Day 31
tahi (one)

Somebody's Steve approves
Somebody's Steve approves
What percentage of All Us Moderates
   could claim to be on the right side of history?
Somebody's Steve approves.

He was with me!

Until - "the right side of history"

The air thickened with it ~ conspiracy! Whose?!
[She's one of those 'freedom fighters', quick, where's the window?]

It was pretty cool though. This time I didn't gag and lose my song, like I did at the PP.

I didn't lose my song, and I sang it from go to woe.

Woe - and not sadly. 

You've gotta sing your song and you've gotta aim for something specific.
The wanting is wonderful, to varying degrees, depending upon how much you truly back yourself.

I had in mind a specific spot in my Southland Express candidate profile blurb.
Steve Muir had earlier agreed that I could have words in lieu of a photograph.
Each time a draft came through, I saw that there was room for more words.

The last time, there was one line left. It was perfect for, "Somebody's Steve approves."

It wasn't to be.
I hoped, as I concocted my song on the way to Steve's office, but he passed up the opportunity.

When I sang, the right side of history, he fidgeted.

"Ahh, no, you're in the wrong place here."

I heard his interruption - yet I could still finish my song! A miracle!!

So, the empty line of my blurb got filled with the name of my campaign diary and contacts instead.

The wanting was fun, and I didn't get what I wanted, and now it's time to briefly want something else already.

I had hoped that I would experience more anxiety than Steve (being tougher for such tasks as I know I am), but I think it was the other way round, which is fair I suppose when I think about this in hindsight.

 

even stevens

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's my blurb, to go in the Southland Express on 15th September.
This one's paid for - they say it's a special discounted price for us victims.

 

I have awesome concepts for Invercargill and Bluff. Mine involve water themes and a continuation of variety - something for everyone. But before I could share my vision of utopia, I think we need a habit of living within our means, ensuring we achieve (as soon as possible) debt free for posterity.

Instead of a big new museum, we first need to secure our alternative water supply. I also have ideas about our cultural needs regarding our museum in the meantime.

The primary task of our council is to prudently manage our infrastructure, including our water assets. I say “no” to the thieving.

I am against political partisan blocs, unelected leaders, bloated bureaucracy, irresponsible journalism and a CE that supersedes our mayor’s mandate of leadership.

Some individuals have the letter of the law at the rudder of their solo boat. The rest of us have powerful family and community minded ethics filling our many and varied sails.

Voluntary socialism - the Kiwi spirit. I like to see many little capitalist projects on the go.
In my campaign diary I explain the political movement called All Us Moderates. I opine that almost all of us know that we belong to the Majority.

I’d quite like to be our lead ambassador for a season. In me you have the opportunity to create the politician of your means and desire, including if that requires a celebratory style at times.

Intergenerational and intercultural caring, peace and fun is what tickles my fancy the most.

Come along to Jack’s meeting at Club Southland, Sunday, 18th Sept, 7pm. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ODT's 
Southland Express -

Boo hiss, wish I didn't have to give them Darryl's money.

I don't want to sound like a broken record, and I know I've said it elsewhere in my diary, but you've gotta do what you've gotta do, over and over, until the job is done.

In the especial nervous spot after singing my song, did I hear Steve say that you've gotta fake it till you make it?

That's an old trope from my place of desperate survival from my years of escaping the Church tyranny.

Funny, that Steve brought that one up.

It's not true of me anymore.
I'm no longer desperate for survival. 

I am surviving and thriving.

Evidence?

He was more anxious than me, and I can still remember the melody of my song the following day.
Plus, I met at least four Kiwis (strangers, so to speak) who connected with me, directly after my Steve meeting.

So, Steve Muir prefers Steve Hepburn's smelly pocket to the clean air of sunshiny concerts. 

Now we know.

Although, just quietly, I did sense Steve's approval.
He chose a nice blue for All Us Moderates and told me that no other candidates have colours in their blurbs.

It is a pity that he automatically put in me in a box.

Let's see if Noel Peterson is reading my diary.
He's still got till Tuesday morning to colour in his box.

Yep, I put people in boxes too.
Politics is demanding like that.
But, my fellow aums, you can rest assured that I only put my fellow politicians into boxes. They deserve that treatment. You don't.

Socialists and Wizardry and Superstition and the next Trend - yuck and more yuck.

Perhaps Steve Muir will wake up to the fact that I was never one of 'them'.
Most of us never could be.

Life could not be normal and collectively lived moderately if everyone was as courageous as those who are unashamed to be known as freedom fighters.

We each are brave in our own moderate way.
I still like Steve Muir.
For me as a new politician, it was a beautiful stepping stone to sing in his office.

Am I a new politician or just a mayor wannabe?

 

I sang for my Queen, sort of.
I was dong that while she was alive too.
Perhaps that was a part of my problem, but I reckon that I would've been even worse off if it wasn't for the Commonwealth.

I am a politician now, and it's the ratbag royals for me,
     politically,
          no doubt about it.

I want the Commonwealth to see me out, and I want my legacy to have helped ensure that the Commonwealth lasts the distance into The Next 500.

 

I sang for my Queen and all of us, and my tears earlier that day made my voice stronger.
Steve Muir was my witness.
Did Somebody's Steve see me cry?