The Standard

politicans

Categories under politicans

The boy from Matamata

Written By: - Date published: 8:28 am, October 28th, 2020 - 43 comments

Trump deputy chief of staff Chris Liddell, who is also a Kiwi, has announced his candidacy to be head of the OECD.  The Greens have announced their opposition because he has been part of inhumane decisions and also decisions that undermine international institutions.  The right back him because he is a kiwi.  What should Labour do?

Justice Coney Barrett appears to be a climate change denier

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, October 28th, 2020 - 10 comments

Newly appointed Republican and Trump supported Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is not convinced that humans are changing the world’s climate.  Meanwhile China and Japan are convinced and have announced dates by which time they intend to be carbon neutral.

What should Labour do in the next three years?

Written By: - Date published: 10:01 am, October 25th, 2020 - 74 comments

With the hand brake gone and the Government’s policy platform already complete what should the Labour Government set out to achieve this term?

Kelvin for DPM

Written By: - Date published: 9:13 am, October 25th, 2020 - 16 comments

Some thoughts on who the country’s Deputy Prime Minister should be.

The Trump Biden debate

Written By: - Date published: 2:02 pm, October 23rd, 2020 - 21 comments

Discussion post for this afternoon’s live US Presidential debate.

Show us the plan Labour

Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, October 22nd, 2020 - 154 comments

Labour want to govern based in stability for all New Zealanders, but how does that work when your grand narrative has massive plot holes around ending poverty?

Will consensus building paralyse Ardern?

Written By: - Date published: 7:14 am, October 21st, 2020 - 33 comments

Jacinda Ardern aims to bet both ways on our future – transforming Aotearoa to rid us of inequality and poverty, and building consensus. She has won a mandate with her historic, landslide victory but can she do both? My question is whether Labour are willing to do that because of her desire to maintain consensus and not rock the waka.

NZ election 2020: Labour win is a watershed moment in the country’s history

Written By: - Date published: 12:27 am, October 20th, 2020 - 47 comments

The 2020 election was more than just a victory for Labour and more than a crushing defeat for the National Party (New Zealand’s main centre-right political party). This result marks a significant watershed in New Zealand politics which will likely have implications long after this parliamentary term.

Dr Shane is in trouble

Written By: - Date published: 11:51 am, October 18th, 2020 - 27 comments

Shane Reti is in major strife in Whangarei and special votes may overturn his slim election night majority.  And National may have further problems with its list entitlement and Maureen Pugh and Nick Smith are not safe.

O Winston I love you

Written By: - Date published: 9:25 am, October 18th, 2020 - 50 comments

Some reasons for us to miss Winston’s exit from politics.

Labour crushes election – now what?

Written By: - Date published: 8:58 am, October 18th, 2020 - 79 comments

Labour’s crushing victory in yesterday’s election and the Green’s strong result means that the Government has a unique opportunity to emulate the fundamental change to New Zealand that the first Labour government achieved.

Natwatch election night post

Written By: - Date published: 7:05 pm, October 17th, 2020 - 19 comments

This has been an incredible year for the National Party. Will it implode publicly tonight with a series of attacks on the leadership and campaign by disgruntled MPs or will Judith perform better than expected and minimise the carnage. This post is to follow National’s leadership and MP response to election night results. Stay tuned […]

Jacinda or Judith?

Written By: - Date published: 7:47 am, October 16th, 2020 - 65 comments

With election day tomorrow those who have not voted already need to decide, do they want Jacinda Ardern or Judith Collins to be the next Prime Minister.

About the Greens…

Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, October 15th, 2020 - 74 comments

Here’s the thing about the Greens. They want change. They want change more than they want power. I think that they fully understand that we are out of time on climate, poverty, the environment and now is the time to act boldly.

Latest UMR Poll – National sinking

Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, October 14th, 2020 - 180 comments

Leaked results of the latest UMR poll suggests that National is under 30% and that Judith Collins campaign techniques are not working.  She responded by calling the Prime Minister a liar and fat shaming the population.

