Why was she selected by Bennett with very little consultation when she WASN'T one of the four people recommended for the job?

I believe the words "faith" and "based" fit somewhere.

I've always gone for the simpler answer. Somebody, with authorised access (whether Brash knew they had it or not) chose to leak them to Hager.

Regardless of reassurances, Fran O'Sullivan remains convinced a full inquiry is needed into the terrible theft.

In his April 16 press statement, Quinn said police had…

Oh that's easy. You grab one guard by the neck, hold your dagger to his throat, and explain that he can point out the right door, no pissing about, and he comes with you.

The problem with you intellectuals is that you're always overcomplicating things.

Stephen. That is just so…

The police have a... I forget the unit name... electronic crimes unit or something. Mostly civilians, IT graduates. They would have done the investigation into the technical details.

Yes they do and they're very good at it. If there was something to be found, they would have found it.

I've…

Deborah Coddington's column about Christine Rankin is worth reading.

That's the first time I've found myself thinking Coddington's both right and/or reasonably expressed a considered view. This para I particularly agreed with:

But actually, it's her ignorant dismissal of others' ideas that makes her unsuited to the Families Commission. It…

The girl grabs one of the nose rings and stuffs it the guard's nose...

No, it's gone again. Nevermind.

The problem with you intellectuals is that you're always overcomplicating things.

Keep working on the other puzzle – its a good one, and quite simple once you know the trick.

It is (a good one, I mean), though there is one peice of required information that is possibly impled but not stated. Namely that each guard knows which door he guards.…

It works both ways – you and all the others here help me understand things I just didn't get previously so I'm only too happy to return the (much appreciated) favour.

Re the jigsaw:
5/2 does not equal 8/3

Yeah, once you clarify the situation in your head, that one resolves pretty quickly.

I know the answer to the guard one, I'd actually heard it before so will leave that for others.

Am I the only person who took the puzzles seriously? Oh well...

No Steve, I have been perplexed with Dyans and I am getting there. :)

Am I the only person who took the puzzles seriously?

I was familiar with both puzzles so it'd have been pointless to simply write down the answers without letting people have a crack at them.

With regard to the Pizza puzzle, I find that analysing the…

Is that the same as this?
3 guys go out for pizza'
was a nice spinach, sundried tomato, olives and feta one.
On payment, each puts in $10.00 and gives $30.00 to their waiter.
Waiter returns with $5.00…

Deborah Coddington's column about Christine Rankin is worth reading.

Wow. It most certainly is.

Lulz.

How about the "brown budget"? :D

Fn+1 × Fn-1 = Fn × Fn-1 + Fn-1 × Fn-1 and Fn × Fn = Fn × Fn-1 + Fn × Fn-2. Their difference is
Fn+1 × Fn-1 – Fn × Fn = – (Fn × Fn-2 – Fn-1 × Fn-1).

I love maths.

A natural conundrum?

Is that the same as this?
3 guys go out for pizza'
was a nice spinach, sundried tomato, olives and feta one.
On payment, each puts in $10.00 and gives $30.00 to their waiter.
Waiter returns with $5.00 change and the guys take $1.00 each and offer…

Length is always greater than width but has less influence. A natural conundrum?

Jigsaw Paradox

Didn't Friedrick Schelgel and Lewis Carroll solve that one Steve? Fermat's Last Theorem is gone too, I'm afraid.

Even if his computer got "hacked", which I doubt, nobody in the NZ police would be able to track anything down. They do motoring offences, shoplifting and brawls, not IT security.

The police have a... I forget the unit name... electronic crimes unit or something. Mostly civilians, IT graduates. They…

Length is always greater than width but has less influence. A natural conundrum,

Yes ,well the width isn't defined as nuture or nature so it's still a cool quote. It is a mindfuck to think you are a product of someone elses control , a control that can reshape or…

Anyway, you've got Maggie, and Kylie, and probably a whole pantheon of others.…

Fetishise the elderly wonk all you want, poor Don will never be more than a martyr to his own ineptitude.

Joe: I've actually had a rather pleasant and productive day. Please don't harsh it by being gratuitously jerky.

