It always helps to be exposed to both sides of the story....

Now while I'm sure there's spin on both sides, That version is probably much closer to the "truth" than mine.... :)

· The forum’s own research reveals that a 10 percent increase in the RUC would add roughly just one percent to operating costs.

· The forum says “I have broken a promise to give one month’s notice of an increase, but does not say…

I recall some years ago, seeing a story about one of the Scandinavian countries(?) where due to this factor, they decided to hand out speeding fines as a percentage of income rather than fixed amounts..... it made overseas news because…

Then why are they protesting?

Well, as I understand it (and I havent seen this raised in 13 pages)..... combining what I heard on radio/TV news, and a bit of DPF's spin.....

It goes something like this.....

Truckies and Transport minister agree that raising taxes without notice is not good...…

I will survive!
One of my fave songs. In an army "smoke show" (amatuer dramatics at the end of an overseas excercise) me and a mate played "Priscilla Queen of the Jungle".

That about says it all really! Why do I keep imagining Butlins Holiday Parks.Heard a few stories and…

TV3 has named Shane Jones as the MP dishing the dirt on Fox. Jones & the PMs office have said it was all Jones.

Frankly, Shep, I'm not surprised — he does seem to have become Labour's designated brownneck. You know, the guy who says shit that would sound just a…

Perhaps people realise perfectly well that truckies "paying their share" actually means the general populace paying more for everything via increased prices.

Pressure on prices wouldn’t be a reason not to address the problem of some road users purportedly not paying their fair share of the cost. Anyway, I haven’t…

He's a particularly ugly and arrogant character Jones. I like Fox but he does seem to stuff up at regular intervals.

So, so far the only people to have spoken about Fox in public are the Herald and Kiwiblog, but the Labour party are getting the blame. That's convenient.

Um, excuse me Don? IF (note the emphasis) the passage I quoted is true (not my clearly expressed wish that it isn't),…

20K to the victims of a serious assult may go a long way to making some victims feel a bit better and have some meaning to the offender, having to pay it off.

This surely is going to lead to rich offenders getting to move on with the signature of…

Sorry – I was wondering if it becoming media fodder would help anyone.

What's he on, five times the average wage? I don't know or care and each case should be treated on it merits. 20K to the victims of a serious assult may go a long way to making some…

Shep, I see it as straightforwardly one law for the rich who can pay their way out, preserving their name and their career, and another for the poor.

Possibly. It really depends whether the lack of complaint from his ex related to the money, or if that was incidental to…

But Veitch can tough it out?

Doubt it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKXCzKWm9yo

I'd like to err on the side of generosity, but I'm bemused by people like John Tamihere and Michelle Boag on Close Up last night who think Vietch can tough this one out? Anyone know what former-Three newsreader Darren McDonald is doing nowadays? When his drug bust (and…

I luckily on a lighter note can advise I had my last lot of chemo on Sunday and its all up from here as so far they are very pleased. How the year has flown (in more ways than ya think ;) ) Thanks for askin'

Thanks for tellin' -…

had my last lot of chemo on Sunday and its all up from here as so far they are very pleased

Well done!

I really, really hope that "understanding" is totally wrong.

I saw that over at KB, I thought that was something pretty easy to say, without presenting any evidence that that is the case (it's sad that the idea is even credible though).

I guess we'll never know (be pretty stupid…

The police are already making excuses about how hard it would be to investigate without a complainant

If it had gone a bit further and turned into murder they'd have to investigate without a complainant, wouldn't they?

Plenty of people have been convicted for murder on circumstantial evidence, not to…

And the stage managed press conference, with the man's poor wife up there beside him,…

Is there or has here been something in the water? Derek Fox lined up for the next round.

Yup, and the most depressing part of that story is:

It is understood the Labour Party has been planning to make allegations against Mr Fox in the House under parliamentary privilege.

Fuck…

I'll shut up now.

Don't you dare, Sofie! (And how are you today — chemo not knocking you around too badly, I hope?) Look, I'm not carrying a drop of water for Veitch here. In my book, if my sweetie ever "lashed out" at me – which he wouldn't -…

The police are already making excuses about how hard it would be to investigate without a complainant. Well tough, that is their job.

Feel free to offer your psychic services to the police. I'm sure they'd love to have someone on the force who can tell them when crimes are…

Two laws have always worked in NZ, the lower classes get no inch, while the old school tie gets diversion.

