Luxon, Bridges bring same attributes to Party leadership
Simon Bridges and Chris Luxon will likely bring the same attributes to the National Party leadership – excitement – thus making it difficult for caucus colleagues to choose one over the other unless a deal is brokered before the vote on Tuesday, November 30.
Though many political pundits would have us believe that there is a genuine point of difference between Bridges and Luxon for their respective political journeys and experiences, there is a clear, unmistakable similarity that they both equally bring to the table as well.
The similarity is in the level of excitement that both of their candidacies generate. It is not sure how either of their respective leaderships will eventually pan out, but there is no denying the fact that both of them generate intense excitement among political pundits.
The excitement around Chris Luxon's eventual leadership and anointment as the future Prime Minister of the country has been so obvious for months – often putting him on the backfoot to deny such ambition on his part.
In politics, as they say, the only thing that is permanent is interests and the instinct for self-preservation. This is more relevant during any leadership tussle, as potential challengers have not only to plan to mount a challenge, but also plan a dignified exit and live to fight another day in case their bid comes a cropper.
No one can better vouch for this other than Judith Collins, who indulged in a preemptive hit job against Simon Bridges only to score a spectacular own goal resulting in her ouster.
However, to be fair to Luxon, it is not his fault that his impressive CV, national and international work experience and even more impressive friend list (Sir John Key is actively making a case for him) are making him an exciting proposition.
In assessing his credentials for leadership of the National Party – which till recently flaunted its super-sized caucus before dwindling to current emaciated levels – many commentators are weighing up his relative lack of political baggage and hence more chances of uniting the National caucus.
Not too much emphasis is being given to his conservate reputation in his personal and worldly outlook and if that would be a factor in connecting the National Party once again with centrist, female, and younger voters. This is an important line of argument that most of the media commentators batting for Luxon are missing at the moment.
It would be interesting to see if National MPs who have to throw their weight behind Luxon or otherwise choose to decide on the basis of the factor – how much "conservative" a Centre-Right leader should be seen.
They may look toward Sir John Key – the original centre-right political stalwart – how popular he was amongst these sections of New Zealanders.
A case in point is that the most popular centre-right Leader of the current lot – David Seymour, who does not come across as socially conservative and therefore draws support from every demography and every section of Kiwi society.
Similarly, the excitement around Bridges' second tilt at the leadership has never died down completely, even after his first rollover eighteen months ago.
Despite all the negative press generated in the lead up to that rollover, not only has Bridges re-invented himself on social media and worked on his popularity, that the last Newshub poll returned with a 40 percent approval by party followers as opposed to Judith Collins' 23 percent.
Even in last week's political fireworks within the National Party, the manner in which Bridges has managed to salvage himself and quickly threw his hat in the ring for the leadership is nothing less than exciting.
The level of excitement around Bridges' stake in leadership this second time, though, has diminished somewhat once Luxon's name surfaced and was championed by Sir John. If media reports are to be believed, the latter is having an edge. Whether Bridges will roll back his ambitions and focus on ‘self-preservation’ instead of pursuing the challenge remains to be seen.
Before Bridges, only Sir Bill English was successful ever in having lost a leadership tussle to come back and win another stint as leader.
Bridges clearly seems to prefer speed over caution, and to some extent, this might add to the excitement quotient that he brings to the leadership contest.
Even after Tuesday, Both Luxon's and Bridges' possible ascendancy will keep the excitement quotient high, at least for the media commentators, just like it was during Collins' leadership stint.
Alternative to exciting is calming, which could be boring sometimes, but at least guarantees that there would not be more self-damage to the party than what we have seen in recent times, in the pursuit of exciting options, resulting in a revolving door of leadership exits.
Simon Bridges and Chris Luxon will likely bring the same attributes to the National Party leadership – excitement – thus making it difficult for caucus colleagues to choose one over the other unless a deal is brokered before the vote on Tuesday, November 30.
Though many political pundits would have...
Simon Bridges and Chris Luxon will likely bring the same attributes to the National Party leadership – excitement – thus making it difficult for caucus colleagues to choose one over the other unless a deal is brokered before the vote on Tuesday, November 30.
Though many political pundits would have us believe that there is a genuine point of difference between Bridges and Luxon for their respective political journeys and experiences, there is a clear, unmistakable similarity that they both equally bring to the table as well.
The similarity is in the level of excitement that both of their candidacies generate. It is not sure how either of their respective leaderships will eventually pan out, but there is no denying the fact that both of them generate intense excitement among political pundits.
The excitement around Chris Luxon's eventual leadership and anointment as the future Prime Minister of the country has been so obvious for months – often putting him on the backfoot to deny such ambition on his part.
In politics, as they say, the only thing that is permanent is interests and the instinct for self-preservation. This is more relevant during any leadership tussle, as potential challengers have not only to plan to mount a challenge, but also plan a dignified exit and live to fight another day in case their bid comes a cropper.
No one can better vouch for this other than Judith Collins, who indulged in a preemptive hit job against Simon Bridges only to score a spectacular own goal resulting in her ouster.
However, to be fair to Luxon, it is not his fault that his impressive CV, national and international work experience and even more impressive friend list (Sir John Key is actively making a case for him) are making him an exciting proposition.
In assessing his credentials for leadership of the National Party – which till recently flaunted its super-sized caucus before dwindling to current emaciated levels – many commentators are weighing up his relative lack of political baggage and hence more chances of uniting the National caucus.
Not too much emphasis is being given to his conservate reputation in his personal and worldly outlook and if that would be a factor in connecting the National Party once again with centrist, female, and younger voters. This is an important line of argument that most of the media commentators batting for Luxon are missing at the moment.
It would be interesting to see if National MPs who have to throw their weight behind Luxon or otherwise choose to decide on the basis of the factor – how much "conservative" a Centre-Right leader should be seen.
They may look toward Sir John Key – the original centre-right political stalwart – how popular he was amongst these sections of New Zealanders.
A case in point is that the most popular centre-right Leader of the current lot – David Seymour, who does not come across as socially conservative and therefore draws support from every demography and every section of Kiwi society.
Similarly, the excitement around Bridges' second tilt at the leadership has never died down completely, even after his first rollover eighteen months ago.
Despite all the negative press generated in the lead up to that rollover, not only has Bridges re-invented himself on social media and worked on his popularity, that the last Newshub poll returned with a 40 percent approval by party followers as opposed to Judith Collins' 23 percent.
Even in last week's political fireworks within the National Party, the manner in which Bridges has managed to salvage himself and quickly threw his hat in the ring for the leadership is nothing less than exciting.
The level of excitement around Bridges' stake in leadership this second time, though, has diminished somewhat once Luxon's name surfaced and was championed by Sir John. If media reports are to be believed, the latter is having an edge. Whether Bridges will roll back his ambitions and focus on ‘self-preservation’ instead of pursuing the challenge remains to be seen.
Before Bridges, only Sir Bill English was successful ever in having lost a leadership tussle to come back and win another stint as leader.
Bridges clearly seems to prefer speed over caution, and to some extent, this might add to the excitement quotient that he brings to the leadership contest.
Even after Tuesday, Both Luxon's and Bridges' possible ascendancy will keep the excitement quotient high, at least for the media commentators, just like it was during Collins' leadership stint.
Alternative to exciting is calming, which could be boring sometimes, but at least guarantees that there would not be more self-damage to the party than what we have seen in recent times, in the pursuit of exciting options, resulting in a revolving door of leadership exits.
Leave a Comment