"ouch, ouchy, it burns, it burns"

But said like Jon Stewart would..

Wishart will surely run out o adjectives when the Rapture arrives (in a couple o hours, innit?)

Other than "ouch, ouchy, it burns, it burns"?

How's this for dubious but, games the fundies play where the unbelievers get toasted

Re Wishart
His teaser mp3 indicates that it's a passport scandal

Damn, I had money on it being The Rapture.

I'm wondering if Wishart's like one of those people with a wonky internal thermostat – you know, the ones that start whinging about the cold when everybody else is quite comfortable.

Maybe he sees a

scandal

, and instantly his…

But I do advise doing it as early as possible so that there's not so much bile to plow…

My gods, it's not even in print yet and already the beasts are foaming. But i did like the last comment:

How often do we have to tell people, there's no prize for reading to the end of a kiwiblog page.

My gods, it's not even in print yet and already the beasts are foaming. But i did like the last comment:

Is this the biggest most unprecendented political scandal since the last one?

What sort of an election would it be without some last minute carpet-bombing from Wishart and/or Hager?

I'm scared you knew that was there...

I was following a link from Andrew Sullivan's blog to what was touted as a far-right punditry site. It's true what they say about Kiwis, we get everywhere.

I'm scared you knew that was there...

This is what that majority looks like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0

Tamaki Drive?

That was what I thought, too.

I also thought:

"cause it just belongs to you and me [an unacceptable situation which post-election will be remedied by the implementation of a plan to have it taken into private ownership, with ongoing maintenance and infrastrucutre costs covered by a public-private…

He sees the winding ocean drive

Tamaki Drive?

I attended an Obama rally in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend and while I can't speak for a McCain rally, I found the Obama rally to be a really inspiring event

There's another take on how much fun the Obama rallies are in this piece in…

He sees the bright and hollow sky

Perfick !

"but if he's in the passenger seat, who's driving?"

Oh the passenger
He rides and he rides
He looks through his window
What does he see?
He sees the bright and hollow sky
He sees the stars come out tonight
He sees the citys ripped backsides
He sees the winding…

Obviously not, but I find it amusing that people who wouldn't accept this kind of b.s. from a tradesman ("I'll give you the estimate for the job after you've hired me"), but go into raptures when it's being fed to them by a politician.

Sounds like every election, in pretty…

As Nationals policy is "Me Too!" What are you on about Craig?

Shep: What are you going on about? You might like to bugger off and listen to my latest Public Address Radio piece, and get the clue that I'm very far from impressed with National at the moment. Lots…

Actually, I'm not sure he was hopeful of your vote.

Obviously not, but I find it amusing that people who wouldn't accept this kind of b.s. from a tradesman ("I'll give you the estimate for the job after you've hired me"), but go into raptures when it's being fed to…

It's not anything more than they got, so get off your high horse, it's drowning in shit.

As Nationals policy is "Me Too!" What are you on about Craig?

A whole lotta CowBoys are voting for National, hell some might even stand. Yee Haa

And I sure expect a hell of a lot better than being told by Cullen what we just have wait until after the election for the costings of his stimulus package.

Actually, I'm not sure he was hopeful of your vote.

Anyway, I used to work doing research for a…

or become fashion designers, film-makers, musicians, etc..

I should point out, that there are top quality courses in Dunedin for all three of these things. The polytech has a good fashion design course, there's the a postgraduate diploma in natural history filmmaking at the university, working with the Natural History…

An additional $210 million seems about right.

Not good enough, Kyle. I actually expect a little better from both our wannabe Prime Ministers and Ministers of Finance. And I sure expect a hell of a lot better than being told by Cullen what we just have wait until after the…

Well, it might be nice if we actually had some healthily sceptical and informed analysis from the media. (If you want to go there, how many students are getting in hock to eat? Really?)

Only if they also ask how many welfare beneficiaries are getting into hock to eat. Ah…

And how many of our less well off citizens would become students if they didn't face that prospect?

Sacha: Here's another hard question you're never going to have any political party with the testicular (or ovarian) fortitude to ask — could it just be possible that more means less and,…

how many students are getting in hock to eat?

And how many of our less well off citizens would become students if they didn't face that prospect?

I think you're making some enormous assumptions about how much help most students get from their parents.

