Caption competition
Alan Grayson on Bin Laden
Alan Grayson lost his congress seat in the last election after a concerted attack from the right.
His open letter on the death of Bin Laden shows why the US needs him back next time around.
Billboard fun
Freudian slip from Fox News
Russel’s mana
Russel Norman has followed John Key and Phil Goff in the attack on the Mana party.
I’d hoped for better from him.
Perhaps it’s time he reflected on his own mana.
Update: it seems the Dom Post quotes might have been a fit of pique. Russel has posted the following on his facebook page:[more over the break]
Own goal by National flunky
Cameron Slater has the inside word on Murray McCully’s $75,000 trip to Vanuatu on a New Zealand Air Force plane that involved flying the 126-seater there and back to drop him and seven staff off, then there and back again the next day to pick them up. This story gets worse the more details come out.
Open mike 04/05/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to […]
McCully joins Flying Squad
With his RNZAF jaunts to photo-ops, John Key has set an example his ministers seem keen to follow. Having seen Key use Air […]
Conservative majority in Canada
Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have won majority government in the Canadian election with under 40% of the vote on a turnout of just over […]
Tornado!
A tornado hit Albany in Auckland City. There has been at least one fatality. Judging by the number of sirens coming over the bridge, there must be a number of injured. Small tornados are not uncommon in Auckland, but previously there has only been a single known fatality.
NZMA position on health inequity
NZ’s doctor’s organisation is prescribing a healthier society: putting kids first, reduced income inequality (higher minimum income), investment in skills and education, and equity, not equality in our social services – helping most those with the greatest need. Take note Don, John.
Key calls snap Election for June 4
Now if the sight of that headline made you feel a bit sick for a moment, you might want to ask yourself ‘How […]
The same old answer
If Don Brash is the answer, what’s the question?
War Nerd on Al Qaeda
The best US blog is eXiledonline. They’ve done huge work to expose the Tea Party and its shady backers. Their insight into the class issues underlying economic crisis both raw and diamond-sharp. And one of their writers, Gary Brecher aka the War Nerd, covers conflicts with eyes wide open. Here’s his take on Al Qaeda, coincidentally written last week:
John Key’s shakey government
The Nats have ‘soft-launched’ via Kiwiblog and Whaleoil that Rodney Hide and John Boscawen will both lose their portfolios and ACT will have no ministers. Farrar points out this will benefit ACT’s taxpayer funding to the tune of $130,000, which is somehow sweet while spending $500,000 on a by-election to get a mandate is a serious crime.
America writing our laws?
Wikileaks cables show that America has been “helping” draft out copyright law. They also lobbying to undermine Pharmac. How many other New Zealand laws are they writing?
Open mike 03/05/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to […]
Osama Bin Laden dead
3 News is reporting that “Osama Bin Laden is dead and the US is in possession of his body, according to reports from a senior US counter-terrorism official”.
Another blunder
Phil Goff has gone one step further today and ruled out working with anyone that signs up to The Mana Party, not just the already ruled-out Hone Harawira. A Labour Party spokeswoman is reported by the Herald as saying “He doesn’t prescribe to the values of Hone Harawira.”
Would Phil Goff care to explain which of Harawira’s values he doesn’t ‘prescribe’ [sic] to?
Collins fudging crime stats?
Police Minister Judith Collins’ announcement that crime dropped last year left more than a few people scratching their heads. The economic conditions, especially high unemployment, should mean more crime, not less. Now, we’re starting to learn the answer: procedural changes that havem wiped thousands of crimes off the stats.
Mana up and running
The Mana Party already have a great website that suggests someone who knows what they’re doing is looking after the communications. Well worth taking a quick look.
Harawira right to call by-election
As I foreshadowed a week ago, Hone Harawira is to trigger a by-election in Te Tai Tokerau. It’s the right thing to do: Harawira should test his mandate to lead a new party, as Winston Peters and Tariana Turia did. It’s also good politics – keeping the Mana Party in the news – just as the other parties’ reactions are good politics on their part.
Choices: Tax cuts or teachers
You’re the ruling government. Which do you choose, tax cuts for 47 millionaires or salaries for 121 new teachers? It’s not a hypothetical question…
Open mike 02/05/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to […]
Farrar in an act of pure vanity…
In an act of pure vanity, David Farrar is whining about the a by-election that will probably be held in July – less […]
Mana vs Maori Party
The Maori Party has cast aside its word not to stand against Hone Harawira.
They’ve bought themselves a no holds barred fight with Mana.
Don Brash, defender of the poor & downtrodden
Average Joe, tongue firmly in cheek, welcomes the resurrection of Don Brash: His promise to “raise the income levels of all New Zealanders” leaves us with only one logical conclusion… raising the pension, raising benefits and increasing the minimum wage.
A nursery rhyme
Pussy Key, pussy Key, where have you been?
I’ve been down to London to visit the Queen.
Pussy Key, pussy Key, what did you there?
Sweet fuck all, but thanks for paying for my holiday
Money and happiness
How do we improve a society’s happiness most effectively? By lifting the poor out of poverty. By increasing wealth where we get more happiness bang for our income buck, and reducing the disparity between rich and poor. So why are we currently moving in the opposite direction?
Open mike 01/05/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to […]
Nats attacks legal aid but pays a million to defend itself
Legal aid and your rights if accused of a crime are under attack by the National Government yet at the same time, as Michael Bott, explains it has spent a fortune in court trying to defend its practice of discriminating against carers who are related to the disabled people they care for. More disgusting choices from National.
Don’t cut our future – Budget cut protest
The signs are clear that the Goverment is ploughing ahead with spending cuts and that Budget 2011 will contain yet more cuts to public services and still maintain tax cuts for the wealthy. On Budget Day, community groups, unions, and Kiwis who have just had enough will gather outside Parliament to protest.
Armstrong on Brash+Key
John Armstrong doesn’t get much wrong in the assessment of the Brash take over. Brash, with his Hollow Men legacy, anti-Maori posturing, and loony economic policies, is very much Key’s problem now.
The Jackel’s week in review
Each week The Jackel blog has an excellent ‘Week that was’ post, which recounts the big stories plus a whole of lot stuff that we would like to write about but don’t get the time to cover or doesn’t make it into our often crowded schedule of posts. The Jackel has kindly given us permission ‘the week that was’ – click through to their blog for all the pics and vids.