tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14039752.post112969247008165638..comments2023-08-10T21:14:14.933+12:00Comments on Insolent Prick: Winston: Not The Worst ChoiceInsolent Prickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12438163323894858558noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14039752.post-1129720528424114122005-10-20T00:15:00.000+13:002005-10-20T00:15:00.000+13:00IP:I admire people who see the glass half-full rat...IP:<BR/><BR/>I admire people who see the glass half-full rather than half-empty (especially when they're buying another round) but his little tanty at the swearing-in ceremony today was less than encouraging. <BR/><BR/>Oh, and there was the spectacle of Winston asserting that, "I was aware of . . . a German foreign minister who did that for 18 years outside of Cabinet and outside of any government, and if you can do it for the biggest economy in Europe, I thought maybe an economy like ours could see some advantages in it." <BR/><BR/>Well, Winston, the problem with your role model is that he doesn't exist. Hans-Dietrich Genscher spent 18 years as German Foreign Minister; but throughout that period his Free Democratic Party was in formal coalition with first the center-left SDP, then the center-right CDU/SDU. He was also VICE-CHANCELLOR, a position one would reasonably assume couldn't be held by someone "outside of any government" unless Winston has unilaterally re-written history and the German Constitution.<BR/><BR/>So, we've got a Foreign Minister who is either remarkably ill-informed or a flat out liar about the basic political and constitutional norms of Europe's largest economy. And he's displaying an inability to handle tough questions from the media. Golly, wonder if the foreign press aren't going to love that. <BR/><BR/>What the hell, Cathy might have a point. As long as MFAT can keep Peters well-lubricated and confined to the nearest titty bar, how much harm could he do?Craig Ranapiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923246310584658857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14039752.post-1129704551136687172005-10-19T19:49:00.000+13:002005-10-19T19:49:00.000+13:00Yes indeed. Winston is very engaging. And he has...Yes indeed. Winston is very engaging. And he has the distinct advantage of being able to talk to South-East Asians, who are potentially the most offended, without appearing like he's a snotty-nosed, white liberal Colonial.<BR/><BR/>And Winston is a pragmatist. He's hardly going to fly straight to Beijing and harangue them about Tibet.Insolent Prickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12438163323894858558noreply@blogger.com