Regrets, John Key’s had a few *
or more accurately one. A failed vanity flag referendum.
national
same old national
National’s strong economic management …
Between the crisis facing Middlemore Hospital’s buildings and the farce surrounding the cost of repairs of repairs of the Canterbury rebuild, National’s claim that it is a party of strong economic management looks at least misguided.
Labour aims to make transport system more sustainable
The Government has released a draft Government Policy Statement on Transport for consultation. A radical shake up of the Transport system is being proposed.
Evidence-based foreign policy
In the second stage of a false flag attack, facts go out the window and the sole issue becomes “are you for us or against us.” Our media and National Party politicians are well into this stage in the Skripal affair. But as questions mount and skeptics proliferate from all sides, Jacinda Ardern and Winston Peters may well be wiser than media advisers by not following blindly the western herd. 26 countries is not the whole world. Update: Porton Down unable to establish Novichok of Russian origin.
The manufacturing of a narrative
The past week has seen the Herald focus on issues concerning Clare Curran to the almost exclusion of anything else, including the perilous state of our Health system and Kim Dotcom’s successful appeal against the last Government’s breach of his rights of privacy.
Joyce may have been right about the Fiscal hole
Steven Joyce’s prediction of a $11.7 billion deficit in the Government’s finances may be true. But this is because the last Government has underfunded health and hidden problems.
Finlayson found to have breached Dotcom’s rights
The Human Rights Tribunal has found that the last Government and Chris Finlayson breached Kim Dotcom’s rights in not providing him with information requested by him. And awarded him $90,000 for the breach.
Kiwibuild kicks off
The first big Kiwibuild announcement, 3 to 4,000 houses in Mt Albert has been made. And National has responded that it was all their idea and they did not want to announce it because it would be seen as pork barrelling.
Coleman is quitting
Jonathan Coleman has announced his resignation from Parliament.
Naughty Nick’s Parliamentary Porkie
Nick Smith has been caught out by Trevor Mallard telling a porkie in Parliament.
Ardern suggests that oil exploration may cease
The Government is reconsidering the future of New Zealand’s block offer process which releases exploration permits to the oil industry for exploratory drilling.
Collins: No one cares about National’s abject failure over housing
Judith Collins thinks that no one cares that National oversaw the creation of a significant housing crisis.
Housing needs a builder not a crusher
Phil Twyford has the perfect response to National’s claim that Judith Collins’ appointment as Housing Spokesperson would cause him to lose sleep.
National announces new line up
National’s new line up has been announced. And there are some heavy hints to a few MPs that their careers may be ending soon.
Is youth the new political divide?
There is evidence in the United Kingdom and in New Zealand that youth and not class may be the new political divide.
Was National a good economic manager?
Bill Rosenberg from the CTU has stated convincingly why National is not and was not a sound manager of the economy.
Doofus of the week March 10, 2018
An occasional post where we celebrate the extremely banal or bad taste or idiotic behaviour in politics.
Justice for the family carer claimants
National’s constitutionally outrageous attempt to stifle the claims of family carers for compensation for discrimination should be repealed and a just settlement reached with the caregivers.
Who is next?
Steven Joyce’s resignation may be the first of many as National adjusts to the possibility of a lengthy stay in opposition.
Steven Joyce threatens to sue Matthew Hooton and the NBR
Matthew Hooton has been sacked as a contributor to the NBR and Steven Joyce has threatened to sue him and the NBR over claims that Joyce is not popular in caucus and should be sacked.
Simon Bridges’ not very good first week
In this very important first week Simon Bridges has committed two major blunders. He has claimed he was environmentally friendly when any view of his Ministerial history would confirm that this is not the case. And he forgot his Government oversaw the stripping of democratic rights from all prisoners, and adjusted his position when his error was pointed out.
Right wing activists are not happy Bridges is leader
The initial response from right wingers online to the news that National’s new leader is Simon Bridges is a big meh.
Who will the new leader of the National Party be?
Today we will find out if National is taking a step backwards. Or two steps backwards.
Damien Grant thinks National is stuffed
Damien Grant thinks that National is a relic and should fracture into libertarian and conservative parties.
Why does Criminal Justice have to be so politicised?
Judith Collins has indicated that the chances of a mature debate about Criminal Justice are slim.
National’s meh leadership contest
National’s leadership contest is one week old. The latest is a central edict that all candidates have to be nice to each other and a claim that candidates are not offering senior positions to MPs in exchange for their support.
Hager posts Dirty Politics chapter on Mark Mitchell on web
Nicky Hager and the publishers of Dirty Politics have released into the public arena the chapter dealing with Mark Mitchell’s campaign to be selected as National’s Rodney candidate.
The battle of the five political midgets
Steven Joyce and Mark Mitchell have both thrown their hats into the ring for National’s leadership.
Strong and decisive
Judith Collins has picked on the campaign term strong and decisive for behaviour better described as brutal and obdurate.
Then there were three
Amy Adams has announced that she will also be seeking the leader’s position of the National Party.
No Bridges Bridges announces he will seek National leadership
Simon Bridges has announced that he too will be seeking the National Party leadership.
Who will be National’s next leader?
Following Bill English’s resignation the question is who will be National’s next leaders. The Standard authors have put their heads together and come up with some suggestions.
Was the political hit on Chris Bishop an inside job?
The disclosure of Chris Bishop’s snapchat engagement with young teenage females raises the question of who leaked the information to the media and why.
The problem with Charter Schools
The Government is moving to stop the creation of new charter schools and require existing charter schools to integrate with the public system.
National is united
National is united. There are no murmurings about leadership and Bill English’s and Paula Bennett’s positions are secure.
National claims credit for Waitangi Day
National is claiming some credit for the success of Waitangi day. But the things they claim credit for are because of decisions of others, not the National Government.