Parting or Opening shots? Vote on National Party leadership today

I have been asked by a few friends and associates to weigh in on who I think will win todays leadership vote for the National Party.

However, while I do have a preference* I honestly don't know the outcome but I do know that today's winner may not actually be around to lead the party to electoral victory if previous history (of both National and Labour) is anything to go by.

So, in lieu of any real wisdom lets fire off a few links to others who have had their thoughts about how things will go.

First up is Winston Peters, from late last year, when he publicly speculated about the chances of any who wish to wear the crown. Its full of the usual Winstonisims and for that alone makes for entertaining reading.

Next is Secret diary of the National leadership race by Steve Braunias which is about par for the course but only covers Adams, Collins and Bridges, so we can only speculate about what he thinks of Joyce and Mitchell.

And keeping with the decent into absurdity is pop star Robbie Williams recent views on who would win where he judges the candidates chances based on their photos. I am not sure but I think that Mr Williams thinks Simon Bridges might be gay, given his comments, and that Nikki Kaye is in with a chance**

Meanwhile, we veer back on course with Stacy Kirk's article from Stuff which is worth reading for her take on the situation and the videos of the candidates doing their best to sell themselves to the public.

In the various videos Bridges looks slightly irked and irritated at the intrusion of the plebeian into his rarefied space as soon to be leader of the National party; Collins tries to hide the sneering Montgomery Burns levels of contempt but fails badly; Adams appears to be peaking on her first (possibly second) extra strong latte of the day; Joyce looks and sounds like a tired old man who needs to go to the toilet and Mitchell clearly needs a media trainer as his hands do all the talking, like a demented Punch and Judy show, and end up distracting from anything he is saying.

And last, and possibly least is Wikipedia with its very own page on the current leadership challenge which consists mostly of listing the various endorsements of MPs and media celebutards for each candidate with little else of value, ugh!

As for me I expect this to be the opening round in a longer struggle which will be discussed further in my next post: Rehabilitating National Part IV: Rebuild, reform or re-brand?

Until then, Vootie!



*-read my last post on the matter and figure it out for yourself
**-of a date with Robbie Williams not leadership of the National party