Well, Brash is getting some relief from his email angst:

Police to…

Police to analyse Brash email case

Hopefully this will put paid to the absurd demands from Fran O'Sullivam et al for Key to order a full Commission of Inquiry.

Nana Brash is pissed off? I'm wetting myself with fear.

Joe: When you're trying to get information about your treatment at the hands of the Police or your local hospital or how your kids are being treated at school, I suggest you get very scared and extremely angry when you're…

PASers can snigger, but I actually think he's genuinely pissed off.

Nana Brash is pissed off? I'm wetting myself with fear.

Any particular reason for the air quotes?

A slow brain past 5pm that couldn't think of the right term to use so quoted it as a "ya know, clearancey thingy". Nothing sinister or contrary intended.

The Lee "clearance"

Any particular reason for the air quotes?

Excuse the gagging, I'm just trying to get these words out of my mouth... :>
Like I said (and you quoted in fact) I'm NOT a super conspiracy guy but the timing of bringing that chestnut up again just seemed pretty funny. In the "ha" sense of funny.

Sorry, but…

It's a wierd and nagging obsession, isn't it.

Thought it quite interesting on TVNZ7 news last night that Guyon Espiner was waving a leaked memo from his source, for National MPs.This was to be the standard response should any of them be quizzed about Cristine Rankin and then it jumped…

Gareth: So, now not only are Key and Brash bestest buds, but I guess Judith Collins pressured the Police to so severely redact the fille that it would inevitably be not only newsworthy but piss Brash off beyond endurance?

Excuse the gagging, I'm just trying to get these words out…

I've never been a big believer in the "ZOMG Government are releasing other stories to bury their incompetence" stuff (naive? me?) but it has been pretty amusing to see Brash's stolen emails suddenly resurface this week!

Gareth: So, now not only are Key and Brash bestest buds, but I guess…

26 years is not long in science

mmm yes and no.

Yes there are times when it takes a long time to see or understand that a dogma is wrong. And yes there are some things that only reveal themselves over generational timescales.

But also no – 26 years is…

Brash's stolen emails

It's a wierd and nagging obsession, isn't it.

Even if his computer got "hacked", which I doubt, nobody in the NZ police would be able to track anything down. They do motoring offences, shoplifting and brawls, not IT security.

I think we are largely in agreement about the use of GE and the role of science, except perhaps

However I would point out that GE has been around since 1983, I was personally making transgenic plants 20 years ago! And GE crops have been on sale since…

Damn.

It's almost like they're the only folder in the "In Case of…

Someone draws their rectangles lying down.

In which case I presume you would be referring to height and width, hence the terms Portrait and landscape are used to define orientation.
As well you know.
;-)

That is a damn good rejoinder, sir.

Someone draws their rectangles lying down.

The problem with goose sauce is that it gets all over everything...

Another modern classic. PAS book of witticisms?

Just making snide interjections about Don Brash's alleged extra-marital sex-capades while his own marriage wasn't exactly in mint condition.

Fair point – I'd forgotten about that.

Craig, I am unaware of Mallard ever pontificating about traditional family values.

Just making snide interjections about Don Brash's alleged extra-marital sex-capades while his own marriage wasn't exactly in mint condition. Which sounds pretty hypocritical to me, but you 'd pretty obviously beg to differ. The problem with goose sauce…

Only if you have prejudices about which orientation is natural...

epigenetics is highly controversial, unproven – indeed contested -work. It is not yet scientifically proven.

Epigenetics is proven. I'm not sure what part of it you have a problem with.

What has been shown multiple times in multiple labs is that information that is not in the DNA sequences…

My apologies for misunderstanding you. I’m afraid I’m still a bit confused about what you are saying. It was not my intention to misquote you I genuinely am not sure what you are trying to say.

I am very much in…

The reason I want "mix and match" contracts is that I might want to easily designate one person as…

dyan – thanks for the links.
There is a huge lack of references on both sites-

Bonjour Islander! It's a fascinating area of research.

The first link has no references as it is referring to a conference; the papers presented will have references, but not the site where you sign…

dyan – epigenetics is highly controversial, unproven – indeed contested -work. It is not yet scientifically proven.

Hi Islander. You might wish to read this...

