Comments on: 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

By: Tom Semmens

Tom Semmens — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:55:04 +0000

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.

By: BE

BE — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:40:13 +0000

Not half!

By: Redbaiter

Redbaiter — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 01:34:59 +0000

That Steve Chadwick’s a genius tho ain’t she?

By: BE

BE — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:20:38 +0000

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.

By: BE

BE — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:16:31 +0000

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!

By: ROL

ROL — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:49:52 +0000

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.

By: Tom Semmens

Tom Semmens — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:23:20 +0000

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.

By: the sprout

the sprout — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:03:30 +0000

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.

By: simon

simon — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:22:35 +0000

The woman is a blethering idiot…
more like blethering tory, which is the same thing, but with double standards.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:51:56 +0000

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.