Monday, April 26, 2004
Ding ding ding
Peter Dunce and Winston Peters are having a go! Great stuff, Peter was upset at Winston making the fairly obvious and accurate observation that it was a bloody television gimmick (the 'worm') that has given him more than one other playmate in Parliament. Peters also called Peter a lap dog - hardly a vicious attack by Winnie's standards.
So it was mildly amusing to read Peter Dunne's rather limp response (via Press Release):
"In his customary incoherent manner, Mr Peter has responded with a tirade of abuse, calling me a lapdog and making obscure remarks about worms and dogs," said Mr Dunne.Apparently you can still refer to past 'incidents' when 'off duty' (but is a Parliamentarian ever?) from the lofty ground that Peter likes to speak down from.
"In the interests of conducting the politics of fact and not abuse, let me remind the country that during Mr Peters' disastrous rule as Treasurer and deputy Prime Minister, he
* had to sack one of his own party's ministers for refusing to follow the rules
* led an unprecedented walkout from a Cabinet meeting
* was himself sacked by his own party's Maori MP's because they had no faith in his leadership
* and spent millions of dollars of taxpayer money on a referendum on superannuation which turned into a referendum on his own performance. The final vote 93% v 7% - was a resounding defeat for Mr Peters and his policies.
Mr Peters has also developed a reputation for getting involved in late-night brawls in Courtenay Place scarcely the mark of a man who claims he wishes to do nothing but good for the people of New Zealand.
Peter - I for one look forward to you being on your lonesome after the next election, but even more than that, I look forward to Winston having you for lunch until then. It's called charisma, and in this battle I believe that wit (and sound bites) will win the day. A press release has never been read on the 6 o'clock news to my knowledge and that is where this battle will be won or lost.
