Worst. Excuse. Ever.
Social issues
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Embarrassed? Us?
“John Key … hopes he hasn’t embarrassed New Zealand in the wake of the embarrassing saga, which made headlines worldwide.” Ummm….
Destination: Next Progressive Majority
The Fabian Society invites all those interested to join a discussion with Sir Michael Cullen, Peter Harris, Sarah Helm, Tracey Martin MP, Richard Harman and Lyndy McIntyre at St Andrew’s on the Terrace, Wellington, on Sunday 10th May at 1pm. Ideas on strategy, economy, party relations, communication and organising will all be canvassed. Read more and register here.
Worst. Interview. Ever.
On Radio NZ this morning John Key gave an interview that was cringe-worthy, defensive and accidently hilarious. The man is a joke … and not even an original one.
Ports of Auckland is out of control
Ports of Auckland’s recent behaviour outlines a major weakness with Auckland super city. Corporate interests are able to take precedence over the wishes of our democratically elected representatives.
Key on women’s rights
Key dodges women’s rights issues in Saudi Arabia. For obvious reasons really. In other media coverage of ponytail fallout…
(Image from Emmerson in The Herald)
What do you reckon?
Video clip to make you all chuckle
Embarrassed for NZ
Tariffs aHead Of Torture – that’s how to end Torture
Overnight our premier states person, the Prime Minister, announced to International media something he denied to his own citizens due to National Security […]
Gilmore Sutton Key
Don’t be mean to John!
I Fought the Law
A quick look at the legalities of Ponytailgate as it affects the worker, the cafe, the NZ Herald and the PM. There could be court, tribunal and commission hearings that drag on for months, with potential big financial and political implications for the players.
Casual harassment
It was all a bit of fun. Have we become so casual about harassment?
Miliband ko’s Johnson
Miliband ko’s Boris on Andrew Marr show. Marr opined this might be a foretaste of things to come when Ed is PM and Boris has knifed David Cameron, which Rupert Murdoch thinks likely. Johnson flails and Miliband counter-punches – “don’t get rattled, Boris;” same primary school “but not same secondary school;” on back-stabbing accusations “you can do better than Lynton Crosby.”
Last Week Tonight on Key
#casualjohn
Since when was harassing a waitress “casual”? John Key’s “excuse” blew up all over Twitter last night…
Our “casual” PM
Caption Competition
Keep it seemly!
Hip throw to the lions
For once I agree with Mike Hosking – the Hip cafe owners are also losers in the fallout from John Key’s ponytail-pull fetish. But not for the same reasons as Mike. It seems Grant and Brown threw their employee to the lions for quite selfish motives. They appear to have betrayed their responsibility of trust and confidence to their employee.
Abusive and creepy
Of all the ways Key could have shot his leadership and his legacy in the foot – this really was the stupidest.
Image from Emmerson in The Herald – definitive.
Dear John… UPDATED
UPDATED And another one fingering another little girl’s hair. Not a ponytail but braids. Very brief at 2:15. (h/t ianmac)
Dirty Politics on Nine to Noon
Matthew Hooton’s attack on Nicky Hager’s journalistic credentials on Nine to Noon yesterday was straight out of the “Dirty Politics” playbook. Kathryn Ryan wasn’t impressed and neither was I. Coincidentally Hager spoke last week about his investigative journalism – you can judge for yourself who spoke the truth.
Daily Review 20/04/2015
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standarnistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other.
Murdoch on reality TV
Housing and capital gains tax
This week the Reserve Bank recommended adopting the Labour / Green capital gains tax, the National party denied and dithered, and Don Brash explained the truth about the property bubble.
(Image credit Foxy.)
Open mike 18/04/2015
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Key announces new schools – again
At least two of the four new schools that John Key recently announced had been announced previously. And it appears that one of them has had its concrete foundations already poured.
Ten Bridges Too Far
With Crosby Textor by his side, John Key has since learned to employ all manner of specialist PR techniques including ad homs, blame-shifting, distraction, use of Dirty Politics proxies to defuse the situation, and false equivalence, all woven together in an intricately performed semantic shuffle designed to provide wiggle room for when he does get caught.
New appointments to Tertiary Education Institutions Councils
Steven Joyce has today announced his latest appointments to TEI. These are important because after changes to the Education Act 1989 in 2009 […]
A culture of intimidation
National is leading by example in creating a culture of intimidation and fear. The latest case, a threat to withdraw funding a rape prevention group for speaking out.
Key the “statesman” strikes again
Kiwirail looking to dump electric trains for diesel
There is more information and a petition here
Key’s pre-budget falls flat
Key’s attempts to drum up enthusiasm for this year’s upcoming budget have fallen absolutely flat. And as usual, promised funding actually represents an ongoing cut in real terms.
The difference between a surplus and landing a 747 on a pinhead
John Key’s latest pronouncement is that achieving a budget surplus is as difficult as landing a 747 on a pinhead. Michael Cullen must be a super airline pilot if this is the case.
Destination – Next Progressive Majority
At a Fabian Society event on Saturday April 18 in Owen Glenn Building, Auckland University speakers Michael Cullen, Peter Harris, Sarah Helm, Anne Martin, Richard Harman, & Annie Newman will offer their thoughts on what will be needed for political strategy, economic policy, government formation under MMP, political communication and organisation if we are to reach the destination.
Plenty of room for discussion and chat afterwards. All interested welcome; please register here.
Key’s surplus excuses
Apparently this budget surplus that the Nats have been going on about for the last 6 years is an “artificial” target that is “like trying to land a 747 on a pin head”.
Open mike 14/04/2015
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …