Thursday, April 02, 2009

Sometimes self-respect is more important

So David Garrett refused to cheer for Helen Clark. I can understand how he felt. I recall staying seated when John Banks got a standing ovation at an ACT conference. And staying away from another ACT conference because Tariana Turia was attending and I couldn't face the prospect of applauding her when I abhor her ideas. She, like Clark, can be admired for her steadfastedness, conviction and tenacity but I personally cannot separate the person from their ideas. And it's not as if Clark is retiring to climb mountains and tramp the hills, where she can do no further harm. I hope I would have had the presence of mind to stay seated as well. Hypocrisy is just too hard for some people to stomach.

11 comments:

deleted said...

Funny,

I did the same thing when Garret spoke last.

James said...

Well said Lindsay....;-)

Davids actually a good guy and has been getting more of a mauling than he deserves I think due to out of context media quotes,his newness to the finer points of liberalism and maybe some veterans reading more into him and his actions than is actually there.

There are 4 other ACT MP's who are also voting in strange ways and at least two of those should know better by virtue of time and exposure to Liberal ideas...mmmm?

Davids new to this people....he was dropped in to ACT cold and has ruffled a few feathers...but hes certainly a live wire and is going to keep making waves.All in all I belive hes an asset.

I think if you have the chance to meet David over a drink you will see hes pretty good value.....especially you Lindsay...I think you two would hit it off quite well. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Helen Clark, enema of the state!

Anonymous said...

David Garrett should have just won himself the deputy leadership - and then the leadership - of ACT

and hopefully the Finance and Deputy PM portfolio in 5 years time!

He is clearly the only ACT MP with real principles and the guts to ACT on them.

Douglas talks a good game - on RadioSocialism at least, where they seem to turn to him whenever they want someone to tell the unvarnished truth that NZ simply cannot afford its wage rates and socialist state - but so far ACT has done absolutely nothing

and we are more taxed and have more crime than we did in 2000, or even in 2005.

ACT needs more David Garretts, people who are willing to make a difference!

James said...

MikeE ...have you actually fronted Garrett with your concerns? Did you and Blair M manage to talk to him at the AGM...? What did he say...Im intrested...

Anonymous said...

MikeE ran off home. Apparently David was looking for him to speak to him.

Typical.

James said...

"He is clearly the only ACT MP with real principles and the guts to ACT on them."

I wouldn't agree with that,,,,Rodney for one has battled long and hard in the past for whats right...eg IRD,Outing Winston,outing Benson-Pope,wasting taxpayers money etc

Hes pobably just trying to avoid small unhelpful flame ups whilst ACT gets to grips with Government....give him some leeway.

Cactus Kate said...

Agree Lindsay.

Reggie said...

All ACT need to do is be the party of low taxes, small, unobtrusive Government and law and order. The worst thing act can do is get tangled up in all of this "liberal" horseshit - philosophical baubles like free for all drugs, euthanasia, open immigration and homosexual marriage.

Lindsay Mitchell said...

If we had a small, unobtrusive government we wouldn't have all that "horseshit" .

James said...

Kool Aid:"All ACT need to do is be the party of low taxes, small, unobtrusive Government and law and order. The worst thing act can do is get tangled up in all of this "liberal" horseshit - philosophical baubles like free for all drugs, euthanasia, open immigration and homosexual marriage."

But those latter things are inseperable from those former positions you listed....as Lindsay said there would be none of this "horseshit" if Government just did what you suggested in the first place.That it doesn't is why we have all these issues bubbling along.

Low taxes, small, unobtrusive Government and law and order IS the CLASSIC LIBERAL basis...if you support those things you ARE A Liberal by default just as accepting Jesus Christ as your saviour and following his teachings makes you a Christian by default no matter what you may think otherwise..

ACT,while it claims to represent those positions also IS a liberal party in the classic sense...no matter what other slogans it adopts.