Posts by Lyndon Hood

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  • Hard News: From soundbite to policy,

    Surely neither Farrar nor anybody else believes the Government can finance the tax cuts and all the other Urgent commitments by cutting bureaucracy?

    The tax cuts was specific things like the kiwisaver and the cutting R&D tax credits that, the way they worked it out at the time, left them slightly ahead. As far as all the rest goes I don't know that we saw anything like a shadow budget.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: From soundbite to policy,

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: From soundbite to policy,

    Yeah, the actual programme is their campaign with variations, so complaining about the intent may be reasonable but it's not as if they're doing anything pernicious.

    And I'm thinking Rodney is setting up to be John's Winston, perhaps with the added bonus that one suspects outside the terms of his agreement Rodney is still mentally in opposition (unlike the Maori Party?).

    But without the select comittees, the laws will be bad in new, unexpected ways. Perhaps not in ways the people who voted for the Govt will mind, tho.

    There was back and forth about the education standard thing which basically had National insisting the national standards wasn't national standardised testing and their opponent were foolish for misunderstanding. Thoughts?

    And is this going to come in next year and is that why it's urgent? That would still be alarming.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: From soundbite to policy,

    So when they say "irony", do you think of a clothes-presser or a blacksmith?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Birth of the Nasty,

    Perhaps it's done on solid legal advice

    Well, it's fair to say it's the polite caution of a small new organisation.

    I guess it would be a bit clearer if we put "The following is not for real. Please do not sue."

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Birth of the Nasty,

    National's transition from successful marketing organisation to actual government looks more awful by the hour.

    If I may (not least because I pretty much though of it when I was here earlier):

    Recession-Weary Nation Cheered By John Key's Chaplinesque Antics

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Birth of the Nasty,

    According to the Beehive site

    ...on Tuesday. The issue here is that someone seems to have changed their mind.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Birth of the Nasty,

    RNZ say the terms have been passed.

    It's not often I'm horrified by the prospect of politicians wanting to talk about science.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Birth of the Nasty,

    On the bright side, state house numbers are de-capped. Good that the minister responded to information in his brief, but perhaps he might have checked whether there were shortages before capping the numbers?

    In way it reminds me - one thing I though about Labour's campaigning being needlessly nasty:

    If someone changes their mind about something they used to oppose vehemently, it doesn't make them a liar. But if it happens a lot one can start wondering about their judgment...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Hard News: Birth of the Nasty,

    If this is true...

    I heard such noises in the reporting of the debate somewhere this morning.

    Also Rodney's triumphant PR yesterday makes more sense (strictly relative) that way.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

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