6

The first debate

by Whaleoil on November 1, 2011

Not often I agree with Scott Yorke:

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.

If I was Phil Goff and Labour I would listen more to John Pagani (he did a post but has deleted it), than to Brian Edwards. Unfortunately Brian Edwards set Goff up for a fall and based on that performance fall he did. Unfortunately for Goff and Labour I don’t think John Pagani is too enamoured with the Goffice.

If Goff fan boys like John Hartevelt felt Goff won by a nose then the general public will think he got slaughtered:

Goff finished stronger and won by a nose. I bet quite a few ppl switched off before the end though. Neither nailed it. #votenz #onenews
October 31, 2011 7:30 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@jhartevelt
John Hartevelt
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  • Arniet M

    The so called controller of the debate let things get out of hand and Goff kept butting in and one could not here half of what was said. Both had some good points but were not allowed to expand on them or were shouted down.

  • Sars

    Totally agree with Whale Oil – why do they think we’re stupid? It hurts my feelings :(
    So they get an ‘expert’ on to explain things in minute details…to whom?

  • Paranormal

    Given that unless something extraordinary happened, and the debate would be watched only by political tragics, no-one was going to ‘win’.  However I think Goof’s performance may have been good enough to stem the flow of liarbour supporters to the greens.

    Paranormal

  • Anonymous

    I concur, the experts should put up and run for something or shut up. All they did was lengthen the whole process and break up the flow; if we had to have them at all it should have been at the end of the program, so we could change the channel.
     
    How could they appoint a controller who walks around with a stick up is arse thinking he is better than everyone else and only likes the sound of his own voice?
     
    The GofFather performed as expected with depth of knowledge, ideas and Passion.
     
    JK looked as expected a plastic mannequin with a plastic smile trying to fob his way through it all.
     
    I expect his team will be looking for ways not to have to front up for a 2nd dose of medicine.
     
    DonKey was made to look like a MonKey and should be a NonKey

  • Boss Hogg

    Lose the “experts” and get rid of that little pinko dweeb trying to run the debate.  And I do not mean that the guy with the bushy mo should do it.  TVNZ should get someone with proven skills at running a debate from another country, even an Aussie perhaps.

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