Growing rift between Clark & Cullen
Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 at 8:02 AM | Permalink
Starting with the weekend interview in which Helen Clark notably avoided expressing unlimited confidence in her deputy Michael Cullen, there now appears a rift between the two.
Cullen took over two days to respond to her comments when a simple "I'm happy" would have sufficed. Vernon Small's story in Wednesday's Dom Post included this insight:
It is understood Dr Cullen was annoyed by her comments and the two met on Monday to clear the air.
Asked why he had not talked to the media on Monday, Dr Cullen said: "I was just waiting for certain matters to be clarified.
Why did this require a meeting? What needed clarification?
Later in the week the two were again on separate song sheets regarding the budget. In Vernon Small's thursday article he wrote:
... Michael Cullen has been studiously talking down the May 18 document.
... Prime Minister Helen Clark has hinted at some important nuggets yet to be uncovered. (She is clearly aware that the demand for news cannot sustain a vacuum and that the good doctor's claim to produce a procession of boring Budgets is wearing thin.)
An inability to correctly manage expectations was the problem with last year's chewing gum budget which seriously dented Cullen's reputation. He must be fumming with Clark's 'big dark secret' comments.
Cullen took over two days to respond to her comments when a simple "I'm happy" would have sufficed. Vernon Small's story in Wednesday's Dom Post included this insight:
It is understood Dr Cullen was annoyed by her comments and the two met on Monday to clear the air.
Asked why he had not talked to the media on Monday, Dr Cullen said: "I was just waiting for certain matters to be clarified.
Why did this require a meeting? What needed clarification?
Later in the week the two were again on separate song sheets regarding the budget. In Vernon Small's thursday article he wrote:
... Michael Cullen has been studiously talking down the May 18 document.
... Prime Minister Helen Clark has hinted at some important nuggets yet to be uncovered. (She is clearly aware that the demand for news cannot sustain a vacuum and that the good doctor's claim to produce a procession of boring Budgets is wearing thin.)
An inability to correctly manage expectations was the problem with last year's chewing gum budget which seriously dented Cullen's reputation. He must be fumming with Clark's 'big dark secret' comments.
