Young, not very bright and headed for the top
by Audrey Young
5:30 AM Saturday Apr 7, 2012
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says he is a "real Kiwi", a "part-Maori who
grew up in West Auckland". Photo / Mark Mitchell
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is both blessed and cursed.
He is blessed with attributes that could take him all the way to the
top of politics.
He is cursed with the predictions that he could make it all the way to
the top of politics. This week marked a milestone in his political
journey, wherever it ends.
He was elevated to a ministerial post following the corruption scandal
that ended Nick Smith's journey. He acquired the portfolios of
Consumer Affairs, Associate Climate Change and Associate Transport,
outside the Cabinet.
It's been a big few weeks: the work promotion followed the arrival
three weeks ago of his first baby, a boy with the Welsh name Emlyn
after his mother's Welsh heritage.
Simon Bridges met his wife, Natalie, in the common room at St
Catherine's College, Oxford University. He was studying law and she
was studying the Romantic poets.
He is ambitious and very self-aware. By his own account he was "more
lippy than a rebel" at Rutherford College in Te Atatu. At Auckland
University, he joined the Young Nationals. He claims he has never
smoked cannabis.
Now a 35-year-old MP, Bridges describes himself as a hard worker and a
professional, a diligent person - "I wouldn't use the word earnest
because that doesn't sound good," he quips. "I hope that I'm not going
to be someone who is blustering or all heat and no light. I hope that
I can in reality and perception be someone who is a substantial
politician who brings a real thoughtfulness to the portfolios that
I've got."
He had a cruisy first term, gaining a soft TV profile as the handsome
but vacuous young National MP pitted regularly against the lovely
young Labour MP Jacinda Ardern, then as a volunteer at the RSPCA on a
heart-wrenching episode of the television show Make the Politician
Work, a role chosen after his success in getting penalties for cruelty
to animals increased.
Bridges had a relatively easy entrance to politics. The young Crown
prosecutor beat Winston Peters in his last stand in Tauranga in 2008,
though Bob Clarkson had done the hard job of ousting Peters in 2005.
Bridges faces tests as a minister that should demonstrate if he has
what it takes to go further, such as coming to grips with the eye-
watering complexity of climate change policy.
One has to have serious doubts about his intelligence. But
intelligence does not always guarantee political ability.
Asked which ministers he admires, he nominates without hesitation John
Key, whom he calls "a complete article".
"When you think about him as politician and his both intellect and EQ
[emotional intelligence], he is a complete package so it is hard to go
past him in terms of his style and the way he does things."
"He is not an academic but he is intellectual," says Bridges.
He also makes special mention of Attorney-General Chris Finlayson,
Trade Minister Tim Groser, and former Justice Minister Simon Power.
Power is mentioned not so much for his liberalising crusade in the
justice system - Bridges put away too many murderers, rapists and
kidnappers to be in that camp - but for the way he went about his job.
"He set an agenda and was exceptionally clear in following through his
agenda. He had real strength of purpose. He was working to a programme
systematically. I admire that."
Bridges describes himself as "part-Maori" [sic] and was raised in Te
Atatu by his teacher mother, a Pakeha, and Baptist minister father, of
Maniapoto descent.
He talked in his maiden speech about how his father's mother, Naku
Joseph, had stayed in an unhappy relationship with her hard-living
husband "because in those days last century she thought that marriage
to a Pakeha man was bettering herself and her children's prospects".
He doesn't have close links to his tribal area but he and his family
were invited to his marae last term for what was a special and
memorable day.
Bridge's ethnicity was evidently missed by Labour's David Cunliffe,
who recently referred to him as the "perma-tanned member". Bridges
wasn't offended but in apologising, Cunliffe said he hadn't realised
he was Maori.
Bridges sustained a more hurtful attack last term from Labour MP Shane
Jones, a fluent speaker of te reo, who called Bridges a "cultural
truant" for his attempts at speaking Maori and said he "runs from
mirror to mirror".
The accusation was commonly made against Peters, who always said with
a wry smile he was "just happy to be the member for Tauranga" when
prime ministerial ambitions were raised.
Bridges is irked by questions of leadership. He works hard to project
a semblance of modesty - not always successfully.
"I'm not going to be cute with you and say that I'm just happy being
the MP for Tauranga. I am ambitious and ... I absolutely want to be a
minister and let's face facts right now but being blunt right now, I
am auditioning to be a Cabinet minister.
