Bullies
Why is it that the right are so much more litigious than the left? The recent example of Crosby Textor threatening legal action […]
Contrary to Key, Govt does target waste
The idea that a government would purposely spend money in a wasteful manner is patently absurd. Voters want more government services and lower […]
On flat tax
We have a progressive tax system, whereby the portion of income paid in tax increases with income. Many on the Right argue that […]
Winnie and Glenn
It appears, as everyone suspected, that Owen Glenn did give a donation to New Zealand First. There is nothing illegal or immoral in […]
Failure to front up
When was the last time John Key did an in-depth interview? Why would a potential Prime Minister be afraid to be exposed through […]
Running on empty
A worrying report on the future of petrol prices is out today. It predicts petrol could hit $10 a litre in a decade. […]
Iran’s Photoshop job
From NYT blog The Lede: As news spread across the world of Iran’s provocative missile tests, so did an image of four missiles […]
The Standard Week: July 4 – July 11
Every time Bill English goes on Agenda, he lets a bit of National policy slip (anyone who thinks it’s an accident probably also […]
Remarkably unambitious ECE policy
Another one-page excuse for a policy from National, this one on early childhood education. After vehemently opposing 20Free, National would now keep it […]
Question 2
Why was the report on government spending from ANZ Chief Economist Cameron Bagrie blindly accepted by the media at first, when anyone with a […]
Radio National
The day that National Radio publicises a ‘survey’ produced by Matthew Hooton is a very strange day. That day is today. Hooton’s ‘independent’ […]
Key refuses to answer your questions
You’ll remember our ‘interview the leaders‘ series. John Key has been the only leader missing, we’ve given his office plenty of extensions on […]
“It’s not okay” today either
The other day Dancer made some good points about the campaign “It’s Not Okay” and the role that organisations like the Families Commission play, […]
tis the season
I am beginning to think John Key’s attempt to turn statements that involve him into ‘personal attacks’ might be catching on. Check out […]
National’s Bank
After reading Steve’s post this morning mocking ANZ National for putting out confused National Party talking points dressed up as research, a reader […]
Irony
Granny Herald’s Editorial yesterday “Private market can help ACC” – dancing on the head of a pin to justify privatising ACC to make […]
Lots of ideology, not argument
I was going to write a piece on the much anticipated paper from ANZ’s chief economist on government spending. But now I’ve tracked […]
Nasty
On Tuesday, Helen Clark was asked what she thought of the fact that both John Key and Bill English have been unavailable for […]
Mind the gap
It’s worth remembering that polling gaps really do narrow when election campaigns start. We all remember the 2002 campaign. Labour reached 53% support in […]
Spin doctors
Nats vs journos
Shane Ardern is now saying he was misquoted by the Te Awamutu Courier when he said ‘[Kiwisaver] needs adjusting from the employers’ contribution […]
Drop the Immigration Bill
The September 11 attacks were used as cover to pass draconian laws around the world, particularly concerning immigration. The Government is, once again, […]
It’s not ok
Is it a sign of a successful campaign regarding family violence – that “it’s not ok” – which sees broadcaster Tony Veitch taking […]
David Slack at Drinking Liberally Auckland
(Via: greylynnsinglesclub)
Positive moves on housing
Housing has always been an important issue for Labour. The First Labour Government instituted a massive State house building project, freeing working class […]
Chief Press Sec O’Sullivan leaves Key questions open
Today’s Herald sees Fran O’Sullivan making another valiant effort to dig her hero, John Key, out of the hole he’s in over his […]
The clean man
Has anyone else noticed John Key’s absence from the media in the last few days? I finally clicked to it while listening to […]
Silence those media lambs
Media bleating about Labour’s ‘personal attacks’ is getting tiresome. Some journalists seem to forget from one election to the next that an important […]
More anti-worker policy from the Nats
On Sunday, Bill English let slip that National still intends to take away the work rights of employees of small businesses for the […]
Turnoff
UPDATE: Thanks to commenter T-Rex for reversing the cartoon to show workers taking a disastrous right turn. Far too much time on your […]
Hit and miss
Let’s look at some of the issues National has hit and run on. They were all you heard from the Nats for a […]
Blueprint for a Crosby/Textor campaign
While trying desperately to paint Crosby/Textor as ‘just ordinary consultants’ and argue that C/T does nothing that polling and research companies do, National […]
Havoc interviews Hager
Hager confirms that his info comes from a leak from within the National Party, not as the Nats would have you believe, a […]
Nats spending your money to build “Brand Key”?
Looks like John Key might be a little less “self-made” and a little more “taxpayer-made” than he’d have us believe… click the image […]
Broadcasting policy broadly outlined
National’s Jonathan Coleman has announced a bullet-point excuse for a broadcasting policy. Essentially, it adopts the status quo but moves TVNZ charter funding […]
Sacked
In perhaps the most unsurprising announcement of the year, National has let slip it’s going to maintain its 90 day no rights policy, […]