Where the f*ck is Simon Bridges?
An ongoing series.
Politics
politicans
Doofus of the week – May 27, 2018
Lots of competition this week with Katie Hopkins preferring to be called a racist to being described as being on drugs, Judith Collins for fronting the most naff scandals in the last decade, and Simon Bridges for going on tour to strange places. But the real contest was between Paula Bennett and Gerry Brownlee …
Where the f*ck is Simon Bridges?
An ongoing series.
#twyfordaccusations
The Twitter hashtag #twyfordaccusations has been set up to allow people to speculate on what other nefarious allegations will be made against Phil Twyford by Judith Collins.
New Zealand’s Energy Future
New Zealand has a low carbon energy future plan. What is the strategy to achieve this?
A study in contrasts
Minister Twyford’s resignation has been refused by the Prime Minister after he took a call against Civil Aviation rules, in the second ministerial scandal of the Ardern administration.
National loses the plot in Parliament
National’s show down with Trevor Mallard today did not go as well as they hoped.
Deep Trawling.
Is NZ’s fishing industry just a domestic version of the tobacco companies? And how much would that really matter?
Paula’s petulant parliamentary outburst
Paula Bennett stormed out of Parliament yesterday after Trevor Mallard correctly applied the standing orders and ruled out a question containing an unparliamentary term. And National has responded by questioning if Jacinda Ardern was actually described as a “silly little girl” but has refused to question its MPs.
New Zealand trade negotiations with Europe
On Thursday 31 May at the University of Auckland, the Fabians are hosting Max Harris on the topic “Is it time for an independent foreign policy?” What would be the costs of a really independent foreign policy, over the benefits of salving our conscience with greater national independence? And where does Trade fit in?
Trouble within National’s ranks?
It looks like the National collective has doubts about Simon Bridges’ pulling power.
David Seymour blows the dog whistle, hard
David Seymour has hit a new low by drumming up public opposition to a small social housing development planned by Housiung Corporation in Epsom by claiming some of the potential tenants may have mental health problems.
The law and order debate and the grade one tosser
The Government has announced it will not proceed with the Waikeria mega prison as part of its policy to decrease the prison muster by 30%. And the called for public debate starts off with one of the major players using a study the author of which subsequently retracted because the data he relied on was wrong.
Why does Simon hate pensioners?
In a welcome move by Labour to relieve energy poverty on those with fixed, low incomes, all beneficiaries (including pensioners) are to get up to $700 extra automatically over winter.
National obviously hate this.
National is all over the place on the budget
National has made a meal of its first critique of Labour’s budget with a poor performance by Simon Bridges and with four claims about the budget that are clearly wrong but which National keep repeating.
Marama Davidson – This is what a real Government looks like
Marama Davidson’s speech to Parliament during the Budget debate.
Fudget for Austerity
Some proposals on why we just got the budget we did.
Shouty Simon’s strange budget claim
National’s claims about Labour’s health spend suffer from the not insignificant problem that they do not make any sense when analysed.
The Budget
An evolving post to cover budget announcements.
Trump was right … and then …
Donald Trump has had a few months of being lucky with some luck Foreign Affairs wins and good economic news. But his wreckage-trail of his consequences is becoming longer and clearer.
No class National
National MPs are refusing to own up to who used a sexist comment in Parliament against Jacinda Ardern.
Sound news judgment?
The BBC thinks that depicting Jeremy Corbyn as a Russian stooge is sound news judgment.
Bridges believes in trickle down
Simon Bridges has committed the twin political sins of not only believing in trickle down but in publicly confirming his belief.
Doofus of the week May 12, 2018
There was intense competition this week. Paula Bennett with her attack on Jacinda’s Spotify playlist almost won but Northcote candidate Dan Bidois succeeded for managing to talk out of both sides of his mouth at the same time and only confusing his tongue.
Carmel Sepuloni respect
It is great that we have a Minister of Social Development who actually has empathy for poor New Zealanders, as shown by her treatment of dog whistle questions in Parliament today.
Trump trashes Iranian Nuclear deal because he can
Donald Trump has torn up a deal between the US and Iran that provided for limitation of its nuclear programme and prevented it from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Should MPs also be subject to sanctions when they don’t do their job?
National MPs have without notice refused to turn up to the House Committee of Parliament. Should they have their pay docked?
Is Karl Marx dead?
2018 marks several anniversaries of Karl Marx whose significance for the critique of capitalist society is hard to diminish. But what now for his beliefs?
Dunedin Hospital
Yes, Dunedin needs a new hospital, but…
The strange and unusual National Campaign Launch for the Northcote by election
Dan Bidois has formally launched his campaign by blaming Auckland Council for the last Government’s shortcomings, and opposing the regional fuel tax while at the same time insisting that if there is intensification then it needs to be paid for.
Everyone applauds Labour’s homelessness plan … except National
Labour’s announcement of $100 million spending on homelessness has attracted praise from everyone, except National.
The real conspiracy facing New Zealand
Rhys Darby has discovered the real conspiracy facing New Zealand by judicious use of the Internet. And Clarke Gayford does not feature.
Trumping Obama?
A post on big boy’s scouting medals.
National wants to add to Auckland’s gridlock
National has promised to overturn Auckland’s Regional Fuel Tax. But has no proposal for how the funding will be replaced.
The Australian banking system review
The review into Australia’s banking system really matters to New Zealand and is doing New Zealand an almighty good service.
ACT’s failed charter school protest in tweets
Last weekend ACT had a protest against charter schools and spent in the vicinity of $10,000 to get maybe 50 people to attend. They should have gone to Labour Hire.