And some people can fill a conference room with media hacks so you can begin working the media strategy that might just save your lucrative career. Really hope I'm being…

Norm Hewitt turned his life around for the better, time will tell.

I see a major payout as a better penalty than going to prison. IMHO community services and fines should be extended to the vast majority of prisoners, with some notable…

I do respect this act of contrition, it follows 100K payment.

You know something, Shep, as a member of "the public" I thought his 'apology' to me was utterly meaningless, and frankly a little insulting. I suspect there is an employment issue in play here that needs to be properly…

Yeah, I didn't know that when I wrote the above.

Perpatretors often attempt to coerce a victim from making a complaint, be it through threats, further violence, or bribery. These are all situations where the perpetrator has…

but see at as possibly better than our legal system.

He broke her back in four places. We're not talking about some minor-league assault involving bruises and a bleeding nose – he hit her until she fell over, then kicked her until he broke her spinal column in multiple places.…

Justice is not just about recompensing victims but also about all members of society who offend being treated equally, and their punishment…

Tony Veitch has fallen on his sword and done everything the Womens Refuge asked of him last night on TV.

I do respect this act of contrition, it follows 100K payment.

I don't entirely agree. He's possibly done the right thing now, but he didn't initially (and he certainly didn't…

From Veitch they sat down and have talked, she received more money than any court settlement would bring, & when pushed he made what IMHO was a heartfelt statement.

I'm assuming Veitch will be talking to the cops real soon now, as he just confessed to that, as well as GBH.

I do respect this act of contrition, it follows 100K payment.

I'm interested in how this came to light the day of his new TV series.

The Government is seemingly ignoring the Ombudsman's request to hand over a secret report about Tihirau Shepherd's appointment as principal of Hato Paora College.

Shepherd is set to stand trial on sex charges.

Education Minister Chris Carter refused…

That's why the Cullen Fund and KiwiSaver are pretty important to our economy in the medium term. Two policies that will hopefully survive many changes in Government.

Bets on that National Party policy on the Cullen Fund will be window dressing over a policy which essentially consists of a name…

You've just not seen it done right.

It's still an awful song. Let me put it this way, 'I Will Always Love You' is horribly tainted by Whitney Houston's OTT climb to the belfry, but the song itself has solid enough bones that Dolly Parton's delicate performance of her own…

Perhaps people realise perfectly well that truckies "paying their share" actually means the general populace paying more for everything via increased prices.

Bullshit. You pay the fair price, or you pay a higher price through subsidies.

Now, poor people gain from subsidies by paying less of the tax relative to…

.... a tune of narcotic musical and lyrical banality.

You've just not seen it done right.

The law outlawed the use of violence against children. It was, after all, the repeal of section 59 act.

Smacking is a subset of violence against children. At a pretty minor level in most cases, and at a more serious level in some.…

He's on a committee of wingnuts and last post was 4July08

http://kylechapman.blogspot.com/

http://www.nationalistalliance.org.nz/

Great to know Low over cooked it and the AAG has now been biffed in the compost. I wonder what flys & worms will crawl over it now.

Where's Kyle Chapman when you need him...?

They did introduce a law that outlawed smacking. Smacking your children was legal before the passage…

True. I'd do it differently, put it that way. But, then, those guys would have been dismembered by the PA Women's XV if they'd tried that here. They're clearly not very bright.

Russell, as much as I respect as I have for the PA Women's XV I doubt that these…

Holy jaysus, I think my brain exploded. Owowowowowowowowow

Isn't it grand — all those vocal pyrotechnics and treacle-thick orchestrations in the service of a tune of narcotic musical and lyrical banality.

if we're all going to be doing apocalyptic banality here's how

Holy jaysus, I think my brain exploded. Owowowowowowowowow

I certainly thought the tone and extent of Three's coverage of this on Sunday night wasn't strictly motivated by it's actual news value. News worthy? Debatably. A fricking hard-pron apocalypse, as the innocence of our children was destroyed! Destroyed I say! Hardly. Enormously embarrasing to a…

Indeed. Am I the only one who wishes for the gory details to be reported after a conviction, or otherwise not at all?

No you're not. But am I the only person who isn't naive enough to think Three isn't going to take every opportunity to sledge TVNZ (and vice…

Them's some scarey folk at kiwiblog. Perhaps David could name and shame people who make such comments?

