Entry 223, on 2005-09-14 at 13:58:05 (Rating 3, Politics)
The latest debacle of the political campaign here in New Zealand is the accusations by Winston Peters against his competitor for the Tauranga seat, National candidate Bob Clarkson. The accusations are flying backwards and forwards, and somebody is definitely lying, because the claims both can't be right.
I have always had mixed feelings about Winston Peters. There is some truth in some of his campaigns, and he is an entertaining speaker, but he is also a habitual conspiracy theorists (of course, sometimes there are conspiracies) and often deals with issues very negatively.
Whatever you think of Peters though, he's fairly sensible compared with Clarkson. What were National thinking taking this guy on as a candidate? OK, he's a successful businessman. I guess a lot of people on the political right automatically assume that makes him an intelligent, thoughtful, well balanced person. Well, guess what, it doesn't! And it certainly doesn't in this case.
I really don't know how to describe Bob. When he makes a stupid comment at an interview, and his political allies put their heads in their hands, groan and tell him to be quiet, it really tells me he doesn't belong in politics. But the worst thing is he refuses to debate with Winston! I know Peters would make mincemeat of him, but it would certainly be entertaining. Not informative of course, but definitely entertaining!
Comment 1 (115) by JT on 2005-09-25 at 21:01:25:
I think its best to assume they are both lying (as well as all the other politicians).
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