Written By:
all_your_base - Date published:
10:42 am, December 10th, 2007 - 76 comments
Categories: labour, national -
Tags: labour, national
So DPF’s given his predictable take on this year’s Trans-Tasman MP rankings (PDF – 150K).
Now averages are one thing but more interesting is a trend that DPF conveniently ignores – While many of National’s high profile MPs are static or slipping in the rankings, Labour’s heavy-hitters seem to be lifting their game.
LABOUR
Clark is up 0.5
Cullen is up 0.5
Goff is up 0.5
King is up 0.5
Parker is up 0.5
NATIONAL
English is static
Finlayson is static
Grosser is static
Key is static
Rich is static
Ryall drops 1
Smith drops 0.5
Granted, it’s not a complete list but the impression you could be left with is that while Labour’s top MPs are working hard to lift their game after a tough year, National’s MPs are still content to sit back and cruise.
By Key’s own admission, the Nats have – on more than one occasion recently – failed to meet the standards they should have.
Apparently the editors at Trans-Tasman agree.
(Hat-tip: Tamaki Resident)
The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.
What about Labour’s heavy hitters of Pete Hodgson–labour party strategist–Trevor Mallard (labour Party attack dog), Mark Burton, Parekura Horomia and David Benson-Pope? Chris Carter gets Education, yet is only rated as highly as Jo Goodhew?
They’ve all performed woefully, and are now overtaken in the rankings by Nathan Guy, Craig Foss, Phil Heatley, Chester Borrows, Jackie Blue, and Paula Bennett.
That isn’t the sort of progress I’d be celebrating from such distinguished Labour Ministers, if I were you.
“Labour’s heavy hitters” Trevor likes hitting but the blue coat was a smart arse .
[IrishBill: Dad, using a different name does not stop your comments being spam.]
one difference between the nats and labour numbers is that there’s a batch within labour where mps are retiring and new blood will be coming in. apart from mark blumsky and brian connell are there any nats who will not be returning? realistically how many more mps could they hope to bring in off the list(given they are electorate heavy)? do the mps get judged more toughly if they are in their 2nd (or plus) term? what would that mean for those first term nats next time?
I like eating spam from a can
[Tane: Comment deleted. Dad, here’s a tip – if you’re going to make up sock puppets it might pay to use a different email address.]
Dancer:
If the current polls even closely resemble what happens on election day, then National will have between 8-12 new MPs. That’s a pretty healthy input of fresh blood into a caucus. Conversely, Labour will lose between 8-12 MPs. The so-called “fresh faces” that Labour’s counting on are unlikely to be elected at the next election.
And now the standardista’s give their own predictable take on the rankings.
Still, I suppose you have to make what positive spin you can these days. I have trouble in believing that an 0.5 increase for 5 ministers is anything to crow about. As IP pointed to, it isn’t generally those 5 that are in the news for all the wrong reasons (except King lately I guess).
Politicians – bah!
Tane – are you going to be tracking IP addresses now, contrary to your earlier intentions?
TDS, you’ve already been slapped down here:
http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=830#comment-8898
We have never and will never reveal personal information about our commenters.
If you want to score cheap political points out of our decision not to let Dad4Justice use this site as a forum to air his illness then by all means do so, but I think that says more about you than it does about The Standard.
“If you want to score cheap political points out of our decision not to let Dad4Justice use this site as a forum to air his illness then by all means do so, but I think that says more about you than it does about The Standard.”
Hear hear. Tane and crew, I think you’re handling a difficult situation very well.
In general, I agree with this analysis. While there are a few poor performing Labour MPs, they seem to be at least evenly matched in number by National’s. At least Helen has a reasonably strong, vital, front bench (I’m thinking of King, Cullen, Goff and possibly Cunliffe). National’s front bench just seems dated and I’m unaware of them actually successfully launching any policy this year, despite their many botched attempts.
r0b, I agree, The Standard is a far more enjoyable blog to read than all others I visit. Not only does it have great posts, but the vast majority of commenters (be they left or right wing) actually have something interesting and intelligent to say. I’m glad we can get by without a Kiwiblog style ‘moderation’ system and deal with individual nut-jobs on a case by case basis.
