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.
Media
the praiseworthy and the pitiful
National forgets it apologised for Housing Corp meth hysteria
Three months ago National apoligised for getting dud advice and evicting hundreds of state house tenants where miniscule amounts of methamphetamine were discovered. This week National backed off from that very proper apology.
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.
Quite a day or two then!
A quick smorgasbord of reported news from Syria, to China and Sweden, to antisemitism and (hidden behind the links) an interview with (hopefully) the first woman who will serve as President of the USA.
Updated
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.
Coalition Problems? Tell ’em they’re Dreaming!
Oh dear. The Winston Peters led governing coalition has completely collapsed and thank God Simon Bridges is there to pick up the pieces. I warned you this would happen! And look! Over there … the sky is falling. Falling, I tells ya!
Ghahraman speaks out about online trolls
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman has talked to the New Zealand Herald about the online treatment she has received and described the nature of the attacks and the absurdity of the allegations made against her.
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
It is Maori Language week. And National has come out with the unusual situation of requiring primary and intermediate schools to teach a compulsory second language. But the language may not necessarily be te Reo Māori. And Simon Bridges opposes it being taught compulsorily.
Tilting at Windmills
The Donald found a real one!
Ardern and Pelosi.
There is something very wrong with “our” media when it takes a stand-up comedian to alert people to important stuff. But anyway…
A Tale of Two Protests
I stumbled across two protests in Dunedin today. They offered up a few telling contrasts.
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.
Politicians should be allowed to have families
Elements of the media are criticising Jacinda Ardern for juggling her personal responsibilities with her working life, something that most of us do every day.
And the antisemites are…?
UK Labour adopted the IRHA definition of antisemitism in full, and…
Enough Bullshit!
White South African farm murders.
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.
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.
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.
Period. End. Done.
The Scottish government has just taken a massive step to eradicate period poverty. Why not here?
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.
Which National MP leaked Bridges’ expense details?
Radio New Zealand has stated that a National MP has confessed via anonymous texts to be the leaker of Simon Bridges’ travel expenses. And the information was provided by way of a leak.
Judith Collins tweets more fake news
Judith Collins has been caught tweeting more fake news. And repeating it just in case we missed it.
Finkelstein on Dame Hodge
“…if any – if any – of the rules that are now being implemented in the Labour Party have any meaning whatsoever… the first person who should be booted out of the Labour Party is Dame Hodge.” – Finkelstein.
The week of Limogate
Tracy Watkins and Tova O’Brien have both written articles criticising Simon Bridges’ handling of Limogate.
Is Tova O’Brien really a closet leftie?
Matthew Hooton has claimed that Tova O’Brien is an extreme left-wing, anti-National Party journalist intent in bringing Simon Bridges down. Hyperbole much?
Memo from Crosby Textor – Simon Bridges limo expenses
The Standard has unearthed advice provided by Crosby Textor to the National Party concerning the leak of Simon Bridges’ travel information.
Racial bias in RNZ world reportage, or just giving people what they want?
GUEST POST:
Is Radio NZ meeting its obligations to report the news of the world fairly or is it just once over lightly at the public broadcaster? Some thoughts from regular TS contributor Adrian Thornton.
Simon says it’s all Labour’s fault
Simon Bridges has kept the story about his over the top spending on limos and hotels alive by making contradictory statements and by suggesting without proof that the leak of the information is all Labour’s fault.
What should ACT’s new name be?
The authors at the Standard are proposing that readers suggest what ACT’s new name should be. Keep it seemly.
The end of ACT
With his proposal to reduce the effectiveness of Parliament David Seymour is clearly looking for relevance.
About freedom of speech
Simon Wilson in the Herald neatly skewers suggestions that Donald Brash is a free speech warrior and raises important issues about the interplay between free speech and attacks on “political correctness” also known as tolerance and respect.
Of course Judith should #DeleteTheTweet
The Project has called on Judith Collins to delete her tweet retweeting a link to a fake news story falsely claiming that France had legalised paedophilia at the behest of an international network of liberal activists determined to normalise paedophilia.
Let him speak
Don Brash should be allowed to speak at a University about politics.
Is Judith Collins willing to denounce the use of fake news?
Judith Collins has tweeted news from a fake news website and demanded that Jacinda Ardern does something about something that has not actually happened.