Campbell on the TPP cargo cult
Gordon Campbell: “The TPP has literally become a cargo cult ritual that’s being performed in the hope that someday, one day, the Americans will return, bearing gifts.”
Politics
politicans
Little replies to property specualtors
Good piece by Andrew Little where he addresses the arguments of the property speculators. “It’s common sense. Taxpayers shouldn’t be subsidising speculators and helping them outbid home buyers.”
The possible privatisation of Ports of Auckland
The Government is attempting through coercion and cajoling to get Auckland Council to privatise Ports of Auckland.
How to rescue Trump – and make up with Putin
What can the U.S. security collective do to work with their government and achieve something positive with Donald Trump?
National’s messy Israel position
National’s shifting position on Israel suggests all is not happy within National’s ranks.
English savaged by John Oliver
You know that old saying about not picking a fight with someone who buys printer’s ink by the barrel? If not, Bill, you really should look it up…
Property speculator panic
Labour has set the cat among the property speculator pigeons, and they don’t like it at all.
The looming battle over property
Housing may be the issue that decides this year’s election. And if Labour wins Andrew Little will have a major crisis to deal with, one that he has to solve.
Andrew Little’s speech – the next four and a half months are a fight for a better New Zealand
The text of Andrew Little’s speech delivered today to the Labour Party congress.
Labour Congress so far
Speeches and policies from Congress so far.
The Trump White House descends into chaos
Recent events suggest that Donald Trump has lost control of his administration.
Brownlee admits he’s struggling
English: “in this world of diplomacy each word matters”. Brownlee expresses regret that he “used some language that perhaps made that less than clear” – and is getting schooling from his Ministry.
Right place wrong reason
Photo: M Wilson
Little on immigration
A good piece by Andrew Little in The Herald, setting out Labour’s position on immigration (with policy to come).
Macron and Trudeau mean yes for Ardern
The election of Trudeau in Canada and Macron in France suggest that the path to electoral success may be with younger fresh faced and untainted candidates.
Still spinning “social investment”
Directing welfare spending where it will do most good makes sense. But let’s make sure that that is what it is, not an excuse to simply cut funding, stigmatise, and target “undesireables”. National’s record does not inspire confidence, to say the very least. Then there’s the hypocrisy…
Fuck the homeless
Those compassionate conservatives of the National Party have a message for the increasing number of homeless who occupy our Brighter Future.
Brownlee as Foreign Minister as successful as you’d expect
Brownlee’s run as Foreign Minister is already a mess. Such is the depth of National’s talent pool.
RNZ: The 9th floor – Clark
“We don’t have a written constitution so nowhere is it written down what are the powers of the Prime Minister. It’s partly your personality. It’s the skills that you’ve got and it’s how you use the office”.
Bill English doesn’t get it – literally doesn’t get it – how messed up the “Brighter Future” is
“There are approximately 92,700 Kiwis aged between 15 and 24 who aren’t working, in education or training. That’s up 19 percent during National’s time in power, and Prime Minister Bill English admits he’s not sure why.” Could it be because…
A young person’s view on why we have to change the Government
At Labour’s North Shore candidate Romy Udanga’s recent campaign launch a fourteen year old young man spoke about why he wants to work to change the Government.
Pike River – who to believe?
The Pike River families call Bill English a liar.
Billions of lies
The Nats are settling in to election mode – smoke and mirrors. Steven Joyce feeds us billions of dollars worth of lies.
Donald Trump and Florida
The US economy may start unravelling when because of rising sea levels boats in Florida are no longer able to clear canal bridges.
Immigration debate – Peters goes full racist
Yesterday Winston Peters chucked a gallon of petrol onto the smouldering immigration debate.
Nick knifed
Parata fleeing education mess
Parata can believe whatever brings her comfort of course, but the fact is that this National government has made, as usual, a mess of education.
The first 100 Global Trump days
Donald Trump’s had his first 100 days ruling his big chunk of the world. Things have changed dramatically from Barack Obama’s time.
Reshuffle
Bill English is to announce a cabinet reshuffle today. What should he do?
Brownlee determined that Christchurch should suffer too
Christchurch rebuilt must suffer the same central traffic madness as Auckland. Thus decrees Gerry Brownlee, as short-sighted, bullying, and ignorant as ever.
Immigration in election year
National is about to execute a flip flop on immigration, not for any constructive reason, but to try and head off Winston Peters’ big issue.
Slack on Dagg and English
There was (among the usual dross) some great stuff in the papers over the Easter break. Here’s David Slack with some observations on Fred Dagg, NZ, and Bill English.
Helen Clark farewelled by UN
Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
Labour’s leadership team
Big turnouts for Labour meetings. Some commentators just can’t quite get to grips with how well the new leadership team is working.
Good on you Andrew Little
Andrew Little questioned the actions of this government, as he should, and has fronted up and taken personal responsibility for offense taken by other parties, as he should. He has endured a costly and draining leagal process with a result widely hailed as a victory for democracy. But apparently that isn’t enough, so here we go again.
Climate change, political heroes, political culture
How ironic that Parliament is to debate climate change today, as the latest in a torrent of warming-fueled extreme weather events bears down on the country, and as the government charges Russel Norman and the other heroes trying to end oil exploration in NZ waters.