Lucy: Well, it might be nice if we actually had some healthily sceptical and informed analysis from the media. (If you want to go there, how many students are getting in hock to…

My main go-to-media figure Krugman won the Nobel prize. I feel so vindicated.

Why should students be the only people tied to their parents until they are 25 financially?

That's the one aspect that really didn't make a lot of sense to me, not least because the majority (or at least a sizeable proportion) would've finished their degree by the time they're 22…

Michael Cullen's stepchildren

Craig, it is a little known fact, but Michael Cullen actually has one child of his own, a son (presumably an adult now). I've no idea if he actually has any step-children.

Why should students be the only people tied to their parents until they are 25 financially?

Yep, always struck me as downright ridiculous.

Morning report links:
(stream) http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/ntn/2008/10/14/labours_universal_student_allowance_policy
(MP3) http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ntn/ntn-20081014-0907-Labours_Universal_Student_Allowance_Policy-048.mp3
(Ogg Vorbis) http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ntn/ntn-20081014-0907-Labours_Universal_Student_Allowance_Policy.ogg

Any hard questions about what it's going to cost (really) and how it's going to all be paid for (really)? Don't be stupid.

I think how much it's going to cost is $210 million, and based on my preliminary analysis, that's a fairly accurate figure. How it's going to be…

I saw Clark speak at Otago Uni in 2005 as well and she seemed very robotic and blandly efficient in giving her stump speech. It was lacklustre.

I have not been following 2008 closely. But you are right, in 2005 Labour were laboured. Cullen in particular seemed plodding and not…

But, hell, it doesn't matter how fiscally irresponsible and flat out unfair it is, we're all pissing our pants with glee as just how clever Labour is.

I think you're making some enormous assumptions about how much help most students get from their parents. There'll always be a few who…

When I got up this morning, DPF had a fairly toxic ranting post on kiwiblog talking about how disgusting and awful Labour's student allowance policy was. It now appears to be gone. Is it just me falling foul of Kiwiblog's weird very slow cache thing that…

It's interesting that other people seem to be spotting Helen Clark in fine fettle. They live by their research, those people, and I wonder if she's seen something that makes her think it's all on again.

I wonder if it's just that National have now laid the cards on the…

Wouldn't there be more "social good" (as Russell puts it) if $250 million a year was being put into tertiary institutions to provide high quality courses, and recruit and retain quality staff?

It's a fair point. Good knows the AUS would appreciate your support (though they might be surprised). Staff…

And if we're mentioning the utterly meaningless, the Opposition front bench has got to be under the microscope

Oh, come on Mark... If National was promising John and Bronwyn Key's kids student allowances there would be a most healthy scepticism. But, hell, it doesn't matter how fiscally irresponsible and flat…

Shame they haven't managed the "slick" bit yet.

Yes, actually. We judge the quality of people's thinking, and to some extent their character, by the way they speak.

Does that include the slick but utterly meaningless, if not outright deceptive? I'd hire Tony Blair to MC a wedding reception in a New York nano-second, but any elected office?…

Hmm – "Clark, by contrast, was standing, smiling and enunciating every word like she meant it." Yeah Right.

Note to self – "Through Helen all things are possible, well at least good diction.”

Yes, actually. We judge the quality of people's thinking, and to some extent their character, by the…

Warnings

A can of self-defense pepper spray says it may
irritate the eyes, while a bathroom heater says it's
not to be used in bathrooms. I collect warnings
the way I used…

And Bill English on Checkpoint was equally un-scathing.

Sadly, Simon, you're too fucking right. Why wasn't Bill saying, "And could Labour tell us what's 'fair' about my children — and John's and Michael Cullen's stepchildren — getting student allowances?"

Note to self – "Through Helen all things are possible, well at least good diction.”

Her appearance at the NZ Music Awards made me hurl – Rock Me Baby – she appeared…

"but if he's in the passenger seat, who's driving?"
I think the message is that under National we'll ALL have chauffeurs....

Drat, beaten to it – I was going to say "the help, dear".

And did that choir seem a little short on non-Asian, non-Pakeha faces to you? I guess…

Palin etc...

As a representative of our political system, she's a new low in reptilian villainy

Oh how I would have enjoyed Hunter S's take on it all....

According to Critic he's not appearing on campus. I briefly spoke to the ODT's political writer, Dene McKenzie, before Clark's appearance and he said that while Key's in Dunedin on Thursday, the media won't know his actual schedule until that morning.

