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“Despite a deadly plague, people writhe around her, not caring that they may die, because just a second in her presence will be worth the silent midnight of the Reapers embrace.”
Martyn Bradbury The Daily Blog 10 October 20.
The above quote from Martyn Bradbury is cringeworthy. Writhing for their idol, risking their lives, worshipping her presence and ready to die for a politician? Really? New Zealanders are genuinely proud when they see a fellow kiwi do well, but cultish type adulation for anyone, especially a Prime Minister, is particularly concerning and shows very poor judgement.
Pop Idol comes to mind when reading how Bradbury describes the behaviour of Ardern’s fan club.
Pop Idol was a British music competition television series created by Simon Fuller which ran on ITV. The aim of the show was to decide the best new young pop singer in the UK based on viewer voting and participation.
There are those who enter these competitions who have genuine talent and are recognized for the work they have done, and a few go on to a successful career.
Many viewers, however, will have seen videos of people singing, exhibiting excessive cockiness, and showing a distinct lack of talent. It is baffling why a person would get up on stage and make a fool of themselves. All the lighting, makeup and glitter cannot cover up a bad performance for long. Thankfully, these wannabe’s delusional dreams are brought down to earth by a discerning public vote.
Here in New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern has attracted a fan base. It is astonishing that she is treated like a Pop Idol by these people, as overall she has not performed well. Kiwis know she has not kept one election promise in three years as Prime Minister.
Bradbury, a supporter, admits this shocking result of non-delivery by Ardern.
Has anything remotely transformational occurred in terms of poverty, inequality, justice reform, suicide, or housing? Only the baby steps of a drunk baby.
While acknowledging Miss Ardern’s exceedingly poor performance, Bradbury unbelievably goes on to say that she deserves a second term. He seems to support these devotees who have voluntarily acquiesced to Miss Ardern without any critical analysis or research.
Dr Muriel Newman, writing recently for NZCPR (New Zealand Centre for Political Research) weekly, gives one explanation for this phenomenon.
The polling gap is largely the result of some 200,000 former National voters – mostly women over the age of 45 – switching their support to Jacinda Ardern for her management of the Covid 19 crisis. If enough of these voters returned ‘home’, Labour’s support would slide and if the Greens dipped under 5%, National and Act would have numbers to govern.
Polling has started and Kiwis are seeing Ardern’s popularity gradually tracking down.
No amount of chutzpah Pop Idol, star pulling power will improve Ardern’s performance. Ardern has proven she does not have the qualities required to lead a country out the worst recession in 160 years and to start to rebuild an economy.
Judith Collins, however, does not need this sort of lightweight adulation. She has high energy, and the required talent to give a genuine performance. There needs to be a switch back to the National Party. Kiwis, especially women, (according to Newman), should begin to think of the future, for the sake of our nation.
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