Winnie's New Job

[idb]

I must say that our Foreign Minister is doing a spiffing job.
After his attendance at the CHOGM in Malta he then headed off to the UK to watch the All Blacks (there he was on the telly at Murrayfield standing behind the victorious team at the after-match ceremony).
There he met the Foreign Secretary, Ministers for Racing(!), Pensions, Armed Forces and then headed off to the Scottish Parliament after a big reception at NZ House for all sorts of important international beaureaucrats.

A cynic might say that it was an artfully timed trip to both remove The Honourable Minister from the ongoing criticisms at home (which he seems to be having some difficulty dealing with), and putting him near the centre of NZ's diplomatic operations without actually being able to have too much influence or cause too much damage.
A cynic might further suggest that The Right Honourable Prime Minister has done an excellent job of emasculating Peters by destroying his credibility at home, impressing him with the baubles of power, initiating him into the heady world of international diplomacy so that he can no longer throw stones from afar and all while keeping him out of Cabinet.
But that would be too cynical wouldn't it?
His arrival home may be interesting (if he gets here before recess that is).

[Lou Girardin]

I suppose our Minister for Racing should meet his counterparts.
I also suppose that the Foreign Minister would travel quite a bit.

[SixPackBack]

Winston is boxing way outside his division.The cringe factor when considering his post and responsibility is to much, I turn away when seeing him on telly[/SIZE]

[idb]

I suppose our Minister for Racing should meet his counterparts.
I also suppose that the Foreign Minister would travel quite a bit.

No disagreement about the travelling bit - in fact I get bored with people complaining about government ministers so-called junkets.
Can there be a more pointless position than the Minister for Racing? (except anti-PC spokesman or whatever Mr Mapp is)
It's the unfolding of Helen's whole grand plan that was the point of the post.

That's cynical idb's voice not mine - get out of my head cynical idb.........

[rogson]

Winnie's looking after #1.
Lost his seat & party decimated in the elections - he knows he's a gonna, so why not get three years of minsterial salary in an all power no responsibilty job topped-off with who knows how many taxpayer paid junkets around the world hob-knobbing with the rich, powerful and famous - before the band stops playing.

[idb]

Winnie's looking after #1.
Lost his seat & party decimated in the elections - he knows he's a gonna, so why not get three years of minsterial salary in an all power no responsibilty job topped-off with who knows how many taxpayer paid junkets around the world hob-knobbing with the rich, powerful and famous - before the band stops playing.

Crikey! That's cynical......................

[onearmedbandit]

Fuck, I'd do that.

[rogson]

Crikey! That's cynical......................

Not really, I tip my hat to him - bloody well done!

[Skyryder]

If you take away Winnies baggage from the past it would seem that he has not gone shopping for new ones. All in all he has not put a foot wrong. But then he does not have much influence in Labours foreign policy debates and at the end of the day is no more than Labours message boy.

I'm beginning to think that this was an extreemly smart smooth by Helen. She has removed one contentious politician from the opposition allowing her to deal with more serious attacks from National, but more important Winnie knows that with all the favourable publicity, he will garnish from his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs, New Zealand First will be in a stronger position to contest the next election. The added bonus for this is that Labour will have cemented New First as its coalition partner.................wherby reducing Nationals options of an ACT-New Zealand First alliance as a coalition partner for National.

Yep smart move Helen.

Skyryder

[rogson]

Nah - Helen did what she had to stay the government - nothing more nothing less!

Winnie on the other hand has realised from the last election that small parties without an "identity" have no permanency (as has Peter Dunne Rodney Hide, etc). The Greens will survive because they "own" a piece of the political landscape. The others - trying to be more left, more centrist, more liberal, etc., than the major parties can easily be muscled out of the way.

No - Winnie's looking after #1.

[Skyryder]

Nah - Helen did what she had to stay the government - nothing more nothing less!

Winnie on the other hand has realised from the last election that small parties without an "identity" have no permanency (as has Peter Dunne Rodney Hide, etc). The Greens will survive because they "own" a piece of the political landscape. The others - trying to be more left, more centrist, more liberal, etc., than the major parties can easily be muscled out of the way.

No - Winnie's looking after #1.

No conflict with your appraisal, but the long term view, as I see it, may lead to New Zealsnd First becoming Labours natural ally. The Greens have a deep seated problem in that many see their policies as an extra tax. The progressives are dying a slow death and will be terminated with the retirement of Anderton. Dunns lot are National, Hides lot the same, so who do Labour have left. The Greens yes but as mentioned they could be a political liability for Labour...........at least in the short term, which only leaves Winstones lot.

I still think making Winstone Foreign Afairs top honcho was a smart move by Clark. He's busy preening himself and ruffling his feathers at any oppertunity but once the media get used to the deal it's smooth sailing all the way for Winston.

Skyryder