Mike's Minute: Why I like Paul Henry in politics

Paul Henry and I go back a long way. Decades in fact.  He used to read news on a show of mine. I can't say I saw politics in his future, but then I can't say I could have ruled it out either.  And why not him? He's retired, he could be bored, or he could be driven to make a contribution, if hanging out in Wellington is a contribution you want to make.  He is good fun, he is bright, and he is worldly.  But I don’t think he will fit well into the “system”. He is a free spirit, and those sorts of people don’t tend to operate well in teams with instruction.  He spoke passionately about his country. It could be age, but I feel exactly the same way. I don’t have to live here, I chose to because I love this place.  He is in the same sort of position, so why not try to lend a hand?  He spoke singularly about our debt and he is indisputably right. He could have stolen the lines and concern from me.  Maybe all blokes of 60-ish age worry about our debt and our country. Maybe it's because we are old enough to remember better days and see no reason why we can't re-engineer the place to be like it once was.  But politics is about more than debt.  The other issue is if you're going to Wellington to save the country you really need to be in a position of power and National has more power than ACT. So this is clearly also a philosophical or ideological decision – he likes the cut of their libertarian gib.  In terms of performance the place will be better for him. He's fun and quick.  He might want to watch the line between serious and clown, entertaining and nutty, professional and self-indulgent.  The big gamechanger for him will be accountability. Once they vote for you, once they pay for you, they own you and, boy, they let you know it.  But I like people who don’t have to do stuff, doing stuff. They are generally there for the right reasons.  David Seymour told me it's just the shot in the arm they need right now.  I think he's right. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.