"Epigenetics" Means What We Eat, How We Live and Love, Alters How Our Genes Behave

__By Duke Medicine News and Communications

DURHAM, N.C. — A…

Laws' marital malfunction hasn't had anywhere near as much ink as his daughter's illness has it? Funny that.

starter for ten – he was babbling on Radio Live today (I know, I know, swimming in muck) about changing his will now that he's separated. For one ghastly moment I thought…

Oh, and Kerry: Absolutely no disrespect taken. You put forward a contrary POV, and while I wasn't convinced it was thoughtful and cogently put.

aww, shucks.Thanks, hon.

you bet your sweet arse this well-fucked, alkie faggot never would, since only saints need apply.

Ha! cracked me up nicely at the…

Yes, my view of the hypocrisy element relates wholly to her and her organisation's rhetoric in the media over the past few years, rather than the Families Commission job. I just think she'd be crap at that.

Exactly. I think she made herself public a long time ago. I didn't…

Craig, I am unaware of Mallard ever pontificating about traditional family values. That's where Rankin's hypocrisy lies, which has nothing to do with merely being in public office.

Yes, my view of the hypocrisy element relates wholly to her and her organisation's rhetoric in the media over the past few…

Bart rephrased what I said as

If I can be forgiven for simplifying what you are saying is,
We don't know what we don't know.
And from that you are…

Peter Verschaffelt's meth manufacture charge

Who? Wikipedia says he's a Flemish sculptor, which can't be right..

I took Giovanni's point to be that anyone that commits suicide has mental health issues, which seemed fairly straightforward to me.

Yes, thank you.

He's also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and is representing himself.

Now there's a fall from grace.

Indeed – and this one key problem with doing it for "exposing hypocrisy" reasons. It becomes a pretty quick race to the bottom.

Perhaps I'm totally wrong, given that the only time I look at a Sunday paper nowadays is if we're out for brunch and someone left it on…

Should Macintyre have stayed in that marriage because her wife had mental health issues? Is developing feelings for somebody you're not married to wrong? I don't know what this lurid story is supposed to even mean.

That's my feelings on it as well. For all I know Rankin and MacIntyre…

the fatuous burblings of Messers Laws and Holmes (who really should STFU about other people's marriages, if you want to talk about public hypocrisy).

Indeed – and this one key problem with doing it for "exposing hypocrisy" reasons. It becomes a pretty quick race to the bottom.

OTOH, I have seen a situation where a friend had an affair, got caught, and was eventually forgiven by her partner — but not by one of their mutual friends, who went to war about it. That was bizarre.

*cough*

It may be bizarre, but it's apparently not all that…

In other words, the Dworkinite school of feminism. It's been theorised that such people have more in common with theo-cons than the feminist movement.

Andrea Dworkin — eww, that's a blast from the past. Sorry, but anyone who equates a negative review or critical ananlysis to gang rape is someone…

… I also believe that CUs should not be confined to two individuals

Agreed. There’s no reason the legal arrangements can’t be extended to whomever wishes to participate.

…the tax regime in the US, where spouses get a fat rebate by virtue of the fact they've stood up in stupid…

In other words, the Dworkinite school of feminism. It's been theorised that such people have more in common with theo-cons than the feminist movement.

That would be a harsh generalisation, but Dworkin herself certainly got on with the theocons later in life.

OTOH, I have seen a situation where a friend had an affair, got caught, and was eventually forgiven by her partner — but not by one of their mutual friends, who went to war about it. That was bizarre.

Certainly, and I guess your friend and her partner were thankful…

Many of my family scared me with their anti-Barnett statements. These were of course the 1970s Feminists totally opposed to legal prostitution. Taking an initial open approach to age didn't help matters either.

In other words, the Dworkinite school of feminism. It's been theorised that such people have more in…

But you're not running for public office in a sensitive area.

No, and you bet your sweet arse this well-fucked, alkie faggot never would, since only saints need apply.

And I'm still not buying the "public office in a sensitive area" line, because I've said up thread that I've no…

On who's authority is Rankin an expert

Exactly, what does she bring to the role apart from a history of bigoted screaming on abuse issues and that she is a poster lady for the nostalgic newstalk generation who pine for a time when you could hit small children and smoke…

I probably would, Russell. Don't think any newspaper would find it a matter of public interest or worth printing, do you?

