The Dim-Post congratulates Paul Foster-Bell (pictured below, right) on successfully winning the National Party candidacy for Wellington Central. He will be a credit to National, and to any other political or religious organisations he may have secretly sworn loyalty to and vowed to serve, devoutly and ruthlessly unto his dying breath.
Paul, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability.
Comment by sammy — April 23, 2011 @ 11:45 am
Is this a ‘shopped pic?
Comment by Chris — April 23, 2011 @ 11:47 am
He looks SO much like a successful National Party politician. It’s like seeing Gerry Brownlee, 30 years ago. Will definitely go far.
Comment by LucyJH — April 23, 2011 @ 11:59 am
Is this a ‘shopped pic?
Obviously shopped, Ahmadinejad is much taller.
Comment by andy (the other one) — April 23, 2011 @ 12:23 pm
If I was Grant Robertson, I wouldn’t be losing sleep.
Comment by Pat — April 23, 2011 @ 1:12 pm
Mike in the ‘More Rope’ post claims its from Dumb-Bell’s Facebook page.
Comment by Aztec — April 23, 2011 @ 1:29 pm
Brilliant picture. Already well place internationally, he will be an excellent addition to their caucus if a miracle lets him win.
Comment by Rob — April 23, 2011 @ 2:26 pm
@Sammy, thought of exactly the same quote… Great minds eh?
Comment by TBwood — April 23, 2011 @ 3:21 pm
He has a university degree and is a career public servant at MFAT. I look forward to howls of outrage from the Nat’s peanut gallery about him being “out of touch” with real NZ.
It looks like they’ve given up trying to win Wgtn Central. Stephen Franks vs. Grant Robertson was a close run thing; I suspect Foster-Bell vs. Robertson will be a walkover.
Comment by Karl Stromberg — April 23, 2011 @ 4:10 pm
It is a real picture. Paul was Deputy Head of Mission at the NZ Embassy in Iran for those wondering about the context.
Would make a good caption contest!
Comment by David Farrar — April 23, 2011 @ 4:12 pm
Paul lists his passions as the environment and heritage buildings.
Comment by Gooner — April 23, 2011 @ 4:20 pm
What happened to our non-partisan public service? What if (by some improbable, though not impossible long shot) Labour got in and Paul returned to his ‘day job’ – would a Labour Minister of Foreign Affairs be willing to accept free, frank and fair advice from someone who has openly and blatantly declared themselves to be a National supporter? Say Grant got the job, would he be willing to accept advice from his old opponent? Should he even have to make that decision? Does Paul agree with National’s plan to continue slashing the public service? Will he campaign on this, return to MFAT and look his colleagues in the eye? Will the diplomatic corps in Wellington be willing to continue working with a NZ official who has openly declared their political beliefs? This is fishy, even for National.
Comment by SSC — April 23, 2011 @ 4:49 pm
“Is this a ‘shopped pic?”
Nope, it’s real. I had to dig up the cached version of that page – is that telling something?
Comment by DeepRed — April 23, 2011 @ 5:08 pm
And am I not the only one reminded of Rumsfeld & Saddam shaking hands in 1983?
Comment by DeepRed — April 23, 2011 @ 5:09 pm
actually, the remarkable thing about him and Robertson is how similar their backgrounds are.
Comment by Kahikatea — April 23, 2011 @ 5:29 pm
I see he stands for “less bureaucracy and limited government”. Don’t really think that is going to popular in Wellington Central electorate.
Comment by K2 — April 23, 2011 @ 5:32 pm
Strange to stand for less beauracracy when he has been supping from that teet for quite a while.
What future politician with half a brain gets themselves caught in a photo op with Ahmadinejad? I am surprised he didn’t ask Bin Laden, Hussein, Gaddafi, Jong-Il and so on for photos too.
Strange to keep this on your facebook page as well…is Ahmadinejad worthy of admiration?
Comment by Tim — April 23, 2011 @ 5:38 pm
How high did Ahmadinejad rank on the National Party list?
Comment by marsoe — April 23, 2011 @ 5:44 pm
Ahmadinejad is just behind Gerry Brownless on the list, but ahead of Judith Collins.
Comment by Tim — April 23, 2011 @ 6:54 pm
That is a relief!
Collins trails Ahmadinejad.
Phew, the Nats got that bit right.
Comment by peterlepaysan — April 24, 2011 @ 12:16 am
Is that a slight grimace on Ahmadinejad’s face? Perhaps he finds it distasteful to shake the hand of a National party candidate?
Comment by Conrad — April 24, 2011 @ 10:24 am
A toothy smile is the sign of a true leader.
Comment by Dr Foster — April 24, 2011 @ 2:56 pm
Protecting heritage buildings is all about bureaucracy and large government. Strange for National candidate to have his principles all mixed up like they’ve been in a tumble dryer.
Comment by Gooner — April 24, 2011 @ 6:56 pm
why? !!!
http://foster-bell.co.nz/why
Why I am surprised.
Comment by aj — April 24, 2011 @ 7:20 pm
“Protecting heritage buildings is all about bureaucracy and large government. Strange for National candidate to have his principles all mixed up like they’ve been in a tumble dryer.”
No it’s not and no it’s not.
Comment by Guy Smiley — April 24, 2011 @ 10:10 pm
Guy
Maybe it’s not about bureaucracy of necessity, but it is about compromising the ability of property owners to do what they want with their own property – again, something that in principle National candidates are very opposed to.
Comment by Hugh — April 24, 2011 @ 10:18 pm
Strange to stand for less beauracracy when he has been supping from that teet for quite a while.
MFAT isn’t a bureaucracy – they’re THE intellectual elite of New Zealand, and in many ways the entire state exists to support them and their work which is vital to the future existence of our nation.
Comment by danylmc — April 25, 2011 @ 8:45 am
Is the guy on the left John during his ” unwise beard ‘phase ?
Comment by Eric — April 25, 2011 @ 8:59 am
I thought Treasury was the brains trust on which the world depended, Danyl.
Comment by Trouble Man — April 26, 2011 @ 3:29 pm
He looks like Matt Lucas would if he dressed up like Paul Foster-Bell.
Comment by Dizzy — April 26, 2011 @ 10:13 pm
Is it true the better candidate was forced to withdraw from the nomination process due to overseas business? Good luck to the NP!
Comment by Vik — April 29, 2011 @ 5:35 am