"But I am walking before I can run. I just think issues about
leadership and so on are hypothetical, they are speculative, and
actually at my level of experience, they are ridiculous."
One of the most defining features of Simon Bridges is his exaggerated
Kiwi accent, an accent which has drawn plenty of comment. Sir Robert
Jones told him he needed elocution lessons.
"I wanted to tell him to get stuffed but I didn't dare."
He puts it down to two factors: being the son of a preacher and doing
court work every day for eight years.
"You get very methodical and deliberate in your speaking style. And I
have a lot of constituents who are new immigrants who love how I speak
because it's slow and they can follow every word I say.
"I think what is true about me is I'm a real Kiwi product, part Maori
[sic], grew up in West Auckland. I would resist any change now to my
accent. It is what it is."
Now that he is a family man with a new ministerial career beginning,
perhaps it could be said he has "arrived".
Bridges thinks that is over-stating it.
"I'm on my way," he says before understating it even further. "I'm on
the start of being on my way."
By Audrey Young | Email Audrey
by Audrey Young
5:30 AM Saturday Apr 7, 2012
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says he is a "real Kiwi", a "part-Maori who
grew up in West Auckland". Photo / Mark Mitchell
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is both blessed and cursed.
He is blessed with attributes that could take him all the way to the
top of politics.
He is cursed with the predictions that he could make it all the way to
the top of politics. This week marked a milestone in his political
journey, wherever it ends.
He was elevated to a ministerial post following the corruption scandal
that ended Nick Smith's journey. He acquired the portfolios of
Consumer Affairs, Associate Climate Change and Associate Transport,
outside the Cabinet.
It's been a big few weeks: the work promotion followed the arrival
three weeks ago of his first baby, a boy with the Welsh name Emlyn
after his mother's Welsh heritage.
Simon Bridges met his wife, Natalie, in the common room at St
Catherine's College, Oxford University. He was studying law and she
was studying the Romantic poets.
He is ambitious and very self-aware. By his own account he was "more
lippy than a rebel" at Rutherford College in Te Atatu. At Auckland
University, he joined the Young Nationals. He claims he has never
smoked cannabis.
Now a 35-year-old MP, Bridges describes himself as a hard worker and a
professional, a diligent person - "I wouldn't use the word earnest
because that doesn't sound good," he quips. "I hope that I'm not going
to be someone who is blustering or all heat and no light. I hope that
I can in reality and perception be someone who is a substantial
politician who brings a real thoughtfulness to the portfolios that
I've got."
He had a cruisy first term, gaining a soft TV profile as the handsome
but vacuous young National MP pitted regularly against the lovely
young Labour MP Jacinda Ardern, then as a volunteer at the RSPCA on a
heart-wrenching episode of the television show Make the Politician
Work, a role chosen after his success in getting penalties for cruelty
to animals increased.
Bridges had a relatively easy entrance to politics. The young Crown
prosecutor beat Winston Peters in his last stand in Tauranga in 2008,
though Bob Clarkson had done the hard job of ousting Peters in 2005.
Bridges faces tests as a minister that should demonstrate if he has
what it takes to go further, such as coming to grips with the eye-
watering complexity of climate change policy.
One has to have serious doubts about his intelligence. But
intelligence does not always guarantee political ability.
Asked which ministers he admires, he nominates without hesitation John
Key, whom he calls "a complete article".
"When you think about him as politician and his both intellect and EQ
[emotional intelligence], he is a complete package so it is hard to go
past him in terms of his style and the way he does things."
"He is not an academic but he is intellectual," says Bridges.
He also makes special mention of Attorney-General Chris Finlayson,
Trade Minister Tim Groser, and former Justice Minister Simon Power.
Power is mentioned not so much for his liberalising crusade in the
justice system - Bridges put away too many murderers, rapists and
kidnappers to be in that camp - but for the way he went about his job.
"He set an agenda and was exceptionally clear in following through his
agenda. He had real strength of purpose. He was working to a programme
systematically. I admire that."
Bridges describes himself as "part-Maori" [sic] and was raised in Te
Atatu by his teacher mother, a Pakeha, and Baptist minister father, of
Maniapoto descent.
He talked in his maiden speech about how his father's mother, Naku
Joseph, had stayed in an unhappy relationship with her hard-living
husband "because in those days last century she thought that marriage
to a Pakeha man was bettering herself and her children's prospects".
