I don't really want to re-start a thread where my own contribution quite honestly didn't live up to my own standards, but I take allegations of malicious 'belittlement', harassment and intimidation of women in any forum incredibly seriously.

I also react very strongly – and not always temperately -…

Key looks statemanlike but throws out the chance to belabour labour for a year? (and then starts using Clark and Bradford's justifications on…

Re: The Maori Party. Well, you're right – up to a point. Much as I hate to admit it, Turia does provide a mouthpiece for a nasty strain of "brown neck" bigotry that exists in Maoridom — and in the end, you've just got to say Parliamentary democracy is…

well i think it was meant as a lame attempt to depersonalise the subject by using a term not typically associated humans, and to dig at the current PM. very subtle and clever.

Cullen said yesterday the surplus is even higher than earlier trends, which, given that it was $1.5 billion above forecasts in December – after the bottom…

I/S, I was not refering about his sexual oreintation (who cares) but the fact that he has 7 children (again who cares) but it is rather a larger number than the norm

Right. And how exactly is that relevant to his ability as a politician or future Prime Minister?

This…

Actually RB, I am surprised that bloggers have provided precious little commentary about macroeconomic policy rather than soft political opinion lately

Well, it's serious wonkery, rather abstract, and easy to get wrong. I dabble a bit, but I'd rather leave it to people who know rather more than me.

Hmmm.…

I have enjoyed having the Maori Party in the mix. What they say is always worth a second read. My theory is that TT talks more directly to Maori, while Pita translates…

I'm glad dollar Tuesday down at the local video store is working out for you, but do you think it might be wise to take the mound of horror DVDs back and let's start having some semi-adult political discourse? I know porn star politics is about the best…

I/S, I was not refering about his sexual oreintation (who cares) but the fact that he has 7 children…

And with the money potentially saved by Mr Key's WFF cuts, how many water cannon trucks could that purchase?…

Anyway, if the Australia-NZ wage gap is going to become an issue both parties are going to have to get past the easy relief of tales of about the former's mineral export boom. Yes, it's big, but no, it's not that big, and it happens…

Russell B – what were Maori doing to each other when the missionaries first arrived , boil the pot bro , I am thankful they corrected that mate .

the more nurofen plus I consume

Hmmm. Explains quite a bit.

I am lost for words at the foolish outburst from the inept Maori party pointing the blame on our white settlers for smacking.

Actually, the evidence points to that being true. Pre-European Maori were very happy to slice and dice each other in the context of war, but outside of…

Well I for one would like to see the spot light on Shane Jones
On paper he seems like a prospect for our first Maori PM

Our first Maori PM was Carroll I believe. He was Deputy Prime Minister about a century ago, but was Prime Minister for some months…

Our efforts to solve the problem have instead created a counterproductive vicious circle.

Yeah. What really grinds my gears is that this problem is not being addressed in any sensible way.

Its like the people who designed our natural monopoly ownership structures thought they'd have a go at real estate.…

He has been a good breeder

Que? Has he been working in the animal husbandry industry, or are you simply trying to say he's straight?

The paradox at the heart of our monetary policy is that raising interest rates to control domestic demand/house prices also messes with our productive sector, both by raising the cost of capital for business and by raising the exchange rate.

The real paradox is that it makes the country more…

most people are doing pretty well, government dosen't want to upset apple cart. Oppisistion can't think of much they would do if the were government...

both parties engage in sniping to fill the dead air...

Whoops Russell not Russel – I blame Dr Norman for introducing the other variation!

De nada. Serves me right for teasing you ...

Of course, some of our inflation is driven by rising…

Still gettin jiggy with it, DJKey
He is the man for the countree
Got no time for yesterday,
Get on his boat and sail away.

The next election will not be a choice between where we are and where we've been. The next election will be about where we go next.

We need to raise our…

John Key has called a halt to relitigating history and said National's vision for the future has three themes – economy, education and environment.

Good to see that National's policy priorities are apparently chosen on the basis of alliteration. Lucky 'climate' could be converted into 'environment' or he really would…

In his first speech as National Party leader to a regional conference, John Key has called a halt to relitigating history and said National's vision for the future has three themes – economy, education and environment.

Mr Key told the Southern…

McGovern . . . is a Rosie O'Donnell type conspiracy theorist.

DPF

McGovern was a mid level officer in the CIA in the 1960s where his focus was analysis of Soviet policy toward Vietnam. McGovern was one of President Ronald Reagan's intelligence briefers from 1981-85 when he was in charge…

I never saw the minimum wage go up under a National government, or rises in benefit levels, or Working for Families, or reforms of Labour laws allowing workers to negotiate on a more level playing field... Labour's record in this…

It was touted as a solution to hungry kids at school, which affects learning.

And thanks to the initiative there are several thousand less kids now hungry at school. Oh…

But to characterize John Key as the perfect National front for its Strategic Emptiness is a bit harsh, why only a few months ago he came up with the marvellous idea of…

And this is different from what we have with Labour? Increasing interest rates,…

I don't know about you, but I've felt weirdly switched off from politics this year. It has seemed petty and irrelevant, at a time when important challenges face us.

Ditto – and I'm a junkie. The government has been treading water, doing makework legislation for most of that time, with…

I hear Bill English saying the way to solve our economic problems is…