Wake up, Bill
Bill English is living in a dream, and he may create a nightmare for the rest of us. Last week, he said the […]
Sugar rush
John Key and Tracey Watkins have both (completely by coincidence) said we must avoid responding to the recession with a ‘sugar rush’ of […]
When less is less
It appears National are trying to promote the “little and often” approach to economic planning – but commentators are appearing a little skeptical. […]
Left to the market
Two Pennsylvania Judges have been accused of taking bribes from private prison operators to ensure a reliable stream of prisoners. To quote Associated […]
Fossil watch
The hilarity continues. According to a person who was there, Douglas didn’t use his speech because it had been accidently leaked, and subsequently […]
Reminder: Drinking Liberally Wgtn tonight
Just got an email through from the team at DL Wellington confirming that tonight’s event with Brian Easton is on despite the rain […]
Ralston on Ryall
Ralston’s latest column – Ryall’s disabled thinking – covers Tony Ryall’s decision to ignore a select committee recommendation that National set up a Disabilities Commission, […]
Miro 2.0
Opensource. Free. Cool.
First as tragedy, second as farce
After Roger Douglas’ big comeback speech was accidentally released two days early on the Internet due to inept media handling, then parodied on […]
What we should be doing
As IrishBill has said, National’s so-called ‘kick-start’ is pretty underwhelming – bringing forward a few more roads and a bigger bridge so that […]
Now with a little perspective
I was going through some of my 2008 files yesterday and got a sudden reminder of just how nuts the right was getting […]
More powers for the cops, that’ll solve everything
I was going to write about the new DNA powers National/ACT is giving the Police, but No Right Turn has already done it […]
Less a kickstart than a wee nudge with a soft shoe
The kickstart package is out and it seems to be a mixture of work that was already going to happen and stuff that […]
Employer opposes wage increases – shock!
Yesterday I expressed concern about Unite’s referendum on indexing the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage on practical grounds while strongly […]
Question Time open thread
Due to popular demand, here’s an open thread for discussion of today’s Question Time. Knock yourselves out.
Sockpuppet of the right
After yesterday’s early release of Roger Douglas’ Orewa speech set for 6pm this evening one of our (bafflingly tenacious) readers has sent us […]
Minimum wage rise a small but important victory for the Left
Great, through concerted pressure the Left managed to force a 9-cent an hour real increase in the minimum wage from National/ACT. A 9 cent an […]
On the minimum wage referendum
The Unite Union has reacted to the Government’s miserly adjustment to the minimum wage by initiating a referendum on tying the minimum wage […]
More than words
I see the Maori Party has come out saying the increase in the minimum wage to $12.50 an hour isn’t enough, and that […]
Ironically, nothing ever goes right for Roger
Roger Douglas has his big debut speech tomorrow night in Orewa. He’s been working hard and sucking the (tax payer funded) parliamentary library […]
Control group
I’ve got to admit there are days I wonder whether the National Party really have swung leftward. I mean I know they are […]
Trying to live on 500K/yr in NYC
President Obama wants to set US$500,000 as the top pay for banking executives whose firms accept government bailout money. From Boing-Boing: The lead story in […]
Labour calls for $13 minimum wage
Phil Goff has come out strongly in anticipation of today’s minimum wage announcement from the Government with a call for an immediate increase […]
Es ist mein teil
This year, the economy will shrink (at least) 1%. At the same time, the population will grow 1% (at least, growth may be […]
Just a little respect
David Farrar has a wee post where he laments that he is rarely credited when he breaks stories that are then picked up […]
Who cares if it’s just PR?
There is a rumour in the Dom Post and the Herald that the minimum wage will be announced today and the Nats are […]
Thoughts with our neigbours across the Tasman
It doesn’t seem appropriate to write a detailed post on the horrific fires raging across in Australia. But at the same time I […]
In for a penny
Key’s old arm cast has sold for $18,500 on Trademe. The money will go to the Fred Hollows Foundation to help blind people in […]
Right desperate to sully Clark legacy
When John Key was elected he was wise enough to be magnanimous in victory, acknowledging Helen Clark’s considerable skill and integrity throughout her […]
Interesting speculations
The Sunday Star Times will probably have an article out tomorrow about the possible nomination of Helen Clark to the position of head […]
Sanctimonious tall poppy cutter.
There is no doubt that the Granny crew were hurt when their own ‘poll’ showed that people considered Helen Clark was the greatest […]
Rainbows tame Waitangi
Gosh what a difference a few years can make when it comes to symbols of national identity. Not so long ago National had […]
The praiseworthy and the pitiful
The praiseworthy and a pitiful is a weekly compilation of some of the comments we’ve seen around the traps that warrant some response, […]
Lowering his standards ever lower
Just when Farrar had made me happy, as I explain in this post, and had even been quite funny in his retort, he […]
Employment numbers have both good and bad news
The new employment data for the December quarter are out and they’re surprising reading. Now, the media will grab hold of the headline unemployment figure. At 4.6%, […]
Govt to sell your kids junk food
Education Minister Anne Tolley has just put out a press release announcing the following: ‘As part of the National Government’s commitment to reducing […]