Paul: Personally, I'd not have posted on this topic at all, and if I'd felt compelled to, I'd have put all comments in a moderation queue and weeded the psychos out. But, in…

How about this:

Pick ONE option only :-
1) John Key is Ruth Richardson with a strap-on.
2) Helen Clark is kd lang with a strap-on.
3) All of the above.
4) None of the above.

If that doesn't weed out all of the compulsive wingnuts, nothing will.

I'd like some media outlets to engage in some honest self-examination about exactly what 'public interest' considerations were really involved here.

Indeed. Am I the only one who wishes for the gory details to be reported after a conviction, or otherwise not at all?

Weeding the psychos

I had an idea the other day, when I went to site that uses a simple arithmetic problem instead of a Captcha. You could have an intelligence test to validate posters, e.g:
__Treaty Settlements have cost New Zealanders:
a. Far too much to featherbed them bloody maaaari.…

I'd have put all comments in a moderation queue and weeded the psychos out. But, in the end, it's his house and his rules.

Weeding the psychos probably involves simply deleting every other comment I suspect but I still think he kinda likes the psychos; it gives him something to…

Them's some scarey folk at kiwiblog. Perhaps David could name and shame people who make such comments?

Paul: Personally, I'd not have posted on this topic at all, and if I'd felt compelled to, I'd have put all comments in a moderation queue and weeded the psychos out. But, in…

And if those things are being paid for by adding to our pretty worrisome levels of personal debt (and with the consequences that flow on when people can't pay it off) then we've one hell of an elephant in the room. Would you agree?

To a point. That's why the…

I would note that Apple are also pretty silent on the Voda deal. If these things do sell like hot cakes then, I'm sorry, I don't believe anyone who says we are going through hard times

I kind of agree with you Don (we're going to have to stop doing…

How much of the RUC take actually goes to better roads, and how much goes to other things? My understanding is that transport tax stays in the transport area, but as far as I can tell it doesn't mean that it gets spent on roading.

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/funding/nltp/funding.html

i found this... looks…

From the point of view of this Canadian, it seems like Rogers is gouging its customers because it can. This is a company that…

No.

They did introduce a law that outlawed smacking. Smacking your children was legal before the passage of Sue Bradford's bill, and illegal following its passage. If that does not count as outlawing smacking then words have lost all meaning.

For me, the great pity about it all was the…

Yeah, well, more fool you. There's a reason why I decided to scroll past that thread (and pretty much everything else Veitch-related) entirely, and it's not my hitherto undisclosed pre-cognative abilities.

Them's some scarey folk at kiwiblog. Perhaps David could name and shame people who make such comments?

There is no middle of the road outlet to articulate opinion

But ... that's such a brilliant description of the truckers' demo.

Perhaps people realise perfectly well that truckies "paying their share" actually means the general populace paying more for everything via increased prices.

Exactly. I am trying, obviously not very well, to tease out how and why "the public" reacted, or perhaps didn't react overtly in the form of annoyance with…

His comments on the Tony Veitch case:

Yeah, well, more fool you. There's a reason why I decided to scroll past that thread (and pretty much everything else Veitch-related) entirely, and it's not my hitherto undisclosed pre-cognative abilities.

Do you not know that women are never ever responsible for anything that happens to them and are simply not capable of being violent themselves?

Just... wow.

alternatively, you could say that the things that damage roads (heavy trucks) should pay for their upkeep.

At the end of the day, who pays? It isn't the truckies. Its the general public, as always, because any price increase gets passed on. They already pay once for it already, why…

I was talking to a mate of mine and he was talking about how he had heard there had been no prosecutions under the anti-smacking law. The implication was that the law was pointless as it had no effect.

And my answer was that of course there were no prosecutions,…

A logical view point if times are tough might in fact be to say, lets subsidise them on this, because that way at least we aren't any further out of pocket than we are at present.

alternatively, you could say that the things that damage roads (heavy trucks) should pay…

His comments on the Tony Veitch case:

The last time I heard of someone I knew that gave their wife a good kicking, he found her in bed with…

George Darroch
Posted at 7:49PM on 7 Jul 08.

The anti-smacking bill should be scrapped, and replaced with the repeal of section 59 act .

Oh thank goodness someone said this.

