John Armstrong's Advice to Jacinda. It's about changes but not nappies

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Until recently, I thought NZ Herald columnist John Armstrong was just anti-Labour. Now I think he's more than that, he's also selling the  Herald, 
shifting this way and that as he anticipates changes in  the public mood.  From February to September there's been a remarkable change.

From his February article  headed cooing about  Jacinda "may not be able to walk on water. Not yet anyway. But give her time." This, when when most journalists were sharing in the Jacinda "honeymoon."  

To his most recent article headed, "Jacinda Ardern must stop the rot in 'drunken sailor' Government."  Now, that many journalists are sharing tales of division, gloom, incompetence and deception.  (my bold emphasis.)

By March, Jacinda "Looked like she was no longer in control during Labour's week from hell" and she "appeared flustered, even rattled, during the first crises to hit her Government." 

By May,  "Labour's record so far on affordable housing builds is pathetic" and "Row over 'waka-jumping law' puts stability of wobbly Government coalition to the test."

By June, "Ardern's baby leave gives her time to give serious thought to Labour's 'cannot be bothered' attitude to business sector."

By July, "Greens 'swallowing a dead rat' to vote for waka jumping law no great surprise."

By August, "Ardern's freeze on MPs' pay defused a political time-bomb - but praise was unjustified" and "Jacinda Ardern's handling of potential economic downturn has been ordinary."

And in September, "As Labour fast loses the plot, Sunday's moment of coalition unity was priceless" and "Jacinda Ardern's excursion to Nauru a PR disaster."

Some advice from John Armstong Now, in his 'drunken sailor' Government article  he offers  Jacinda eight pieces of emergency "to do" advice. Click on the link above for his advice in full.  He starts with :

"Stop the (supposed Coalition) rot — and pretty darned soon ... as its components stumble from one mini-crisis to the next minor scandal ... Viewed in total ... the various mishaps and miscues add up to a fair-sized catalogue of catastrophe." 

(This phrase alone shows how many of the so-called scandals and crises  are created or greatly magnified by the media.) 

His 1, 2 and 5 advice deal with the supposed coalition division,

His 3  advises her to stop mouthing about running and open and transparent government,

His 4 says stop apologizing for Peters, 

His 6 and 7 offer good advice (highlight the health of the economy and kill talk about a capital gains tax, 

And his 8,  rather lamely advises Labour should start taking Simon Bridges seriously. 


I look forward to Armstong and the NZ Herald publishing some fair, balanced and informed articles on the political scene. This was not one of them. 

--ACW