Insolent
“Conversely, Labour will lose between 8-12 MPs.”
Seriously, I thought Labour was polling similarly to where they were at the last election. Isn’t National’s new support mostly from the right, (ACT, NZ First?)
Gruela
I’m afraid that you’ve fallen for Teh Party’s spin on that issue. Perhaps some facts would help:
Teh Party:
Last Morgan Poll – 35%
2005 Election – 41%
Just a minor drop, hardly worth mentioning really, better refer to 1999 results instead (but don’t forget the Alliance was major left player in that election)
The Nats:
Last Morgan Poll – 48%
2005 Election – 39%
IP – but surely even the most optimist National supporter would not realistically expect their vote to stay that high with minor parties (at least) getting a lift? or do you think Mr Key really is hoping to win FPP style?
also given some electorate selections i think there will definately be new Labour faces – Grant Robertson in Wellington Central, Brendon Burns in ChCh Central, Chris Hipkins in Rimutaka – also 2 new (list) people in after Xmas when Anne Hartley and Dianne Yates depart.
Double
Ha Ha, based on that polling, (and why use Morgan, why not an average?) National are going to get creamed. Once John Key has to defend his Party’s policies in an actual debate, with actually serious questions, facing the leaders of the other Parties, he’s going to turn into a bumbling mess and National’s support will tumble. Always supposing that National have actually gotten around to opening the envelope that the Business Roundtable sent them and reading what their policies are. (And always supposing that John Key still is the National leader by then.)
G – use whatever pole you like. My point was that Te Harty got a fair bit more than their current polling level in the 2005. Do you not agree.
Keep making those assumptions about Key’s ability. It all helps.
And keep lying about Nationals policies if it helps you get off.
Double
What specific policy did I lie about? (Not that I’ll expect an answer.)
About getting policies in an envelope from the BRT. That’s about as credible as stating that Teh Party gets its policies in an envelope from rich kiwi donors living in Oz. Oh, wait a minute….
While we’re on the subject, who can’t get in to see a GP exactly…?
Well, I gave up on that thread yesterday.
You said this back in November
So, you are censoring now. I don’t object to you banning D4J, but to dress it up as an “illness” is a bit cheap. At least you might get off your high horse about similar “censorship” of the incoherent and abusive posters at KB. I think D4J is banned there right now too.
And not getting in to see a GP…….?
Gruela,
Next time you’re sick, try calling up 10 GPs from the phone book, trying to get an appointment. You’ll find a fairly large proportion of them are closed to new patients–particularly in Auckland. When you ask why, you’ll be told that because of the funding system, it’s not economic for the GPs to take on more patients. They’ll then direct you to the White Cross service, where you’ll have to pay $75 for a visit.
“At least you might get off your high horse about similar “censorship” of the incoherent and abusive posters at KB”
It is well known the DPF bans lefties that he personally doesn’t like. There is a big difference between that, and placing some constraints on unwell posters like d4j.
Insolent
A ‘fairly large proportion’ doesn’t equate to people getting turned away. Obviously those particular GP’s have full books, but that doesn’t mean that others aren’t moving in to take up the slack.
Well put, r0b. TDS has no evidence of us revealing IP addresses or threatening to reveal people’s names or places of employment, because we don’t. That’s not what The Standard is about. This is just part of his attempt to disrupt the site through constant smears and half-truths. Which is a pity, because he sounds like a smart guy who could play a constructive part in the discussion if that was his intention.
Tane – talking about smears and half truths, please point out where I said that you had revealed IP addresses, names or workplaces.
All I’m pointing out is that you are now censoring – something that you have criticised Farrar for. Dressing it up as a “mental illness” issue doesn’t change the fact that the standard is now censoring or deleting comments.