I'm just saying they're separate questions — the right to strong feelings, and talking to journalists — and if those close to the deceased shouldn't presume to speak on…

I hope you can understand why I'd not much like having all that dragged out in the light for strangers to leer over over their Sunday brunch.

And yet here you are, telling us all about it. No disrespect intended, Craig, I'm a believer in talking out these things and…

Neither the family or friends would have felt it necessary to air their feelings, or the press had a field day, if the Select Committee hadn't been so foolish as to appoint Rankin in the first place.

That's right, Kerry, bitch asked for it!

And if Helen Clark had stayed…

Something I'm still grappling with. What right has John key got, to tell Christen Rankin to not talk about her privet life in public. He's not that in-charge of peoples lives, is he?

No, but I think he's got a reasonable expectation that after all this drama she really should…

Planning to extend Rankin and her husband (who, as far as I know, isn't a public figure) the same courtesy any time soon?

Fine by me. I just think some of your language about those close to the deceased has been really over the top. You can say they should…

Again: there are many more worthy people to be on the Families Commission.…

Perhaps you could acknowledge that there are strong emotions here and ease up on the castigation of people you've never met.

Planning to extend Rankin and her husband (who, as far as I know, isn't a public figure) the same courtesy any time soon?

Should they have refused to give…

How about rather than hurling around harsh words like "prig", "Victorian" and "freakshow", you take a moment to put yourself in their position?

Oh, wow, Russell, you mean someone close to me had committed suicide? Mental illness? There's been a very nasty marriage breakup? Someone doesn't actually conduct their life…

Russell: No, what I don't accept is that there was any legitimate public interest in McAuley's "friends and family" turning that woman's death into a freakshow. They're not responsible for that, there are editors who should have that sheeted home to them.

How about rather than hurling around harsh words…

From my sources I know that there was an affair.
McCauley's sister alleges as much too.
Prurience aside that…

Wow. Your analytical ability stuns me.
Mark Harris switches into total arsehole mode without provocation.

Ah yes, the "witty quip", used as a screen to not address the point. Not quite sure why challenging your comments is automatically "arsehole mode", but there we go.

You said:

Should Macintyre have stayed…

My solution? Abolish marriage as a legal form and make CUs onlyhave legal status. If people want to get married in a church, fine, they should go to it and plight their troth and promise to obey.

TracyMac, I don't see a reason to abolish one set of arrangements when…

..in other news, if the hoardings on private properties are representative of general support in these here parts, David Shearer's got it wrapped up.

My solution? Abolish marriage as a legal form and make CUs only have legal status. If people want to get married in a…

He was able to predict
that she would be unstable if he left,
so that was sufficient reason
for him to leave.
Wow.

No, the point is that this particular suicide is (or should be) incidental to the divorce. This wasn't a murder her; regardless of why the ex-wife felt…

But, out of interest, do we accept McAuley's friends' and family's right to be upset and offended at Rankin's appointment? Or should they simply STFU? Genuine question for everyone.

Russell: No, what I don't accept is that there was any legitimate public interest in McAuley's "friends and family" turning that…

Wow. Your analytical ability stuns me.

Mark Harris switches into total arsehole mode without provocation. Must be a day ending in 'y'.

(This witty riposte was brought to you by the Craig Ranapia Appreciation Society.)

I have absolutely no idea of what your problem is, or what you are alleging…

Her husband left her, she killed herself. Isn't it a tad self-evident?

Wow. Your analytical ability stuns me.

He was able to predict
that she would be unstable if he left,
so that was sufficient reason
for him to leave.

Wow.

Yes, it's social equality as well as legal equality that I want.

And rightly so though it's not something you can legislate for.

At the risk of sounding like a legal realist, I suspect CUs are slightly ahead of present social attitudes (I think the swing against progressive politics is…

There are people posting here who are somewhat better connected than I am within the Labour Party (to put it mildly) and this may be just a Bowen Triangle (I refuse to use the term 'Beltway') thing, but I was given to understand some time ago Barnett didn't…

It perhaps did seem that way after the huge shitfight that it turned out to be, but I don't think that was apparent in advance.

