Posts by Sacha
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to Rob Stowell,
the MP
Can we please not abbreviate the Maori Party like that. I always read it as Member of Parliament, by far the more established usage.
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to James Butler,
But I wonder if Rudman is over-estimating Banks' dedication to the CBD rail link, and under-estimating his dedication to his own electoral success.
I'd say so. And can you imagine Banks standing up to Joyce when his tongue is so firmly planted up Key's behind?
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to BenWilson,
True, the balance alters in the Maori Party's favour if National loses the expected one seat, or another one which seems vanishingly unlikely.
However unless the Mana and Maori parties get over their antipathy and the same for Winston and the Greens, the only viable ruling combination includes National even if the Maori Party enters into a looser arrangement with them than last time. That would reduce their ability to negotiate any concessions - and Turia said point blank yesterday that being in opposition offers them "Nothing".
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to Keir Leslie,
I am very confident that the specials will swing for Labour, given that they always do
In line with the general count, wouldn't you expect some to instead go to the Greens and Winston First this time?
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Legal Beagle: Referendum '11: counting…, in reply to Idiot Savant,
Why did they dispense with such a basic protection?
Did anyone cast a referendum vote without at the same time casting an election vote where the usual protections applied?
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,
They will win one way or another, so supporting sales can work for them.
Can you say more about how you see that working?
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to Joshua Arbury,
If the left had been smarter
Is anyone doing research on why left voters fail to vote strategically?
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to BenWilson,
if the Maori Party decides that being spanked into oblivion in 2014 isn't what they spent all that time building a party for
Victoria University's Maria Bargh recommended yesterday on Marae Investigates that they enter specific MOUs like the Greens have done, to minimise the tainting that Sharples acknlowledged explicitly on the show and on election night had probably cost them votes this time. The prospect of continued Ministerial power for their retiring leaders will probably prevail, though who knows what the party's members will say when they're consulted shortly.
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to BenWilson,
it is still actually possible, as an outside shot
not sure how, from what I've seen discussed about specials.
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to Joshua Arbury,
in 2014 we could have a Labour PM but National be the largest party. Hopefully the country is mature enough to handle such an outcome.
Hopefully it is prepared maturely for the prospect - by the left - before then. Cos you know how Joyce and co will be spinning it in the meantime, and we've just what happens if that's not countered forcefully.