Republican circus
And now we have accusations of a sex scandal. Stick a fork in the Republicans, they are done.
International
Brussels attack
Isis has claimed responsibility for the horrific attacks in Brussels that left 34 dead.
Putin’s “surprise” partial withdrawal from Syria
Russia is pulling out a large part of its forces in Syria. Is this a sign of Putin’s success – or a retreat that gives evidence to Putin and Russia’s weakness?
National tricky on climate change aid
TVOne has discovered that National’s preposed climate change aid spend announced at COP21 would result in a reduction in the amount spent compared to previous years.
National admits the ETS is broken
Paula Bennett has conceded that the Emissions Trading Scheme is not working and that the two for one scheme which halves the cost of carbon credits for major polluters will be phased out. But when?
UK sugar tax
The UK has done the sensible thing for public health and introduced “a new tax on sugary drinks”. The Herald asks: UK sugar tax – could NZ be next?
The “jihadi brides” lie
Remember the “jihadi brides” – part of last year’s beat-up about the risk of terrorism in NZ? Yesterday the central lie in the story was revealed.
Latest primaries – Rubio gone
Results are coming in from Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio in the US primaries. Trump and Clinton take Florida, Rubio drops out.
UK poll puts Corbyn’s Labour tied with Tories
A new poll has Labour tied with the Tories for the first time since Corbyn became leader.
Rachel Maddow on Donald Trump’s campaign strategy
Rachel Maddow sets out a timeline suggesting that Donald Trump has engaged in calculated escalation of violent rhetoric and action which is causing damage to the US society and how this marks a new low for the Republican Party.
Trump Chicago rally cancelled amid protests
Seems like not everyone in America is going to roll over for Trump.
David Walker – Dick Of The Year
Long serving diplomat and New Zealand’s Chief Negotiator for the Trans Pacific Partnership, David Walker, was yesterday presented with the 2016 Dick Of The Year award.
Economic anger and political madness
History clearly shows us that when people are economically stressed they turn to extreme action and extreme leaders. Economist Jared Bernstein argues that the Trump ascendancy is another example of this.
TPP to criminalise ordinary viewers
A lot of people out there couldn’t give a stuff about the TPP because they don’t see it affecting them. This might change their minds.
Intergenerational theft
The Guardian has an excellent piece on “the 30-year economic betrayal dragging down Generation Y’s income”.
Health law expert on the TPP
We won’t be able to say that we weren’t warned.
The destruction of the Republican Party
It appears that the party of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Regan are having problems.
Young Nats run away from public debate on TPP
Surprisingly and refreshingly, the Young Nats initially agreed. A date was set, a venue booked, and promotion of the debate under way.
Why Hillary is the only candidate to beat Donald Trump
Why Hillary Clinton should be the Democratic nomination for this year’s American Presidential elections.
Super Tuesday
Strange days indeed.
The Butcher’s Apron or the Tea Towel
Next week the voting on part two of the Key Legacy Project © begins. We’re being given a choice between the outdated and the bland. The Butcher’s Apron or the Tea Towel. Do you care?
The left should take lessons from Donald Trump
Ad on why the left should look at Trump’s populism and adopt some of the better parts.
JMG: The Decline and Fall of Hillary Clinton
As with Corbyn, and as with Syriza, the US oligarchy is now finding out that ordinary people are refusing to buy into the status quo regardless of how much big money spin is being spun.
Guantanamo Bay to close?
Barak Obama has moved to fulfill a very old election pledge and is attempting to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Centre.
Turkey is in trouble and the US is part of it
The Middle East temperature is heating up and Turkey is finding itself in trouble on many fronts.
General Lord Dannatt: UK should work with Assad in Syria
Russia understands how to defeat ISIS and the UK should be helping not opposing them, says a former UK Army chief of staff.
The difference between decent folk and complete idiots
For a change I’m not going to have a rip at our local idiotic politicians. The most extreme case recently being the now infamous Dildo Baggins. Lets have a look offshore where they are often even worse…
This is not the growth you’re looking for
There are different views on The Standard about growth and whether we really need it. But here’s one bit of growth that really seems pointless to me: that achieved only by increasing the number of people. Because if we’re only increasing GDP by increasing the number of people, as we are currently, we’re loading up the environment and we’re not even individually getting any richer for it. Thanks National.
Afghanistan – a forgotten war
More than a decade after the Taliban Government was ‘regime changed’ by the west, the Taliban are resurgent and Afghan civilian deaths are as high as ever.
Syria escalating
Turkey has started shelling the US backed Kurdish forces that are fighting against ISIS. What could go wrong?
Sanders v Clinton Campaign ads
Recent campaign videos from Bernie Saunders and from Hillary Clinton provide interesting contrasts on who the candidates are targeting. Which approach is best?
Three Videos and a Song
It’s over fifty years since JFK, MLK and RFK died. Is this the year America finally gets their message?
Minister sacked over Chinese business trip
In Australia Stuart Robert has been dumped from Cabinet for mixing Ministry and personal business on a trip to China. Imagine what would happen if a Minister did that over here?
Corporate Saviours
oh, hallelujah…
The battle over climate change continues
Two recent international incidents show that the resistance to meaningful action on climate change has not given up. In the USA Barak Obama’s climate change policies are under attack in the Supreme Court. And in Australia CSIRO has decided to get rid of all of its climate change scientists.
Key’s sham “consultation” an insult to Māori
Last week 95bFM tweeted some audio from a Key media session, which shows his “consultation” with Māori over the TPP to be a condescending sham.