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The specials are going to be crucial in a number of seats, and to determine whether National can form a majority without needing the Maori Party or the Greens. National could easily lose 2 seats on specials, leaving 58. Banks and Dunne bring 1 each,…
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I'm just back from cleaning up our election day HQ after last night's party. With apologies to lefties who aren't feeling too flash today, and with particular sympathies to Labour MPs who didn't make it back, I had a good election night. We (Dunedin North) won…
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I agree with Anthony Hubbard in today's SST "Turning the spin around" - not yet on-line. The most outrageous piece of spin in the election was Chief Ombudsman Beverley Wakem's justification for allowing the Treasury to refuse to release documents relating to asset sales as…
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Firstly, congratulations to all those who won and condolences to those who didn't (political friend and enemy alike). Some thoughts, in no particular order: John Key says he doesn't need the Maori Party but if the specials come in like they did in 2008 he…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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We will try to keep updated with the results of the election as they come through. And we hope that you will do the same in comments. Hopefully we'll keep the level of punditry down to a less boring level than dead time fill requires…
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As usual the liquor license electoral commission forces us to shutdown for these good reasons (actually I don't know them - but Clare Curren does and offers this verbose explanation) . There will be no new posts from 2359 hours tonight and we will resume…
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Regardless of who you decide to vote for, it's really important that you do exercise your democratic duty to vote. Here's a link to the Electoral Commission site that gives information on voting booth locations, how to make a vote, the people and parties you…
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76% of Kiwis are against National's plan for selling our assets. We know it just doesn't make sense. We know privatisation leads to higher prices, under-investment, asset-stripping, and profits going overseas rather than into public services. Make no mistake: the only way to stop asset…
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Over at norightturn idiot savant has posted his voting intentions. And let's face it, in a representative democracy how you vote is where the rubber hits the road. With that in mind Standard authors who feel comfortable with the concept are declaring the who and…
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If you're still undecided, www.onthefence.co.nz is a cool little website that will help. You choose three issues that matter to you and how much you agree with two opposing statements on each those three issues - and it's done with cute sheep graphics. The website…
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I thought about making my last pre-election post about a policy comparison, item by item, between Nat and Labour. But in the end I decided that, for me at least, it's a simpler decision than that. There aren't five or ten or a dozen policy…
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For the last few elections Act has been grimly hanging on to life with the charity of the voters of Epsom. This really is the time to wipe the yellow stain off the reputation of their electorate. Stain? Well it is quite clear that the…
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We've been getting links to this song for a week or two. Wish I'd gotten round to posting it earlier. Just fantastic. And great vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AjgWyxJAGQ Hiding in his mansion/While half the population flies across the Tasman/The other half try to act like it's not…
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All the public polls (yes except Horizon) tell us that National should win this election, possibly with an absolute majority. I guess we'll find out tomorrow. But whatever the result it's been a costly election for Key. After the teapot tape fiasco and the subsequent…
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The following post is reproduced with permission from The Hand Mirror: I received the letter below which I am posting with permission from the author. I'm sorry, but it's not enough to have your party leader make public platitudes about the importance and value of…
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Key and Collins say police training next year hasn't been cancelled. They say fewer new cops are needed because fewer are leaving. All lies. The attrition rate is rising, not falling. There is 1 training wing booked next year, not 4. Cause is cuts. 5%…
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We've been getting emails and comments from people getting robo-calls from John Key. These pre-recorded calls are notoriously bad campaign tools. Invite lots of backlash. Odd National is introducing them (they used them last election but only on election day as a get out the…
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksc1AAnGpsw
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hattip: William Joyce
election 2011 internet john key leadership national vote smart
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This election is about a lot of things - having a plan for the economy, trying to put in long-term solutions to encourage our woeful savings and help investment in productive Kiwi business instead of residential real-estate, helping children out of poverty so that everybody…
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Weekend social is for non political chat. What's on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can't we all just get along? Note: Posting this early so that it leaves the afternoon schedule free for election…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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This from Andrea Vance: The bus driver taking National leader John Key on a tour of the North Island has been ticked off after talking to journalists. Reporters on the campaign coach began interviewing John Godfrey when the entourage stopped off in Stratford to greet…
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Source Truthout.
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The old timers say never trust a Tory. Can see why. Exclusive Brethren. Hollow Men. Tranzrail shares. Secret agenda tapes. Teapot tapes. Suppressed asset sales advice. Climate change 'hocus pocus'. Police hiring freeze. We keep on discovering their secret agendas. If you care about integrity,…
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I don't think I can recall an election in NZ conducted under such a cloud of extraordinary and dubious circumstances as this one. We have police raids on media outlets to suppress information relevant to the election. We have the teapot tape itself. Described as…
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John Key said last night the Nats has boosted Police numbers by 600. In fact, 2008, Police numbers have grown by only 442, 5.4%, barely more than population growth. All but 80 of those extra cops came in the 2008/09 year - under Labour's last…