Everything is awesome
National is trying to say that everything is fine with Simon Bridges’ leadership, that he has handled the Jami-Lee Ross crisis well and that his leadership is assured. I beg to differ.
Media
spin
Jami-Lee Ross: But Wait, There’s More!
Jami-Lee Ross has twisted the knife a little further into Simon Bridge’s back this arvo, releasing a second tape and announcing he won’t be quitting Parliament. Turns out he may need the income to fund a divorce.
The Jamilee tweets
Jami-Lee Ross has released the tape of his talking with Simon Bridges where the suggestion was made that two Chinese MPs would be more valuable than two Indian MPs. And Melanie Reid has published an article containing the allegations of four women against Ross of inappropriate behaviour.
Khashoggi
A counter to the “heroic dissident” narrative.
Mutually assured destruction
Paula Bennett has broken the understanding that MPs do not refer to each other’s private lives. And Jami-Lee Ross has alleged that a $100,000 donation was split so that it did not have to be declared and it has been confirmed that National then nominated the donor for a Queen’s Birthday Honour.
National’s caucus meeting today – nothing to see here
All eyes will be on National’s caucus meeting today. And Simon Bridges will need to explain what Jami-Lee Ross meant when he said that he had recorded a conversation where he was asked by Bridges to break the law.
For a Better New Zealand?
A new political party has emerged with what could be loosely described as a stunning website.
Simon Bridges is totes relaxed about his leak inquiry
After spending over a hundred thousand dollars on the inquiry into who leaked his travel information Simon Bridges now claims that he is no longer worried about who leaked his travel expense information.
The leak inquiries
Trevor Mallard has shut down one possible conclusion of National’s leak inquiry by conducting his own inquiry into his office which has concluded that the leak of Bridges’ travel information did not come from there.
National’s firearms forums – what could go wrong?
National has launched a series of public meetings to discuss a major issue. Not child poverty or climate change or how badly wrong Steven Joyce’s $11.5 billion hole claim was, but guns.
Do we have cheaper fuel or do we trash the planet?
On the day that the IPCC has confirmed that the world is running out of time to do something to try and preserve what we have National and associated entities have complained that fuel prices are too high.
Meanwhile in America …
America has had an interesting week with Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court all but confirmed, Donald Trump’s finances being the subject of an intensive review by the New York Times and Trump being filmed boarding Air Force One with a piece of toilet paper stuck to his shoe.
National’s leak inquiry blows up
Newshub has been leaked a copy of an email from Paula Bennett sent to National Party staffers advising that the inquiry into who leaked Simon Bridges’s travel expense information now includes them.
The Taxpayers’ Union’s identity problem
David Fisher in the Herald has reported that the Taxpayer’s Union has used numerous fictitious identities to make Official Information Act requests.
Failed Estate – the ABC of Trust
In Australia this week the Liberal Government has become embroiled in a scandal relating to political pressure being brought to sack the head of the ABC and one of its most senior reporters. Failed estate has the details.
Pretty legal
National has another potential copyright problem involving the use of music without permission.
Is Michelle Boag advising Derek Handley?
Politik has reported that Derek Handley has been receiving PR advice from Michelle Boag.
National is now barking at Tahrs
National has launched an online petition against the culling of Tahrs, an animal that has been culled for years pursuant to a plan that was finalised by National in 1993.
Simon says the weirdest things – shoplifting fines
In one interview Simon Bridges shows that he cannot do basic maths in his head and does not know a core feature of a law change he wants to support.
How some men celebrated Suffrage Day
Two prominent men chose to celebrate Suffrage day yesterday, one by having himself photographed in front of female members of his caucus and the other by complaining that at different times different groups of men also did not have the vote.
What Government crisis?
News of the Coalition’s bad health appears to be something of a beat up.
Police spying must be investigated
Amnesty International is calling for an inquiry into the actions of Thompson and Clark to be expanded to include their involvement in police activities.
Simon says the weirdest things – Ardern is apparently like Trump
Simon Bridges has caused jaws to drop everywhere by comparing Jacinda Ardern to Donald Trump.
North Carolina and Hurricane Florence
North Carolina Republicans’ refusal to accept that climate change exists means that Hurricane Florence’s effects are going to be greater than they should be.
We need to push back on Leighton Smith
Leighton Smith is living for the day when it is proved that climate change is nothing more than a lefty hoax. I hope he is right.
The Trump New York Times Op ed
Donald Trump thinks that the anonymous opinion writer in the New York times may have committed an act of treason. Others think that this is an act of loyalty to the country.
Farrar peddles climate change denial nonsense
David Farrar has posted a guest post by climate change denialist Bryan Leland where he has criticised the Royal Society of New Zealand for accepting that climate change is an actual phenomenon.
Simon Bridges says the weirdest things – Criminal Justice
Simon Bridges has justified his claim that the three strikes law is working by releasing an Italian study that has not been peer reviewed on the effects on white collar criminals of a pardon system.
Worst campaign video ever?
Repbulican Ron Desantis has released what may be the worst campaign video ever.
Australia bans Manning but lets in Au pair for rich Liberal donors
Following recent news it appears that in Australia Au Pairs of the rich and connected are welcomed and helped. Seriously ill refugees are ignored. And click bait racists are fine but peace activists are shown the door.
Simon Bridges says the weirdest things – petrol prices
Simon Bridges has been trying to create a narrative about increasing petrol prices being the fault of the current government. But he has been tweeting an incorrect price and his claims about responsibility have been contradicted by BP.
Simon’s first six months
Simon Bridges has now been leader of the Opposition for six months. What has he to show for his time? People are questioning his judgment over his fixation on who leaked his travel information early.
National plans to breach privacy rights of all of its MPs to find leaker
National intends to continue with its investigation into who the leaker of Simon Bridges’s travel expense information was
Bridges and National keep digging further on Leakgate
A review of events over the past two weeks about the strange case of the leaked travel expense information, the expensive inquiry and the depressed MP.
Clare Curran Demoted
Clare Curran has been demoted after failing to properly account for a meeting with entrepreneur Derek Handley.
Spull!
Malcolm Turnbull is gone, the Liberal Party is engaged in a leadership battle, and a Texan popcorn maker has appeared as a potential new Prime Minister.