a conversation with my father. In text messages.

[labellementeuse]

tui: Christmas? I'm not ready. I cried.
steve: its ok sweetheart
tui: WERE WE NOT WATCHING THE SAME ELECTION?
steve: No I meant that the sun will conme up in the morning and its not out of keys ass.

This is absolutely the crudest thing I have ever heard my father say (and he has six brothers) and it made me feel a lot better, so I'm sharing.

Otherwise... I don't want to talk about it. I maybe want to hug about it. I'm going to miss her, so much - she's my PM. The only one I've ever voted for - the only one I've wanted to vote for! I admire her intensely and I'm not ready for her to be gone.

Comments

[gianp.livejournal.com]

Oh god. It's so horrible. I don't care about National. They can get fucked. You're so right - it's Helen I'm gonna miss the most. That was the most depressing part of the whole night. She is like the amazingly intelligent and thoughtful Aunty everyone wishes they had, dependable, honest and with your best interests at heart.

I'm pretty gutted. But as I was walking home, I figured out what would make me feel better:

We could get Helen Clark something from the New Zealand Order of Merit. "Dame Helen" has a nice ring to it and it would be awesomely well deserved, don't you think?

[sixth-light.livejournal.com]

I always really liked the "Aunty Helen" nickname and I think you've just pinpointed why.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

God. I know. It's so shitty. :(((((((

Hey, that *would* be nice. I mean, if they can knight Roger Douglas... (WHO I CANNOT BELIEVE IS BACK.)

[amarynth.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately being part of the Order of Merit doesn't get you the Dame title anymore. Dame/Sir is no longer available. Personally I think they should have stripped the title from people who got it before it became obsolete, but hey, whatever.

[eavanmoore.livejournal.com]

Oh no. :-(

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

:(

[sennical.livejournal.com]

:( I'm sorry. Here, let's hug about it.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

*hugs* thanks. :(

[senri.livejournal.com]

*HUG HUG HUG* Oh no. I'm sorry, Tui... how long do terms last in New Zealand? Have you got four years of that, eight, what?

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

EIGHT YEAR terms? thank GOD, no. Three years until the next election.

*hugsback* ughhhh.

[shoeless-girl.livejournal.com]

Go your Dad - he's right, of course. New Zealand has survived National governments in the past. We will get through this.

*hugs*

[aimeesworld.livejournal.com]

Ungh. I'm going to miss Aunty Helen. I just really liked her, even if I didn't always agree with her.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

Same here. :(

[cabaiste84.livejournal.com]

I like your father. ;)

*hugs* Yeah, I'm not exactly jumping for joy either. And, even though I'm not as militantly left as some of my mates (although I do identify as centre left), I did feel rather ill to see a CHCH friend's Facebook status say something along the lines of "Caleb welcomes the new blue dawn on the shores of Kiwiana." Urgh. As I said in my Facebook status, bring on 2011.

I'm bloody terrified about what this means for our health system, as I've said to several people on here. And for Kiwisaver. But...we'll just have to wait and see. I just hope they don't overturn the Civil Union Act...

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

Bring on 2011 - my thoughts exactly.

To be honest I think civil unions are pretty safe - remember it was a conscience vote and while individual Nat MPs opposed it, plenty of people supported it as well and I don't think there's any kind of feeling about it. I'm worried about 90-day probation periods and privatising ACC, both of which are Nat policy.

[sierra-le-oli.livejournal.com]

I'll miss her too, I really admire her.

People here asked me what National coming in would mean for NZ and I couldn't give them an answer, which sucked. Though I didn't always support what she did, with Helen there was a clear direction and the knowledge that someone incredibly capable was at the wheel.

[sierra-le-oli.livejournal.com]

Sorry, forgot to say, here via The Hand Mirror's blogroll. :-)

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

Hi! No worries, didn't know I was *on* their blogroll so, uh, now I do and that's useful for me!

I think you've really put your finger on why I'm feeling stressed about this government - I really have no idea what Key stands for, cares about, whatever. The only policies I'm really informed on are privatising ACC and the 90-day bill. Clark and Cullen had given Labour a really clear policy direction and that's going to be missed, although hopefully the replacement will try to duplicate that style.

[sixth-light.livejournal.com]

To be fair to the Nats, sigh, they haven't actually said they'll privatise ACC. They want to investigate opening it up to competition with private businesses, which, while definitely a step towards privatisation and very worrying, is not the same thing. (Also, WTF are you? Heard very garbled news about you going to the airport yesterday?!)

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

Doing 24hrs in WGTN for an interview for NWRO. *quakes* bb tonight.

Yeah, totally wanted a ride because I lugged a bunch of stuff home! Got a lift from the lovely Amanda & Graham so I got there alright.

[(Anonymous)]

I can't help but feel sorry for Phil Goff.. he's going to have a hell of a hard time getting real loyalty out of the party faithful in Helen's wake.

[aleph-naught.livejournal.com]

That was me, it said I was logged in, but it lied.

[rewihendrix.livejournal.com]

It's so weird ay! he never says anything remotely rude at all. how does he do it?