Labour and the Greens
Some thoughts on how Labour and the Greens need to manage relations in the hope that they can form a future progressive Government.
Politics
politicans
Coup Coup Ca Choo!
So why was Maurice dancing with ACT? Why was Borrows bullshitting about bikes? Does Judith Collins sleep with a copy of the Art of War under her pillow? I don’t know, but I think we should be told.
New Greens co-leader elected today
The Green Party are livestreaming parts of their annual conference today, including the announcement of their new male co-leader at 2pm.
Money for nothing and the sheep are for free
The legal suit offered as part justification for the Government paying $11 million to a Saudi businessman was apparently “off the table” at the time that Cabinet agreed to the payment. So why was the payment made? And why didn’t Murray McCully tell this to Cabinet or to Parliament earlier?
In Praise of Key
Hardly a comprehensive take, but in the interest of stating some obvious stuff…
Sky City redux – the house still wins
Sky City has managed to persuade the Government to allow it to build a cheaper building while retaining the same valuable gambling regulatory concessions. Update: and the Government appears to have made further contractual concessions to Sky City.
Superannuation and Government forecasts
National has again refused to consider doing anything about the future of Superannuation. Yet its policies of increasing Crown debt, stopping contributions to the Cullen Fund and attacking Kiwisaver have made a discussion about the future of superannuation more important than ever.
The media and two child poverty policy releases
The media’s handling of Labours Best Start policy announcement in January of last year and its handling of National’s recent budget announcement of a $25 a week increase for beneficiary families provides an interesting contrast.
English not even trying any more
Anyone remember departure tax?
The Standard’s reputation rises after Judith Collins comments
The Standard was mentioned on Back Benchers last night by Crusher Collins. From her comments it looks like we are doing our job properly.
Key not even trying any more
Those pesky knuckleheads.
NRT: An abuse of the OIA
No Right Turn points out that the answer given by John Key in response to an Official Information Act request was completely inadequate legally. It doesn’t matter if he was in his guise of the infamous Parnell Pony Puller, or PM as he sometimes likes to call himself. He isn’t allowed to advise Rachael Glucina of the NZ Herald to attack his victim and then hide it behind his official role.
Campbell live to go and a second hair incident
Interestingly two stories have broken during the presentation of the Budget. John Campbell has quit TV3 and a further hair incident involving John Key has hit the news.
Andrew Little: the night before budget
Andrew Little in Parliament being all poetic about the night before budget day.
And they’ll be grateful!
Bill English tells us that the promise that they won the election on – that they’re the only Masters of Finance who could balance the government books (because that’s all that’s important…) – now isn’t at all important to the public.
And Bill tells us: they’ll get their surplus when I give it to them, and they’ll be grateful for it.
Curiouser and curiouser
Creepy Key has dodged a question from the Green Party about any contact he may have had with the New Zealand Fox News Herald in the lead-up to Rachel Glucina’s hit job on the cafe worker who’s ponytail he pulled.
Herald praises Cunliffe for CGT policy
The Herald has praised David Cunliffe with changing public opinion about the introduction of a capital gains tax. And rubbished John Key’s suggestion that the announced limited tax on increasing housing values is not a capital gains tax.
Mapital Mains Max
John Key is now arguing that black is white – that a Tax on Capital Gains isn’t a Capital Gains Tax.
“Typical politician” many will say – and that shows how far John Key’s skills have fallen.
CGT: the focus groups made Key do it
According to John Key the proposed tax on capital gains if a property is sold within two years of purchase is not a capital gains tax, there is no housing bubble in Auckland, and the proposed new tax does not represent a complete about face by the Government.
Capital gains tax to be introduced
National appears to be doing an about face on a Capital Gains Tax for housing.
Are the left really angry?
The latest attacks on the left involves the right claiming that left activists are too angry and hurting labour’s chances in the UK as well as New Zealand.
Human Synergistics, Richard Prebble, and the end of government
Back in March 1988 David Lange had a clear idea about what lay ahead for New Zealanders as the long-term consequences of Roger Douglas’ psychopathic worshipping of the metaphysical Invisible Hand gradually materialised.
Grant Robertson’s pre-budget speech
Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson gave his pre-budget speech this morning. “So, what would a responsible government be doing in the Budget next week?”…
McCready back again on Key’s harassment
I’m all in favour of holding Key accountable for his actions in general, but not when the victim herself has asked McCready to desist. McCready should respect her wishes.
Finlayson calls Key wild eyed on National Radio
Chris Finlayson has described a comment made by John Key as “wild eyed stuff” on National Radio,
Spy watchdog to investigate GCSB’s help for Groser’s campaign
Spy watchdog Cheryl Gwyn has announced an investigation into circumstances surrounding possible spying on our allies by the GCSB in support of Tim Groser’s tilt for the top WTO job.
McCready case thrown out
Given that Amanda Bailey asked McCready to withdraw his case, this is good news.
The surplus lie
One of the biggest political deceptions in our lifetime? Or just an honest mistake by our noble Finance Minister?
Calling people names
Pulling ponytails and calling people names – I guess it’s true, the PM is 11 years old.
English welcomes Reserve Bank doing his job for him
Why is it left to the Reserve Bank to try and tackle the property bubble? It’s true – this government is recklessly complacent.
Live chat with Andrew Little
Stuff are running a live chat with Andrew Little at noon.
Andrew Little’s pre budget speech
“National’s talk now is about how achieving surplus was an “artificial target” and that getting a surplus is “like landing a 747 on the head of a pin.” A lot of effort has gone into glossing over the broken promise. But I see it for what it is – one of the biggest political deceptions in a lifetime.”
Uncomfortable reading for Key
Two opinion pieces yesterday make uncomfortable reading for Key.
Elections in the Anglosphere
An excellent summary reposted with permission from Dim-Post. “Seems to me that one of Labour’s biggest problems – both here and in the UK – is that they’re faced with an opponent that is (a) better resourced than them and (b) uses those resources to make themselves far, far better at politics than their left-wing opponents.”
Same sh*t different election
The English Election campaign and the results felt like a rerun of the New Zealand 2014 election campaign. Slick Crosby Textor designed attacks on Labour’s stability and on the leader and an imbalance of resources contributed to the result in both cases. How does the left counter this?
More jobs gone at Solid Energy – thanks Bill English
113 more jobs to go at Solid Energy’s Stockton Mine. Bill English killed Solid Energy, these job losses are his.