Kinda as I expected then. I remember talking to…

While the student loans announcement is nice, I was more pleased – or more accurately – relieved by the TV ad for Labour I've just seen.

It's like the opening broadcast on Friday: Clark, sitting down, discussing an issue, as the camera pans gently from left to right.

It's nothing…

I think the message is that under National we'll ALL have chauffeurs....

Or maybe not....

What I want to know is whether John Key will actually address the students in Dunedin in an address-type situation- usually he just does the "speak to the marketing students/first year pol sci students" thing.

According to Critic he's not appearing on campus. I briefly spoke to the ODT's political…

Rolling Stone on "mad dog Palin".

Rolling Stone sticks it to McCain as well.

Make-Believe Maverick

Apologies. Mark Graham had already linked this on page 1.

Grant McDougall was inside when I walked past earlier, hopefully he'll report.

Oooh, if I must...it's interesting that the commentators are saying that Labour's more energetic as the campaign begins. I saw Clark speak at Otago Uni in 2005 as well and she seemed very robotic and blandly efficient in…

nice to see that all our economic problems are the fault of rich pricks like John Key and not over-extended debt junkies whose votes are being pandered for without shame

The way I see it is that the bigger the tax cut, the greater the leverage available to keep on…

Mr Key said the announcement was "an interesting idea" and his party would announce its student loan policy in the coming weeks.

"We will indicate a more generous scheme but it won't be universal at this time," he told reporters.

And Bill English on Checkpoint was equally…

Then, the (overtly pro-National) Fairfax Media group began publishing polls that tend mirror the C-B poll result.

Then, the (overtly pro-National) Herald also published the Herald-Digipoll that also…

I assume Labour have (hopefully) learnt from their gamble back in 2005 where they were less than totally accurate about the actual cost of the interest-free loan package.

If I'm right in thinking that the cost in this year's Budget was $300m, then they were bang on.

On the general point…

Eddie: It would if we actually had serious media scrutiny. Here's my crystal ball looking fifty eight minutes into the future: What an act of strategic genius, now here's the student politicians and usual suspects who think it's a work of genius. Any hard questions about what it's going to…

Btw- I meant "free again." I mean, it hasn't been free to anyone since the guys in parliament were finishing Uni! And it would be utterly unfeasible today.

Over the last nine years, we've had a Labour Government who have tried not to make it too much worse, rather than trying to actually solve it.

Actually, I think that's a little unfair. The fee maxima had a dramatic impact on debt levels and there was an interest/repayment change…

When I was over there taking a peek, I was struck by how much dogwhistling your base into a lather over the culture wars now suddenly looks so tired and irrelevant. Shower heads? Christmas Crackers? Tuck shop pies?

Well, Tom, nice to see that all our economic problems are the…

This looks irresponsible and election-bribey.

Eddie: It would if we actually had serious media scrutiny. Here's my crystal ball looking fifty eight minutes into the future: What an act of strategic genius, now here's the student politicians and usual suspects who think it's a work of genius. Any hard questions…

Sarah Palin is a symbol of everything that is wrong with the modern United States. As a representative of our political system, she's a new low in reptilian villainy, the ultimate cynical masterwork of puppeteers like Karl Rove. But more than that, she…

Kyle, I know the point you're making but how do you ration public investment? The educational benefits of early childhood education are huge and yet its not fully/universally funded.

Yes, but no one argues "well there's a private benefit to early childhood education, so the kids/parents should have to pay".…

Shower heads? Christmas Crackers? Tuck shop pies?

Look, while a large proportion of the Kiwiblog regulars may be a little, you know, "differently abled", there's no need for name-calling.

Over the last nine years, we've had a Labour Government who have tried not to make it too much worse, rather than trying to actually solve it.

Actually, I think that's a little unfair. The fee maxima had a dramatic impact on debt levels and there was an interest/repayment change…

bonus outraged splutter about Xmas crackers.

That one is quite funny, it seems the things that go "bang" in a Christmas cracker are (and probably always have been) classified as fireworks & are therefore governed by importation of explosives regulations.

I keep imagining freak christmas cracker accidents ruining everyones' christmas festivities.

