No, I think the Democrats have to get over it because I find it hard to believe that McCain operatives didn't have attack ads ready to go for everyone who was seriously in the Veepstakes.

Yep, agreed, and that preparation and level of aggression is the point of campaigning difference…

It was, repeatedly, and pushed aside but as those two commentaries, and a few others over the past few days have said, you can can sweep it under the carpet but it won't go away. Race is a huge issue in this election. [...] They have resonance.

I agree. One…

Umm..yes. Not sure what that has to do with anything. I wasn't making any comment about Biden as VP as such but the way the Republicans attack if you read through. You sound a mite defensive there Craig?

No, I think the Democrats have to get over it because I…

Simon: The attack dogs would have been off the leash if Jesus Christ was on the ticket. Get over it

Umm..yes. Not sure what that has to do with anything. I wasn't making any comment about Biden as VP as such but the way the Republicans attack if you read…

It only took them a couple of hours to bang the attack ads on after Biden was nominated.

Simon: The attack dogs would have been off the leash if Jesus Christ was on the ticket. Get over it. In the end, I think Biden can give as good as he…

Given that the issue reduces to electability, the point should have been confronted during the primaries.

It was, repeatedly, and pushed aside but as those two commentaries, and a few others over the past few days have said, you can can sweep it under the carpet but it won't go…

Senator Biden voted for the invasion and the war. Obama now has lost the high moral ground argument which I think appealed to so many.

I'm not sure that Obama has lost moral ground by selecting Biden as his running mate. More than half of the Democratic Senate voted in…

Biden is getting raps for the likes of this:

The Republicans and the attack dogs on K Street must be pleased with the last couple of weeks.

I can't help thinking that the Clinton's will sit back and quietly let things implode and get their chance next time.

Rightly or wrongly, the Democrats have decided the gap between McCain's hardscrabble image and the reality of his marrying into wealth decades ago (after walking out on his seriously ill first wife) is worth exploiting. Biden's way more able to do that: he's the poorest guy in the Senate.

If…

Senator Biden voted for the invasion and the war.Obama now has lost the high moral ground argument which I think appealed to so many.

Biden is getting raps for the likes of this:

Your kitchen table is like mine, you sit there at night after you put the kids to…

Senator Biden voted for the invasion and the war.Obama now has lost the high moral ground argument which I think appealed to so many.

The irony is that Biden has been bought on board to add an experience factor…

If anyone feels like discussing teh US politics – I think Joe Biden is a good choice for VP.

Senator Biden voted for the invasion and the war.Obama now has lost the high moral ground argument which I think appealed to so many.

McCain just needs to keep it simplistic,…

A reversion to red/blue America was inevitable IMO, but still its not exactly good news.

Obama has to walk a tightrope. One one hand he has to sound reasoned, rational and provide some hope for his core base and on the other he has to mouth the inane, patriotic gung-ho-isms…

Interestingly Real…

Hillary's team has made some major strategic mistakes that have her cost her the delegate lead and probably her shot at the presidency – especially the 'inevitability' narrative...

Indeed — and to be scrupulously fair to the Senator, I've got to admit that I'd need my ego surgically removed to…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/05/AR2008030503621.html

Hillary's team has made some major strategic mistakes that have her cost her the delegate lead and probably her shot at the presidency – especially the 'inevitability' narrative, the failure to win…

But in the bid scheme of things these arguments are rather subtle and really there are good reasons for preferring either candidate.

And what a shame nobody told ABC, because the Obama/Clinton debate — or at the least the parts I could stomach — was embarrasing. Sorry, I'm all for…

comedy gold!

"Who killed Cock Robin?" "I," said the Sparrow,
"With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin."

Harold was know to his Sasonax mates as "The Cock" for reasons that are unclear to historians today.…

__Is it you or is it me?
Lately I've been lost it seems.
I think a change is what I need.
If I'm looking for a chance or to dream

Vote National...

Taking time to hold my…

In the UK party leaders singing embarrassing childish parody songs about their opponents goes back to William the Conqueror, at least. That it may not be the case here has come as a bit of a surprise.

