Two Bubbles Bridges’ Big Day Out
Simon ‘Two Bubbles’ Bridges feels he’s entitled to flaunt the rules because he’s, ahem, essential.
Politics
leadership
Bullet Train Wreck
New York Governor Cuomo was told CoVid-19 was like an approaching freight train. More like a bullet train was his response. Watching the White House daily briefing with Trump dominant it looks like a massive train wreck is on the way in the US.
M.I.A. Joe
America has a question.
It Is the Thought That Counts
Antagonistic personalities are an obstacle to effective politics tackling major present problems.
Why is Jacinda Ardern so popular? (part 2)
Let’s take a moment to enjoy.
Two Referendums Too Many
The referendums on two contentious issues could cloud and crowd out the General Election.
Why is Jacinda Ardern so popular?
Boosting the signal to noise ratio.
An October election in the UK?
Boris Johnson declared his candidacy today. The Guardian’s Tom Kibasi speculates on his strategy – pick a fight with the EU, make Brexit the issue and call an election. Do a deal with Farage and save Britain from Corbyn. Will it work?
Same old dirty National
National is still embedded in Dirty Politics.
Kiwi Cultural Cringe is Alive and Well
New Zealand is too small for high-achievers and star-performers and does not offer enough challenges and rewards.
Don’t Rock The Titanic!
The pace of politics of transformation is glacial but it is unstoppable.
Reflections on Free Speech and Public Discourse
Silencing dissonant voices only leads to more and stronger dissonant voices and further radicalisation.
Are We Expecting Too Much Of Our Political Leaders?
Political leaders must have expert knowledge on many topics and near-perfect recall. No naps allowed and no room for error.
The power of compassionate politics
Jacinda Ardern has shown over the past week that she is one of the country’s best leaders.
Simon Bridges is rooting for the Greens*
Simon Bridges makes a passionate plea for the environment and for a mate.
The NZ National Party is the Wizard of Oz
The National Party is a sad, confused, slightly dazed white old man behind the curtain.
Should We Fear Judith Collins?
So, it turns out Simon’s a dud. What do the Tories do about it? And can Judith Collins really make a difference?
An Ineffectual Opposition Is Bad News
An ineffectual Opposition creates a vacuum that will be filled by the Mainstream and Social Media as they will assume the role of unelected and non-representative opposition in effectuo.
The Meka leak
The Herald claims to have been leaked a draft copy of the report into Meka Whaitiri. And the indications are that it may have come from a National Party source.
Tilting at Windmills
The Donald found a real one!
Period. End. Done.
The Scottish government has just taken a massive step to eradicate period poverty. Why not here?
Turnbull out, Morrison In?
Turnbull out, Morrison or Dutton in? The Australian Liberal Party self flagellation continues in Canberra. Updates as they roll in, cobbers.
UPDATE: Malcolm Turnbull calls press conference at 1PM AEST (3PM in NZ)
UPDATE: Turnbull to quit tomorrow, if ballot called.
UPDATE: Julie Bishop prepares bid.
UPDATE: Scott Morrison wins, Dutton defeated 45-40.
The Pope’s Letter to All Believers
The pope missed a great recent chance to state that accused abusers should be walked to the nearest Police station, make written statements, face trial, hopefully jailed, then defrocked, and excommunicated.
New Zealand Is all right, at the end
Democracy’s permanence is not inevitable. Its imagining is not beyond imagining. And New Zealand is one of the shrinking number of democracies who really have it.
What did we want from Marama Davidson?
While there has been some informed commentary on Marama Davidson’s ascension as co-leader of the Green Party, some of the more right-wing outfits have failed to understand the dynamics within the party right now. What did Marama promise, and what were Greens expecting of her?
An Orwellian Minister for Open Government
The Minister for Open Government has been caught organizing a secret meeting, and it has led to the resignation of an RNZ manager who covered for her. Is it time to kick Curran out?
“Fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job”
Two speakers from yesterday’s March for Our Lives.
Jacinda 3, Simon 0
Avid watchers of Simon Bridges’ regular breakfast television appearances debating Jacinda Ardern when they were both relatively junior MPs will recall that 9 […]
Sticking with Bill is the right move for National
National knows what to expect with Bill.
Jim Anderton 1938 – 2018
Jim Anderton’s funeral is at 2pm today, and will be livestreamed from youtube.
RIP Jim Anderton
Jim Anderton has passed away. A politician of passion and principle.
Making official Information flow again
“Ministers realised they had a device through which they could reduce the surprises they suffered. And, as it went on, the surprises ministers no longer wanted to experience became greater in number and smaller in significance.Increasingly, it placed on the public service a political imperative which it had never had to shoulder. “
The government’s mandate
Where this government ranks in terms of proportion of the vote compared to the historical record. Useful analysis.
Jacinda Ardern’s speech
If you missed it last night – Jacinda Ardern’s first speech as PM elect is everything that we could want and expect. But the take-home line of the drama belongs to Winston Peters.
The next Prime Minister is …
Winston Peters has announced that he will be going into coalition with Labour and Jacinda Ardern will be the next Prime Minister. Let the attacks from the right about how unfair it is that a minority party did not ascend into Government and how MMP needs to be reformed begin. For the rest of us – this is a time of hope…
The first 100 days of a Labour led government
Maybe Peters learned from history and is not doomed to repeat it. If we get a Labour led government, what should be its top priorities in the first 100 days?