Dr Brash transformed National into a respected, potent and feared Opposition after it took a record drubbing in the 2002 election. He came within a sniff of winning the 2005 election, and would have won if Clark did not illegally spend over $800,000 of taxpayers money.
It's a total shame Dr Brash has resigned. He might not have been the "perfect politician" but his honesty and genuine concern for New Zealand would have made him a remarkable leader for this country. The media and all those small-minded dimwits creating scandals from nothing should be ashamed of themselves. I sincerely hope Helen Mugabe and her Welfare party are ousted next election
If Don Brash feels he has to resign then I think half of the Labour government should as well. If they are caught out they now legislate to make it legal. How come Benson Pope does not resign? What about Taito Philip Field?
Don Brash gets called a bigot, accused of only being interested in taking care of the interests of the wealthy, and of pandering to agenda of extremists. Why? For being an effective Leader of the Opposition and pushing alternative policies than the Government with the intention of making New Zealand better for all New Zealanders.
New Zealanders make a mockery of the entire concept of Democracy. Democracy is supposedly a system whereby citizens of a country make and informed decision on who is best to run the country. Personality should have nothing to do with the issue. Dr Brash is a highly educated man with a comprehensive knowledge of what makes an economy successful, the fact that he has some personal imperfections only makes him human. Apparently it is okay to be a homosexual, transvestite or any other 'special interest group' but heaven forbid you are just a normal bloke who (supposedly) flirts with another woman. As for the Exclusive Brethren - what have they actually done wrong? Would you all kick and scream so much if he had met with Muslims? Or Jews?
It seems that John Key will be the next leader, with a recent Auckland poll showing Key only 1.4 points behind Brash. Dr Brash's decision came with the Nationals ahead in the poll. The decision has left the party in crisis, set for their fifth leader in 9 years.
I have personally always favoured Dr Brash to Keys, Brash was a Gentlemen, a last of his breed and Dr Brash was always unfailingly courteous.
Gentlemen, it sadly looks like Helen Clark and the rest of her cronies have forced a great leader from Prime Ministeralship contention.
There goes a man of honour. Even in his resignation statement he stands up for the rights of the man responsible for the final nail.
But, to paraphrase the words of Voltaire, though I utterly reject Mr Hager's view of the National Party and of me, I defend his right to hold those views, and to publicise them.Dr Brash would have made an excellent Prime Minister. Having the intellectual capacity to understand that people are entitled to hold different views. Unlike the current regime.
John Key will be the next leader of the opposition and good luck to him. He can expect all sorts of shit to be flung at him. But I think we can safely expect a National rise in the polls from here. It may not be sustained but unless New Zealanders have completely lost their sense of fair play they will realise that a very good man has been done down unfairly today.