Here's (then) Labour finance spokesman John Smith, on the deteriorating relationship between Margaret…

The things that surprise us 1st gen NZ folks...

I was at an Equity meeting where Miranda Harcourt made a speech while breastfeeding her new baby. Would've been rude not to stare.

Dan,

I thought you were joining Al Qaeda? Staring at breasts will be out for you, buddy. Hard to breast feed in a Burqa.

I don’t see the point of the legislation.
Neither can I except in so far as it explicitly removes a right, which is slightly more far reaching than 'contracting out of the right'. I guess it's aimed at workplaces which haven't yet bothered with a code of conduct, so their…

Sometimes diddums does actually neatly convey the point. It's sneering, sure. Which is all some bleating sooky points deserve.
Well, sorry Ben but I won't be saying "diddums" if infantile crap like this is going to be on the agenda at the National Party conference in a few months,

Did these…

...Cullen's arrogant streak was simply a bearable downside of his intelligence...

Mockery's a bit tricky to get right when you're not working from a guaranteed position of strenght. If not then you have to do Mockery+ Bluffing which is pretty difficult. That's what Clark and Cullen tried and failed to…

Those were both APPALLING

And the thing that worries me is that both Clark and Key might like to have a good hard think about where that kind of politics ends up — and in the age of You Tube or Photoshop the politics of personal destruction can end up…

I admit to 'not knowing where to look', which shouldn't be confused with 'unable to not stare'.

I was at an Equity meeting where Miranda Harcourt made a speech while breastfeeding her new baby. Would've been rude not to stare.

Well, sorry Ben but I won't be saying "diddums" if infantile crap like this is going to be on the agenda at the National Party conference in a few months, or we're going to have to squirm through this in the House.

Those were both APPALLING. For the last while…

Heh... OTOH, I don't really think HARDEN UP, YOU BLEATING SOOKY-BITCHES is going to be an election-winning campaign slogan. :)

I dunno. There's probably at least a fair few votes in "get hard or go home" and other locker room slogans.

Sometimes diddums does actually neatly convey the point. It's sneering, sure. Which is all some bleating sooky points deserve.

Well, sorry Ben but I won't be saying "diddums" if infantile crap like this is going to be on the agenda at the National Party conference in a few months, or we're…

Not to get on this futile fairground ride again, Neil, I'm not in the least bewildered that the American primary process tips the signal to noise ratio far too far in the wrong direction.

I'm amazed anyone takes an interest. They're still going to elect an American...

But seriously, nothing…

Obama has been able to tap into the most liberal and politicised generation of twentysomethings in decade — he's getting them to the polls. He probably promises the biggest turnout…

This is Helen, she wants to mollycoddle the electorate. Harden the Fuck Up, Helen.

This is Rodney, he wants a tax cut. You're fucking Spot On, Rodney.

Quite right. I suggest that this is how Helen should have responded to Key's whimpering thusly.

Heh... OTOH, I don't really think HARDEN UP, YOU BLEATING SOOKY-BITCHES is going to be an election-winning campaign slogan. :)

this is how Helen should have responded to Key's whimpering thusly

doh. you get my drift.

I think that's the point of the word. It means 'stop being a baby'.

I think the point is that if you want to be the adult in the room, sneering baby talk just makes you look... well, in need of a feed and a clean nappy. As Russell said,…

Curious thing about the DomPost: they have no labels on their plentiful right wing columnists, but when it comes to Chris Trotter, he is carefully labelled "From the Left".

"From the left" isn't a label, it's the title of the column, which I presume he came up with. He's not…

I think that's the point of the word. It means 'stop being a baby'.

I think the point is that if you want to be the adult in the room, sneering baby talk just makes you look... well, in need of a feed and a clean nappy. As Russell said,…

I was thinking more of how embarrasing it is watching alleged adults use the word "diddums" unless they're ticking a baby's tummy.

I think that's the point of the word. It means 'stop being a baby'.

I hope this holds and they're rewarded for it.

We known United Future would like to be seen this way but there is…

Humans.

I was thinking more of how embarrasing it is watching alleged adults use the word "diddums" unless they're ticking a baby's tummy. I'm becoming more and more convinced that a mental health break in a cave until the election is over is a good idea.

