Politics
politicans
Nasty negative Nats
Disgraced ex minister Collins calls Cunliffe a moron. Another John Ansell negative billboard campaign coming. The Nats are nasty as well as dirty. If only there was some positive alternative…
Emerson on Collins Enquiry
Emerson’s cartoon today in the Herald.
National’s campaign train wreck
So far National’s election campaign has been a train wreck. What was meant to be a leisurely walk to the finish line has turned into a limp. David Cunliffe is more than holding his own against John Key. And dirty politics is having a gradual corrosive effect on National’s support.
Nothing to hide, nothing to fear
If John Key has nothing to hide, sure he has nothing to fear from a full government inquiry into Dirty Politics?
Score draw?
Cunliffe started best, Key got in a zinger and put him off his stride, Cunliffe dominated the second half.
NRT: The caretaker convention and elections
There was an interesting discussion between Dean Knight and Graeme Edgeler about the caretaker convention and elections. Dean highlighted the fact that Key had a perfect right to call for whatever sort of inquiry prior to an election. Edgeler disputed this, on the basis that the Prime Minister could not be said to enjoy the confidence of the House, because there wasn’t one.
The Press Debate – tonight, livestreamed on Stuff
The second big head-to-head between David Cunliffe and John Key will be livestreamed on Stuff from 7pm tonight.
Puddleglum: We no longer have a Prime Minister
There’s an excellent post at The Political Scientist I want to highlight, plus a few other of today’s Dirty Politics reads…
Whitewash inquiry
I know, let’s put on a production of Hamlet, but leave out the role of the Prince of Denmark.
National must be very afraid
The latest Whaledump has a collection of emails that makes no reference to Judith Collins. It makes you wonder if Key did not have the Cathy Odgers email whether he would have sacked Collins.
NRT: More OIA skullduggery from National
Another day, and more evidence the National government is manipulating the OIA process. Judith Collins’ office processed an Official Information Act request in just two days. The problem here isn’t that someone got their response within two days – its that other people didn’t…
Why Is John Key Not Compelled to Give Evidence Under Oath?
I have today sent an open letter to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security to ask why Mr Key is not required to attend her inquiry and to give evidence under oath. The letter is attached.
All the way to Key
All credit to Guyon Espiner for another hard-hitting interview with Key on Morning Report today. Espiner tries to get a straight answer from Key over his personal contacts with Slater. Tries and tries and tries, to no avail. It is clear that Key, personally and through his office, is up to his neck in dirty politics.
Dirty Filthy Red Herring
Big fish and little fish.
From Twitter
All your trashing the SFO connections. h/t DebsHancock
Well that deteriorated quickly
The Sunday Star Times has reported on the Hotchin – Slater attack on SFO boss Adam Feeley. The email which caused John Key to effectively sack Judith Collins as a Minister was provided by Cathy Odgers. The intent was to put off a SFO/FMA investigation into Hotchin. This is third world stuff.
Some thoughts…
The English faction is now calling the shots inside the National party.
Crusher crushed
Press conference is running late, but Judith’s statement is out – resigning as Minister, but not as MP.
New allegations of her undermining SFO head Adam Feeley have finally been too much.
Update: email attached to post
Is Judith Collins gone?
Judith Collins’ tenure as a Minister may be in some doubt.
“VRWC” exposes rift at top of National
There is a self-appointed “Vast Right Wing Conspiracy” in New Zealand. Odgers and Slater are key members. Search VRWC on Slater’s website and you’ll find their activities. After Pansy Wong’s forced resignation from Cabinet for misuse of her travel perk the VRWC thought the National Cabinet needed “some serious steel going forward.” You can read the minutes of their virtual white-board session on post-it cards – the rifts at the top are deep and nasty.
Fairfax Media’s polling on Dirty Politics
The latest Dominion Post contains survey data on people’s responses to Dirty Politics but attempts to manufacture a message by quoting selected interviews suggesting that Labour and not National have been hurt by Hager’s revelations. The headlines though are that half of all New Zealanders think less highly of John Key and 7.9% of voters are considering changing their vote. National should be afraid.
Key can’t work with the Greens because…
They care about Child Poverty (and presumably he doesn’t)
Peters v Collins
Peters is standing by his claim that camp Collins approached him about working with her as PM. Peters says he will “swear an affidavit”, strong language indeed, and Collins has every reason to lie. Why is she still a Minister anyway?
National: Not Our Future marches across New Zealand Aotearoa
Three weeks before the election, action is being taken across the country voicing a rejection of the National Government’s track record and direction. Rallies are being held in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin to oppose National’s attacks on workers, abuse of the environment, inequality, cronyism and dirty politics.
Does Key want it?
Last night there was one participant in the debate who looked disinterested and unhappy to be there: John Key. Has he had enough?
Cunliffe 1 Key 0
Two new polls with different conclusions drawn and the first Leadership debate with a win to David Cunliffe. He may be a sterling campaign away from being the next Prime Minister.
And the winner is…
The pundits say: Cunliffe
I think that most New Zealanders…
Our PM is fond of telling us all what we think. In the wake of Dirty Politics he is working it overtime, telling us all that we believe his spin. Interesting then to get some actual data on what (extrapolating from a sample) most New Zealanders really do think. Many thanks to the Horizon polling people for putting this up on line.
The first head-to-head debate – tonight!
The first head-to-head debate between David Cunliffe and John Key (tonight, 7pm, TV One) could be a real turning point of the election.
Judith Collins raises doubt about which dimension she occupies
Judith Collins claims to have been exonerated of claims that she breached the rights of privacy of a public servant by giving his details to Cameron Slater. There is one problem with her claim. She is totally wrong. Update: RNZ is now reporting she is backing away from her claim.
Caption competition
Polity: Hooton on Key on SIS: Bullshit!
Rob says: Key was either complicit in the SIS document release to Whaleoil, or he has a gross dereliction of duty. Let’s hear what his answers are to that.
Dirty pictures
Cartoons and other images of Dirty Politics.
Interview with “Key”…
Billed as “Decision 2014 Part 1”, Here’s Michael Hurst staring as John Key’s office…
Tax cut cynicism
According to the PM, Bill English saying there won’t be tax cuts was both true and untrue at the same time, like a fiscal Schroedinger’s Cat.