Island Life by David Slack

I'm kind of bemused by all this gnashing of teeth on the electoral financing issues - it's a new law - there's likely to be a whole bunch of similar cases (I heard mention of a Nat party van paid for by the taxpayers with a similar paint job) until people start getting it right

It doesn't take much for someone to take a sharpie and write the appropriate disclaimer on a sign be it on a car or a hoarding - I kind of think that rather than playing 'gotcha' is just asking for the other guys to come after you (I do wonder if Labour is saving up their complaints until later in the year when it will have more effect)

What they should have done is created a phase in period (maybe through June) in which time so long as things were put right quickly only wrists would be slapped

some kind of Trevor

I'll be thinking of ways to use that phrase now.

He looks like a dodgy funeral director to me. Prophetic?

I couldn't help but laugh at the Herald - under the sidebar "Democracy under attack" was the story "Parties sday ggodbye to secret cash".

Some attack on democracy that!

I'm kind of bemused by all this gnashing of teeth on the electoral financing issues - it's a new law - there's likely to be a whole bunch of similar cases (I heard mention of a Nat party van paid for by the taxpayers with a similar paint job) until people start getting it right

Ignorantia juris non excusat, Paul. But I'm kinda bemused that King's Law of Common Sense doesn't seem to be working out for the very politicians who poo-pooed the idea that the EFA was hardly a case study in legislative clarity.

As I think I've mentioned here before I ran off and lived in the US for 20 years - I've seen first hand how corrosive money is in politics - in general I'm very much in favour of limiting it's effect and making its sources as open as possible

I see politics as a marketplace of ideas - I don't think we should be in a position where one idea has an advantage just because it has more money behind it - we should be choosing between those ideas on their merits instead

As I think I've mentioned here before I ran off and lived in the US for 20 years - I've seen first hand how corrosive money is in politics - in general I'm very much in favour of limiting it's effect and making its sources as open as possible

And I've said repeatedly that I'd support a serious and thoughtful package of electoral finance reforms, no matter where they came from.
The Electoral Finance (Let's Fuck Up Those Scarf-Wearing Weirdos Who Almost Stole The Election From Us) Bill was not it, and while schedenfreude is an undignified and degrading emotion I'm quite happy to see politicians hoist on their own legislative petard. It's cheaper than tickets to the circus.

Ooh Postman Pat. Good imagery. Now you need to photoshop a black and white cat in Trevor's car window, to complete the picture.

I do like the way DPF campaigned that this law would curtail free speech, yet had no compunction to attempt to silence the EPMU using the very same law. Is he doing it for irony's sake ?

Is he doing it for irony's sake ?

I'd give him the benefit of the doubt on that, he's demonstrating that the law will curtail free speech.

Of course one could be trite (I know I'm going to) and point out that the law only applies to paid for speech

So obviously the Minister for Rugby is a stupid fool like Mike Williams was accused of being?

Or maybe this is a stupid & unworkable law?

Mikaere - Sweet 16 on the Green List - good on you.

And umm there is one thing that sticks in my mind about panel vans and its not the innocence of Postman Pat.

only applies to paid for speech

Nice point!

And umm there is one thing that sticks in my mind about panel vans and its not the innocence of Postman Pat.

I know, it's postman pat's pussy.

Andrew - something like that ;)

This might be more Trevors thing but it has lots of SWEARING and is NOT WORK SAFE for those in fun free zones.

When I think of Trevor I think of Magical Trevor...

Mikaere - Sweet 16 on the Green List - good on you.

Oh yeah -- I saw that, and meant to mention it. Nice one -- have a good campaign, Mikaere.

Cheers guys.

Hopefully we'll get to finish this campaign without a Corngate/Brethren type calamity falling out of the sky...