Uncowed
Shh. Hear that sound? It’s National’s mud throwing machine gearing up again. Inevitably, they’ve released Labour’s ministers’ spending. No evidence of any rort but […]
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
English in serious trouble
Over at Red Alert, Trevor Mallard has posted a form that all MPs wanting an out-of-town allowance must fill out. It asks MPs […]
John Key ‘may’ be able to understand it?
John Key has recently acted like a jerk to a young mother worried about what climate change is going to mean for her […]
Greens show the way forward
The Greens have presented a sensible and feasible plan to reduce our greenhouse emissions to 40% less than 1990 levels by 2020. Contrary […]
Flogging our future
Hot Topic has very interesting post up about how Act took a sudden interest in climate change denial after they received $100k from […]
The house built on sand
English, now known by the moniker Double Dipton, has decided to give back half the amount to has rorted so far from the taxpayer. Rather […]
DL Dannevirke (I kid you not)
The Drinking Liberally empire keeps on growing. Tomorrow there’s an event in Wellington, and Dannevirke, the newest chapter, has its first event on […]
One law for all?
Are you? a disgraced former minister who resigned from Parliament in shame? a National MP who rents from a National minister (Judith Collins […]
Why don’t they just stop ripping us off?
Key admits his ministers are rorting the system – exploiting the allowance not for need but just because it gives them a chance […]
Key: Don’t join the conversation
By telling Keisha Castle-Hughes she should “stick to acting” and keep out of the climate change debate, Prime Minister John Key is signalling […]
The lies keep coming
Read this: Hon Phil Goff: What analysis did Treasury do on the cost-effectiveness of the national cycleway scheme in producing jobs, and is […]
Sshhh! You’ll make the economy cry
John Key says we shouldn’t be talking about the number of people going on to the dole. He reckons that mentioning the fact that […]
Worth the Bill
What would you call it when you collect $900 a week by false pretenses? What would you call it when you tell the Electoral […]
Field’s guilt and Farrar’s shame
Over at Kiwiblog DPF has wet himself with excitement at the Field verdict. Sadly however, he doesn’t get two bullet points into his […]
3News on National Ministers double-dipping
3News covers the story of National Ministers double-dipping at the taxpayers’ expense. UPDATE: ‘BLiP’ has bestowed a new title on Bill English: “Sir […]
Taito guilty
No surprises and a good outcome. That man betrayed everyone who ever supported and trusted him. He exemplifies how power can corrupt, something […]
Accountability then and now…
Then: Labour Minister David Parker accused of financial wrongdoing (filing incorrect returns). He resigns Ministerial portfolios and as Attorney General while the Companies […]
More snouts in the trough
More Nats have been exposed rorting the out of town allowance for ministers. Bludger Bill is claiming the allowance for living in his […]
One of these things is not like the other VI
One of these things is not like the other One of these things is not quite the same. Can you guess which one […]
Bon moat
We’ve been puzzling over how Bludger Bill can be spending all the $920 a week he is rorting for living in his family […]
Citizen journalism
Evidently just as fed up as I am with main-stream-media “news” – which increasingly seems to consist of shallow, sensationalist stories broken up […]
Do as I say, not as I do
What gets me is the entitlement mentality from these senior members of Key’s government. Exactly the same mentality they claim afflicts ‘bludgers’ who […]
Something dodgy in Dipton
Bill English is unrepentant over his $47,000 a year rort of the ministers’ Wellington accommodation allowance. He is claiming the allowance, which is […]
What goes around…
Paula Bennett appears to have broken the law in releasing private information on members of the public who were critical of National’s “ambitious” […]
Double standards
Paula Bennett has claimed nearly $22,000 in six months for her Wellington accommodation. That’s more, just for a second home Bennett uses maybe half the […]
I don’t think so
National and Act getting ready to sell our assets. Don McGlashan, joining Phil Twyfords ‘Not Yours To Sell’ campaign, says ‘I don’t think […]
Get ready for more over-promise, under-deliver
Tomorrow John Key will be announcing policies on youth unemployment. Looks like rehashing of the already announced Youth Guarantee and probably something more. […]
Snouts in the trough
NZPA reports: Taxpayers are contributing nearly $1000 a week to allow deputy prime minister Bill English to live in his own million-dollar Wellington […]
Linton Kwesi Johnson: FITE DEM BACK
Use of weapons
I’ve been thinking about the different ways ministers from the Left and the Right approach governing. I think it goes back to where […]
Chilling effect
I’m frankly a little surprised at the way the media and The Herald especially has jumped on the attack the victim bandwagon in […]
Wee gripes: doublethink
If you read Kiwiblog or listen to talkback radio (basically the same thing – smart guy baiting reactionaries for his political ends) then […]
Brash speech confirms National’s secret agenda
This is simply stunning. Don Brash, our new productivity tsar, has just released a speech where he proves he hasn’t changed a bit […]
Comfortable with bullying
John Key is “comfortable” with his Minister Paul Bennett releasing private information (in breach of the Cabinet Manual, Privacy Commission guidelines, and the […]
In bed with bigotry
Maori Party MP Rahui Katene’s Matariki Public Holiday Bill was before the House last night (I understand National is planning to vote it down […]
Substance matters
Last night, our positive and ambitious National/Act government: Voted against Green MP Metiria Turei’s bill to protect the 111 Maui dolphins left. Voted […]