Post
Explore the archive
Archives · 2008-08-01 to 2008-08-31 · Page 5
Find articles and conversations by date, subject or search expression.
Searching: posts Sorted by: newest Results: 121–146 of 146
Post
08wire on Nats’ Kiwibank secret agenda
08wire.org, your videos make me smile.
Post
Nats’ policy top 10, what’s missing?
Here's the top 10 policy priorities that John Key bullet-pointed at the conference on Sunday. See if you can spot what's missing: 1. Tax cuts. (for the rich) 2. Disciplined Government spending. (while borrowing huge amounts for unspecified government spending) 3. Stop growth of public…
Post
Did Lockwood mis-speak too?
It has been revealed that Bill English isn't the only senior Nat who has been discussing a secret agenda behind closed doors. On TV3 tonight, a recording was played of Lockwood Smith saying: "There's some bloody dead fish you have to swallow... to get into…
Post
Kiwisaver cuts to fund Nats’ tax cuts?
So, the rumour is that Kiwisaver will be slashed to fund National's tax cut policy. Currently, the Government spends up to the following on each Kiwisaver member: - $1000 on sign-up - Up to $1040 a year in matching contributions - Up to $1040 a…
Post
Clown princes
The 'Key-English secret recording followed by denial followed by excuse followed by apology' debacle is, well, an utter debacle. If these clowns ever win an election - which has to be questionable after this sort of political mismanagement - similar antics will make opposition rather…
Post
Key’s shell-game wears thin
On National Radio's Morning Report and Nine to Noon yesterday, Key ran the 'not telling' line once again and it was once too often. Asked a simple question: 'What projects are you going to spend the extra money you plan to borrow on?' Key refused…
Post
News coverage of English revelations
Here's the segment on the English meltdown from TV One last night. [I wanted to put up TV3's as well - it's good coverage, including interviews with KiwiBank customers - but I just can't seem to deal with their flaky video stream (anyone else have…
Post
Sarcophagus
After a stunning attack on John Key last night, Bill English is now reverting to more standard National techniques for handling 'accidental frankness'. Initially, deny. When played a recording, claim not to remember it. When that doesn't kill the story, claim to have 'mis-spoken'. Finally,…
assets bill english john key national privatisation slippery
Post
Meltdown
The English tape has exploded into a massive scandal. You'll be familiar with the content of the recording: - English mocks voters as greedy simpletons taken in by a flashy con-man "they're saying that nice Mr Key, he's pretty smart, he will get me some…
assets bill english john key national privatisation slippery
Post
Employment, wages up
Despite the economic slowdown, the labour market is holding up well and wages are up at the record rate. The average hourly wage is now $24, up from $21.90 an hour 2 years ago. That's a 9.6% increase. Take away 6.1% inflation and the average…
Post
Hilarious
Greens on National's plan to borrow to build more roads: "Lonely dinosaur seeks white elephant"
Post
Spin-busting: ‘A growth problem, not a debt problem’
To justify borrowing for tax cuts, National's new line is that New Zealand has 'a growth problem, not a debt problem'. Untrue. (source) New Zealand's growth has been faster in recent years than trend, faster than it was under National, and faster than growth in…
Post
Behind closed doors
The scandal over Bill English's comments at the National Party conference has not only overshadowed Key's purposely vague conference announcements, it has derailed National's entire election strategy. The audio is damning. Clearly and unequivocally, we have National's Deputy Leader saying National will 'eventually' (possibly within…
Post
Pathetic
Rather than discussing the quote from Bill English that he would sell Kiwibank, David Farrar is whining that the protest outside the National Party conference today breached the EFA because it did not contain authorisation. Once again, Farrar would rather try to attack on technicalities…
Post
Key’s vision: tax cuts for rich, more debt for youse
In a speech described by attendees as 'more bullet points', John Key announced to the National Party conference today that National would borrow $5 billion more over 6 years to finance infrastructure - specifically roads and the broadband 'plan'. The money-man has dressed it up cleverly,…
economy election 2008 john key national slippery tax transport
Post
A quick Brethren reference
At last an upfront acknowledgement of the Exclusive Brethren's support for National during the 2005 election campaign. According to Colin Espiner: Day One of National's annual conference is nearly over and so far the biggest clanger has been departing Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson's thank-you to the…
Post
Spinbusting: Nats’ borrowing not for tax cuts
Today, Bill English is outlining National's plan to undo the work of the past fifteen years and take this country further into debt. He will argue that National would not be borrowing for its programme of tax cuts for the wealthy, rather it would borrow…
Post
No Right Turn temporarily off air
A tale of woe from Idiot/Savant: Sometime this afternoon, Blogger, in its infinite wisdom, decided that No Right Turn was a "spam blog" and locked it. I have naturally asked for a review, and sometime in the next two business days (yeah right) someone at…
Post
Workers stand up for their rights, Nats still evasive
The EPMU launched its 'Work Rights Wage Drive' today with a rally in Christchurch. Despite the rain, over 1500 Kiwi workers turned out to stand up for their work rights and wages. This is just the first of 25 rallies the EPMU will be undertaking…
Post
The Standard Week: 25 July-1 August
Another week of gonzo journalism and you can understand why people get turned off politics. While the press gallery concentrated on which of them was most offended by Winston Peters, we had a look behind some of the policies on offer and ran a series of posts on the…
Post
TV3 promoting a National/NZF government?
It seems TV3 has decided to promote a marriage between John Key and Winston Peters this week. They appear to be paying for ads on Google that come up when you search for "John Key" or for "Winston Peters", but not for other leaders…
Post
Multiple orgasms
If John Key's feeling a little nervous about repeating his "under a Labour Government I lead" gaffe at this weekend's National Party conference, perhaps he should spare a thought for Aussie Liberal MP Jason Wood...
Post
Old boys’ club
John Key: "We don't have enough women in our caucus, so we've had to start cross-dressing" (Press, June 9, 2007) He's not wrong there:
Post
Trust me
David Farrar says of a scene in Dark Knight 'I would have voted 'yes''. Without giving away any of the plot, that means Farrar would choose to hurt many others as long as he would not be hurt himself. But in making that decision he…
Post
Effervescent stylist slams politicians
New Zealand stylist Stephanie Rumble - best known for her fallout with Addington race officials after claiming that a giant bottle of Lindaur was her "date" in an attempt to avoid a newly introduced ban on BYO alcohol at the event - says that Helen…