Sunday, March 27, 2011

The Deconstruction of Falling Stars

If Phil Goff's appearance on Q&A was a leadership acid test before the Labour caucus crucible, Goff failed terribly. The whole show is worth watching, complete with an interview with former Labor leader Kevin Rudd, who seems nice but nebulous.

While the video is painful, the interview transcript reminds me of the part in Terry Gilliam's Brazil where the secretary is dictating a torture session. Selected highlights:
MR GOFF No, no, that’s…
MR GOFF No, no, no, look…
MR GOFF No, no, no, no…
MR GOFF No, no, no, these are assertions…
Sir Don McKinnon was in fine form. He made an apt point on the Sleepless in Hataitai debacle which Patrick Gower picks up on:
"You gotta catch it on the full. Never let it bounce."
My personal highlight was Jon Johannson chastising Darren Hughes on behalf of Victoria University for the hubris of ignoring the Public Policy ethics they attempted to instill in him (and others) as par for the course.