When I was over there taking a peek, I was struck by how much dogwhistling your base into a lather over the culture wars now suddenly looks so tired and irrelevant. Shower heads? Christmas Crackers? Tuck shop pies?

Good…

The insertion of the "public/private benefit for tertiary education" juxtaposition in the public dialogue will be one of the most significant lasting impacts of the 1990 – 1999 National government. It shows no signs of going away.

Kyle, I know the point you're making but how do you ration public…

Rolling Stone on "mad dog Palin".

Rolling Stone sticks it to McCain as well.

Make-Believe Maverick

Kyle: and certainly as we move even further into mass tertiary education, its a distinction we should just give up on, just as we have for secondary school.

Ironically, as numbers into tertiary education exploded in the 1990s, we moved the other way.

So, hang on a sec, previously both parents could be working full time on the minimum wage (thus earning 47,000 gross), and their kids wouldn't be eligible for a full student allowance?

And it certainly was the case (not sure if it still is now) that those parents could be…

The threshold isn't the measure of private benefit

Maybe not in theory, but thats exactly what it is in practice. How else are we to interpret the point where we have to start paying?

Kyle: and certainly as we move even further into mass tertiary education, its a distinction we…

But really, it's a bandaid until a fully workable programme on how to actually reduce mounting student debt is found.

I'm not sure how the models would work out, but it would possibly reduce overall debt for about 10 years. It would certainly do a lot to hold it steady.…

The next step for the future will be to raise the repayment threshold. Currently, the government thinks the "private benefit" of tertiary education kicks in at less than the minimum wage. Which is pretty laughable when you think about it.

The 'private benefit' arguments that have flown around about Tertiary…

Labour's ads are also on Trade Me.

What's the reserve? Any bids?

There's plenty of studies that have attempted to estimate the value of the benefits of…

The greatest problem of student loans has not been student debt IMHO. It been the turning of our universities into intellectually sterile degree factories where people look for the meal ticket that will justify all…

Oh riiiiiight, the guy who's probably going to be…

Currently, the government thinks the "private benefit" of tertiary education kicks in at less than the minimum wage.

I/S, could you elaborate? I've seen studies that put this figure all over the show... but mostly more than the minimum wage.

Interestingly, it's not going to be at the…

My favourite quote:

It even crossed my mind that there was an element of weirdly self-destructive pique in McCain's decision to cave in to his party's right-wing base... by picking the most…

But really, it's a bandaid until a fully workable programme on how to actually reduce mounting student debt is found.

But its a bloody good bandaid. This stops that debt from growing; after 2012, students will only be in hock for their fees and course-related costs, which means they will…

It'll have a much smaller impact upon the coffers than straight-out expenditure.

A lot of the money isn't additional money lost to the government, it's a transfer out of money the government currently lends in the form of student loans, to expenditure in the form of allowances.

There will be…

And now I've written that, I wonder if the $210 million figure is the additional expenditure, over and above the current amount spent on the loan scheme.

That's what I assumed, Kyle. Without offsetting the expected reduction in borrowing, $210 m seems a very small number to give allowances to…

But seriously, the timing for this is strange, at once cynical and desperate. In the long run it probably won't break the coffers that much, but the real question is whether it's actually worth the risk.

It'll have a much smaller impact upon the coffers than straight-out expenditure.

A lot…

This incredulous ABC correspondent's blog ponders Palin's counter to the ethics report.

The ABC reporter is using the rules as they apply to normal people. I think Andrew Sullivan has it pretty much right.

Again: this is the clear pattern with Palin: she publicly denies reality, insists on repeating that…

Wonder how many heart ops or state houses this might have bought?

And why do we need a 'mini budget' so soon after the election…

Quick note on the Key ad: a poll of my flat showed that the general first thought was "but if he's in the passenger seat, who's driving?". Subtext Fail.

And was it just me or is he not wearing a seatbelt? Wife thought he might be but I couldn't see…

In the long run it probably won't break the coffers that much, but the real question is whether it's actually worth the risk.

Especially when raising the amount you're allowed to borrow for living costs by more than five bucks (could that have *been* more insulting*?) would have got a…

I can't help wondering if the assumptions on the costing are as heroic as they were for the student/parent bribe in 2005.