After Drinking Liberally last week, I was talking to a mate of mine and he was talking about how…

1 – What does everyone "feeling the pinch" have to do with expecting truckers to pay their fair share for road use?

It goes something like "truckers are protesting against a rise in government charges because they are feeling the pinch. I too am feeling the pinch. Therefore I support…

Kerry Weston wrote:

It doesn't mean everyone thinks trucks shouldn't pay their fair whack. it was the blind, bossy push…

We wouldn't like it if China or Saudi Arabia tried to stop somebody blogging from here on their poltics, would we? (Well maybe some people...)

Fair point, Rich, and I'd agree with you. OTOH, I don't think we'd be very impressed if the Chinese or Saudi governments were covertly funding…

We wouldn't like it if China or Saudi Arabia tried to stop somebody blogging from here on their poltics, would we?

There was a strong suspicion at the time that the Craccum thefts were "encouraged" by diplomatic figures from China, which is pretty close to the same thing.
I dunno…

And so it should. Governments shouldn't go claiming extraterritorial jurisdiction, except with very serious things like war crimes, and then preferably by international…

I notice that there wasn't a single attributed comment from a National MP in that story, despite the fact that at least one will be on that committee (can't be arsed going to check the exact composition).

Well, to be fair, Matthew a select committee report is just that and…

If the election carries on this theme, I'ld be happy.

MPs call for improved ambulance services

Fat chance. There's mud to be flung and shit to be stirred. Can't see National being too keen on getting in behind a policy that'd require tens-of-millions more dollars being pumped into health, and…

Doesn't add much value to the political debate either.

Tabbed browsing, bloody wonderful as long as you're paying attention. :)

Hey, I explore obscure bills that will pass too – and some of those are things people should really be paying attention to.

Craig, I await the no8 response to I/S's criticism. I suspect, but don't know, that it'll deal with many of his/your concerns.

Well, I hope so. The folks behind the last iteration of this, KeepLeftNZ, weren't open at all. And, to be be perfectly cynical about it, all they to…

Partisan hackery is one thing, but dishonest partisan hacks who are (perhaps) being used by political parties to get around campaign finance rules? That should worry everyone.

Craig, I await the no8 response to I/S's criticism. I suspect, but don't know, that it'll deal with many of his/your concerns.

David is very keen to cultivate an image as that of a bipartisan expert.

I don't think David pretends to be anything of the kind, but hell... he actually gives the evil Liarbore Dykeocracy credit when he thinks its due, which admittedly isn't that often. That's a bad thing? :)…

Anyway, I don't mean to turn this into a thread about kiwiblog, I've done my thing about that and appreciate that others don't see it in quite the same way I do (plus, if anyone asked me to bag-out my mates in public, I'd…

The only reason that makes sense to me

Hmmph. Once more with feeling – another reason makes sense to me:

vanity

Might try watching from the get-go on C4...

vanity

You can hold Farrar or Slater entirely to account for their actions (whether I agree with you or not), but I'd say think very carefully about exactly what you mean by that bland word "associates".

You've picked your words carefully, I'll do likewise. David is very keen to cultivate an…

... the BNP's rise tells us more about Britain than just racism. It is a canary in the mine – an early warning system signalling the complacency of…

Slater is trapped at puberty.

Hmm... I assumed he was a schoolboy.

Polar fleece sleeveless vests!

and the winter dog walker – Robyn, you didn't point out ('cos I thought it was a brilliant observation) that polar fleece is made from rubbish.

Agreed, but Craig I was wondering why David associates with him?

I'm going to have to pick my words very carefully, here. I don't like Slater, the way he operates or his manners — and said so strongly enough to get a (relatively mild) squirt of venom that did nothing…

If I were to speculate... I'd say it's 'cause Slater says stuff that others won't but want someone too.

That's generally how gossip columnists work, Paul and there's nothing new about it. Neil Gabler wrote an excellent biography of Walter Winchell, the daddy of 'em all, which is fascinating reading…

And yet, as you say, people are happy to buddy up with him. You may have noticed that Bridget Saunders is now channelling his "tips" in her gossip pages. Perhaps someone should ask her about the company she keeps.

If I were to speculate... I'd say it's 'cause Slater says…

And yet, as you say, people are happy to buddy up with him. You may have noticed that Bridget Saunders is now channelling his "tips" in her gossip pages. Perhaps someone should ask her about the company she keeps.

