Godwin’s flaw?
In which we discuss a number of quick hits: Trump thinks judges only exist to be bribed, Sarah Huckabee-Sanders can’t get a seat at a restaurant, and whether Godwin’s Law needs to be amended.
Politics
politicans
The right is in disarray
David Seymour bombs out of dancing with the stars and Simon Bridges refuses to apologise for calling Neve’s parents “pinko”. Just another week in the train wreck that is right wing politics in New Zealand.
Doofus of the week June 24, 2018
The latest in an occasional series where we celebrate the horrendously awful and bizarre behaviour of political figures both locally and overseas.
Immigration Now
Germany has one of the very few national-level consciences on world immigration, but that is now under threat. The Trump administration and his allies appear to be actively working to topple Germany’s Angela Merkel in favour of the hard right.
How low can Simon Bridges go?
Simon Bridges was interviewed on Radio Hauraki and chose to suggest that Jacinda’s baby may vote National, cost too much money even though she was born in a pubic hospital and transported to hospital in a private vehicle, and should go to school in boy’s clothing.
New Zealand basks in the birth of the Prime Minature
Day one of her life and New Zealand is basking in the birth of the Prime Minature.
It’s a girl!
Congratulations to Jacinda and Clarke on the birth of a girl!
Children should never be used as bargaining chips
Donald Trump has announced a “backdown” of the policy of separating children of refugees from their parents at the US border. Instead they will be imprisoned with their parents potentially for extended periods of time.
Trump will be President until 2024
It’s time to see the strong possibility of a second term of Donald Trump as United States President. What would The World Look Like?
The United States is becoming a rogue state
The United States of America in its support for Israeli trashing of Palestinian rights and the withdrawal of support for the United Nations Human Rights Council as well as the mass incarceration of children of parents who have tried to enter the United States without permission is displaying concerning signs.
Bottom feeding fish redux
Newsroom has released details of media emails sent to the police about the Clarke Gayford rumours.
Sage refuses permission to mine conservation land
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage has incurred attacks from the right by refusing to allow the desecration of conservation land on the West Coast.
Does National really want climate change to be a bipartisan issue?
National has cautiously pledged to support the Government’s proposed Climate Change Commission. But is it looking for opportunities to delay or weaken urgent action that New Zealand needs to be taking now rather than signing up for urgent action being started now?
Coming up, Babies!
Jacinda’s baby is going to be big news soon.
Solitary man
Gerry Brownlee has been caught playing solitaire during Question Time in Parliament.
Nats indignant that Twyford is not fixing their housing crisis quickly enough
Judith Collins has criticised Phi Twyford because after eight months as Minister he has not fixed a crisis that took nine years to create.
Kiwis trust in Government surges
At the same time that business confidence is in negative territory overall trust in the Government has surged. Why is this?
This is a China Play
What was the game plan behind the Trump-Kim Jong Un meeting in Singapore yesterday?
Winston sues
Winston Peters has commenced legal proceedings against Anne Tolley and Paula Bennett because of the leaking during last year’s election campaign of private information about a superannuation overpayment he received.
Donald Trump’s unusual diplomatic behaviour
Donald Trump has chosen to insult Canadian leader Justin Trudeau and buddy up to North Korean leader Kim Jon Un all in the same week.
Who gives a hooton about climate change?
Matthew Hooton and Fran O’Sullivan have claimed that the Government’s decision to ban off shore petroleum exploration is “Orwellian”, part of an attempt to divert attention from other issues, bad for the environment and bad for jobs. Are they right?
The Carbon Zero Legislation
If you have useful thoughts on how we should deal with climate change, now is the time not to have defeatist or pessimistic thoughts. Now is the time to put pen to paper and get your thoughts straight to James Shaw and help shape this legislation before the first draft hits Parliament.
Collins keeps Housing Corp P debacle in news cycle
Judith Collins has managed to keep the Housing Corp methamphetamine story alive for another news cycle by attacking poor people who take drugs.
Dud advice
The methamphetamine debacle continues with questions raised about if the Auckland District Health Board provided confidential information to Housing New Zealand about its tenants. And Simon Bridges directly contradicts Bill English by claiming that the last Government had no idea the guidelines were not fit for purpose.
Forward to the 70s
National thinks that getting back to full employment, having wages and conditions sufficient to allow a working family to live in decency on one full time wage, and home ownership rates of about 70% are a bad thing.
Boilover in Northcote?
With five days to go the Northcote by election result is far from settled. And a surprise may be on the cards.
Doofus of the week – June 3, 2018
Finalists this week are David Farrar for recklessly misrepresenting Labour’s view on the three strikes repeal proposal, Judith Collins for thinking a two year old photo used on the Standard was a current photo and evidence of the police being politicised and Paula Bennett for at the same time not knowing and knowing but being unable to do anything about the terrorising of state house tenants. And the winner is …
Simon Bridges, the three strikes law and the Bill of Rights
National obviously desperately want to divert attention away from the Housing Corp methamphetamine fiasco. After five days of continuous bad news who can blame them.
Labour does not want to let them all out
Andrew Little has proposed the repeal of the irrational three strikes law. But signs are that National will not engage in a reasoned debate about what the law should be.
National tags parody account in Northcote by election tweet
The difference between running a professional well organised campaign and a chaotic shambles can be slight.
National’s strategy on the Housing Corp P fiasco
National is all over the place in its response to Peter Gluckman’s Housing Corp methamphetamine report with three different justifications being provided by three different senior MPs.
Where the f*ck is Simon Bridges?
An ongoing series where we try to work out what social media strategy Simon Bridges is following.
Gluckman: Methamphetamine policy was a crock
The Prime Minister’s chief science adviser Peter Gluckman has described the previous Government’s policy on methamphetamine in Housing Corp houses as hysterical and concluded that there has never been a documented case of someone getting sick from third-hand exposure to methamphetamine.
Where the f*ck is Simon Bridges?
An ongoing series.
Comrade Simon supports Nurses Strike
For the first time possibly ever a National leader has supported the right of the rank and file to engage in industrial action to improve their living conditions.
Bridges copies Bill Clinton on abortion
Simon Bridges has appropriated phrasing used by Bill Clinton in describing his position on abortion but made his personal view even more restrictive.