I have not participated in the angst-ridden/gloating discussion about how spymaster prime minister John Key ‘performed’ in his appearance on Campbell Live this week — ostensibly to defend and/or justify his GCSB Bill and its new, to-be-expanded powers of domestic surveillance provisions.
Judging by a superficial reading of the reaction to the interview, people’s view of the encounter largely fell into the realm of “What you see depends on where you stand”.
Mr Key’s entrenched detractors seemed to crow about him looking implausible blah blah, while his supporters (predictably) thought he ‘bossed’ John Campbell and controlled the ‘debate’. Same old same old in other words.
I watched it — twice. Overall, as much as I like and respect John Campbell (i.e. a lot) I thought Mr Key had the most to lose and really did very well as a sparring partner. He bobbed and weaved, ducked and dived, promised to cover off things (that he didn’t actually) … generally made great use of his unflustered, no-worries demeanour. He didn’t come across as aggressive or defensive, and, it seems to me, avoided Campbell’s attempts to land a punch.
Key was at his brazen worst/best (pick one) when he blithely declared again that everybody else (experts) opposed to his GCSB Bill doesn’t understand it or is wrong.
And for my money, John Campbell was bang on when he declared, with some exasperation, that the prime minister is someone who “plays the man not the ball”. That seems inescapably true. John Key routinely smears people. (It’s a quality I dislike. Perhaps the most.)
One of my Twitter buddies, Lew Stoddard posted a series of very good arguments (in my opinion) .. so good I found myself bookmarking a bunch of them … so here they are.
http://storify.com/onThePaepae/conversation-gwith-lewsos-acemcwicked-and-ruminator
Anyway, however you feel about the issue you only have a couple more days to vote in the Campbell Live poll. I have.
– P
You know how i feel about one of the protagonists here…
Let me say this as an amateur student of history … to me we are all a hairsbreadth away from the ignorant and mediaeval mob mentalities of the circus maximus … or the nuremburg rallies … or the book burnings … or kristallnacht …or the mujahadeen … or the Taleban… or the Crusader sack of Jerusalem …. the pernicious influence and action of fundamentalist christianity … and on it goes ….just one hairsbreadth away.
Its just a case of people betting on the prettiest horse … to me Campbell is an overly effusive overpaid media hack … like most of his ilk and contemporaries … they dont (like key – minor) believe in or stand for … anything other than themselves, their paypacket and their vision of their own godlikeness…
Question … how can these Gods ever identify with the great unwashed …
Hi Ivan,
So, again with the harsh judgements about people you only know from the telly? Really?
Have you ever met/do you know John?
I first met him when we both worked at Broadcasting House in Wellington. He had a large personality (but not a large ego like another big-voice now filling Holmes’ old time slot at ZB) and was soon off to TV3 — to the press gallery I think, working with Ralston. I don’t remember if he was still there when I arrived in the gallery just in time to watch the 4th Labour government imploding.
We haven’t kept in touch, except occasionally & superficially, but I see John as a genuinely good man. I had then and have now absolutely NO doubt about his sincerity and his commitment to following values and ethics. He’s a principled man, and an enthusiast. That’s obvious. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who would knowledgeably challenge my assessment. (Helen Clark’s infamous ‘little creep’ epithet excepted. Of course those whose feathers he ruffles dislike him. Comes with the territory.)
As such I reject the image you offer of a self-absorbed, out of touch, pay-packetfocussed hack. Nope.
No more cheap shots please. Refer: Potshots from behind a mask of anonymity are, by definition, cheap
– P
Very unfair response Peter … i dont have the media contacts you do … i am one of the unwashed who have to by virtue of our situation … make judgements based on sight sound, touch, taste and unfortunately … often smell (metaphorical or otherwise).
You are the privileged one and i see it as unfair when you do these olympian feats of comment you do regarding the media fraternity.
Unfair Peter … very unfair … you make yourself an elite of 1 by doing this sort of thing. No one can comment … you hold all the cards it seems.
Very poor form … not cricket at all…
I am the audience who only perceive campbell on the screen … not from pre and during makeup and presentation …
Unfair … unfair
—
So the only valid judgements of individuals who knowingly put themselves in the public arena .. are from people like you who are the privileged who know them personally as such.
Why dont you publish your own “magna carta” Peter … edited by Graeme … “this is the list of approved people, dissertations, approvals, disapproved actions and viewpoints, intellectually appropriate and inappropriate viewpoints, political viewpoints etc … along with a complete companion volume of recent editions of the aranyi treatises on how to hold several viewpoints all at once … colloquially subtitled “fencesitting for beginners …”
—
I could almost start to accuse you of being elitist and condescending .. but i struggle to understand these words … given the rudimentary nature of my upbringing and education.
I bow before the singular and quite stunning stature of your prickness in this matter….
[combined three messages – P]
Hi Ivan,
I don’t think my rejection of your shallow comments about Campbell’s character, and my defence of it, based on my personal (but slight) acquaintance with him is unfair in the slightest.
It’s pretty galling to read you describe someone you’ve never met — whom I had just said I like and respect a lot (post above) — as a member of a class which doesn’t believe in or stand for anything other than themselves etc
Standing up for John Campbell based on my assessment of him does not make me elitist. If there’s unfairness, it’s on your side, Ivan, in writing off his character based on such a shallow investigation.
—
Who said you can’t comment? You can comment.
I’ve allowed your comments, Ivan, and in general I appreciate your contribution here, some of it greatly. But may I answer them? I acknowledge I have in the past made your comments about other broadcasters of whom I’ve expressed admiration unwelcome. You go too far sometimes, in my opinion, and I’m responsible for the tone of this website.
Let’s not squabble.
– P
Fair comment … mate you cant help it if i’m right and you are so often wrong …
I amaze myself at times with my openness to these things …
Shallow … i think you need to go back and look at many of your own comments and apply some scientific investigation … who defines shallow and by what measure … is your assertion re shallow a freudian slip … does it give us unwashed a glimpse into the mindset and preconceptions of the cafe going property owning elite …
Youre a good man PA … but you need to understand that your paradigm and worldview are actually more blinkered than you think. I often think that media and blogging actually narrows viewpoint … not widen …
And because i love you Pete (entering into the inclusive spirit of the times …) – note i said of Campbell …
“…To Me …. ”
He is a public figure offering very public viewpoints regarding many who have no ready right of reply … …
think about it ..
Granted, I am equally, perhaps even MORE shallow than you, Ivan.
And blinkered? Yes, probably. Also granted.
I also agree with your view that the ‘self-expression’ aspect of ‘commentary’ and opinion-stating (e.g. blogging) can become heinously self-referencing and reinforcing.
Nevertheless, I will still defend John Campbell (not that he needs it) and my assessment of his values. He is a good-hearted guy and in my experience, it is all too easy to slag such people off. To do so anonymously, sorry, nah-uh.
– P
Shallow …. well thats all very good PA … alwsys the supposedly anonymous “out” for you … loved the “nah ah” thingie … very very clever.
I suppose you will support Big J’s GCSB as it pries into all sorts of people seeking anonymity …
For goodness sake PA … Campbell is a highly paid media ‘star’ … your defence of him isnt that big a deal … or is it …
I linked to it (experts) in the post above, but let me be more overt: Read this article.
Rodney Harrison: Wholesale spy power is precisely what GCSB bill means for Kiwis