G – are you claiming that we have plenty of GP’s in NZ? Better tell Teh Party that their 100 million funding boost isn’t required then. In the real world we and our community have trouble getting a GP appointment on the same day. We are lucky enough to have been here long enough to be on the rolls. If you are new to the area is tougher.
I suggest you search for (“rural GP shortage” site:.nz) on google if you need more information
Here a vacancy list in case you know any doctors out of work.
http://www.nzlocums.com/Site/Vacancies/General.aspx
“All I’m pointing out is that you are now censoring – something that you have criticised Farrar for.”
I for one have not and will not criticise DPF for stopping spam or taking any action he needs to take to keep his site functional (e.g. limiting abuse by those such as d4j).
But I have criticised him and I will continue to criticise him for censoring and banning lefties that he doesn’t like. The fact that he does this while banging the free speech drum just highlights his total hypocrisy (and yours too, TDS).
Double
“In the real world we and our community have trouble getting a GP appointment on the same day.”
That’s a bit of a backtrack from
“As opposed to Teh Parties policies where you can’t even get in to see a GP?”
IP – Y’know I recently joined a Wellington PHO and have no problem getting doctor’s appointments and they are a damn sight cheaper than they were in the 90’s. Have you looked into this option?
DPFDblStdClaws – Is the standard also censoring when it deletes comments selling casino stocks?
Captcha: J proffered – christ the way today has been going if only!
“In the real world we and our community have trouble getting a GP appointment on the same day.”
So TDS proves that no one can get to see a GP because GPs are so busy seeing people? A new high in logical reasoning.
Like who?
Here’s a link to help you out
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/demerits
Looks pretty even-handed to me.
No, that there aren’t enough GP’s in the country because they see no future in a business that Teh Party apparently wants to run under a state-controlled model. I don’t know why they don’t just nationalise all General Practices eh?
Did you try that google search yet G
Now, where is that speech by Hodgson talking about pumping an extra $100 million into rural health. Must be for no reason eh?
Pillocks.
TDS, I frankly can’t believe you’re trying to paint our treatment of Dad4Justice’s nonsensical spamming as a free speech issue. We have never banned or censored anyone for their political beliefs, even when they have been quite abusive at times. That is not our way and you know that very well.
The difference with Dad is that he has obvious mental health issues and doesn’t so much argue as hurl abuse and is utterly unable to post on-topic. His posts are little more than spam advertising his illness and will be treated as such. I will not let Dad bring down the level of debate for everyone.
You can call that censorship if you like, but you’re not fooling anyone.
Tane
I haven’t called it a free speech issue. Some of your pals have in some kind of back-handed criticism of me.
I guess I’m suggesting a whiff of hypocrisy around here. Of course you can ban D4J and label it a mental health issue. He is banned at KB right now too.
However to take the moral high ground and claim that Farrar ban people for their political views is simply incorrect. Which of those currently banned would you apply that label to? I note that Robbo is permanently banned, mainly for his inability to have anything approaching a civil conversation there (and noted for baiting D4J as well). You have warned Robbo here a few times too.
What is the threshold for censorship here?
“However to take the moral high ground and claim that Farrar ban people for their political views is simply incorrect”
As far as I know DPF has issued three “life time bans”, all to lefties. Robinsod, Robert Owen, Sam Dixon. Squirm all you like, but DPF censors lefties. And he does this while banging the free speach drum. Which makes him the worst kind of hypocrite.
“but DPF censors lefties.”
Oh, I thought he banned disruptive, abusive, wiki-vandalising types. All 3 behave slightly better here than they did at KB. The rules there are pretty straightforward. Pity that your three heroes couldn’t keep within them.
Fuck of DS, I behaved better on KB than many of the right-wing commenters and got banned for “slander” (thus showing how dumb Davey is – “slander” is spoken, I think he means defamation in which case someone should sue me) when I suggested his KtB campaign was astroturfing and the Boscowen case was a PR stunt. Guess what? It was a PR stunt and the MSM has pointed to the fact Davey and Boscowen represent well-moneyed partisan interest groups.