I don't think we're really secure on the moral high horse there.

Humans.

Although polls aren't at present indicating any mass cut-off-my-nose behaviour with the losing side. The two tracking polls, Rassmussen and Gallop, have consistantly had Clinton and Obama doing about equal against McCain.

But that leaves the question…

Curious thing about the DomPost: they have no labels on their plentiful right wing columnists, but when it comes to Chris Trotter, he is carefully labelled "From the Left".

Presumably, in case we should inadvertently mistake it for a proper opinion.

Well, I don't think Matthew Hooten takes particular offense…

I'm a bit bewildered at how often it is those that prefer Obama feel the need to demonise Hillary.

Not to get on this futile fairground ride again, Neil, I'm not in the least bewildered that the American primary process tips the signal to noise ratio far too far in…

Presumably, in case we should inadvertently mistake it for a proper opinion.

I guess "evil" is a little strong ... but I deeply disapprove of what she's doing.

That's your opinion. There are many who disagree and who take quite strong exception to this portrayal of her as a destroyer.

The impact on the party if she pulls it off hardly bears…

I think it's probably just a modern social skill for everyone involved — and part of that is not staring; or looking a breast-feeding woman in the eye like you would talking to anyone. Once you get that, it's no big deal

Agreed. You've just got to treat it like…

By contrast, I find it increasingly difficult to take anything Hillary says at face value. The latest attempt to depict herself as just a poor, rural white person at heart, not to mention more American than Obama, is risible.

Jon Stewart was all over her last night. When he interviewed…

But you know something, can I not be written off as a matriphobic, child-hating bastard because I find it just a little startling when a complete stranger exposes her breast in my line of sight while I'm eating lunch in a public place.

Yes, undies or togs? I'm often surprised…

If I'm having a conversation with someone, I'd prefer they looked at my face, whether or not I'm breast-feeding.

Maybe people find it hard to believe I'm actually looking at the baby.

It doesn't put me off my lunch to see a baby getting their lunch. I take a lot of interest in babies eating, which is part of the problem – I guess I'm not meant to take an interest in babies eating that way.

Indeed. I have enormous sympathy for…

Now I’m voting for Obama because I always wanted a pony and this one does nothing but shoot rainbows out of his butt.

Which, I think, trumps everything.

Heh. I think you'll find this is where rainbows come from. So that must be an Obamacorn.

It's the 'what does that…

I don’t see the point of the legislation.

Neither can I except in so far as it explicitly removes a right, which is slightly more far reaching than 'contracting out of the right'. I guess it's aimed at workplaces which haven't yet bothered with a code of conduct, so…

Now I’m voting for Obama because I always wanted a pony and this one does nothing but shoot rainbows out of his butt.

Which, I think, trumps everything.

http://www.youtube.com/v/kcdnlNZg2iM&hl=en

I imagine there's similar Obama clips out there. The power of a clever editor.

Top Ten Bad Pro-Obama Arguments

1) Clinton is just plain selfish for not dropping out of the race! It shows she has bad character.

2) Racism has benefited Clinton this…

Right, so Fairfax and Rupert Murdoch were the tame bitches of John Howard... except when they weren't. What is the emoticon for 'my eyes are rolling like a Jaffa rolling down the starwell of the Empire State Building"?

Craig, I don't imagine either were the bitches of anyone but you're…

Tom said: a lesbo-anarcho-pinko-brown evil alliance governing the land!!

Even just to be able to tell overseas visitors that NZ is run by a lesbo-anarcho-pinko-brown evil alliance would justify voting left. Awesome.

Simon: __Paul W – it's a story because the media…

We'll, it's probably fair to say no media backed Howard this last election but I don't think it's an unreasonable comment for the previous elections – Fairfax and News in fact.

Right, so Fairfax and Rupert Murdoch were the tame bitches of John Howard... except when they weren't. What is…

A superb communicator, he was the first Democratic President to be re-elected since FDR, which was, like, back in the day.

Well that's not such a great achievement. Truman and LBJ won second terms, but didn't stand for election in the first term, so don't count as 're-elects'. Truman pulled…

I agree that the 1689 BORA probably puts it beyond reach.

