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RNZ, Nov 6: Sean Plunket "Most commentators say you're leadership style has been one that has sought to avoid personal attacks and name calling" John Key "Well, I don't think that [personal attacks and name calling] get you anywhere" Parliament yesterday (just examples from one…
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An excellent question from Labour yesterday, using some familiar numbers: Hon Annette King: When he was reusing 'unreliable, highly volatile, and potentially misleading' [Paula Bennett's words] figures yesterday, was he aware that unemployment drops around this time every year and that this year we are experiencing…
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O'Sullivan"[Key] indicated that one of the reasons why he had been loath to sign up earlier for the Copenhagen event was because it would clash with the Fleetwood Mac gig". He went on to make some bad puns about Fleetwood Mac-based headlines. Let me get…
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Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Ministers are given self-drive taxpayer-funded cars for official business in their electorates (in Wellington they have crown limos at their disposal for official business). Pretty logically, the cars were always based at the ministers' primary place of residence because that's where they would need it.…
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The Green Party celebrated 10 years in the New Zealand Parliament yesterday. Happy birthday! It was especially fitting that the anniversary coincided with the beginning of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. In the past ten years climate change has evolved from a…
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Rather than start facebook groups and make complaints to TVNZ or the BSA about Paul Henry, someone has decided to hit them where they really hurt: in their back pockets. Good. Expressions of outrage do nothing but generate media for this little sh*t and confirm…
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The latest Roy Morgan shows no statistically significant changes. National at 53.5% (up 2), Labour at 30.5% (down 1.5), and the Green at 7% (up 0.5). Only a third of polling period was after Goff's nationhood speech, so any possible effects likely won't show up till…
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Key wouldn't say why he fired Worth, claiming he feared contaminating a police investigation. But he will trample all over a police investigation by saying they shouldn't prosecute Harawira*. Credibility - fail. *They shouldn't. OK for me to say that. I'm not PM.
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Helmetless Hone: Keen to continue the Hone Harawira saga, One News reported that complaints had been laid over Harawira not wearing a helmet when he rode the motorcycle of a visiting anti-violence campaigner on Parliament's forecourt. I hope the Police have better things to do…
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Governments use statistical tricks to lower the official unemployment rate. This fun video shows how many jobless people get swept under the carpet. It's not that the statisticians aren't aware of the jobless. In the US, they use different definitions of unemployment. 'U-3', the official…
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Yesterday 56 newspapers in 45 countries published a "global editorial" - the same joint statement - most of them on their front page. This is an unprecedented step in the face of a profound emergency. You can find a list of the papers (with links…
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Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Following on from our report earlier this year about ideal places for libertarians to go, it appears that we are now seeing capitalism in its wonderful Ayn Rand style libertarian idealized form. Somali 'maritime companies" have setup a stock exchange to help incubate free enterprise…
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John Key is still claiming credit for the drop in the number of people on the unemployment benefit that occurs every October and November due to seasonal jobs that disappear after Christmas. In his press conference today Key said that the number of people…
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When first writing about my thoughts on Phil Goff's speech little did I realise that it was turning into an ongoing issue! Perhaps some closer consideration should have been given to the 'internal communication' - the speech now appears as a stand-alone issue (although maybe…
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In a sure sign the silly season is upon us, the Trans-Tasman has released its annual MP ratings. Considering the writers of the Trans-Tasman are rabid rightwingers who view John Key as the second-coming, it's hardly a surprise that Nats get high scores and the…
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The Brash Report was supposed to tell us how to catch up to Aussie, as per Key's promise. It was just the same old ideas. No real analysis. A radical plan with no evidence it would work. It became, perhaps as always intended, just a…
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Sarah Palin supporters, in their own words. Ok, it's a cheap shot - I'm pretty sure you could eventually compile similar inane footage from the supporters almost any major political figure or party. But hey - never let it be said that I'm above cheap…
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All the arguments in one handy location - thank you Rod Oram, who in his SSTimes column says: ...All it [the report] can say is: we're not sure what the problems are or what we can do about them. But much lower taxes, government spending…
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Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...