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Winston Peters, King Maker

Written By: - Date published: 8:49 am, July 25th, 2013 - 109 comments

Winston_Peters smilingWinston Peters may be the king maker after the next election.  No wonder that John Key has started to court the person he said as a matter of principle he would never have in his Government.

John Key: These are my principles …

Written By: - Date published: 7:53 pm, July 24th, 2013 - 43 comments

… and if you don’t like them, I have others.  Key once said he’d never have Peters in any government he led, now he’s reconsidering. Peters is playing hard to get, and Gower tries to be part of the story as usual, promoting 3 News’ own poll.

GCSB law changes are a Dunne deal

Written By: - Date published: 8:57 am, July 23rd, 2013 - 90 comments

peter dunneI was hoping that Peter Dunne was going to make a stand on Kiwi’s rights of privacy.  Looks like I was wrong …

Don’t let them be sidelined: Surveillance Bills

Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, July 22nd, 2013 - 38 comments

Let’s not sideline the GCSB and related surveillance Bills.  It’s about democracy, and against further consolidation of the power of the international, “neoliberal” corporate elites.  Nation wide demos this Saturday; public meeting in Auckland this Thursday evening. Phil Goff resists, but bends a little too far. [Update]  Protest poster

Outsourcing: Scamming the system

Written By: - Date published: 9:32 am, July 19th, 2013 - 23 comments

A new report on the UK government’s outsourcing of public sector work is damning. Necessary and basic work to fulfill individual and social needs, (eg social security, unemployment, health care, education) is being “gamed” and scammed by monopolistic private contractors. Key’s government favours outsourcing to private profiteers.

Peter Dunne’s chance to shine

Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, July 18th, 2013 - 27 comments

Peter DunnePeter Dunne may be the best chance that we have of defeating the GCSB amending legislation.  He has said that there is a principle at stake in that his rights of privacy have been breached and I believe that he is right.  Time to seek his support?

Parata and the media

Written By: - Date published: 3:06 pm, July 17th, 2013 - 19 comments

wickliffe2

Unbelievable

Written By: - Date published: 3:39 pm, July 16th, 2013 - 15 comments

No Right Turn points out how useless our security minister is. To say this is astonishing would be an understatement John Key’s chief justification for his spy law giving the GCSB the right to spy on all New Zealanders is cost: it would apparently cost too much for the police or SIS to be given […]

John Key, Crosby & corporate lobbyists

Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, July 16th, 2013 - 40 comments

Joining the dots: David Cameron is under fire for his links with lobbyists for big tobacco & big oil, via his link with Lynton Crosby.  John Key, with links to Crosby Textor, has also bowed to big tobacco. Networks of Influence.

War on social security: demonisation of beneficiaries

Written By: - Date published: 7:57 am, July 15th, 2013 - 275 comments

Sweeping changes to NZ’s Social Security system begin today.  This is a major shift from the the 1938 Social Security Act: a shift from support of those in need, to treating them as potential criminals, self-serving addicts, and malingerers. Shame on John Key & Paula Bennett! [Update: RNZ & BAF & AAAP]

Brooking vs Clarke43

Written By: - Date published: 8:53 pm, July 12th, 2013 - 20 comments

The dispute over Judith Collins’ Wikipedia page has made it into an NZ Herald article, with both Brooking & Clarke43 accused of political bias.  Team Collins claim they just edited out defamatory entries.  The Herald is looking for Clarke43, who surely does poor PR – praising Collins’ twitter performance.

The long reach of “5 Eyes”: Not in our name!

Written By: - Date published: 9:18 am, July 12th, 2013 - 66 comments

Eric Holder’s connections with New Zealand’s justice system and GCSB is justified by linking international surveillance with transnational organised crime and crimes by citizens: 5 Eyes’ (alleged) defence of democracy, reaches into homes via “domestic terrorism”,  (sexual) violence against women & children, and child pornography.

If we do not sell our laws Sky City will gather all its toys and go home

Written By: - Date published: 5:07 pm, July 11th, 2013 - 65 comments

gamblingOur MPs have been warned that if they do not pass the New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill Sky City will take its money and go overseas.  With such PR it is amazing they are still in business …

NRT – Transmission Gully: A $2 billion scam

Written By: - Date published: 9:52 am, July 11th, 2013 - 13 comments

I/S at No Right Turn on a $2 Billion Transmission Gully scam…

GCSB – independent inquiry needed

Written By: - Date published: 12:35 pm, July 10th, 2013 - 32 comments

A full, independent inquiry of the GCSB is needed , as argued by the Green & Labour Parties, and politics lecturer Damien Rogers.  NZ First & Dunne – don’t support Key’s dodgy law changes! Key is masking political motives with spin and secrecy. [update]  Campbell Live tonight – must see viewing.

