Flip-Flop Key

It seems John Key is certainly living up to his title of “Master of Flip-Flops”, as this photo of his Kumeu electorate office clearly shows. Nice to see the Leader of the Opposition being honest with the public for once, and in such shameless fashion too! 

Jon Johansson On Key

Victoria University political scientist, Jon Johansson, makes a number of good observations in and article on leadership in this week’s Listener. Johansson specialises in studying leadership, and of John Key he says:

“He has blurted for as long as he has been leader. He has said disparate things to different audiences – not smart. He is learning that you get found out.”

Certainly, this has been made no more apparent than in the past month where Key has been caught out on a number of issues, and his incompetency’s and inexperience exposed. Johansson points out, and quite rightly, that Key has only come under pressure in recent times, and I suspect this new found scrutiny has been reflected in the recent Herald-DigiPoll.  Media, and definitely public, scrutiny up until now has been almost non-existent, and has allowed Key to simply coast along without having to present anything substantial to the electorate. On this, Johansson warns:

“Voters, the media and MPs themselves are too credulous with new leaders, too accepting of what they say”

This fact has certainly been essential to National’s current fortunes in the polls, but may prove fatal in the long run. Key appears to have been lead into a false sense of security that the so-called “mood for change” will be enough to sweep Helen Clark and Labour out of the Beehive. However, if March is anything to go by, the recent mood change within the media, and the public at large, is for Key to demonstrate, without rhetoric, smart clichés, or unsubstantial one-liners, how exactly a National government would improve the lives of New Zealanders. 

 

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