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.
Open mike 30/04/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to […]
Heck of a job Brownlee
The government has spent $1 million so far on 350 campervans for Christchurch. One person stayed in them. For that money, better to put them up at Premier House and commute them by Iroquois. There is a massive housing need in Christchurch but the campervans were so shitty and expensive people preferred overcrowded or damaged houses.
Much ado about nuptials
Royal wedding! Who cares! No censorship of anti-monarchy humor here. Knock your socks off.
Weekend social 29/04/2011
Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no […]
We are not amused
The Royal family have banned humorous comment on the royal wedding. Clarence House has banned a satirical sketch from ABC’s programme “The Chaser”. […]
An open letter to all unionists & fighters for equality & social justice in Aotearoa
Via Socialist Aotearoa, an open letter from union activist Mike Treen on Hone Harawira’s Mana Party, which is due to be launched this Saturday in Auckland. The outline of Mana’s manifesto presented in the letter suggests it will be economically bold and not exclusively Maori nationalist. It should be very popular.
Sage advice on the polls
The latest Roy Morgan is out, with good news for the Left compared to the rogue TV3 poll. As a bonus extra we have some sage advice, from an unexpected source, on polls in general…
ACT: bought by the Nats for a song
The Left are rubbing our hands with glee at the prospect of taking on BrashKey, but make no mistake, Key wanted this coup too. Think about it: former Nat Leader Don Brash, former Nat Minister John Banks, Nat money man Alan Gibbs, former Nat President Michelle Boag – and it goes down while John Key is far away playing smile and wave in Europe.
National cuts safety nets
National continue to target the vulnerable with their cuts. Their latest moves in cutting the budgets of Womens’ Refuges and a national Self-Defence course for girls are merely the latest example.
Open mike 29/04/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to […]
Through a glass darkly
National lines ruined…
Some National memes that they’ve been running against the opposition parties are somewhat ruined by A Brash Act…
Editing away idiocy
An interesting post from Political Dumpground looks at how MPs are allowed to edit the Hansard record of what they say. Putting the transcript of what Katrina Shanks actually said during the recent debate on the Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Bill beside the Hansard shows how MPs can amend the record to hide their stupidity.