Here’s a hint you dumb fuck – it’s not “slander” if it’s true.
I wouldn’t mind if DPF had the guts to say he just didn’t want me on his blog (hey, it’s his blog – he can do what he likes) but to make up fake moderators and then have them seize upon comments he didn’t like and misrepresent it is the act of a coward.
well technically:
slander = spoken
libel = published
defamation = both of the above
contemporary nz law just uses the term defamation.
Cheers sprout.
the “dumb fuck” part was technically perfect though.
Ha ha Robbo
You are so hard done by. Do you need a hug?
Seems you fit my description of abusive and disruptive precisely. What do you bring to a site that D4J doesn’t?
umm, clarity, humour, arguments, sanity…
DS – tell you what I’ll answer your question if you answer the one I asked first:
Why did you name yourself after my little witticism?
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/11/little_may_stand.html#comment-360421
This is especially of interest to me in light of the fact you continually claim to be smarter than me.
perhaps he’s really living the dharma of his moniker?
“As far as I know DPF has issued three “life time bans”, all to lefties. Robinsod, Robert Owen, Sam Dixon.”
I don’t think Sam’s ban can be characterised as a ban for being a lefty. He did vandalise DPF’s Wiki entry in an anti-semetic way.
“Krazy – I though you were a Christian? You do know you’ll go to hell for that crack-whore habit you seem to have there?”
“Yo dad- speaking of softeners, I’m starting to suspect your issues stem from long term impotence. A few difficulties downstairs dad? (the difficulties upstairs are obvious to everyone)”
“Look Robert stay on thread – this is about Dad’s inability to achieve an erection.”
“Settle down Dad – stress won’t help your situation. Have you tried a vacuum pump and a rubber-band?”
“Bev – you’re missing so many apostrophes I don’t know where to start. Dis you actually pass school cert?” [actually that one is almost funny]
“Dad – I just realised you said “spurt” – is that like a Freudian slip?”
“You people remind me of holocaust deniers.”
“Hey Dad – don’t talk to Bev like that. He has some special needs and we should tolerate and help him.”
“So dad, how are your kids?”
“Krazy – don’t you recall the phrase “an eye for an eye”? Oh and how’s the crack-whoring going?”
Yeah, right.
I don’t think Sam’s ban can be characterised as a ban for being a lefty.
Of course not. It’s a pure coincidence that the three banned from KB just happen to be lefties. I see that now.
Yeah Right.
And as to the anti-semtic thing – I have not followed the saga. But I would have thought that on a blog where posters regularly compare Labour to Nazis, and accuse each other of pedophilia, and all the rest, that picking on any one particular incident is a trifle – precious?
Face it. DPF censors political views that he disagrees with. End of story.
“Face it. DPF censors political views that he disagrees with. End of story.”
No – he bans banned disruptive, abusive, wiki-vandalising types. The fact that all three happen to be leftists must be a political type thing.
“TDS, I frankly can’t believe you’re trying to paint our treatment of Dad4Justice’s nonsensical spamming as a free speech issue. We have never banned or censored anyone for their political beliefs, even when they have been quite abusive at times. That is not our way and you know that very well.”
What Tane said, TDS. Seriously, TDS, get the hell off your high horse.
High horse? heh
I see you’ve fallen for Tane’s spin as well.
I’m not banging on about free speech. I’m trying to work out what the limit is for banning here – that is all. Tane doesn’t want to answer that question though.
oh, a “boundary pusher”. how fascinating.
i’m with Dean on this one.
“i’m with Dean on this one.”
What – ignoring the obvious?
Did you enjoy Robbo’s charming witticisms pasted above?
I guess its good that you have stopped trying to defend the indefensible.
I guess its good that you have stopped trying to defend the indefensible.
Which apparently you will never do TDS. I do admire your tenacity. DPF censors political views that he disagrees with. Why is that so hard to accept? Why does it bother you so?