How not to campaign in an MMP environment

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, October 13th, 2020 - 30 comments

A recent series of advertisements placed by National MPs in Auckland seeking electorate votes and not seeking party votes show that central control of National’s campaign and discipline are completely lacking.

2020 election campaign – 6 days to go

Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, October 12th, 2020 - 52 comments

With six days to go to election day the campaigns have reached interesting stages although the underlying trends and events appear to be good for the left.

National’s 2020 election campaign in billboards

Written By: - Date published: 4:51 pm, October 11th, 2020 - 24 comments

A review of National’s billboards used this year shows what an utter disaster the campaign has been for them.

Labour Increases Protection for Kauri Dieback

Written By: - Date published: 9:18 am, October 10th, 2020 - 10 comments

In an announcement that will probably gain them few extra votes but still warms the cockles, Labour have promised to put Kauri Dieback on the same scale of national disease response as Bovine Tuberculosis and Kiwifruit PSA.

Ngaro goes negative

Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, October 10th, 2020 - 43 comments

National list MP Alfred Ngaro has shown that National’s message discipline has broken down completely by going negative and making some outlandish claims against Labour’s Phil Twyford.

Strong team at leaking

Written By: - Date published: 7:43 am, October 9th, 2020 - 56 comments

Another day and another story about National MPs leaking against Judith Collins

When campaigns go bad

Written By: - Date published: 7:43 am, October 8th, 2020 - 50 comments

Emma Mellows national Auckland Central Hamish Price

Every day there is a new catastrophe for Judith Collins.  Yesterday she had a walkabout from hell when it was revealed on national news that national activists including Hamish Price had been strategically placed to pretend to be ordinary members of the public and say nice things about her for the camera.

The importance of party unity

Written By: - Date published: 9:33 am, October 7th, 2020 - 83 comments

If a party wants to become Government there are a few characteristics that is has to have.  Fiscal competence is one, unity is another.  National currently has neither.  

The Trump Covid game

Written By: - Date published: 2:17 pm, October 6th, 2020 - 10 comments

Let’s imagine a scenario where you are the President of the United States and it is in the middle of a pandemic.  You then contract the virus yourself.  How would you rate compared to Donald Trump?

National leaks again

Written By: - Date published: 7:33 am, October 6th, 2020 - 62 comments

A highly critical email about Judith Collins written by National Maungakiekie MP Denise Lee has been leaked and indicates that National’s Auckland policy was made on the hoof and without reference to the person in caucus with actual responsibility for the subject.

New Zealand, Biden, Trump, and Australia

Written By: - Date published: 3:47 pm, October 5th, 2020 - 6 comments

If Donald Trump is re-elected in 30 days’ time, he will be vindicated and emboldened.  What will the implications be for New Zealand?

Trump’s not so bad: the holding our breath edition

Written By: - Date published: 11:17 am, October 4th, 2020 - 79 comments

An occasional series

Paul Goldsmith should stop digging

Written By: - Date published: 3:05 pm, October 3rd, 2020 - 80 comments

Paul Goldsmith has shown yet again his complete inability to understand how Government finances work by claiming there is a $10 billion dollar hole in Labour’s fiscal plan where there is none.

POTUS, Covid and the New Zealand election

Written By: - Date published: 8:01 am, October 3rd, 2020 - 122 comments

News that Donald Trump has tested positive for Covid will have a significant effect on the US election as well as our local election.  It raises the issue who will you trust to lead the country against this most agile yet deadly virus?

Leaders’ debate post

Written By: - Date published: 6:59 pm, September 30th, 2020 - 115 comments

Post for discussion of the latest leaders’ debate scheduled for this evening.  Be kind to each other.

Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand Health

Written By: - Date published: 11:59 am, September 30th, 2020 - 15 comments

Jacinda Ardern is a contender for winning a Nobel Peace Prize.  If she were to get it for anything, it will be for her leadership response to the national health crisis response to COVID19.