Shit yeah. Labour better have caculated this properly otherwise the National Party is going to OIA this to hell. As they have every right to- I mean, I'm…

Quick note on the Key ad: a poll of my flat showed that the general first thought was "but if he's in the passenger seat, who's driving?". Subtext Fail.

ah ha ha ha ha ha

the VRWC of course

Audrey Young:

If you had arrived in Auckland from another planet and gone to both launches, you'd probably have thought that National was the tired old Government and that Labour was the fresh invigorated party on the brink of power.

It was that stark:…

The policy would cost $210 million a year once it is fully implemented.

I can't help wondering if the assumptions on the costing are as heroic as they were for the student/parent bribe in 2005.

Agree. If that costing is accurate, it's not wildly unaffordable, but with the PREFU numbers and the rhetoric about not trusting National to run a tight ship, announcing it now (rather than making some vague promise about "further support of tertiary education students" then doing the details in this December…

I guess $210m a year come 2012 isn't an outrageous amount of money but it does seem an odd time to announce it.

Agree. If that costing is accurate, it's not wildly unaffordable, but with the PREFU numbers and the rhetoric about not trusting National to run a tight ship,…

Quick note on the Key ad: a poll of my flat showed that the general first thought was "but if he's in the passenger seat, who's driving?". Subtext…

The policy would cost $210 million a year once it is fully implemented.

The threshold for receiving an allowance will rise from $45,743 now to $50,318 on January 1 2009.

It will then rise to $70,000 in 2010, $100,000 in 2011 and be abolished in 2012.

I guess $210m a…

Just flat-out lying about it, it seems:

"Well, I’m very very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing," Palin said, "any hint of any kind of unethical activity there. Very pleased to be cleared of any of…

H1's announcement of universal student benefits is smart – whether it is enough to swing that…

This looks irresponsible and election-bribey. And the student voting bloc is not large. Whatever you think of the underlying policy, right…

I don't think he's quite the image National is going for.

But do they?

There's so many quasi independent bloggers claiming inside knowledge and experience of National and most of them are complete morons, none moreso that Cameron Slater, and yet National doesn't declaim them.

I don't think many parties…

Grant McDougall was inside when I walked past…

Will be interesting to see details and affordability...

That Labour pack looks a bit stronger now that the Otago loose forward Benson-Pope, who spent far too much time in the sin-bin, has retired.

Sorry Paul- the rugby analogies are still working if getting a little stretched. DBP was in our high school rugby team – as a prop…

Rather hyperbolic headline, sure, and should partly be put down to the bragging of the secessionists but interesting that they aren't quite as removed from her as she'd have…

National will do well keeping Winston's extracirricular activities in the forefront of the public mind. If Helen Clark's "This one's about trust" is juxatuposed with Helen Clark's continual trust of Winston "race-baiter, back-pockets" Peters it works well for National.

The risk is that it comes across like McCain banging on…

Worse, he might cause people to have sympathy for Winnie.

Even a highly unlikely 2% swing in sympathy to NZ First would still be a dead vote. It is worth the risk.

National will do well keeping Winston's extracirricular activities in the forefront of the public mind. If Helen Clark's…

Craig: I call unfair out of context quoting

Paul: I thought I was taking the piss, but seriously. If I was going to fault Hooten for anything, it was making himself available to be the straight man for what was obviously going to be Willie playing Sean Hannity to Winnie's…

Why do all the children in those advertisements (Ansell's as well as the Greens') look so odd? The obvious answer – that they probably go to Steiner schools – is not enough to explain their curious faces.

On Hooten, earlier a commentator here wondered if Franks would provide the macaca moment, I think it's now clear its all Matthew's.

Paul Williams: Could you at least trot out the Yankee political clichés with some precision? I would fault Matthew for the grotesque libel on vaginas — that most…

McCain – reckless and dishonest

That interview with gayle quinnel is amazing, she's terrified.

Of course the real reason is that he's a…

With so much at stake, and time running short, Frederick did not feel he had the luxury of subtlety. He climbed atop a folding chair to…

Finally, I am very proud that I have looked Peters in the eye and called him a liar, a crook and a fucking cunt. He has…

A funny man has an Obama doll he calls "LIttle Hussein". It's a ... a monkey doll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKUovpF9LWU

A much larger crowd than expected turned out. Everyone was cheerful, enthusiastic and positive. The police merely stood back…

Now that the match is being played out in very slippery and windy conditions, the experience of the Labour forward pack is proving to be very useful.