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Goff was the big underdog going into the debate after Key bested Clark in 2008. Goff far exceeded expectations. Got his policies out, got the best hits in, and sounded like a PM. Key was under-prepared and complacent. After an aggressive start intended to knock…
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The first debate. Phil Goff and John Key. TV1 at 7pm. Don't miss it! =================================================================== Update: See the website www.keyholes.co.nz for looking at the claims that Key makes in the debate. See also Twitter: #keyholes #ownourfuture #voteNZ Goff getting all the hits in. Got his policies across well. Key…
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Labour candidate for Northcote Paula Gillon writes: The Nats planned ‘starting-out’ youth rate is unfair, discriminatory and just plain bollocks It’s no surprise that TV3 showed a clip on Friday night where young people talked about how they didn’t agree with National’s proposed new ‘starting-out’…
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National has announced that the money gained from selling assets will go into a Future Fund and be spent on modernising schools. Is the sort of future they have in mind like the so-called "free schools" now being set up by the Conservatives in Britain…
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campaigning caption contest election 2011 john key leadership national
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It's been an extraordinary few weeks. It started with the double downgrade/DJ Key fiasco and Rena. Then Labour started dictating the play: its policies setting the beat of the campaign; its framing dominating. National took its only asset, Brand Key, and trashed it with its…
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The excellent Tom Scott from Stuff.
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So, that was National's 'big announcement'tm? Allocating money they've already banked into a fund which is just an accounting fiction for capital spending that was already budgeted for. It's a political fraud and an insult to our intelligence to say the asset sale money be…
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Last week I wrote about a Horizon poll which suggested that the Nats' mishandling of the Rena disaster was costing them votes. That's probably one of the factors behind the drop in their support in the latest 3 News / Reid poll. It's the Nats' largest…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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There's a lot going on with the Qantas lockout that isn't being reported in our media. This guest post from a reader who's an aviation industry expert gives the dispute some context. I didn’t believe it yesterday when I was told yesterday that Qantas had…
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Labour has just over-shadowed Key's big smile and wave show today - where he is expected to reannounce spending - with another big policy. Labour will cancel National's Holiday Highway. With the money saved, they will make the existing road safe, and go 50-50 with…
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National has already booked the revenue from asset sales - despite people opposing them 4 to 1. The Budget docs say capital spending will be funded from the 'balance sheet': ie. buying new assets like schools and hospitals with revenue from selling the power companies.…
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To: Sir John Key (former PM of New Zealand) Address: Somewhere warm and comfortable Date: August 6, 2026 From: New Zealanders born from 2002 to 2011, living in New Zealand, Australia, UK, US and Asia. Subject: Happy 65th birthday Dear Sir John, We congratulate you…
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Five million kilos of radioactive yellow cake uranium are being shipped through New Zealand ports every year. ERMA was unaware this practice has been going on for the last 15 years and only learned of it in 2009, but not to worry, according to John…
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Jeez some people just can't catch a break. Not only is John Banks coming second in an election race to a guy specifically chosen to lose to him but now the word is some scoundrel's stolen his Harley Davidson. If I know Banksie he'll have…
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The first of the leaders' debates is on tomorrow (it would have been on Thursday on Labour's savings policy, but Key refused to show). Key's strategy is clear: 'I'm a safe economic manager, these guys will fuck it up'. Goff can't let a single attack…
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John Key has been running a "small target" strategy. Letting the public form an impression of him based on "friendly" interviews, and goofy Letterman appearances and the like. Avoiding the tough questions and the challenging political interviews (though he slipped up once there on HardTalk).…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Opening addresses from the remaining parties screen on TV1 starting at 7:30pm. Should be good fun for political junkies, make sure you tune in... Quick impressions: ACT's editing was bad but not nearly as bad as the Maori Party's, which looked like it was done…
act election 2011 mana maori party nz first tv united future
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Guts. Backbone. Chutzpah. Grit. Will. Vision. Courage. The one thing all of these words have in common is that Phil Goff could quite easily have used them instead of "balls" when he said: It's time to make a decision that will build a stronger future…
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Sprout's post says it all. Labour's opening address blew National's out of the park. But I can't help myself, I have to put in my analysis of why National's was so awful and Labour's so good. I tried to watch National's opening address from the…
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Labour's opening address shows that the Party has rediscovered its heart. It's policies show that its rediscovered its balls as well! I've written on this recently (and I also welcome the focus on policy rather than personalities). But I'm not the only one, the accolades for…
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In case you missed them last night, here are the National, Labour and Green election opening addresses, collected for your convenience. The other parties' addresses are all on TV1 tonight, starting at 7:30pm... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m46wbNdc0R0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN5DZC4MimQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csuQcYa4nxo
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Amazing. Brilliant. I've seen a lot of political television, and that would have to be the best piece of contemporary political television by a political party I can remember. Could not have been better. National utterly trounced.
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I've had a great idea on how to save the world. In the wake of the Global Financial Crisis governments around the world bailed out banks and credit companies to the tune of around eight trillion dollars . I've said this before but I'll repeat because it's…
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Labour's election Opening Address will be broadcast on TV1 at 7:50pm tonight. Labour is hinting that the address will be something different, and unlike anything we have seen before. Given their gutsy campaigning so far, anything could happen! Make sure you tune in...
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Weekend social is for non political chat. What's on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can't we all just get along?
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On RNZ today: Mr Goff said Prime Minister John Key did not have the "guts" to debate him. "It's time to make a decision that will build a stronger future for New Zealand. We've got the balls to do that. John Key doesn't."
campaigning election 2011 john key labour leadership national phil goff