Explore the archive
Find articles and conversations by date, subject or search expression.
Searching: posts Sorted by: newest Results: 211–240 of 1,704
Post
On one level, the Maori Party's dealing with National is smart work. Key needs to look inclusive even though he doesn't need the Maori Party's support to govern. In return, the Maori Party can cement its future by getting the Maori seats entrenched through a…
Post
From Scoop: The hapless polar bear that emerged during the recent TVNZ You-Tube leaders debate has resurfaced to issue a plea to Prime Minister-elect John Key. "The planet is on the slide due to climate change," stresses the bear. "Me and my ilk are like…
Post
The unions have proposed an alternative to National's plan to slash Kiwisaver in half. If Kiwisaver has to be cut, and with National/Act in power it will happen one way or the other, then I prefer the union plan. As it stands now, you contribute…
Post
A mate just sent me this, classic:
Post
Michael Cullen has released the latest economic and fiscal update, the one Key commented on in today's papers but which he refused to reveal the details of to the public. Basically, it's pretty bad news. How Key is responding or, rather, not responding to this…
Post
It's amazing to see how quickly John Key got over his fear of five-headed monsters once it came time to cobble together a government, and more amazing still how quickly the media chose to forgive and forget. You'll recall that just two weeks ago the…
Post
Via Laughing Squid: This morning in NYC international pranksters The Yes Men recruited volunteers through the website Because We Want It to distribute thousands of copies of a fake version of the New York Times dated July 4, 2009 with the headline 'Iraq War Ends'. Gawaker describes how the prank came together and…
Post
From Stuff: Mr Key said New Zealand had a significant advantage over other countries because official cash rates set by the Reserve Bank were high. "If that weaker scenario is anything like what it could be, then you will see significant rate cuts in New…
Post
John Key's got to be taking the piss with his decision to appoint ACT MP Heather Roy as Minister of Consumer Affairs in the new National/ACT government. I guess it could have been worse (say, ACT in charge of Labour or Social Development) but you…
Post
As we've come to expect, a thought provoking piece from Gordon Campbell, who says ...the public may one day come to rue the change they sought on Saturday. But if and when they do, there is no guarantee that a paternalistic Labour would be the…
Post
[I'll just preface this post by saying I have no love for Winston Peters' politics and I'm happy to see New Zealand First out of Parliament but, then, I would also be happy to see National out of Parliament and, surely, we shouldn't base an…
Post
Getting elected is easy if you promise people the world and tell different audience different, contradictory things. It's especially easy when you've got the media whole-heartedly on your side. Governing is a bit tougher though. Those same commentators who thought it was great fun regurgitating…
Post
The New Zealand Herald has a telling story today about how the Maori Party's decision over whether to prop up a right-wing National/ACT government "has exposed a schism between iwi elite views and ordinary Maori". Ordinary working class Maori who've felt the brunt of right-wing…
Post
I've been out and about over the last few days talking to people from the left and the right as well as a few apolitical types and the sense I get is that people didn't get what they expected from this election. Just last night…
Post
As has been widely reported, Phil Goff is set to take the leadership of Labour with Annette King as deputy leader. We'll hear all kinds of nonsense about how this is a shift to the Right. Rubbish. We are not going to see Labour try…
Post
One Aussie view of our election.
Post
A few months ago I asked National supporters who comment here what they wanted to see in terms of hard policy from National. What I got was a lot of Labour bashing but not much else. Now National is in government there's a lot of…
Post
During the debate over the economic stimulus package in the US earlier this year, Moody's produced a model that shows which stimulus options result in the most increase in GDP per dollar of government spending/tax reduction. I've highlighted the three options that are relevant to…
Post
Will it be the same tired old faces, the fresh noobs or a mixture of both? Will it be an all National cabinet or will Peter "marginal seat" Dunne secure himself a place at the grown-ups table? Here's a few off the top of my…
Post
Well, after years of National and its proxies beating up stupid, pointless stories about Labour MPs spending taxpayers' money on 'perks' like driving around the country doing their jobs it looks like it's finally coming back to bite them. This morning the Dominion Post reports…
Post
Some comments on Sunday about this site performing well induced me to have a look at the traffic over the last week. I was extremely surprised at how much load the system can now take without stalling. From the Wordpress blog stats, It turns out…
Post
Hat tip: Sam Vilain
Post
A couple of mates of mine are working on a new left-wing project and are in need of some design help to get it off the ground. It sounds interesting and should be a bit of fun, so if you're a leftie with design skills…
Post
As a kid at a decile two high school in under National in the nineties, the one thing I did get a good education in was heavy metal. So, I appreciate 08wire setting their final video to the great Metallica ballad 'Nothing Else Matters'. You've…
Post
The Right hates MMP. The old system, FPP, advantaged the Right by about 1.5% according to this study. In 1978, 1981, and 1993 the Right governed despite the Left having more support. Under FPP, National was the 'natural party of government' and that has changed…
Post
I am incredibly proud to have worked with some many great people during the election campaign, and to know that many times more put in the hard work as well to defend what we believe in. Organisations like Both Eyes Open, Drinking Liberally, and The…
Post
In 1984 I watched the incoming Labour government move on a set of policies they had no mandate for and I also watched the Left flounder to resist them. Given it was only three years since we had mobilised so strongly against the Springbok tour…
Post
Firstly I must say congratulations to the winners on the night, and sympathies to those who did not succeed. We may not hold politicians in high regard but they put themselves on the line. The voting public have had their say and that, if nothing…
Post
There are about 240,000 special votes still be be counted. That's about 11% of the vote in total. Special voters include large numbers of students and late-enrollees, which tends to favour the Left. Last election, Labour and the Greens together took 45.8% of the first…
Post
David Farrar wrote... "Funniest moment was talking to a few of John's staff, and one of them asked whether their imminent transfer to the 9th floor meant they would get to take over The Standard. It was hilarious as they started fighting over who would…