Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Democracy Night

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  • Steve Parks,

    Some observations:

    The results were pretty much what the polls were suggesting; in terms of party vote no surprises here, except the NZ First count.

    Because I’ve felt the election was somewhat of a forgone conclusion, I’ve been more focused on the referendum. It looks like we’ll be retaining MMP, and I’m very pleased about that.

    I guess if I look at it from the perspective of what I was trying to achieve with each distinct vote, I can be kind of satisfied. I voted for the Greens, and they got their best result; I voted for Grant Robertson, and he’s staying my local MP; I voted to keep MMP, and that looks safe.

    I noticed Chris Trotter doing his ‘Waitakere man’ shtick again when talking about Labour’s fortunes. I hope that isn’t the lesson Labour take from this defeat. Also, Sean Plunket pointing out to Robertson that Damien “gaggle of gays” O’Connor was the only Labour candidate to win back his seat from National. He wasn’t, of course, but once again the suggestion of moving to some more socially conservative position. If Labour listen to these guys my vote will be staying with the Greens for some time to come.

    NZ First did surprisingly well, but they’re in on very shaky support. They got 1.8% over the threshold, but I suspect their pure ‘protest vote’ would be easily 3 – 4%. That is, Labour could easily pluck back those votes if their performance improves substantially next term. They don’t have to do anything specific to appeal to those voters, they just need to generally up their game.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Well I voted for the green candidate in Goff's electorate, somehow I doubt that made a difference.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Hebe,

    they are NOT protesting, they are voting for what they believe.

    So, they believe that the Greens shouls stay in the political wilderness then because, sure as hell, National will only fuck them over, as they will for the rest of us.
    Thanks again.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    You really don't get MMP, do you?

    Don't worry, I intend to make sure that the babies have been diced and well marinated before I scarf them down.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Kewl.

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Kracklite,

    Oh you naughty thing.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Craig Young,

    Also, the Conservatives didn’t take Rodney.

    Well they should have. They should have taken Rodney and dumped him in a trashcan and set fire to him.
    You were talking Hide there weren't you?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Kracklite,

    You really don’t get MMP, do you?

    Yes I do, an electorate vote is still an electorate vote.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    I'm really really disappointed that so many people didn't vote. No doubt many of them thought the election was a foregone conclusion...and voilà! It was a foregone conclusion.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite,

    Craig, remember this?:

    What isn’t going to be pretty, I suspect, is certain elements in Labour who going to try and build a Dolchstoßlegende around those awful Greens and Maori Party supporters

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis,

    Yes, lets blame the voters for voting Green
    I thought we had already played this game

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • Eddie Clark,

    Glad to see Tom Semmens pulling out the unsurprising "if only we threw women, maori, and homos out, we'd do so much better line". Easy to run that line if you're none of those things.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report Reply

  • Clint Fern, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Thanks again.

    You appear to be blaming the Greens for the failure of the Labour Party machinery to turn its vote out. If that attitude prevails in Labour then the 2014 election result might as well be handed to the Nats now.

    Nelson • Since Jul 2010 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Kracklite,

    Craig, remember this?:

    Yup – and I really wish I’d been wrong.

    Apart from being obnoxious and genuinely anti-democratic, it’s dumb politics. Most obvious example: At number eleven on the Greens list, Auckland Central candidate Denise Roche is going to be in Parliament. Labour might want a relationship with her not skanked up by public tantrums about her supposedly “stealing” Auckland Central from Jacinda Adern. Something, I must stress Jacinda is too fucking classy and reality-based to indulge in herself.

    ETA: And for the record, would Labour folks bitching Roche and Green electorate candidate voters in key marginals like Waimakariri, Christchurch Central, Waitakare etc. answer this question.

    Shall we blame Labour in general, and David Parker in particular, for the survival of ACT - and let's be honest, the party becoming even more authoritarian and less 'classical liberal' under Banks' presumed leadership?

    Do the math

    Banks’ provisional majority: 2,485.

    POTENTIAL HIPSTERS FOR GOLDSMITH

    David Parker (Labour): 3,093

    David Hay (Green): 1,670
    All other candidates: 502

    {sarcasm} Thanks for abso-fucking-loutely nothing Labour! What kind of loser goes and votes for a candidate they might actually have thought was the best on offer? {/sarcasm}

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • tussock,

    So, a question again for every political party: who are the 250,000 ticks that would have made a classical 80%+ turnout. If someone could figure out what they'd vote for, there's 12 seats just waiting to be had, 6 of which come off National.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Clint Fern,

    You appear to be blaming the Greens for the failure of the Labour Party machinery to turn its vote out.

    Seems more of the standard {pun intended) contempt for ordinary people that's poisoned some elements of the Party of the People.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Oh, and WTF were Labour voters of Epsom thinking? And Green voters?
    That's some politically thick voting, right there.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Steve Parks,

    Well, the 3,093 folks who voted for David Parker might well have shared Goff's totally sincere shock and outrage at undemocratic attempt to game the system and manipulate voters. Stranger things have happened at sea. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • tussock,

    The results were pretty much what the polls were suggesting

    The hell they are.

    The poll of polls I've seen had national at 51 or 52, and that should be +-2%. They're probably only getting 47 after specials, which demonstrates a massive flaw in polling methodology (or a one in a thousand oddball, which it isn't, because this always happens, worse for the Greens).

    The polls lie for National and the Greens. Always have, always will.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    I hope you all choke on the babies you intend to eat for lunch.

    Yeah, because fuck it, lefties who live in Chch Central and lost their homes should be required to vote for Burns even if they feel he did sweet fuck all to help them when they needed it most. Because their votes, it turns out, belong to Steve.

    At some point you're going to come clean about which party you're actually campaigning for, right? Because from the effects? It cannot seriously be Labour.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac, in reply to Eddie Clark,

    *high fives*

    And with attitudes like those still abounding, there shouldn't be any wonder that my (gay woman) party vote has never been cast for Labour.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Emma Hart,

    At some point you're going to come clean about which party you're actually campaigning for, right? Because from the effects? It cannot seriously be Labour.

    Oh yes it can. Steve Barnes' attitude is typically Christchurch Labour. They truly regard any vote that is not right of centre as theirs, just stolen by moustache-twirling spivs like the Greens hoodwinking people who would otherwise vote Labour.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to TracyMac,

    I would endorse a cross-party consensus to urgently fund the eradication of the noxious pest known as Waitakere Man (WARNING: Link may cause projectile vomiting, blunt force head trauma, hair loss and homicidal mood swings.)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Given the revival of New Zealand First and Banks, I think it's high time for the resurrection (...) of the joke political party. Given that Shaun of the Dead was also marketed as "Zombies Party" in some jurisdictions, I have just the appropriate name, too...

    And here's my post-election analysis:

    http://gaynz.com/articles/publish/31/printer_11116.php

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Meanwhile, at New Zealand First HQ, the celebration was in full swing...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

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