I guess someone should have suggested (it wasn't done) that we think back to the Homosexual Law Reform Bill days – I wasn't out…

...worth noting that both confer the same status/rights. I think of them as equivalent if not equal.

Paul, I take your point about defining inequalities. Sometimes conferring equivalent status isn't quite enough though. An example (and I realise it's not quite analogous) would be if, in the USA the 1950s,…

Beyond Rankin's statement, I don't think it's been established that McAuley had "mental health issues", however you might define those.

Her husband left her, she killed herself. Isn't it a tad self-evident?

Should Macintyre have stayed in that marriage because her wife had mental health issues?

Beyond Rankin's statement, I don't think it's been established that McAuley had "mental health issues", however you might define those.

I understand your wish for equality in the name of te Law but seriously, compromise is sometimes all we can wish for and at least in NZ one must accept that we must compromise for the entire nation.

I would agree with you, but sometimes, Rosa Parks doesn't want…

I don't mean to diminish your or others' points, but do think it worth noting that both confer the same status/rights. I think of them as equivalent if not equal.

It's semantics, but semantics matters. How I know it matters is that I wouldn't get married if my life depended…

Sofie there's legal equality, which we don't have, and there's social equality, which we also don't have. Some of the social inequality is reinforced by the legal inequality. The option to marry is a huge part of that. Adoption rights are another part.

Paul, CUs will be equal to marriage…

Would still think it was jobs for ya mates and I still wouldn't like Rankin or Bennett though.

That's the part that I don't get: leaving aside her position on s59 and Maori whanau for a moment, she's a family campaigner associated to people who think that divorce is abhorrent…

Paul, CUs will be equal to marriage when we have the choice of them. While we're barred from marriage they remain unequal. I get your point about legal rights being conferred by either, but that's only part of the picture.

@Mrs Skin, sure I get that point – I was…

Paul, CUs will be equal to marriage…

And pig-ignorant stuff like that is among the reasons why Family First has disassociated themselves with the Family Integrity lot.Ha! Russell did you know that?

No. It seems odd given that Family First has been nothing but supportive of Mason, and Bob McCoskrie declared himself "astounded" that Mason was…

I've had this argument with crusty old journalists before: you'll find it very hard to convince one that a story has to be in the public interest to be written.

I understand that. There's a space between defamation law and the role of the Press Council that I'd always thought…

But, out of interest, do we accept McAuley's friends' and family's right to be upset and offended at Rankin's appointment? Or should they simply STFU? Genuine question for everyone.

The friends? No, if it means trampling the right to privacy of the family. The family? I'd like some reassurance that…

You may wish to refer to this entry on Family Integrity's Section 59 Blog: Anti-Parental-Authority Law Criminalises Loving Father. It actually reads like satire.

And pig-ignorant stuff like that is among the reasons why Family First has disassociated themselves with the Family Integrity…

I wrote about that here.

Rereading that reminded me of why I usually don't disagree when people criticise the media. 'Then the first, thrilling sentence: "Sex between children as young as 12 will be allowed under a shock law change, horrifying teen pregnancy experts, educators and counsellors".'

Shock law change?!!…

do we accept McAuley's friends' and family's right to be upset and offended at Rankin's appointment?

Absolutely.

How Rankin or anyone else manages to blame Lefties for this debacle is beyond me.

Maybe she's wearing one of those special shields from God that protects her from her own hypocrisy and…

But, out of interest, do we accept McAuley's friends' and family's right to be upset and offended at Rankin's appointment? Or should they simply STFU? Genuine question for everyone.

Without wanting to pre-guess responses, I wonder if, subconciously anyway, the Wellington posters may differ in replies from the rest of…

And now Tony Ryall's in government ...

That's fucking depressing...

And just for the record, I have no idea what Mark's views or comments were on that matter, I was just running with the example brought up, as a hypothetical case.

Doing so would have been far far simpler, easier, and miles more equal for the fags at the back of the marriage bus for the same amount of energy/shite expended over the CUB.

