Cooked breakfast is a luxury for us, especially during the week. Breakfast is normally eaten pretty much on the run, and when we manage to get She Who Must Be Obeyed out for a visit to a cafe at the weekend (and Wanganui has some great cafes!), it's usually nearer lunchtime.
So it was great to go and enjoy a cooked spread this morning. It was even better that John Key was there to address us, and well over 100 other Wanganui business folk at a function organised by the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce.
This was the first time we've seen the PM in person. He spoke for about 40 minutes, off the cuff, and out in front of the top table rather than behind the lecturn. And it's not difficult to see why he enjoys such levels of popularity. He's never going to be a great orator, but he speaks with confidence and warmth, and he connects with his audience. He was questioned on issues as diverse as the exchange rate and the prospects of the All Blacks winning the Rugby World cup, and gave lengthy answers. He did say "actually" a number of times, but if we were assessing his address using the Toastmasters commend/recommend/commend formula, that would be the only area of improvement we'd be suggesting!
He addressed a crowd of over 300 at a public meeting in Wanganui last night, and the reports we've heard are also positive. His political opponents don't like it, but for some reason, John Key is a very popular Prime Minister.
Anyway, thanks to the local Chamber of Commerce for its initiative in getting the PM to share breakfast with us, and thanks to Element Cafe for a delicious breakfast. Our day has started well in more ways than one!
11 comments:
At the evening public meeting Key joked that he was worried that he'd be on the menu at the Chamber of Commerce meeting the following morning (they're cannibals you know!)
Here's a famous Spike Milligan poem:
A thousand hairy cannibals
Sitting down to lunch,
Gobble, gobble, glub, glub
Munch, munch, munch!
Oops!
A thousand hairy savages
he also says "in my view" a lot. He came to Pukekohe before the election and he was great .. he is back soon for a lunch and meeting .. might try and get along
we can always rely on Bobby to be nice. Don't worry Bobby, Wussell could be Deputy PM if labour/green/mana/winny1st get in .. that will be great aye?
How is your organic rubarb coming along
Fear not Rob; we're Tupuho iwi around these parts, not Tuhoe! Anyway, there was more than enough bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, grilled tomatoes, croissants, fruit and porridge to go around. The PM was never in danger of being the dish de jour in friendly Wanganui.
"His political opponents don't like it, but for some reason, John Key is a very popular Prime Minister."
I am a National voter and I too fail to see why he is so popular. He is not inspiring (unless obscenely excess wealth is your thing) and not an effective leader (he seems to want to look backwards to the British Monarchy instead of forwards for NZ). I'll be withholding my vote this time around as I think it would be a terrible thing for the country if National got 50% of the vote. The sale of NZ owned assets, his lack of vision regarding taxation and his silly policy regarding superannuation and the ruining of kiwisaver have left me feeling like he is none too smart and none too bold. He is beholden to popularity not good policy the evidence shows.
The things he has failed on are plenty which is a shame because I voted for what I thought would be a visionary leader. National Standards: Fail Mining: Fail Environment: Fail Unemployment: Fail Tax Overhaul: Fail Economy: Fail I could go on but fear I am only depressing myself. I hope next time it is a vote for a leader - not a manager.
"I am a National voter..."
Hey look Inv, they're even sending the sort of talking-point fake "I used to support but..." idiots to post here now.
I, on the other hand, have previously been an ACT voter (maybe again, but as I said the other day I see myself as a natural Libertarianz voter now). I'm not a huge fan of JK, but I do completely understand why he's so popular.
Rob - I was listening to Russel with Willie and JT earlier but had to switch stations because I was driving and couldn't afford for my eyes to roll any further back in my head.
Hey INV2 they're even sending those 'tards who replace an 'ns' with an 'nz' here now. What dork head knob brainz! I bet hez a lycra wearer who shaves his bum on weekenz!
Jamez. You are arrogant to think a National voter hazn't turned off this government for reasonz other than your ownz.
"I was driving and couldn't afford for my eyes to roll any further back in my head."
Should you be driving at all James, with an affliction like that?
Do you shave your bum?
(Why would anyone?)
Oh do me a favour. A National voter turning off National because they're too Labour-lite, I can believe.
A National voter turning off National because of a whole bunch of pro-Labour policy talking points, not so much.
It's a tiresomely obvious tactic when both parties get their talking-pointers to ring talkback radio and it's just as obvious in blog comments.
Hey James, can I retract my juvenile 'shaving' comment?
There's no need for that, eh.
I agree re the 'I used to vote [insert party] but won't this election claim. I see it here and there, even on the Green blogs, though I don't think George expected us to take his claim seriously. Too sophisticated for that ploy over here on KS.
Post a Comment