‘God must be a member of the National Party’
Just Wow. Morning Report failed to get hold of Bob Harvey to offer balance on their coverage of National/Labour’s opening ads this morning, […]
Bunji
Dirty Politics roundup
Pot pourri, grab bag… Nicky Hager’s sister’s response, Media Take, John Key’s wanting to talk about policy, political passion, at the end of the day…
Left wing blogs aren’t “the same”
Part of John Key’s frantic spin is that left wing blogs are just the same as Whaleoil. As a left wing blogger I take personal umbrage – there is no equivalence. [Update: As also stated by RNZ political reporter Brent Edwards on Morning Report this morning (7:25am)]
Pagani and the Straw People
I don’t like listening to talkback radio, it’s not my thing. But I was prompted to listen today to a clip of Josie […]
Hi Guyon!
In which I glow in the fame of being mentioned on Morning Report (and answer most of Guyon’s questions) and also encourage turnout in the wake of Dirty Politics.
National Response
National’s standard response is to ridicule – other political parties, Jon Stephenson, scientists etc have all had it. It slots nicely with Cameron Slater’s style. Now they’re ridiculing Nicky Hager, but they need to be taken up on each allegation.
What deal do we get?
Key’s promised to do his best to bring in ACT and UnitedHairdo. Last election this brought us the likes of Charter Schools – unmentioned by any party during the campaign. What policies will National foist upon us through this outsourcing deal this time?
When will John Key hold his ministers to account?
The list of National ministers with dodgy dealings is growing. But John seems desperate to keep them all. Higher standards are only something you talk about in opposition apparently. I guess when you have a list that’s brought in the likes of Aaron Gilmore and Claudette Hauiti there’s not much of a pool to be choosing new ministers from; but have National never heard of responsibility for one’s actions?
Nick Smith must resign
I agree with Fish and Game: Nick Smith has severely overstepped the mark – again – and must resign as a minister. He may as well stand down as an MP as he should never be back in a ministerial capacity given the list of times he’s been caught lying and cheating are longer than his arm.
Male, Pale and Stale
It’s the National Party list!
National’s arrogant problems
Claudette Hauiti, Gerry Brownlee, Jonathan Coleman… 3 National MPs mired in scandal this week. A serious lack of discipline, and each in their own way they betray an attitude of lack of concern for the public they’re meant to serve.
Is the $15,000 even true?
John Key’s alleging that hundreds of thousands flowed to Labour from Donghua Liu, but as the Nat’s smear campaign unravels, even the $15,000 can’t be found. Who do we trust – an unnamed ‘party source’ in the Herald, or Party records? $15,000 is a sizeable donation that is likely to be noted or remembered. And where’s Donghua himself in all this – surely he could clear this up very quickly…
Herald loses perspective
So apparently forgetting about signing a form letter for a constituent 11 years ago is a resignable offence now.
Update: Key memory lapses
OU Vote Chat programme goes sour
So it appears the intended non-partisan deeper engagement with politicians that is the Otago University Vote Chat has been taken over by the National Party.
Pot: Kettle, you’re black!
John Key has warned MPs to behave in parliament. I hope he’ll be taking his own advice.
The Woodhouse Family
Veterans Affairs Minister Michael Woodhouse dropped a clanger deciding he was related to a Gallipoli hero, and offending the Trooper’s real relatives. Twitter is as Twitter does, so they’ve dug up a few more family relatives…
John Key challenged!
Nah, just kidding, here’s a few more examples of journalists just printing what he says…
Culture of Impunity
It now appears that Judith Collins would have to commit murder to be relieved of her ministerial warrants – or perhaps not.
Final final final warning
How many more things does Collins need to do or have come out after her final warning to get the sack?
Another Quality Selection
So many things wrong with what poor Clutha-Southland are having foist upon them by National. A very young man whose experience of life is National Party jobs and Tobacco company lobbying. Fortunately democracy gives them a very good choice…
Wealth and the wealthy
A NZer in Britain and a Briton in NZ – 2 CEOs complaining they get paid too much. And science shows the US is ruled by a bunch of oligs.
$135 million to John Key’s mates
That’s how much National gave away today, by setting the price too low on Genesis. They were scared that they couldn’t attract enough […]
Labour and the Greens
It’s not that complicated.
iPredict needs “Next National Minister Resignation”
Who will it be? Judith? Simon? Hekia? Amy? Or a surprise?
Hypocrisy
The levels of hypocrisy of John Key and National are astounding. Nanny State, borrowing’s bad, too many public servants… all while doing far more of their supposed “crimes” than any government previously.
NZ Herald: Key cracks joke
Yes, this is an actual number 3 story (and top politics story) on the NZ Herald.
Scandals
Just a wee list to try and keep track of the current scandals our dear friends in the National party are dealing with.
The Race is Set
BREAKING: And we’re off – the Election Date is September 20.
Overreach
The attacks on David Cunliffe have got a bit silly, with the latest from the Herald being to pretty much charge him with the crime of having a wealthy friend.
How short are memories?
John Key is attacking David Cunliffe for using a trust to obscure some donations – whilst repeating the word ‘tricky’ about Cunliffe as […]
Bent Bill
What do you call someone who knowingly relies on false information to defend his case?
Bill English.
Turning around the books
So according to John Key, turnout in the referendum is so low it doesn’t mean anything to him (despite his government working hard to get turnout down). But he reckons it does mean David Cunliffe needs to promise to buy back the assets..?
Smile and Wave
Confronted with a protest about the government’s lack of action on child poverty, John Key’s response is: “So yeah, they just protest because […]
Sunday Reading
My semi-regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere. This week: science vs the internet, the UK public is wrong about everything, Russell Brand, feminism and austerity from a golden throne.
Inequality meeting plus…
Max Rashbrooke talking about his book Inequality: a New Zealand Crisis and more on Monday 18 November, 5.30pm @ Auckland Trades Hall, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
Gambling harm: “commercially sensitive”
Are we to expect that next time a cigarette company wants to withhold the evidence that smoking will take 11 years off the life of every second smoker, they just need to do a dodgy deal with National to build a convention centre with added ciggie sale points right? Or the booze barons could build a convention centre / mega-bar and no papers will be allowed out on alcohol harm either presumably? At what point do the best interests of New Zealanders get to trump the best interests of foreign corporates?