It perhaps did seem that way after the huge shitfight that it turned out to be,…

HOW EQUAL IS THAT?

How unequal is it? Are the rights confered by CU's different from those associated with marriage? I got married, my wife wanted not a single mention of God though we did have a female priest do the officiating. If we'd been able, we may well have…

I don't believe she [Helen Clark] would have been willing to die in a ditch over same-sex marriage — or risk a shit fight inside the party — but I just wish she'd tried.

Amen to that. I remember thinking when the CU Bill was passed that for all the…

Crown prosecutor Dierdre Elsmore said the incident took place on December 19, 2007, at the Bridge of Remembrance in central Christchurch, when the boys aged four and two-and-a-half were riding their bicycles which were equipped with trainer wheels.

The older boy rode down the ramp, could…

Musician punched son in face, court told
NEW 1:32PM Monday May 18, 2009
A witness has told a Christchurch…

I'm assuming you agree that she was *right* to decline to answer the questions put to her. After all it was Rankin who agreed to go on the programme and it is good to see her stand her ground.

I think she was, actually. I don't think the public has…

Rankin then reads her own statement denying any affair, and declines to answer further questions, including one about twin suicide notes left for her and Kim.

I'm assuming you agree that she was *right* to decline to answer the questions put to her. After all it was Rankin who agreed…

Barnett was a great guy, hard-working and personable. We (Chch's chardonnay socialists) miss him.

Along with an elderly relative or three, for whom Barnett was probably their first contact with an upfront, intelligent and articulate gay guy.

I just took issue with Joe's guess that his sexuality precluded him from…

Reminds me. The first two, surprisingly prescient, pars of one of Steve Braunias's morning-after election stories from the SST, last November

Thanks, Philip, for the reminder why I don't pay for the Sunday Star-Times any more.

But those propagating that line of "vile tittle-tattle" were not particularly trying to reveal hypocrisy on Clark's part, were they?

Oh, Steve, it was all about the hypocrisy of a closeted lezzer in a sham marriage of convenience with a gay bear pushing her covert far-left homosexual agenda down kiddie's…

Donna Awatere-Huata!

Now there's someone who let me down. I interviewed a few people for a Listener story when Act launched as a political party, and while some of them (Muriel Newman) struck me as bonkers, Donna seemed kind and serious. And then look what she did ...

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait?

Donna Awatere-Huata!

This is a fun game, but it scares me that someone might be taking notes.

AND THE winner of last night's election coverage was Duncan Garner. TV3's political editor scored a fabulous scoop when he roamed the National Party campaign headquarters, and ran into…

I actually felt sorry for her until she started blaming it all on a left-wing conspriracy.

The HoS is left-wing? But, yeah, I tend to agree.

Key and Bennett may keep their nominee but you have to wonder why they wanted her in the first place? If all you need…

Barnett was a great guy, hard-working and personable. We (Chch's chardonnay socialists) miss him. I don't know what nobbled his career but I'd struggle to believe it was incompetance.

I interviewed him a couple of times (one time with the Libertarianz' health spokesman, on drug law reform) and certainly enjoyed…

Barnett was a lighning rod for social bigots, as evidenced by the unspeakably vile comments on his short-lived blog.

Working as his blog proof-reader was certainly an... interesting job. One that required large applications of medicinal alcohol to disinfect the inside of my brain.

Barnett was a great guy, hard-working…

Don't think it's been mentioned yet — apologies if I'm wrong on that — but last night's Sunday's Rankin segment is up on TVNZ.

Holy shit. I didn't realise it was quite that hardcore. Janet MacIntyre reads Rankin this statement from Margo McAuley's sister in Ireland:

"In relation to Ms…

Amen to that. I was cheered by Pansy Wong's short-lived "Pansy's Pansies" for just that reason. It's a shame the idea was kind of shut down.

I'm reminded of this doco that showed @ the Film Fests about 3-5 years back.

http://www.caritas.org.nz/dox/Domestic%20Advocacy/Families%20Commission%20Bill%202003.doc

Thinking back on the Rankin & Religion article about her being excluded from her kids first holy communion. All parents are, it's about the kids not her, ... now I get it.

