It’s much the same here
Thanks Podrock (nearly put j** then), that makes it clearer. I’d say the situation is much the same in the UK right now, though from what I know of politics here in the Bush and Reagan administrations was that it was more other ministers who were open to discussion and compromise rather than the somewhat determined prime minister.
Politically NZ is in a interesting place now as there is less discussion and compromise and an air of rigid control that has not really been as such before, but I digress.