Well, Russell, I guess the company Saunders (and her APN equivalent…

The odiousness of Slater is unbelievable. David almost certainly has cleaner hands than him, but I still find it remarkable that he continues to have any association with him.

I've been wondering about this. Slater's misogyny is so weird and so constant I wonder if he has a personality disorder.…

you just happen to on the other side of the political fence to me, thus you inspire more passion in my replies :)

Well, I don't thank that is always the issue. Trying to pin the Craig down whilst at the same time trying to filter the constant stream of…

After the frequent disparaging mentions of the Herald's Your Views, I thought I'd mention their current one:

What is the best thing since sliced bread?

I had a look and found this suggestion:

Polar fleece sleeveless vests!

It's the uniform of the suburban and the rural mum!

MPs call for improved ambulance services

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10520523

But I'm not holding my breath.

Great to know Low over cooked it and the AAG has now been biffed in the compost. I wonder what flys & worms will crawl over it now.

but someone sure seems a wee bit techy when pointing out that folks who like posturing on the moral high ground really should keep their own arses clean.

I hope you're not referring to me, because about 3 posts earlier I said that many have expressed outrage at Helen Clark's…

David: Not playing. You might just have a point if I ever said "the sun shines out of John Key's arse,…

The brilliant George Lakoff writing about why Obama should not lurch to the right

Maybe he's returning to where he really belongs (New Zealand's abortion laws are too liberal, even after the recent High Court decision etc.), after lurching left to win over committed lefty primary voters :-)

First, voters mostly vote not on the details of positions on issues, but on five aspects of what might be…

and the other faux-scandals spread by National party on-line smear specialists like Cameron Slater and David Farrar.

The odiousness of Slater is unbelievable. David almost certainly has cleaner hands than him, but I still find it remarkable that he continues to have any association with him.

What is the best thing since sliced bread?.

USB ports

So many errors in the above post I don't know where to begin.

Well, Don, Clark straight-forwardly told an untruth in the House last week, and one she feels absolutely no need to withdraw or apologise for

You may have found people like Clayton Cosgrove and Tariana Turia

…

What is the best thing since sliced bread?.

However every time someone raises a criticism of National you come back with a defence of "but Labour is worse..."

Balls, David. I'm sorry for being terse and snippy, but that's so far from reality it's just not funny.

That and it's a bit whistley to bring up the auditor…

But I'm more exercised, to be honest, by Key's cynical implication that someone in the Parliamentary Service is corrupt, to try and divert attention from the more obvious conclusion that someone in his organisation is leaking stuff to Nicky Hager.

And Key was, quite clearly, making shit up about Sparc.…

Hmm, the same North Shoreans who make weekly trips to the Westfield Mall at Albany, filling the carpark to capacity with late model BMWs and SUVs, before proceeding inside in an attempt to consume their way into the upper middle class?

dc_red: Damn, when does all this fabulousness go down?…

I'm equally annoyed by David Farrar towing the party line and backing the very silly suggestion by Key that the recent Hagar emails had been obtained by someone hacking into the Parliamentary Services email system. It's pretty obvious an insider is being very sneaky.

I think David knows full well…

Anything longer than a sentence he tended to mangle ... an ability he hasn't lost I noticed during…

can we just acknowledge that the bullshit isn't all on one side? Just a little bit?

People have. Numerous times. Most have expressed disgust at Helen for the attacks she launched at Key.

However every time someone raises a criticism of National you come back with a defence of "but…

I'm always prepared to give you the respect you so readily extend to others, Craig.

Fine, Rod, the next time Russell asks me a question do I get a chance to answer it on my own behalf before you make the cheap — and pretty off-beam — crack about my…

Hmm, the same North Shoreans who ...

Yeah, those ones.

How about misleading the House last Wednesday about his actions in 2002 and 2003, is that within the jurisdiction of the Privileges Committee?

Craig, I didn't approve of what Clark did last week — not least because she got at least part of it wrong.

But I'm more exercised, to…

How about misleading the House last Wednesday about his actions in 2002 and 2003, is that within the jurisdiction of the Privileges Committee?

Too late now.

A complaint of a contempt of Parliament must be raised at the first opportunity. That was Thursday.

Give the respect

I'm always prepared to give you the respect you so readily extend to others, Craig.

smart-arse?

Pot, kettle, et al.

