Lefties will say Goff trounced Key, and those on the right will point to the viewers' text poll and say it shows John Key won.
But who really won the leaders debate?
Tactically I think it was a draw. Neither leader managed to really nail the other. But in the broader scheme of things I suspect Key will be a happier man than Goff. Labour had to win this debate, and had to do something to damage the credibility and record of John Key. However, Key held his ground.
What really annoyed me were the self-appointed experts opining part-way through the debate on who was winning and who was saying what. Have we become such imbeciles in this country, and has political discourse in this country been so dumbed down, that we need to be told what to think? I prefer to make my own mind up, rather than be spoon-fed an opinion by an "expert" whose analysis is utterly superficial.
Debates like this are all about personalities. We didn't really learn much about either party or their policies. What we did learn is that Key still has a nice smile, and that his tie looked very smart. We also learned that Goff likes to point. He probably doesn't want to point quite as much next time. His righteous anger is understandable, but it probably won't play well with those who love Key.
All in all it was an utterly forgettable 90 minutes.
Monday, October 31, 2011
8 comments:
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Have you seen this website pop up in the comments? http://keyholes.co.nz/ live rebuttal of Key. This is the first the truly online election in NZ and it is amazing to watch.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I'm just home from the last Film Soc of the year -- and after the sheer perfection of Singing In The Rain, I can't bring myself to watch the Halloween Horrorshow for a while. Still, if neither Key nor Goff fucked up so horribly the base was repulsed they both won.
ReplyDeleteNot to appear nasty or anything but key has the demeanour of 'the smiling assassin'.
ReplyDeleteAnother personality description that would aptly fit would be 'the emperor with no clothes'
Honestly Goff has a conscience.He can be trusted.PARTY VOTE LABOUR.
Stop being flakes.there is nothing wrong with working to 67..I know a lot of men and women still going to work and they are in their 70's and 80's.To all the woosy's out there..grow some purpose in your life.I say the retirement age should be set at 70!
get the forces back from afghanistan and never to go back.
complete and utter waste of young lives.
Angela Beenen
Try being an aerobic instructor or a treefeller at 69 Anon 10-20pm
ReplyDelete"However, Key held his ground."
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's about what it comes down to. In and of itself, the debate was probably a draw, or near enough. But a draw is a win for Key, really.
Key holds pole position, and Goff has to clearly be better in the debate's to overtake.
*debate* even.
ReplyDeleteRachel - your link reference does not work -please repair
ReplyDelete@ Angela; who deployed the SIS to Afghanistan in the first place? Here's a clue; Helen Clark made the announcement that Willie Apiata had been awarded a VC for gallantry in combat.
ReplyDeletePersonally, Goff's politicisation of the deaths of NZ soldiers was the low point of the debate for me, given that he was the third-ranked member of the Cabinet who sent them there.