Live blogging from Backbenchers

30 comments on “Live blogging from Backbenchers”

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1. 1

   “The Nats are a bit thin on the ground” – they’ve all got ‘prior engagements’!!
2. 2

   Shit, Melissa Lee finally managed to clear her calendar for a debate… three days before voting.
3. 3

   For those without freeview – live stream on TVNZ Backbenches website.
   http://tvnz.co.nz/back-benches/election-special-live-stream-tonight-2769048
4. 4

   Roger was a pig farmer until it all went horribly wrong. I believe there are still a few unanswered questions about the financing of that venture. And about the redseal sale.
5. 5

   IB said: Roger was a pig farmer until it all went horribly wrong.

   I blogged about at least some of Roger’s record as a pig farmer a few days ago IB.

   Disgraceful that he is again in public office.
   1. 5.1

      Toad, yes and then there was the financial mess.
6. 6

   Wallace does his weekly triva question to the audience. Lee answers the question to the audience and wins the prize. Class.
7. 7

   Please tell IB.

   Actually, I could too, but you get a far wider audience here than I do on g.blog.

   Worth (oops, pun not intended) a thread of is own.
8. 8

   I’m listening on line and M Lee is saying about the Supercity: ‘What was the Royal Commission for, there is a select committee process- so people do get a say and David Shearer is scaremongering.” Yawn.
9. 9

   If Boscawen is part of the Govt, then so are Turner (if elected) and Lee. Consensus on this blog is that they’re not, however.
10. 10

    M Lee just said she has more muscle then Russell.
11. 11

    And Farrar’s liveblogging was a complete copout.
    1. 11.1

       Just like his regular blogging then?
12. 12

    More muscle? Sadly, Lee’s is in her head.
13. 13

    It sounded like Melissa Lee answered the who am I question with the answer Dick Seddon – but it was hard to hear. Seddon is not right. What was the correct answer – MP born in Reading and came to NZ in 1894 and first MP for Mt Albert?
    1. 13.1

       Arthur Richards – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Albert_(NZ_electorate)
       1. 13.1.1

          Arthur Richards – Is that what Melissa Lee said and got the prize for? Here we all thought she said Seddon which is obviously wrong.
14. 14

    Interesting TV3 poll tonight – Shearer 60%, Lee 21%, Norman 13%
15. 15

    I think that it is funny that M Lee said that she would be the only candidate that would be in Government if elected. Clearly she doesn’t know the difference between caucusing with National and being in Cabinet (now being in Cabinet means you are actually in Government). But then if you use her line of ‘being in Government’ and lets say that she means she is in a party that forms Government, then so too is john Boscawen, as it is a N-ACT govt.

    Once again lies from the M Lee Campaign….. gosh… when will she learn to shut up?!
    1. 15.1

       “gosh when will she learn to shut up?!”

       Saturday.
16. 16

    Well that was fun, if a little tricky to hear anything.

    Anyone have a link to the show so I can actually hear what was said?
    1. 16.1

       Not sure when it gets posted but when it does it’ll be here.

       Nice work btw.
       1. 16.1.1

          Thanks. I’m glad people watching on TV heard a heck of a lot more than what I could hear sitting at the bar.
17. 17

    Boscawen is a positively foul person. Easily the most repulsive MP, makes Garrett look charming.
18. 18

    Sounds like a bloody farce – why would you go if you don’t want to hear people speak!?
    1. 18.1

       For the atmosphere!

       When one goes to a rugby or cricket game they probably don’t follow it quite as well as would be possible on the TV at home. After all, no commentary to help them along and (if there’s no easily viewable giant screen) no endless replays to see what happened.

       Yet people still go, and in many ways it is better live than on TV.

       It’s like “why go to a rock concert when you get better sound quality on a CD”?
19. 19

    I read that as “The Backbencher” and assumed he was blogging from a pub.
20. 20

    Is the pub in Wellington called “The Backbencher” and the programme called “The Backbenches”?

    And I was blogging from a pub 😀
21. 21

    You don’t need to hear anything at a cricket game though do you. Whatever butters your toast jarbury, but politics is diminished when people go to create/experience an atmosphere IMHO – doesn’t seem conducive to ‘debating issues’ or ‘informing the voters’ an’ all that.
22. 22

    Can Melissa Lee put her foot any deeper in her mouth:

    A low income audience in the Mt Albert by-election campaign was infuriated when National candidate Melissa Lee today told them she was paid only $2 an hour.

    Ms Lee is well behind in the polls after a series of gaffes and ill-judged comments virtually eliminated any chance she had of taking the Labour-held seat.

    Appearing in a candidate’s debate in front of members of the Unite union, Ms Lee was asked how she would survive on the minimum wage of $12.50 an hour.

    “I think I am currently on $2 an hour,” Ms Lee replied.

    Ms Lee appeared to be joking about MPs’ long hours, but it did not amuse the audience of low wage earners.

    Ms Lee is paid $131,000 a year and is entitled to $14,860 in expense allowances, as well as $24,000 in accommodation benefits and free travel.

    A worker on the minimum wage working 40 hours a week earns $26,000 a year and, if they have children, are entitled to Working for Families assistance.

    From here

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