Why did so many people back Muldoon-era minister Tony Friedlander's striking truck drivers even though it is better for them that truck companies pay a bigger share of the cost of roads? Because the truckers were giving…

110-proof is normally around 55%, right?

I was thinking more "makes you blind and crazy very quickly", Graeme. :)

Not really. The allegations are of impropriety in 2002 or 2003 – during the term of the 47th Parliament. The Privileges Committee has no jurisdiction over matters arising in an earlier…

"From now on, I want to distance myself from the AAG, which is becoming no different to the criminals and gangs that we are lobbying to have stronger laws against," said Francis Chai, chairman of the group's recruitment committee.

"Our…

and thanks for the death wish.

Oh dear, Don... we're all going to shuffle off this mortal coil eventually, but you do seem determined to hurry yourself along. And how ironic that a few lines before you were complaining:

Another of your traits is to put words in folks' mouths…

now the great sign of John Key’s lack of ethics is, well, he behaved in an ethical manner?

Your words not mine. I never said JK behaved unethically, mostly because I don't believe he has. Another of your traits is to put words in folks' mouths that were never said/written.…

WTF, not the "Labour dirt file" thing again. How many time have we heard that is on it's way and it never materialises? You really are an ugly bit of work aren't you Craig?

Sorry if the truth hurts, Don, but lashing out doesn't change reality. You may have found…

Though it's fine with me if Clark doesn't — another wild and easily busted dip into the dirt file in the final week of the campaign should do the trick.

WTF, not the "Labour dirt file" thing again. How many time have we heard that is on it's way and…

This suggests that voters believe National controls business and that the prices currently on items like cheese will…

National [...] stand for not much other than the suspicion that we might as well bend over now

...As I head in to the office each week, I ask myself just how badly things will go at work. My route takes me past a JOMO service station offering as if…

Evasive.

Rodgerd: Give the respect of not presuming to speak for me, or this is going to be a very painful campaign season. He's not a slick operator, I've said loud and clear that he's certainly neither fiscally conservative nor socially liberal enough for my liking, but FFS he's no…

Eh!? You're saying there was no wedge politics in National's campaign last time? "Mainstream"? Iwi/Kiwi? Race-based policies? One law for all?

Come on Russell, do you expect elections to be lovey dovey. They are nasty, ego driven affairs, and we can both expect our liberal sensibilities to be hurt. We…

The thing about the wop wops is that no-one lives there, which means that electorally, they don't matter now that we have MMP.
Harsh, but true.

Cut the Cable! Indpendence for the South Island!

Lets see how far your spendthrift coal fired electricity ways get you when the hydro and…

Oddly enough, the last Fairfax poll, iirc, has Labour ahead in Christchurch and Dunedin — it's Auckland where they're really dying.

In an ironic reversal of the 1970s, where Muldoon could stay in power by fucking the country for rural electorates, while it appears National may be able to get…

"I can think of nothing better than some low life american style gangster wanna-be getting a good karate kick to the bollocks for his efforts!"
"Shoot twice,…

Sorry guys, but I cannot think of that quote – could you please pass it on?

I'm damned if I can find the exact wording, but Bolger is reputed to have mused ...

Ah ... you should have an autographed copy of his autobiography then.

Page 177:

Parliamentary colleagues approached…

RB, do you really think if Clark had replaced most of the front bench then, but leaving Cullen there, and brought in the anti-smacking bill etc, things would be different now? I don't think so.

Except that they didn't "bring in the anti-smacking bill"; it was Sue Bradford's private member's…

Oddly enough, the last Fairfax poll, iirc, has Labour ahead in Christchurch and Dunedin — it's Auckland where they're really dying.

I don't know if you should take that much out of Labour being ahead in Dunedin. I think Dunedin North & South are pretty much the definition of 'safe seat'…

I was scoffed at last week when I said that the Labour were out of touch
But that is what it feels like out in the wops, wops

The thing about the wop wops is that no-one lives there, which means that electorally, they don't matter now that we have…

Christchurch and Dunedin are not the wops, wops
You, of all people know that

Yes we are. And proud of it. Well we don't eat this.
.

Well, Don, Clark straight-forwardly told an untruth in the House last week, and one she feels absolutely no need to withdraw or apologise for.