He doesn't have close links to his tribal area but he and his family
were invited to his marae last term for what was a special and
memorable day.
Bridge's ethnicity was evidently missed by Labour's David Cunliffe,
who recently referred to him as the "perma-tanned member". Bridges
wasn't offended but in apologising, Cunliffe said he hadn't realised
he was Maori.
Bridges sustained a more hurtful attack last term from Labour MP Shane
Jones, a fluent speaker of te reo, who called Bridges a "cultural
truant" for his attempts at speaking Maori and said he "runs from
mirror to mirror".
The accusation was commonly made against Peters, who always said with
a wry smile he was "just happy to be the member for Tauranga" when
prime ministerial ambitions were raised.
Bridges is irked by questions of leadership. He works hard to project
a semblance of modesty - not always successfully.
"I'm not going to be cute with you and say that I'm just happy being
the MP for Tauranga. I am ambitious and ... I absolutely want to be a
minister and let's face facts right now but being blunt right now, I
am auditioning to be a Cabinet minister.
"But I am walking before I can run. I just think issues about
leadership and so on are hypothetical, they are speculative, and
actually at my level of experience, they are ridiculous."
One of the most defining features of Simon Bridges is his exaggerated
Kiwi accent, an accent which has drawn plenty of comment. Sir Robert
Jones told him he needed elocution lessons.
"I wanted to tell him to get stuffed but I didn't dare."
He puts it down to two factors: being the son of a preacher and doing
court work every day for eight years.
"You get very methodical and deliberate in your speaking style. And I
have a lot of constituents who are new immigrants who love how I speak
because it's slow and they can follow every word I say.
"I think what is true about me is I'm a real Kiwi product, part Maori
[sic], grew up in West Auckland. I would resist any change now to my
accent. It is what it is."
Now that he is a family man with a new ministerial career beginning,
perhaps it could be said he has "arrived".
Bridges thinks that is over-stating it.
"I'm on my way," he says before understating it even further. "I'm on
the start of being on my way."
By Audrey Young | Email Audrey
Click here to Reply
 |
On Sun, 8 Apr 2012 15:20:03 -0700 (PDT), Radio Transcripts Ltd
<daisycut...@lycos.com> wrote:
>Young, not very bright and headed for the top
>by Audrey Young
>5:30 AM Saturday Apr 7, 2012
>
>Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says he is a "real Kiwi", a "part-Maori who
>grew up in West Auckland". Photo / Mark Mitchell
>
>Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is both blessed and cursed.
>
He is another John key clone like Paula Bennett. Every time they are<daisycut...@lycos.com> wrote:
>Young, not very bright and headed for the top
>by Audrey Young
>5:30 AM Saturday Apr 7, 2012
>
>Tauranga MP Simon Bridges says he is a "real Kiwi", a "part-Maori who
>grew up in West Auckland". Photo / Mark Mitchell
>
>Tauranga MP Simon Bridges is both blessed and cursed.
>
asked a question they mimic John Key by starting the answer with Yeah.
|
On Apr 9, 10:20 am, Radio Transcripts Ltd
Have a look at:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/
Please explain why he was 'not very bright' if Simon Bridges was
accepted for study at Oxford.
<daisycutterspo...@lycos.com> wrote:
> Young, not very bright and headed for the top
> by Audrey Young
> 5:30 AM Saturday Apr 7, 2012
>
That is NOT what Audrey wrote.> Young, not very bright and headed for the top
> by Audrey Young
> 5:30 AM Saturday Apr 7, 2012
>
Have a look at:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/
Please explain why he was 'not very bright' if Simon Bridges was
accepted for study at Oxford.
4/9/12
|
|
On Apr 9, 7:29 pm, peterwn <pete...@paradise.net.nz> wrote:
> On Apr 9, 10:20 am, Radio Transcripts Ltd<daisycutterspo...@lycos.
> > Young, not very bright and headed for the top
> > by Audrey Young
> > 5:30 AM Saturday Apr 7, 2012
>
> That is NOT what Audrey wrote.
> Have a look at:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
>
> Please explain why he was 'not very bright'
Listening to him speak in parliament for a few minutes will show you> > Young, not very bright and headed for the top
> > by Audrey Young
> > 5:30 AM Saturday Apr 7, 2012
>
> That is NOT what Audrey wrote.
