Tuesday, May 23, 2006



The Rodney Hide Memo

Yesterday's post on Rodney's chronic absenteeism from Parliament resulted in a reader sending me the following:

rodneymemosml

(Click for a bigger (220 KB) version)

I'm sure the voters of Epsom will share Rodney's joy.

Posted by Idiot/Savant at 5/23/2006 01:52:00 PM

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26 comments:

Satire at its best!

 Posted by Sanctuary : 5/23/2006 02:21:00 PM

IS, Hide has recently missed a few sessions, but I would ask you to back up your claim of chronic absenteeism with some facts. A comparison of his attendance levels over the past three years compared with other MPs, along with other workload such as written questions, press releases and select committee meetings. Then we will see how Hide stacks up with other MPs on "chronic absenteeism"

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/23/2006 03:32:00 PM

Anon: this is about his recent performance, where his absences have deprived ACT of any voice in Parliament at all.

This is partly due to ACT's reduced numbers in Parliament, and the Standing Orders relating to the casting of proxies. Rodney could of course push for a change to those Standing Orders to accomodate his problems. But he hasn't yet so far as I am aware.

 Posted by Idiot/Savant : 5/23/2006 03:38:00 PM

(a different anon here)

Not sure if chronic is the right word, but certainly Hide's celebrity dancing at the expense of serious political discourse suggests that this recent dancing lark has consequences for the ACT party.

That Maori Party line will especially grate with ACT members, most of whom would probably die of fright to learn that their PQs have been given not to National but a minor party that ACT don't have much common history on.

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/23/2006 03:44:00 PM

Well anon i'm an Act member and I like it. If National and Act can't pull the Maori Party into a coalition (or at least a abstention agreement) we may not see a change of Govt for some time. Act and the Maori Party are working closely together, the membership are kept up to date regularly by post and email. Act and TMP share many common policy areas in welfare, education and health. Turia speaking at Act's conference showed that.

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/23/2006 04:03:00 PM

Slightly funny but all intentions to upset ACT members failed. I (or most ACT members) don't mind that the Maori party got our question either.

I guess it must be infuriating that a party on the right with only 2 MPs seem to dominate the political and pop culture stories of the day. The exposure that Rodney is creating for himself and ACT is far more constructive than say the Green Party leadership show/melt-down or Labours lack of tax cuts pissing everybody off.

But good work, the satire is appreciated. It means that you feel threatened enough by Rodney to want to make a deal out of it :)

 Posted by Just my opinion : 5/23/2006 04:44:00 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA yeah, it sure is 'constructive' a heine. i think you've missed the point of the post, there is nothing 'constructive' about skipping parliament to go dancing on a reality tv show. its selfish, yes, its attention seeking, yes, but you only need to look at the number of votes rodneys getting to see that even the people that watch the show havent got time for him.

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/23/2006 05:30:00 PM

Considering Rodney came last by the judge's scores 2 weeks in a row, and second last last week, the fact he's still there when the judge's score do count toward the final tally, I would say the viewers have taken him to heart.
Don't let the facts get in the way of a poorly constructed comment though will you Anon.

Satire at it's best? Rates a 'meh' from me. I'm sure he's done much better work than that.

 Posted by Mike Heine : 5/23/2006 06:20:00 PM

ACT members probably would shrug this off pretty quickly as just another piece of satire. They've seen a dozen of these sorts of things since election 05.

How Epsom voters who gave tactical support to Hide would feel about it is a different matter. That Maori Party line is a doozy!

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/23/2006 08:49:00 PM

Another ACT member here who i) thinks the parody memo is funny; ii) sees no problem with the Maori Party having ACT's proxy vote; and iii) thinks some left wingers are just really sour people. Rodney is doing this for charity, after all; he has worked hard at it and lost a lot of weight as well. But I guess its just easier for some people always to criticize.

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/23/2006 09:03:00 PM

If Rodney wants to lose weight and go charity fundraising, then that perkbusting oaf can go out and do it on his own time instead of Joe Taxpayer's.

His lack of attendance because of his celebrity seeking behaviour is a joke.

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/23/2006 09:11:00 PM

The parody is fine, and it is valid to consider whether appearing on Dancing with the Stars was a good political move. What bothers me is that this parody, and many posters here, really believe that Act supporters are basically racist. It's not true! It's a long standing slur based on ignorance (at best) or cynical political attacks (at worst).

Act supporters believe in the equality of everyone, and are fundamentally opposed to any form of racism. Politically, there are many areas of common ground with the Maori party and clear areas of disagreement, but only around what constitutes equality and fair recompense for past violations of Maori property rights... not the fundamantal concept of the equality of all individuals and races.

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/23/2006 09:37:00 PM

It is so funny how the left are acting so precious that Rodney isn't in the house... and yet get upset when he is in there giving them hell :)

The old adage remains, you can NEVER please the left!

