges trotting to keep up with Key's hyperactive bonhomie and bullet-pointed policy announcements.
Simon commenced legal practice in a large national law firm and joined Ronayne Hollister-Jones Lellman in 2001.
My biggest issue with his standing right now is what the hell is someone as bright, young and newly-wed as Bridges himself going to get out of being an MP?
Prediction if elected:- Will beat Winston and spend the next two terms as a backbench MP fighting over old legal hags Richard Worth, (our former Auckland University Dean) Wayne Mapp, Chris Finlayson, Stephen Franks, Judith Collins and battling Sam Lotu-Iiga for prominence.
Summary - National obviously has far superior younger candidates than Labour but once again I ask:
Why waste the best productive years of your life sitting on your backside getting fat from Bellamys being paid the same as someone of the quality of former McGillicudy Serious Member Metiria Turei and less than Parekura Horomia?
I still don't get it.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga was born in Apia, Samoa. He was raised in Mangere and currently resides with his wife Jules in Onehunga. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and went on to the University of Auckland to attain BCom/LLB and MCom(Hons) degrees. He also holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge (Queens College).
Aucklander, University Degrees for Africa.
He is currently an Auckland City Councillor (Tamaki-Maungakiekie ward) where he is Chairman of the City Development Committee. He has also worked as a solicitor for Russell McVeagh, a financial analyst for Bankers Trust (London) and as an executive consultant for Macquarie Bank (Sydney).
Went overseas, has seen the world. Good work experience, came back and is involved heavily in the community at large. Doesn't need to go into detail about his work experience or endless garbage about what he did at Auckland Grammar School. Looking at this outline, we just know what the guy did at school. Everything he could as well as he could do it.
Sam is a leader within the Samoan community and was conferred the high chief title of Peseta. He enjoys sport and has played rugby for the New Zealand Barbarians, coached the Auckland Under 14 rugby team and was Chairman of Table Tennis New Zealand.
Sells itself. Not a fat tonne of useless lard.
He takes a keen interest in social services through his tenure on the Boards of Primary Health Organisations of New Zealand, Penrose High School and Great Potentials. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of Penrose and Greenlane Christian Centre. Sam is also a mentor for the I Have a Dream Trust.
Sells itself.
On paper Sam is the best of the young candidates that National has to offer so far and now is the right time for him to get into National politics if he wants that. The only issue is of course how the Party actually treats him. They should give Sam a higher list ranking than even some sitting MP's with what he has to offer the Party.
As with many past candidates for National, Arthur Anae springs to mind, Sam needs to exorcise the ghosts of PI National past and prove that there are good candidates that are entrepreneurial in more important ways than Tiler Phillip Field or diddling the Church money, to come from the Islands.
Prediction if elected:- Lets just hope he doesn't get pissed off with the Toryism and move to Labour.
Simon Bridges
Age 31
In his younger Young Nats days, former Auckland Club bar-dude Bridges used to be a dead-ringer for this guy:
Bridges at 31, gained the first load of attention from the media for being the one to replace Clarkson and stand against Winston in the winnable Tauranga seat. While I think he can and will win the seat, Simon's long-term career would have been better served waiting at least two more terms to stand for Parliament. He doesn't have his PR team in place to whip up a proper candidate biography as of yet so I will ad-lib my own.
Of all the Young Nationals around the era of my own initial involvement in politics, Simon was never one that I would have picked to be in the first wave of candidates standing for Parliament. He just seemed awful sensible and a little bit goody-two shoes dull. I mean dull obviously in a nice way, but his repertoire was rather one dimensional and stage-managed to impress old people, right to his voice. So either he's dropped himself a large personality on the way, he's learnt how to be spontaneous or New Zealanders have stopped watching Shortland Street.
Hence my giggle when I read this from the Sunday Star Times article last weekend. The journo couldn't have said "ran around like John-Boy's lackey" any better:
Next, Key led a small posse into Tauranga's shopping district, Bridges trotting to keep up with Key's hyperactive bonhomie and bullet-pointed policy announcements.
"How's business!" yelped Key in Limelight Homewares. "Gidday!" said Bridges. "Why the hell should you be terrified in your own home? It's not right!" announced Key in Diamond Design jewellers. "How's business!" said Bridges, picking up the refrain
Simon is 3/16th Maori, unusual to be described with such precision but there's an air of "Little Winston" about Bridges. Young, charismatic obviously with the older ladies, easy on the eye as a youth, lawyer, part-Maori and knows his lines. Like Peters in his early days, Bridges has been cherry picked for greater things by the Party.Simon commenced legal practice in a large national law firm and joined Ronayne Hollister-Jones Lellman in 2001.