But to address your swift change of subject, you got all hot and bothered about that "untruth"…

I don't believe the mood for change (of Government) would be so prevalent if Labour had stayed fresh and with an ongoing vision.

I think you're right. They needed fresh talent and a plan for a fresh orientation immediately after winning three years ago.

RB, do you really think if…

Unfortunately, I feel less relaxed about a National-led government than I did a month ago.

You felt relaxed? I'm looking at the front bench and it's feeling like back to the 90s. Katherine Rich was a great loss. No doubt Key will be ok with some good guidance but where…

I agree, mostly because for the first time in almost ever I am probably not voting Labour (voted Greens once). I think I am doing this for rational reasons, mostly concerning the EFA and possible ETS. I don't think I am acting…

I think you're right. They needed fresh talent and a plan for a fresh orientation immediately after winning three years ago.

Indeed – it feels to me like the NZ electorate needs fresh "step-change" approaches (not necessarily step-change action, but step-change views) every 2.5 terms or so. This helps explain…

But I think you will find that even in Chch the next polls will show a swing away from Labour
Time will tell of course

Well, Don, Clark straight-forwardly told an untruth in the House last week, and one she feels absolutely no need to withdraw or apologise for. But that doesn't matter, right?

No, it does matter. But Key's performance in that interview was weird and — as ever — evasive.

C'mon Craig, how…

However, as far as "The Mood" goes Key's less that straight forward performance under a grilling from Havoc is pretty damaging, IMHO. So many ways he could have dealt with this issue other than the one he chose. The contrast with Clark on a similar topic is stark.

Well, Don,…

What all of this ignores is that National have used them for years, and the evidence of past NZ national party campaigns suggests that this will not happen.

Eh!? You're saying there was no wedge politics in National's campaign last time? "Mainstream"? Iwi/Kiwi? Race-based policies? One law for all?

Were…

Oddly enough, the last Fairfax poll, iirc, has Labour ahead in Christchurch and Dunedin

and Wellington too.

I don't believe the mood for change (of Government) would be so prevalent if Labour had stayed fresh and with an ongoing vision.

I think you're right. They needed fresh talent and a plan for a fresh orientation immediately after winning three years ago.

I think it's obvious that losing…

I was scoffed at last week when I said that the Labour were out of touch

But that is what it feels like out in the wops, wops

Oddly enough, the last Fairfax poll, iirc, has Labour ahead in Christchurch and Dunedin — it's Auckland where they're really dying.

I…

I'm equally annoyed by David Farrar towing the party line and...

Stuff like that would give him a hernia! :)

Possibly, but whoever managed to make the public forget that National voted in favour of the same bill certainly has something going on.

People remember the Nats opposition, it was loud and strident…

I don't believe the mood for change (of Government) would be so prevalent if Labour had stayed fresh and with an ongoing vision.
I get the feeling that they had a well-planned 2-term vision in '99 – First term to roll back…

Even though the Govt. (any Govt.) can't do much about many of these things

That general idea has been repeated quite a few times, but it isn't entirely true. The current Government for example, has until recently rejected out of hand the notion that oil supplies may be [[http://theoildrum.com|near or…

I wonder, if someone in a PPPP on P…

I'm not sure what the rest of your rant means.

Unclear, yes, a rant no. What I was trying to say was that the Sunday Star Times, and I think you to Russell, are attempting to say that because the National Party have employed Crosby/Textor (a company who have done…

but correct me if I'm wrong in believing that if anyone on the PAS threatened to "fuck the bloody ass" of either a reporter or another PAS member, it would be taken poorly by everyone.

In all fairness, that's quite funny in an absurd over the top kinda way

Nobody really believes that John Key is going to sell their children into foreign-owned multinational slavery

I thought he ate babies? Didn't we discuss this? Wasn't that the consensus?

Dammit, has Key changed his nefarious actions again? I can't keep up.

2) Cursing out the media is A-OK for enlightened people like us, but not wannabe ninjas who talk funny.

Peter Low can curse out the media all he wants, but correct me if I'm wrong in believing that if anyone on the PAS threatened to "fuck the bloody ass" of…

how about

6) after nine years of any government, we're bound to want a change

I'm not sure to what extent I'd actually buy that — though you can, if you're so inclined, dismiss that as my knee-jerk distain for pollsters and lazy hacks looking for a hook to hang…

I have an idea that there is a team of people lined up to post in places like the Auckland Herald…