 Posted by Just my opinion : 5/23/2006 09:49:00 PM

'Don't let the facts get in the way of a poorly constructed comment though will you Anon.'

no, i wont, in which case you will have noticed that there were 7 couples last night, 5 of them were 'safe' and two were fighting it out for the absolute least combination of public votes and judges points. the public has taken beatrice to heart. i think its obvious where we stand on rodney

and as for 'its easier to criticise' and 'all some people do is complain' for god's sake give me a break! NO ONE should be kidding themselves that rodney is doing this simply because he wants to give to charity, or lose weight. it is, first and foremost, about publicity. and its working. but lets call it what it is please. 'he has worked hard.' for peets sake he's not 12 years old, he doesnt need a gold star from act lackies, stop patronising him. we expect him to work hard, he's a politicain paid via our taxes, and to be honest if hes missing votes in parliament because he's busy at dancing practice, id be totally outraged if i voted for him, and frankly it should be grounds for dismissal. stop drawing the 'charity card' and play by your own rules - minimal government with efficient spending - would not involve a part time opposition party leader.

he doesnt need a pat on the back, i repeat, he is not 12 years old. let him stay in parliament and ask valid questions - instead of his casual nit-picking in regards to whether a rhetorical question was answered or not. seems to be a speciality of Rodneys', time wasting.

finally, as for the left never being satisfied, its hard not to be satisfied when you consider that
A - you are opposed to the policies of ACt, and to a lesser extent national, combined with
B - more than half the country agrees with you, and as such act and national are resigned to the opposition benches. yes, im satisfied indeed.

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/23/2006 10:03:00 PM

Isnt it funny when any one mentions the ACT party its always the Heine twins jumping up and down frothing at the mouth
Get a new cult you sycophants

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/23/2006 10:18:00 PM

Anon, the majority of NZers voted for parties advocating tax relief one way or another... even Anderton said he was preferring tax cuts of some sort. So not at all.

Anon 2. Twins?? Surely you jest. I certainly didn't see any frothing either. What flew up your ass?

Oh and Anon, if you want to insult me dont hide now behind the cover of being anonymous..that leaves you at a disadvantage!

 Posted by Just my opinion : 5/24/2006 12:13:00 AM

Hide has clearly gone nuts.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0605/S00224.htm

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/24/2006 08:18:00 AM

Hide has an oral question today - this has to be a vote for public scrutiny :)

 Posted by Anita : 5/24/2006 12:38:00 PM

responding to one of the anon's
"... certainly Hide's celebrity dancing at the expense of serious political discourse ..."
Surely you jest, "serious political discourse?"
We have not seen any of that in the behive in my lifetime!

I would rather that all 120 would go find their own reality TV shows for self gratification, instead of inventing new ways of interfering with my life.

At least (for now) I do not need a permit to use the OFF switch on my TV.

SOUTHERN GENT
http://latitude45south.blogspot.com/

 Posted by Lawrence of Otago : 5/24/2006 01:57:00 PM

Look I am sick of everybody trying to take the piss out of me. I'd liked to see all you socialists on the dance floor - maybe doing a fox Trot?

See who's laughing when the next polls come out shows ACT leaping ahead.

http://rodneygrub.blogspot.com/

 Posted by Rodney Grub : 5/24/2006 07:54:00 PM

I like Rodney Hide's dancing partner. I watch her, rather than watch Rodney, but I always vote for Rodney.

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/24/2006 08:22:00 PM

I've come in late. However I thought it a little rich that Susan Wood can criticise Rodney when she gets regular Fridays off to maintain her "strength" while paid more than an MP by an SOE. It is true that the past 3 weeks have seen a diminishing of Rodney's and hence ACTs presence in parliament however I have noted 3 TV appearances on policy and one televised question in the house making the 6pm news. That is more than we have seen from leaders of other parties. Finally why was this mud slinging not practised on Georgina Beyer last year or Tim Shadbolt all of whom have constituents who need representation.

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/26/2006 01:32:00 PM

Anon: this may have escaped you, but neither Susan Wood, Georgina Beyer or Tim Shadbolt is a party leader responsible for casting their fellow MP's proxies in Parliament. Two of them aren't even MPs; in the case of Beyer, her absence did not mean the entire Labour Party was unable to vote on vital legislation.

Yesterday Rodney missed the post-budget confidence motion - one of the key votes of the year - and as a result the government won it comfortably. But I guess that's just less important than visiting Christchurch to tout for votes for his dancing career.

 Posted by Idiot/Savant : 5/26/2006 02:11:00 PM

You said it I/S, as a result of Rodney not going to a post budget confidence motion, the Govt won easily.

You give Rodney more credit that we do!

As for comparing him as a party leader than the others, who got nowhere as much stinging criticism from the left... well of course not. Goodness me, Georgina, Susan or Tim aren't from ACT - and the left can't go a week without some good old ACT bashing.

Save your crocodile tears for Rodney for somebody who cares!

 Posted by Just my opinion : 5/28/2006 11:20:00 PM

Well Rodney stayed in last night. Seems people like him. At least someone on the right can win a vote, Don. I guess Rodney didn't waste the budget debate by suggesting we should shut the shop and go overseas. PS If Cuniliffe gets investigated for dissing Telecom shouldn't Don be probed for dissing the entire country.

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/29/2006 01:26:00 PM

While Hide wins votes on DWTS, Don Brash is winning votes from the public of NZ for the National Party.

I think I prefer Hide winning votes on DWTS,,, :-(

 Posted by Anonymous : 5/29/2006 02:57:00 PM

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