John Key – Economic Miracle Maker

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 pm, July 9th, 2013 - 24 comments

john key snake oilOur wonderful leader John Key is able to sell our assets, spend all the money and then some on his favourite projects, pay down debt and maintain our credit rating all at the one time.  If you believe this there is a bridge that I would like to show you …

Snowden on US-NZ intelligence

Written By: - Date published: 9:51 pm, July 8th, 2013 - 88 comments

Just up on Stuff, an article about Edward Snowden making links between US and NZ intelligence services, as well as between other “5 Eyes” participants. Does he have specific evidence that the system “insulates” political leaders from backlash?  And Key?

Dunne not convinced on GCSB Bill

Written By: - Date published: 7:47 pm, July 8th, 2013 - 22 comments

Key has started making concessions in an effort to pass his GCSB bill to spy on Kiwis – but Peter Dunne is not convinced.

Is the Government bailing out Solid Energy using the Future Investment Fund or not?

Written By: - Date published: 2:15 pm, July 8th, 2013 - 18 comments

john key sucking it upThe Government is planning to spend up to $100 million from the sale of one SOE, Mighty River Power, to prop up another SOE, Solid Energy.  And the Prime Minister thinks one day that it definitely isn’t and the next day it may but it probably won’t and it is all too complex.  Confused?

Collins sanitising wikipedia

Written By: - Date published: 8:07 am, July 8th, 2013 - 174 comments

Wellington alcohol and drug counsellor Roger Brooking has revealed a campaign by Judith Collins’ staff to sanitise her Wikipedia page and the pages on various issues related to New Zealand justice issues. References to facts that National doesn’t want to acknowledge – such as its links to the Sensible Sentencing Trust – have been purged by Collins’ team.

A problem of “masculine” values

Written By: - Date published: 8:01 am, July 7th, 2013 - 121 comments

The MSM coverage of the Labour Party remit, led by right wing propagandists, is riddled with sexism and the same traditional masculinist values that marginalise the poor and those with least power. I repeat my post that critiques a speech on gender & politics at the 2012 Labour Party Conference.

The big issues: GCSB, Dotcom

Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, July 5th, 2013 - 61 comments

Bill English diverts attention from questions about Key’s prior knowledge of Dotcom, saying it is not a BIG ISSUE.   Trustworthiness, undermining democracy, misuse of GCSB surveillance in collaboration with foreign powers, blurring commercial cyber-security with national security – just some of the BIG ISSUES covered in the GCSB hearings.

Emmerson on privacy

Written By: - Date published: 2:27 pm, July 4th, 2013 - 6 comments

Emmerson-privacy

Kim Dotcom vs John Key

Written By: - Date published: 2:10 pm, July 3rd, 2013 - 233 comments

This afternoon Kim Dotcom is making a submission to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee, which is chaired by John Key (starting 3:30pm). 3 News is livestreaming the session.

Moral mandates

Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, July 3rd, 2013 - 115 comments

Key is clearly getting nervous about the implosion of his possible electoral partners in 2014. He’s running the “largest party has a moral mandate to govern line” again. It’s destabilising, and it’s rubbish, here’s why…

John Key’s disdain for democracy

Written By: - Date published: 9:02 am, July 3rd, 2013 - 43 comments

Norman criticises John Key for showing complete disdain for democracy at yesterday’s public hearing on the GCSB Bill.  Kim Dotcom is expected to provide a challenge today. Paul Buchanan is critical and argues for a full inquiry.  Gordon Campbell proposes some questions. [update]: TV3 Livestream 3.30 pm [update] Dotcom -Key knew about him prior to GCSB spying on him TV3.

Smarmy Brownlee on urgency

Written By: - Date published: 7:10 pm, July 2nd, 2013 - 25 comments

Brownlee’s press release on urgency is pure smarm. The Nats have always abused urgency, and this current session is no exception.

Focused on what matters

Written By: - Date published: 11:56 am, July 2nd, 2013 - 35 comments

Good to see that Key is so keenly focused on what matters. His image.

Post Key leadership struggle goes mainstream

Written By: - Date published: 10:25 am, July 2nd, 2013 - 67 comments

The simmering leadership struggle in the National party doesn’t get a lot of attention in the mainstream media, but here’s an exception. Judith Collins will not be pleased.

Spying against the law? Whatever…

Written By: - Date published: 10:03 am, July 2nd, 2013 - 18 comments

Key’s enquiry into the GCSB report leak appears to have broken the law. He doesn’t give a damn. What a clear and timely example of exactly why Key and the GCSB can’t be trusted with further powers. “Nothing to hide nothing to fear” my arse.

Hone Harawira’s Nephew

Written By: - Date published: 6:31 pm, July 1st, 2013 - 182 comments

Hone Harawira’s Nephew! Hone Harawira’s Nephew! Hone Harawira’s Nephew! Hone Harawira’s Nephew! Hone Harawira’s Nephew!