Espiner on National’s use of the crisis
Sadly, I couldn’t find Colin Espiner’s excellent piece in The Press today online. It’s good. Colin’s thoughtful observations derail the government’s PR spin […]
90 axed at TVNZ
In what’s turning out to be the gift that just keeps on giving for National, the Recession Bogeyman is now being blamed for […]
National’s blitzkrieg
The government’s first hundred days are up and they’ve decided that this signals the start to a multi-pronged political offensive. They are now […]
S92A: Opportunists jumping on bandwagons
It is always interesting watching people and organizations jumping on bandwagons of popular movements. In the case of the section 92A of the […]
Death knell for print media?
A conversation that seems to be occuring more and more frequently is asking what’s the future of our newspapers? It’s a global question […]
More questions on the Sensible Sentencing Trust
Last week, Tane pointed out that the private prison industry had been involved in corrupting the political process in the US by funding […]
A bunch of clowns
Poor old Nick Smith. Not only is he stuck peddling long-disproved lies about ACC but now it seems he can’t even get a […]
A fairer 9 day fortnight
National’s 9-day fortnight will save only 2-3% of the jobs that are expected to be lost in the recession. It’s a trifling investment […]
Stewart vs Cramer
Earlier this week, I posted on the feud that erupted when the Daily Show criticised CNBC and the business media. Last night, CNBC’s […]
ACC killed Kennedy says Smith
Fresh on the heels of allegations ACC has blown-out and is likely to decimate New Zealand’s credit rating, Accident Compensation Minister Nick Smith […]
National to increase foreign ownership
Newstalk ZB reports: The Prime Minister is keen to open the door to foreign investors. In a speech to the Act Party conference […]
See no evil
I’ve been meaning to write something about the private prisons bill for a couple of days as it’s a recipe for barbarity. But […]
Campbell on the nine day fortnight
Gordon Campbell’s pretty scathing of Key’s nine day fortnight scheme in his latest article at Scoop, describing the announcement as a sign workers […]
Doubleplusungood II
A leak reveals more words banned by National/ACT : strategy blueprint engagement socialisation collaboration co-ordination We’re destroying words – scores of them, hundreds […]
CTU busts ACC spin
Over the last week or so the Government, and Nick Smith in particular, have run a dishonest PR campaign to undermine ACC and […]
The guy’s tired already
If there’s one thing that strikes you about John Key’s post-cabinet press conference this week, it isn’t the scintillating prose or erudite diction. […]
Dom Post: Fail
The Dominion Post has this column on Fridays called the Diary [offline*]. It’s written by some anonymous staffer and is supposed to be […]
Words fail me
A link in the comments led me to ballon juice You Have To Be Shitting Me. It refers to a article at boston.com […]
Key’s to-do list
Friday quiz
Question 1. Which of these are ‘front-line’ staff and which are ‘back office’? a) the extra staff members for National and Maori Party […]
Cutting through the spin on ACC
We’ve heard a lot of panicky comments in the last few weeks about a ‘cost blowout’ at ACC. We’re told there is $22 […]
About right
Good to see Emerson’s back in form.
Sealord email campaign
The Service and Food Workers Union has launched an online email campaign to urge Sealord Chairman Robin Hapi to reconsider axing 180 workers […]
Daily show vs CNBC
Last week, Jon Stewart poked fun at the media who cheer-led the housing and stockmarket bubbles and are now blaming the people who […]
Experts: National lying over ACC
The wheels are starting to come off National’s PR campaign to undermine ACC as more and more people notice the gap between their […]
Bennett’s lame excuse
Morning Report asked Paula Bennett why the public sector had been cut out of the 9 day fortnight scheme this morning and her […]
Brief thoughts on the 9 day fortnight
The 9 day fortnight scheme has finally been announced but I’ve got a few questions: Why do the taxpayer and the worker have […]
Strawman
I’m always amazed at the intellectual hoops the neoliberal right will jump through to try and deny low income workers minimum wage increases. […]
How to reduce ACC costs without cutting cover
The sensationalist tone of media releases regarding the financial situation at ACC has ignored the causes behind this so called ‘blow out’. The investment […]
Sensible Sentencing Trust and GEO Group, a deafening silence
Yesterday Tane did an excellent post speculating on links between the Sensible Sentencing Trust and GEO Group. GEO Group derived from the notorious […]
Espiner nails it
In his blog today Colin Espiner points out how National has quickly moved a lot further to the right than they portrayed themselves […]
Pasifika Festival going ahead
The opening night of the Pasifika festival at Western Springs in Auckland will be proceeding. After a funding shortfall the Auckland City Council […]
Job growth in the public sector!
There is one job area where it’s no expense spared for the taxpayer – public relations in the Beehive. Michelle Boag tells the […]
DL Wellington tomorrow
Just received this from the Wellington Drinking Liberalites: Just a last minute reminder, tomorrow is the third Drinking Liberally of 2009, featuring the […]
Ye olde royal titles
Brian Rudman has a good piece this morning on the Earl of Auckland’s backwards-looking decision to reinstate a “ridiculous regime of titles dating […]
Shafted
This is good. Here’s what ACC’s ads might look like once National’s had its way with it: [Hat tip: Clarke in the comments]