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The right wing only want to help us
Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, April 19th, 2014 - 230 comments
Kiwi in America over at Kiwiblog has offered some no doubt heart felt advice to Labour on what it should be doing. But the advice appears to be based on a misunderstanding of the Party’s history and a wish that the Party becomes more like ACT. Why do right wingers think they can tell Labour what to do and is their advice sound?
Politics by numbers
Written By: - Date published: 7:57 pm, April 13th, 2014 - 125 comments
The first rule of politics is learn how to count. And, as much as we would all like to see Labour and the Greens govern by themselves, 13 and 32 don’t add up to 50
That’ll be why, when the Greens came to Labour with a plan to campaign together, Labour said no.
Labour and the Greens
Written By: - Date published: 1:42 pm, April 11th, 2014 - 162 comments
It’s not that complicated.
NRT: Unsurprising
Written By: - Date published: 2:52 pm, April 10th, 2014 - 17 comments
But on any realistic numbers, its unthinkable for a future Labour government not to include the Greens, and as Gordon Campbell points out, by refusing to define their relationship themselves, Labour has given National a free hand to do it for them – and in undoubtedly negative terms. That won’t do the Greens any harm. But its unlikely to be good for Labour.
Polity: The Greens’ proposed pre-election deal
Written By: - Date published: 2:45 pm, April 10th, 2014 - 58 comments
Last night, via One News, the public became aware that the Greens had proposed a pre-election coalition with Labour, but Labour had rejected it. While the Greens’ offer is nothing unusual internationally, New Zealand’s comparatively fair electoral system doesn’t provide Labour much incentive to accept it. Which, I think, makes Labour’s rejection of the proposal much less noteworthy.
Drill baby drill
Written By: - Date published: 8:12 am, April 3rd, 2014 - 40 comments
Two days after the IPCC has warned us of the threat posed by climate change and Simon Bridges has announced a huge block offer of parts of New Zealand and much of its territorial water. This will include the pristine waters off Auckland’s west coast, home of Maui’s dolphin. In a world that has to address its consumption of petroleum you have to question if it is worth the risk.
LocalBodies: National Slumps in Polls As Ministers Struggle
Written By: - Date published: 9:19 am, March 24th, 2014 - 22 comments
There is danger of reading too much into polls months out from an election. Commentators were claiming that National was too strong to lose the next election based on a rogue poll. Few looked at multiple polls, accounted for the margin of error nor the trends over past months. The last fortnight has seen a National with the latest Roy Morgan Poll plummeting from the Colmar Brunton result of 51% to 45.5%. And it is based on a lack of ministerial performance…
Labour and the Greens announce forestry policies
Written By: - Date published: 3:48 pm, March 19th, 2014 - 39 comments
Labour announced policies today seeking to reinvigorate the Forestry Industry and to promote more local processing of logs. And the Greens have announced a policy designed to increase the use of wood in local buildings.
Polity: The Greens’ draft list
Written By: - Date published: 12:37 pm, March 17th, 2014 - 107 comments
Rob Salmond at Polity looks at the draft Green party list. “The Greens have released their draft party list today, in advance of a party member STV vote. The top 20 is…”
Russel Norman on consumerism & happiness
Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, March 16th, 2014 - 38 comments
An interview provides an insight into Russel Norman’s working class background & frugal, anti-consumerist outlook. Combines well with Metiria Turei’s working class background – which has motivated her campaign against child poverty and inequality.
Guest Post – What is Shane Jones doing?
Written By: - Date published: 9:02 am, March 15th, 2014 - 149 comments
A guest post on Shane Jones and what effect his recent behaviour is having on Labour’s election chances.
ImperatorFish: A statement from Shane Jones
Written By: - Date published: 11:48 am, March 14th, 2014 - 14 comments
[probably satire] This statement has been reposted from ImperatorFish and is believed to be a work of satire by Scott Yorke (who generously allows us to reproduce his posts). However with Shane Jones, one can never be too sure what is truth and what is fantasy. Shane Jones or a reasonable facsimile thereof takes on why he isn’t going to attack the terrible Green party again (to the nearly universal chorus of “dickhead”).
LB: Greens hit the ground running
Written By: - Date published: 11:50 am, March 13th, 2014 - 35 comments
Dave Kennedy (aka bsprout) at Local Bodies is the Green candidate for Invercargill. He posted this on Monday in response to Josie Pagani’s pundit post. It is on the preparedness of the Green party for this election It got overshadowed in the news cycle by burst of corrupt stench of self-entitled elitist behaviour from National, but is worth reposting anyway. It is going to be interesting to look at this election campaign where National is fighting two large parties on the left.
Auckland Council CCO 2 step
Written By: - Date published: 10:42 am, March 7th, 2014 - 13 comments
Mai Chen argues that the current review of Auckland Council CCOs will put them on a tighter leash. Tony Holman argues against the whole CCO set up: it’s a trojan horse, 2 step towards privatisation of Auckland assets. Aucklanders need to have their say. Vote out Team Key to prevent such sales.
So smart. Green senator Ludlam ‘welcomes’ Abbott to WA
Written By: - Date published: 10:27 pm, March 6th, 2014 - 30 comments
One of the most effective political videos that I have seen from a country that is coming to specialise in them. I’m unsurprised that it went completely viral. It was a great description of all of the ways that Tony Abbott is beholden to the interests of those made insane by idiotic greed – and welcoming him to Western Australia. All expressed in a polite quiet voice enumerating exactly how much of a arsehole Abbott is. He even makes John Key look sort of rational – in a traditional junior partner kind of way
Taxpayers Union – concentrating on the banal and ignoring the big issues
Written By: - Date published: 1:56 pm, March 3rd, 2014 - 45 comments
Mojo Mathers has been criticised by the Taxpayers Union for the travel costs associated with attending a recent interview in Masterton. Attacking her for doing her job is completely mean spirited. But the means of generating the story, where details are fed to the media and then the Taxpayer’s Union are offered up for comment, are of concern. And surely there are bigger issues to worry about.