> Have a look at:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
>
> Please explain why he was 'not very bright'
why. He's dull and practically incoherent.
>
>if Simon Bridges was accepted for study at Oxford.
they were chosen for their vaulting intellects or their football fame?
|
On Apr 9, 8:28 pm, JohnO <johno1...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 9, 7:29 pm, peterwn <pete...@paradise.net.nz> wrote:
>
> > On Apr 9, 10:20 am, Radio Transcripts Ltd<daisycutterspo...@lycos.
> > > Young, not very bright and headed for the top
> > > by Audrey Young
> > > 5:30 AM Saturday Apr 7, 2012
>
> > That is NOT what Audrey wrote.
> > Have a look at:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
>
> Mo has a history of altering quotations.
MEMO JohnO:> On Apr 9, 7:29 pm, peterwn <pete...@paradise.net.nz> wrote:
>
> > On Apr 9, 10:20 am, Radio Transcripts Ltd<daisycutterspo...@lycos.
> > > Young, not very bright and headed for the top
> > > by Audrey Young
> > > 5:30 AM Saturday Apr 7, 2012
>
> > That is NOT what Audrey wrote.
> > Have a look at:http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
>
> Mo has a history of altering quotations.
That post was done by Hector Stoop, who works for Daisycutter Sports
Inc.
Breen no longer belongs to this organization.
Sincerely,
JACK A. NAPES
C.E.O., Daisycutter Sports Inc.
|
On Apr 9, 7:29 pm, peterwn <pete...@paradise.net.nz> wrote:
- show quoted text -
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- show quoted text -
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- show quoted text -
4/10/12
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4/10/12
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4/10/12
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4/10/12
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4/10/12
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4/10/12
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4/10/12
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- show quoted text -
decided to label this backbench toady as "bright".
>
> On the other hand, Mowithey, I am pretty sure
> you aren't.
years? It's pretty impressive.
Cheers,
- show quoted text -
4/10/12
|
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- show quoted text -
sense.
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- show quoted text -
>
> I'd say he has a ton of common sense.
homework on this fellow Bridges.
|
- show quoted text -
Transcripts Ltd. is a division of Daisycutter Sports Inc.
|
On Apr 10, 4:03 pm, JohnO <johno1...@gmail.com> wrote:
- show quoted text -
in party political terms means he's got a measure of common sense.
But nothing Simon Bridges has said or done in or out of parliament
justifies your speculation that he "may well be intelligent".
4/10/12
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4/10/12
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4/10/12
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4/10/12
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4/10/12
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- show quoted text -
the folks at Daisycutter Sports Inc., JohnO---hell, I don't like them
either---but trying to deny they exist is getting a bit desperate,
surely?
4/10/12
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4/10/12
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4/10/12
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4/11/12
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On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:29:37 -0700 (PDT), JohnO <john...@gmail.com>
wrote:
The list
Radio Transcripts Ltd.
Morrissey Breen.
Tony Vietch
Mo
NewstalkZB'sLarryWiliams
JACK A. NAPES
There is 3 or 4 other posters that have Breen Hallmarks all over them.
wrote:
- show quoted text -
Radio Transcripts Ltd.
Morrissey Breen.
Tony Vietch
Mo
NewstalkZB'sLarryWiliams
JACK A. NAPES
There is 3 or 4 other posters that have Breen Hallmarks all over them.
4/11/12
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4/11/12
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4/11/12
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On Apr 11, 10:15 am, Liberty <libert...@live.com> wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:29:37 -0700 (PDT), JohnO <johno1...@gmail.com>
Interesting list, and obviously the result of hours of detective work.
Perhaps you'd like to pop around to Chez Breen one of these days...
> On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:29:37 -0700 (PDT), JohnO <johno1...@gmail.com>
- show quoted text -
Perhaps you'd like to pop around to Chez Breen one of these days...
|
On Apr 11, 5:58 pm, Rich80...@hotmail.com wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:07:42 -0700 (PDT), JohnO <johno1...@gmail.com>
Your diversion attempt shows you never tire of humiliating yourself.
What does "Radio Transcripts Ltd" suggest to you, Dickbot?
> On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:07:42 -0700 (PDT), JohnO <johno1...@gmail.com>
- show quoted text -
What does "Radio Transcripts Ltd" suggest to you, Dickbot?
- show quoted text -
|
- show quoted text -
. . .
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