Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Silly name calling

NewstalkZB political commentator, Barry Soper, never worries about disguising his dislike for Rodney Hide and ACT. Here he refers to him as "Rodney Thick Hide" .

Which ever way you read it neither interpretation works. He is not thick. And he is not impervious to criticism and hostility. I made the reacquaintance of an old (but young) ACT supporter by chance the other day. We reflected on Rodney's unfailing, and often unfounded, optimism. And his sheer doggedness. The second trait is reinforced by John Boscawen's uncanny ability to never falter when he has a goal. Neither are out for the count yet.

I commented to my husband when Rodney became engaged to Louise Crome that she would want children. Not that I know her or anything about her. But I was a similar age, and newly married, when I had my first child and if it is there to out, the desire to mother is very strong by that stage. So I also wonder what that will mean for the future of ACT. Rodney becoming a father again. He is a character predisposed to sea changes. Perhaps he will draw the curtain on politics. At least he would no longer have to tolerate silly name-calling.

7 comments:

Adolf Fiinkensein said...

Soper is the best exemplar of journalistic mediocrity one could ever hope to find.

Colin du Plessis said...

I have had the honour to work very closely with Rodney lately. Paul Holmes called him a "sensitive guy" and I must agree. The ongoing and stupid jibes must get to him (from personal experience it is horrbile) yet he manages to be positive and handle things with dignity. The truth is no one is perfect and some of the most interesting peopl are the least perfect. NZ politics would be a far poorer place without Rodney.

Anonymous said...

Hightly intellingent is Mr Soper. Soap.

Manolo said...

I agree with Adolf: Soper has been a mediocrity and a Labour man all his life.

Falafulu Fisi said...

Ha, that idiot Barry Soper should understand that Rodney has a formal education & qualification, while he (Barry) had only a rubbish collection (oops journalism qualification) degree. They're far apart in what's in their respective brains.

Blair said...

Soper has been calling Hide that for years now. He has nicknames for everybody. It's not a big deal. His only real sin is being friends with Winston Peters.

Anonymous said...

Soper exposed himself as a complete prat at the last election, demanding to know where Key stood on the Springbok Tour almost 30 years ago.

Any credibility for impartiality washed away in that petulant display of irrelevancy.

Kurt