LB: Executive Principals and National’s Education Dystopia
Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, February 27th, 2014 - 18 comments
When John Key announced the Government’s plan of spending a whopping $359 million on education it was received with a sort of stunned incredulity. The problem is that few conservative governments understand education and the value of professional knowledge and the treatment of the Christchurch schools revealed a total disregard of the importance of communities.
On polls and things
Written By: - Date published: 9:16 am, February 25th, 2014 - 106 comments
The periodic agony and ecstasy attached to opinion poll results has kicked in with a pessimistic TVOne poll result being released on the weekend. But how accurate are they and are we in danger of damaging an election campaign by focussing too much on them?
Polity: A bad week
Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, February 24th, 2014 - 142 comments
There’s no skating around it – Labour didn’t have a good last week. And the biggest shame is that beltway errors have been allowed to eclipse real progress on issues that actually matter to New Zealand families. The lack of direct relevance in the errors does not matter, because these issues matter for perceptions. If Labour is perceived as bumbling, or as lacking self-awareness, that will certainly be reflected at the ballot box. But there were a few bright spots.
David Cunliffe’s home
Written By: - Date published: 2:56 pm, February 20th, 2014 - 227 comments
National is now targeting David Cunliffe and his family. Metiria Turei was attacked for living in a castle and wearing designer jackets, and now David Cunliffe is being attacked for being wealthy. The criticisms miss the point. There is nothing inherently wrong with being wealthy. But there is everything wrong in setting fire to the ladder of social support after you have had the opportunity to climb it.
Poverty on the agenda
Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, February 19th, 2014 - 81 comments
The documentary ‘Mind the Gap’ and an interview with a UNICEF advocacy manager focus on poverty and inequality. Zombie “neoliberal” policies have increased poverty & inequality, damaging the futures of too many children. We will all benefit from good government policies underpinned by a commitment to collective approaches and responsibility.
LB: Greens’ Solar Sense and National’s Nonsense
Written By: - Date published: 4:00 pm, February 18th, 2014 - 28 comments
Local Bodies looks at some (very cool) solar installations and the Greens solar policy. We are now seeing a stark contrast between a Government desperate to support the status quo of increasing charges and large company profits, while the future focussed Greens are truly progressive in their thinking.
Russel Norman to Colin Craig – Bring it on
Written By: - Date published: 7:28 am, February 18th, 2014 - 121 comments
Colin Craig has threatened Russel Norman with defamation proceedings unless he apologises for saying that Craig prefers women to be in the kitchen and gays should be in the closet. Norman has refused to apologise. At the risk of being thrown out of the Lawyers’ union shouldn’t they debate these issues publicly and let the public decide rather than fight it out in Court?
Russel Norman’s Campaign Conference Speech 2014: Going Solar
Written By: - Date published: 2:59 pm, February 16th, 2014 - 239 comments
The text of Russel Norman’s speech to the Green Party Conference given today.
John Key, Blogsters and the Dotcom leaks
Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, February 15th, 2014 - 170 comments
This week has seen how sophisticated the publicity campaign against Kim Dotcom has been. The surprising detail that a Herald Socialite columnist has published with political implications potentially represents a new tactic by National. And the confirmation that Key is regularly in contact with Cameron Slater shows how deep the relationship is between National and the Sewer is. And there was the use of, as Key calls them, blogsters to smear opposition MPs with hints of corruption. This is going to be an interesting year …
Dotcom’s extradition and the 2014 general election
Written By: - Date published: 11:51 am, February 12th, 2014 - 94 comments
In further news about Dotcom he has said that if the Internet Party has not reached 5% in the polls before the printing of the ballot papers he will endorse another party. An endorsement could be the difference between the left winning and losing the next election. And the Greens have raised the prospect of a Ministerial Veto of any extradition order.
Local Bodies: First they ignore you
Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, February 11th, 2014 - 13 comments
Local bodies writes on the way that National has been concentrating their personal attacks at the Greens. It is a pretty typical display by National in any election year. But you get the impression they’re going to seriously be dumpster diving for dirt this year – especially Judith Collins. National are getting desperate at their disappearing coalition partners. “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win”
NZ Herald watch – history repeats
Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, February 7th, 2014 - 146 comments
The NZ Herald has a long history of opposing Maori resistance and supporting colonisation. It has always been right wing with a strong commercial focus & MO. Yesterday it censored news of Waitangi Day protests. Today an editorial spins in slippery style, for the Govt’s failing PowerCo sales.
Myths of Waitangi Day – & Hikoi
Written By: - Date published: 9:55 am, February 5th, 2014 - 289 comments
The ratings driven MSM beat up dramas and conflict in relation to Waitangi Day – they continue to circulate myths about the Day. Morgan Godfery has blogged about those myths. Meanwhile, the hikoi to protect our seas and land continues. [update: Rachel Smalley]
Here’s an idea! Clean energy…
Written By: - Date published: 2:34 pm, February 4th, 2014 - 56 comments
Anadarko fails to find commercially viable oil in Taranaki, and is now moving on to waste even more time, money and resources in the Canterbury basin. This is a big fail for John Key’s casino capitalist, speculative economic policy. And a fail for NZ’s people and environment. [update: Hikoi]
Dear RadioNZ – the largest party does not necessarily win the election
Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, February 3rd, 2014 - 150 comments
Radio New Zealand this morning keeps saying that National could “win” the election but struggle to form a Government. This statement suggests that the Country’s foremost current affairs radio station may be struggling with the concept of MMP.
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