Brian Edwards Media
A considered opinion on Paula Bennett, based on close analysis of her media appearances since the election, and in particular her recent interview with Cameron Bennett (Hopefully no relation!) on the ‘Sunday’ programme
Posted by BE on June 10th, 2009
The woman is a blethering idiot.
Ianmac June 10th, 2009 at 15:15
Brian I saw that interview and must commend Paula for ability to stay unfazed in spite of her total lack of reasonable response. Perhaps there was no connecting between Cameron’s question and her response. In separate rooms perhaps???
BE June 10th, 2009 at 15:33
Different planets more like!
Tom Semmens June 10th, 2009 at 15:58
Paula has been elected to lead, not to read!
BE June 10th, 2009 at 18:06
Paula has been elected to lead, not to read!
I’d forgotten that.
BletherVane June 10th, 2009 at 17:27
pithy summation there my good man,
I shall off to view the Bennett on Bennett i/v.
Is it intravenous is it?
BE June 10th, 2009 at 18:05
pithy summation there my good man,
Intravenous? It is in that vein.
Julia Maybank June 10th, 2009 at 19:21
It would have been nice to hear her full comments instead of the clumsily-edited end product. Cameron Bennett ended up looking like a biased twit (which he doesn’t usually), especially when the ‘expert interviews’ were from a couple of sad old academics. The people actually involved in the Programme seemed impressed.
Julia
BE June 10th, 2009 at 21:21
It would have been nice to hear her full comments instead of the clumsily-edited end product.
Thanks Julia. But I couldn’t see anything wrong with the questioning or the editing. Fact is Bennett had zero evidence that this sort of boot camp would do any good. All she wanted to do was pander to popular prejudice.
Al June 10th, 2009 at 22:57
I’m a bit less mystified after reading, from http://www.national.org.nz/Bio.aspx?Id=2668
“She is passionate about insuring a brighter future for all New Zealanders. As the Minister for Social Development she believes she has been give a great opportunity to affect positive change in peoples lives, families and their communities”
Oh well …………. Al
BE June 11th, 2009 at 09:42
I’m a bit less mystified after reading, from http://www.national.org.nz/Bio.aspx?Id=2668
Yes, I doubt that her outmoded and retrograde thinking on youth offending will lead to any of us having “a brighter future”.
Sean June 11th, 2009 at 09:51
I had to watch the segment to understand why you made that comment Brian.
I once watched, on an episode of ‘Yes, Prime Minister’, Sir Humphrey explain to Bernard a common failing of logic amongst politicians.
The Public want ‘something’ done.
B is ‘something’.
Therefore: we must do B.
Paula Bennett, unblinkingly, presented this as the reason for her actions without any realization she was not on a satirical programme. And without any reference to the key question put to her (Have you evidence that it will work?).
Yep, I agree with your opinion.
simon June 17th, 2009 at 09:22
The woman is a blethering idiot…
more like blethering tory, which is the same thing, but with double standards.
the sprout June 17th, 2009 at 11:03
Bennett was installed as Minister for DSW not despite her inability to master the issues, but rather because of her inability to master the issues.
Being as out of her depth as she is makes her much more compliant to do the biddding of her political leaders than anyone who actually understood the enormity of what’s being done and the damage that will ultimate result for their personal and professional reputation.
BE June 19th, 2009 at 10:20
Bennett was installed as Minister for DSW not despite her inability to master the issues, but rather because of her inability to master the issues.
Maybe. I’m more inclined to think it was because she would have media and PR appeal. Check out the massive coverage she got in the Listener for example.
Tom Semmens June 18th, 2009 at 18:23
Sprout: Last budget it was clear that the likes of Tolley and Bennett were barely consulted let alone given a chance to fight for their share of the budget dollar.
National has a very lightweight cabinet, they were opposition for nine years and experience AND talent is thin on the ground. Combine that with the gender bias and monocultural world view of the self-entitled Remuera elite that makes up the hierarchy of the National party and the inevitable outcome is the National government is run by an inner cabal of middle aged white men – Key, English, Joyce, Ryall.
The elevation of incompetents like Bennett and Tolley to the cabinet and their inability to effectively oppose the cabinet cabal is the inevitable outcome of the National Party’s dismissive attitude to anyone who isn’t a white male.
BE June 19th, 2009 at 10:16
Sprout: Last budget it was clear that the likes of Tolley and Bennett were barely consulted let alone given a chance to fight for their share of the budget dollar.
Right on, Tom!
ROL June 18th, 2009 at 22:49
I try to compare Paula with her predecessor but try as I might I just can’t. There is absolutely no comparison between Dyson and Bennet. Dyson worked hard, Bennet blathers.
Redbaiter June 21st, 2009 at 14:34
That Steve Chadwick’s a genius tho ain’t she?
BE June 21st, 2009 at 17:40
Not half!
Tom Semmens June 22nd, 2009 at 13:55
What is this I read?
“…In Parliament yesterday, Ms Sepuloni asked Ms Bennett why the allowance was “good enough for her to take as a solo parent, but now is not good enough for her to give out as Minister for Social Development”.
Ms Bennett responded that the country was living in “different times”.
“Listen up. It is called a recession, and we make decisions accordingly,” the minister said…”
Listen up? LISTEN UP? If someone spoke to me in such a condescending tone it would be all I could do to resist punching them in the face. To quote my dear old Mum’s first reaction – “What a bitch!”
Barely been in the job for six months and she is already channeling Christine Rankin.