In 2002 Simon was awarded a Chevening Hunsard (surely Chevening Hansard?) Society Fellowship to study at the London School of Economics and to work at the House of Commons at Westminster. In 2004-2005 he completed a Masters degree at the University of Oxford. His work there was in four specific areas: Criminal Justice, Law of Evidence, Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law.
While touted as working as a Crown Prosecutor in Tauranga since 2001, Bridges took a leave of absence and has spent two years of that time at Oxford and The CH Society fellowship is a political internship which by my reading is a 3 months exercise in conjunction with the London School of Economics and working in the UK Parliamentary system. There can be no doubt Bridges is intelligent, but lacks a solid working history in anything that puts him above that of others that he will need to rise above. He's still a relatively Junior lawyer.My biggest issue with his standing right now is what the hell is someone as bright, young and newly-wed as Bridges himself going to get out of being an MP?
Prediction if elected:- Will beat Winston and spend the next two terms as a backbench MP fighting over old legal hags Richard Worth, (our former Auckland University Dean) Wayne Mapp, Chris Finlayson, Stephen Franks, Judith Collins and battling Sam Lotu-Iiga for prominence.
Summary - National obviously has far superior younger candidates than Labour but once again I ask:
Why waste the best productive years of your life sitting on your backside getting fat from Bellamys being paid the same as someone of the quality of former McGillicudy Serious Member Metiria Turei and less than Parekura Horomia?
I still don't get it.
posted by Cactus Kate at 1:37 AM
10 Comments:
Hmmmm Cactus, I have the feeling that your comments are somewhat on the acerbic side.....possibly influenced by "a lack of the right seat syndrome" however having never ever sat on an aircraft where there is better seat (apart from the cockpit) the Taliban Target does sympathise with your malaise aptly described by Churchill as being with the dogs
Yes the real depressing thing Taliban is that none of the above have the guts or courage to stand up and give you a bloody large tax cut.
A smell of purple about them all.
The central theme to Nikki Kaye's campaign thus far has been "Vote for Me I am NOT Judith Tizard". That in itself will not be enough to beat Tizard.
I would have thought that not being Judith Tizard would be a excellent attribute for any candidate to have. I can only assume I have trouble thinking like the average Auckland Central Labour voter.
Roger Douglas - 32
Ruth Richardson - 31
Richard Prebble - 27
Sorry, what were you saying about young candidates again?
You can't seriously be saying Blair that ANY of these candidates have the backbone less the ability of any of those 3.
Or that since we have had any young candidates that you could even write in the same sentence as those 3.
In the "good old days", being an MP was a relatively good career option - if you were from the country you got into farming, from the city were a University professor.
Nowadays, there are so many more options for young people there's no justification for not doing something in "real life" first.
Young politicians aren't far from the losers that just hang around university and get entrenched in student politics. The chose politics because they are too useless to prove themselves in the real world first. Easy solution is to surround themselves with people telling them that they are brilliant and can make a difference. Most truly talented people would avoid politics.
Like teachers. They are not very clever people. Some have a great talent for being able to communicate and teach. But this aside, most teachers are dumb and are teach as they cannot earn more money or can't be bothered working harder (and of course a combination of these two). Like anyone other wage slave basically.
Well anonymous I love your work.
For your information I am actually taking what is probably a 80% paycut to go into Parliament and give my community some decent representation.
Give me a call sometime, would be happy to chat.
Aaron Gilmore
www.aarongilmore.org.nz
PH 027 210 30 20
That's the spirit Aaron. Much better.
Interested in your thoughts on this National Party (ex-)candidate Prickles...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4608914a6160.html
Seems the poor boy has dreamt of being an MP since he was 9!!! Still, at least he has the much desired business experience (or should that be indiscretions?)
Anonymous, your comment that "most teachers are dumb and are teach as they cannot earn more money or can't be bothered working harder (and of course a combination of these two)" says more about your intelligence and humanity than anything else.
Before you make ridiculous generalisations, why don't you come in and work with my class of 25 six year olds for a week and then let's see what you have to say for yourself.
I actually enjoy working as a teacher, so much so that I returned to the classroom (with masters and bachelors degrees), and rather than viewing the accumulation of wealth as my sole aim in life, I actually took a rather hefty pay cut when leaving my previous job - and no, not as a bureaucrat.
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