There's a reasonable argument it doesn't.

Just because something is protected by Parliamentary Privilege doesn't mean it cannot be judicially reviewed.

For example, Winston Peters judicially reviewed the Winebox Inquiry – the report of which was published on the…

The Fairfax media backed Howard in Australia and they back the Nats here.

I'm going to call double bullshit on that, Steve — because it's just not true.

We'll, it's probably fair to say no media backed Howard this last election but I don't think it's an unreasonable comment for…

The Fairfax media backed Howard in Australia and they back the Nats here.

I'm going to call double bullshit on that, Steve — because it's just not true.

It's not just creeping – it's blatant. Feministing has an on-going Hillary sexism watch – some of the things on it are appallingly misogynist.

And as I've said before, I think there's some blatant dog-whistling to racism and anti-Muslim paranoia coming from Clinton supporters and the GOP. And that's actually…

I-was-shot-at-in-Bosnia debacle.

Over-dramatising for effect is how I read that.

MyDD is another Dem site which is reasonably even handed.

TalkLeft are pro-Clinton and generally keep things civilised.

Taylor Marsh is pro-Clinton and can go too far at times.

That's a disadvantage of our system, of course.…

For example, Jeff Fecke has a great piece on…

If they detach from the group to do it, respect their privacy, if they don't, respect their 'still being a personness'.

This about sums up the way I approached the situation when I was was working part-time and caring for my youngest while my wife was part-time back at work.…

As I see it, the real problem is that Democrats are closely split between two strong candidates...

And split along the lines of identity politics and not just Black vs female. It could be a sort of Perfect Storm. Neither are to blame, just this particular combination could bring [[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/florida.html|a…

One was the charismatic young Senator – who only had a few years of top…

Obama also hasn't trashed former presidential candidates out of sheer political expedience.

He’s used Edwards as the butt of some of his rhetoric – after Edwards pulled out. Why do think Edwards hasn't endorsed him?

He's also trashed the achievements of the Bill Clinton presidency – not just Bill's statements…

Despite what is written above, Bill Clinton generally…

Correct me if I'm wrong but there is no issue with breast feeding in NZ?

If I was out in public and my baby needed feeding, I'd feed. Often this meant sitting down in mall food courts – vastly preferable to skulking off to hide in those disgusting "parents' rooms".…

It's not men, it's you Ben ; )

Seriously though – It's rude to ask a question of someone eating and thereby forcing them to gulp their food, or to speak with their…

I can't listen to The Rock either, beyond the fact they talk total sh*t. Listening to the morning weather report being brought to you by a strip bar while getting a kid off to school is something I…

Nelson and Tasman are missing out on the HD UHF rollout and there's talk of our local…

And YouTube vids embed automatically — so long as you have a "www" in the URL (just add it if you need to), you can just paste it in.

And I was surprised to find that…

(Bill Maher is the only one I'm surprised by though)

Russell, Bill Maher has sexism oozing pathetically out of every pore, and has been that way for years, since the old Politically Incorrect days. It's a pity, because some of his other material is really cogent and funny, but listening…

And your last comments about Hillary are begiining to sound a lot like the Kiwiblog mafia

I object to this. The mafia are organised criminals, murderers and extortionists. You'd never call the Kiwi Blog Right "organised".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB1j4H1gAIk

And your last comments about Hillary are begiining to sound a lot like the Kiwiblog mafia about Helen

Hardly. I'm just finding her campaign more than a little Rovian.

Holding her responsible for her words is right. Holding Obama responsible for his Pastors words isn't right – not that I have an issue…

So Clinton 'clearly obviously' lied ?
Really , she says she had a lapse.

Four separate times, in considerable detail, to bolster her claim that she and McCain had the goods and Obama didn't.

If she didn't remember it, she shouldn't have described in such detail a scene that demonstrably…

He seems to have a case – that the crown law advice was wrong and Cullen should have told Parliament the Bill conflicts with the bill of rights – hence presumably that the act should be thrown out.

