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2008 Redux

by Whaleoil on November 17, 2011

In 2008 there was a secret tape scandal, again it was Duncan Garner who led the charge on that as well.

His words in 2008 are interesting given the parallels of 2008 campaign with this campaign, including the personal smears on John Key by Labour. I blogged his words back then:

Duncan Garner who was complicit in those attacks knows this to be true because he finished up his latest post with a sneak preview of the latest TV3 poll that will show Labour not gaining a thing from all of a beat up and subtlely hinting that it was Labour’s plan all along.

So National has been on the front foot this week and that may just help them in the polls. The secret tapes played out badly for National and especially for Bill English. They may take a small hit – but I wouldn’t bet on it. Many voters don’t like how the information was gathered.

So Labour might not do as well out of this as it had hoped. Helen Clark was hoping the ‘secret tapes’ would be a turning point in Labour’s fortunes. If it’s not, what’s her plan now? Does she have one? Labour’s told people how dangerous the Nats are. But perhaps no one’s been listening.

I would bet that Labour’s focus groups are saying teh same thing they have said all year. Stop the nasty, stop the personal attacks, it doesn;t work. I’ll bet that both Labour and National have polled the tea-tapes issue in the last few days and I will bet that they say the same thing. People aren;t interested in it.

Labour again have banked it all on a secret tape scandal, aided and abetted by a nihilist media. Labour have gambled all their remaining cash on a last ditch personal attacks series featuring John Key. Labour will rue these decisions in 9 days time.

Every day that passes now with the media focussing on 8 minutes of boring tapes also is a day not focussing on issues Labour desperately needs focus on. Every day sees John Key using Phil Goff’ lines about focussing on the things that matter to Kiwi voters against him as Phil Goff continues to slander and smear.

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  • Peter

    I reckon you are wrong Whale, I think in 9 days time it will be PM Goff. Hope I am wrong though.
    This will blow Nationals election chances away more than you think, escalation going to get tapes from TVNZ/RNZ etc will turn voters off.
    Hope I am wrong.
    BTW, I will see you at Key’s election bash again like 2008 at Sky City, look forward to having a yarn with you again.

    • joe bloggs

      mmmm dunno there Peter, the feedback on Stuff is running around 9:1 in favour of John Key sticking to his principles.

      And the television footage of Key walking out of the press conference after repeated efforts to hijack it by Duncan Garner certainly doesn’t resemble anything like the hysterical over-hyping that the media’s “storming out” characterisation suggests.

      It’s long overdue that the media that reports the news stops trying to make the news.

  • Lindsay Addie

    There’s a new poll out on TVNZ tonite I understand. That should give a clue of how the voters view StormInATeacupGate

    • Gazzaw

      That will be interesting particularly NZ First’s figures.

  • Jester

    I honestly believe this media over-hype will galvanise the National supporters more than ever.

    If JK was worried about low National voter turnout due to the lack of credible opposition, judging by the social and business circles i move in he has nothing to worry about.

  • Quintin Hogg

    Jester, I agree.
    People, including those in talk back land, see the continued questioning over a non issue as being diverting from the issues in the election.
    They also see it as ongoing grandstanding from self important plonkers.

  • kayaker

    I thought Rachel Smalley’s and Duncan Garner’s wee TeaPot lovefest on the morning news was very touching. Bless.

    They certainly are smarting that they’re not getting their own way. It’s become a personal crusade for those two.  Smalley is sounding increasingly school-marmish. Garner was downright petulant, like a pestering child at the JK news conference.  I know other media who were there thought he was being a right pillock and he walks a fine line given some skeletons in some places.

    For Garner et al to say JK ‘stormed out’ is an insult to the intelligence of NZ voters, most of us anyway.

  • MrV

    Whale, when will you be releasing the official Whale-oil branded ‘Laser Microphones’ for use on journalists?
    :-)

  • Lesley

    NewstalkZB’s Leighton Smith said this to 3 News this morning: “Have the courage to publish the tapes or SHUT UP!” (Otherwise you are just cowards.)  They haven’t done it yet Cowards!

  • Paddles83

    The other plonker that’s be going on and on is the ex School Teacher who couldn’t cut the mustard and now become “Thou Mightier than God” talkback Host Pat Brittenden

  • Bodger

    Duncan Garner is a Labour Party Cheerleader.  Last election he refused to give any air time to the winston Peters helicopter rort.  Similarly the Greens billboard scandal has mysteriously slid under the radar.  TV3, skewing elections since Duncan Garner became political editor.

  • Kosh103

    This will hurt National. But not much or enough to cost them the election.

    But that aside Key has really screwed up in is handling of this. He is cracking under the questioning and having little temper tantrums that people just wont do as he wants. He could have killed this on day one. It was a big mistake not to say “Meh, play the tape, there is nothing of intrest on there”.

    • joe bloggs

      meh … you’re clearly not paying attention to the polls – minimal impact on John Key and National.

      The big losers are still Labour who have clearly misread the feelings of the nation. Goes to show that crude smear tactics and outright lies just don’t work.

      • Kosh103

        Labour has told no lies.

        Unlike Key.