A Rejuvenated ACT Party
Straight up, that was what I saw on Saturday. ACT is fired up. I have not ever seen the party so united, so organised and so determined. It was the most positive, practical, and visionary ACT conference I have been to.
Despite the media focus, the best thing to have happened to ACT is not the return of Roger Douglas, but the assistance of John Ansell. There's a lot of hand-wringing wooly crap that goes on in ACT about how to present the message, and John is just taking a scythe to it all. The fact that he is on board shows ACT's planning, foresight and commitment to this year's election. ACT is in good hands with him.
I saw a much-changed Rodney Hide, a lean and disciplined Leader who is now not just a maverick frontman but an integrated part of the team. It will probably not sound like a compliment to say that I found his speech a bit boring - and Rodney is always better when he improvises rather than reads from the podium - but to me that was a sign that he is not fooling around and wants to get down to business. Eleven years in opposition (and one propping up the dying carcass of Jenny Shipley) is enough - as Bret and Jermaine would say "It's business time!"
And then there was Roger. He got a standing ovation and rightly so. He wants to be back in parliament probably as MP for Hunua, which is great. I would love to see the arse-end of Paul Hutchinson, one of the few National MPs to vote to ban smoking in bars. He has patched things up with Rodney and all are working together. That has been an inspiration for me.
Overall I have to say I was impressed. I had been emailed by a board member several weeks ago and asked to consider standing for ACT and my response was tepid. I wanted to see if they had their sh*t together. But it seems obvious that people are sick of Labour, realise National isn't going to change anything, and realise nobody but ACT has a chance of turning things around. ACT has got its A into G and so now I am prepared to help them in any way I can.
I suspect that in my own electorate of Mt Albert, National will not put up a serious candidate, so I feel it is vitally important that someone have a crack at the Queen of Mean at a juncture where she is most vulnerable, because of her longstanding neglect of this electorate. I want that someone to be me, and for that task I am seeking ACT's endorsement.
Good on you. If ACT have got their sh*t together, I might also have to rejoin - I gave up for a while there, while Rodney was off on walkabout...
Posted by: Sean | Monday, 17 March 2008 at 03:20 PM
I've just posted off my membership form (i've actually been meaning to for a few months!)
Posted by: nzmuso | Monday, 17 March 2008 at 04:29 PM
have you actually listened to that song? it's about mundane office people having really boring, disappointing & brief sex. sounds like a great way to end eleven years of extreme political irrelevance. I hope all your dreams come true (not, actually, but in your dreams)
Posted by: nommopilot | Monday, 17 March 2008 at 05:36 PM
nommopilot - have you ever met any woman out there who DON'T fancy shagging Bret and Jermaine? They're aren't many.
Posted by: Blair | Monday, 17 March 2008 at 05:56 PM
Party unity is not hard to achieve when you have no members or supporters.
Posted by: Greg | Monday, 17 March 2008 at 07:38 PM
True Greg, fortunately ACT has plenty of both.
Posted by: Blair | Monday, 17 March 2008 at 08:17 PM
Oh my goodness - I this what the Rutland Street Youth Group prepared you for Blair? Soul destroying stuff. I used to do the same at your age canvassing for Muldoon in AK Central. Over the years, i came round to the realisation it aint all black n'white in faith or politics. Cheers
Andrew N.
Posted by: Andrew Nichols | Monday, 17 March 2008 at 09:42 PM
Muldoon?
Dear god man, have you no dignity?
Posted by: James W | Tuesday, 18 March 2008 at 08:37 AM
I'm as happy as Jake The Peg in an ass-kicking contest against Judith Tizard.
Well done Blair!
Posted by: Rick Giles | Tuesday, 18 March 2008 at 10:32 AM
That's a target not difficult to miss, Rick!
Posted by: Blair | Tuesday, 18 March 2008 at 10:56 AM
National didn't put up a strong candidate in 2005, but it is one of those electorates that is safe for Labour.
I suggest running for Auckland Central personally. That seems like a more volitile electorate full of those who don't have strong party affiliations.
Posted by: Liz S | Tuesday, 18 March 2008 at 05:57 PM
I will be voting ACT again in the next election.
They have their mojo back.
Posted by: Mark | Friday, 21 March 2008 at 04:43 PM
Blair, your take on Key wimping out this week over the likelyhood of having Sir Roger at the cabinet table?
Posted by: Clint Heine | Saturday, 22 March 2008 at 10:34 AM