Eh? She made Chris Carter Minister of Education, promoted Maryan Street to Cabinet after only two years in office, and employed Heather Simpson and Grant Robertson as her key advisers. I really don't think timidity over his sexual orientation can be blamed for Barnett's failure to progress further.

None of…

(In a different vein, I really respect the fact that Grant Robertson is out and gay in a way that does not preclude him being obsessively knowledgeable about the history of Otago rugby.)

I'm sure Grant now supports Wellington-based teams... though I note he's a vociferous supporter of the Phoenix…

But hey, since folks keep mentioning Helen Clark — perhaps she should have retired from public life so the salacious and vile tittle-tattle about her marriage and sexual orientation didn't "become the issue"? Bullshit.

But those propagating that line of "vile tittle-tattle" were not particularly trying to reveal hypocrisy on…

As for Clark, I know that I've harped on this before, but I can't help feeling that her failure to fully employ Tim Barnett's talent shows something of her timidity in these matters.

Eh? She made Chris Carter Minister of Education, promoted Maryan Street to Cabinet after only two years…

My daughter really likes Bill English. She thinks he's one of the Wiggles

Ha. I could make a "more like one of the Muppets" cracks here but I won't.

Oops.

I have a rellie who said she decided to vote for Beyer after Paul Henry made her baby cry. Sound eminently rational to me as Eddie adores me, and is therefore a fine judge of character. :)

My daughter really likes Bill English. She thinks he's one of the Wiggles,…

Politics is a funny thing, and people vote for all kinds of weird irrational reasons

I have a rellie who said she decided to vote for Beyer after Paul Henry made her baby cry. Sound eminently rational to me as Eddie adores me, and is therefore a fine judge of…

Much like the organisation Sharron Cole (who I think its fair to say you had no issues with) is now working for

Not really!

You slightly munged the link (I've fixed it now) so I went to the home page and searched for "divorce". The first result was this:

How…

But I do think there has been a real-world gap between the parties on inclusiveness, which is where the conversation started.

Oh, I don't think they're the same. But I do think that a lot of the time we see an over-simplified picture of the Left that doesn't include, say,…

His reply was that he'd 'known George since he was a boy', and he was okay, a good person, and that was more important than how she dressed or who she had sex with – or apparently which policies he supported.

It's a classic example of "I don't like Asians/Maori/Gay…

Yeah, but then a few months later, the organisation she headed flew in Theodore Daylrymple to hold forth on how the plebs shouldn't be allowed to divorce.

Much like the organisation Sharron Cole (who I think its fair to say you had no issues with) is now working for? :)…

I wrote a reply to this but the ether ate it

Excuse my ignorance here but what is the worst GE crop ever identified and what was the impact?
And what would we be missing if GE was banned worldwide, (hypothetical question).

To the best of my knowledge…

Except Josh was actually right. The Nats are a far, far cry from the Republicans.

That really wasn't the point. I can't remember the character's name, but he basically said, I agree with the republicans on economy, government out of your business, education, etc etc. Their policy on homosexuality doesn't…

Sure. And the supposedly arch-conservative Wairarapa electorate voted in Georgina Beyer.

I have a friend who was living in Wairarapa at the time (and still is) – one of those trendy-lefty Auckland-working commuters. She'd raised the question with a much older local acquaintance, about how he could vote for Beyer…

I'd be very surprised if the National-Labour numbers weren't slightly skewed by the obstacle of 'crossing the floor' – a pressure which is present even on a conscience vote.

I think that's a bit charitable. The pressure stemmed more from National's developing links at the time with the Christian conservative…

Which I did, repeatedly. As for "demonising the left", well... if individuals in that very broad collective collective noun deserve to have a little pair of red plastic horns attached to their foreheads, so be it. :)

And God know Fran Wilde — despite being of "the left" — gets…

how about a Nat from a rural electorate in 1974?

Sure. And the supposedly arch-conservative Wairarapa electorate voted in Georgina Beyer.

It was defeated – from memory, when it came to a vote, a lot of MPs from both parties had urgent business out…

I'm reminded of a West Wing episode which focused on this – a gay republican arguing with Josh.

Except Josh was actually right. The Nats are a far, far cry from the Republicans.