You presume incorrectly. It's just about the embarassment factor. This isn't America,…

Cullen should have told Parliament the Bill conflicts with the bill of rights – hence presumably that the act should be thrown out.

No, Parliament passes acts that conflict with the Bill of Rights all the time – see the advice on the Misuse of Drugs (BZP) Act

Basically, the…

I've been around long enough to see the change from the Horton family to Sir Tony O'Reilly has wrought on the NZ herald in particular. The Fairfax media backed Howard in Australia and they back the Nats here.

Um.. The Herald belongs to APN, which is over 25% owned by…

wot, Obama hasn't gone in for cheesy photo ops? Obama hasn't slightly redefined his position on particular issues depending on his audience?

Obama hasn't double-teamed Clinton with McCain, and he seemed to be going out of his way to avoid slamming Clinton when he initially responded to the "bitter" thing.…

He seems to have a case – that the crown law advice was wrong and Cullen should have told Parliament the Bill conflicts with the bill of rights – hence presumably that the act should…

Her subsequent posturing...

wot, Obama hasn't gone in for cheesy photo ops? Obama hasn't slightly redefined his position on particular issues depending on his audience?

good god, it's politics, they're both guilty of opportunism and other venal acts but "evil"? This is about half the democrat party you're talking about.…

The Fairfax media backed Howard in Australia and they back the Nats here. It would be nice to have some diversity of opinion along with all the "free speech".

At least in the UK, when Murdoch backed new Labour there was this diversity of opinion – it wasn't all one…

I just get tired of the "you must be racist if you support Clinton" and the "you must be sexist if you support Obama" memes running around in the…

It's not just creeping – it's blatant. Feministing has an on-going Hillary sexism watch – some of the things on it are appallingly misogynist.

They're all pretty dreadful (Bill Maher is the only one I'm surprised by though) but a Republican congressman called Obama "that boy" this week.

I don't…

I'm still a little unsure about why this is such a big deal?

Without wanting to sound like a cracked record, we have an almost miraculously low level of corruption in our public service and I for one, would like to see that continue.

Using the apparatus of government agencies…

Salon has a lengthy article by Rebecca Traister about how the cultish "Obama boys" don't like Hillary Clinton because, well, they're sexist. There's no doubt there is creeping misogyny threaded through the political sphere.

It's not just creeping – it's blatant. Feministing has an on-going Hillary sexism watch – some of…

Perhaps so, but it still appears as if his part in this situation has been exagerated somewhat.

Back to your original question, Paul. It's not a big deal, except for the fact that the Herald wants it to be a big deal. Williams made a comment that was dumb in…

I've never met the man, but I gather he's bright, upbeat and energetic. He really just needs to think about what he says sometimes.

Perhaps so, but it still appears as if his part in this situation has been exagerated somewhat. And wouldn't it be nice if the print-media started…

Mike Williams — the fool — uttered words to the effect that it was a damned good idea.

Mike Williams a fool?

In this case, yes. The whole point of the briefing was to talk about how to adhere to Labour's own laws on campaigning. The suggestion he endorsed may…

I'm still a little unsure about why this is such a big deal?

Because it was the Herald's lead story yesterday and it feeds into their crusade against the EFA – it provides a handy stick to beat Labour with. I don't bother with TV news, but it appears they…

Mike Williams — the fool — uttered words to the effect that it was a damned good idea.

I'm still a little unsure about why this is such a big deal? I think Young's piece was pretty overstated, and have said so over at the original thread – I'm, however,…

I think it's more that she's seen as a hypocrite and a political brute who's damaging her own party.

Seen as such by Obama supporters who go in for character assignation more often than for debating issues such as health reform.

He's just getting some of his own medicine and…

Mike Williams a fool?

Not in my book, working desperately hard in an impossible situation, not of his creation and being marginailsed for his failing to do so, is not proof of…

I took "confidential strategy notes" to be distributed official party instructions. In other words: somebody in HQ had the idea, it was discussed, it was written up, printed and handed out.

If that…

1) Greens at 9% and climbing. at a quarter and climbing towards a third of the left vote. Labour relatively static however.

2) NZ First, before the FTA fracas, are now at 4%. If they were pluck another 2% from National then…