“I see you’ve fallen for Tane’s spin as well.”
So, anyone that agrees with Tane with anything at all ever is falling for his spin?
What a boring world you choose to live in. What colour is the sky there? A sort of greyish-black with just a tine of red, caused by rampant unionists and members of the Labour party burning the money they take from you in taxes?
You know as well as I do that D4Js rantings are nothing short of crappy trolling mixed in with a healthy dollop of just plain bullshit.
You can argue all you want that you’re just trying to see what’s bannable and what’s not, but the moment you try and pretend D4Js missives from the pulpit of stupidity are somehow a contentious point is the moment you’re looking like just another hack.
dean i can’t say i always agree with you but i’ll read your posts a bit more carefully in future
So TDS – thanks for the walk down memory lane (I’d forgotten how fuckin funny I am) . You’ve still not answered my question, and I’ve been asking it for weeks:
DS – tell you what I’ll answer your question if you answer the one I asked first:
Why did you name yourself after my little witticism?
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/11/little_may_stand.html#comment-360421
This is especially of interest to me in light of the fact you seem to approach my wt with disdain. So um, are you gonna answer or just dissemble?
Geez Dean, do you need to go back to skool?
Here’s what I said about D4J above
‘I don’t object to you banning D4J, but to dress it up as an “illness” is a bit cheap. At least you might get off your high horse about similar “censorship” of the incoherent and abusive posters at KB. I think D4J is banned there right now too.’
My point is that now that Tane is banning abusive and disruptive posters, so it would seem hypocritical to carp on about KB doing exactly the same.
TDS – Get a life you moron – you’re starting to look as relevant as dad. Now, are you gonna answer my question?
My point is that now that Tane is banning abusive and disruptive posters, so it would seem hypocritical to carp on about KB doing exactly the same.
If KB banned abusive and disruptive posters they would lose 1/4 of their membership. But they don’t. They ban lefties that DPF doesn’t like.
I repeat my questions above TDS. Why is that so hard to accept? Why does it bother you so?
Look team, when someone posts a comment from a right-wing viewpoint, it clearly isn’t incoherent, abusive, offensive or disruptive.
If you are not intelligent enough to see TDS’ point here then I suggest you go back to school.
Feminazi, for example, is neither incorrect not could it be construed as anti-semetic, (ain’t that right Billy. I mean if it was slightly anti-semetic, well, DPF would have pounced upon it like a tiger. Right, Billy? No-one says that on Kiwiblog do they? Coz Farrar sure wouldn’t put up with it, anti-semitism is the same coming from the right or left, right?) and therefore acceptable on kiwiblog.
Referring to Labour as the Labia party, to give another example, is productive, descriptive and not abusive in the slightest. This is what TDS means when he says that only abusive and disruptive posters are banned. Only the left can be offensive, so Farrar does treat the left and right just the same.
It’s not the right’s fault that no matter how abusive, disruptive, offensive or incoherent they are, they’re not incoherent, abusive, offensive or disruptive.
Geddit?
“Geddit?”
Ahhh! Thank you Matthew! Yes – all is clear to me now! Black is white. White is black. 2 2 = 5. I love Big Brother!
Well, if it gives you guys a thrill to imagine that robbo is banned from KB for his “left wing views” and not the kind comments I quoted above (and remember those are the ones that *weren’t* deleted) then feel free to carry on.
It’ll be interesting to look back on this thread next time some gets banned here.
Matthew
So you think Robert, Robbo, and Sam should be allowed to continue to post whatever they like at KB. Well, what is wrong with D4J doing the same here?
DFPDblStdClaws:
Once again your handle is lifted from my wee joke. Why?
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/11/little_may_stand.html#comment-360421
You know you’re starting to look evasive, bro.
TDS, you have completely and deliberately missed the point.
“So you think Robert, Robbo, and Sam should be allowed to continue to post whatever they like at KB. Well, what is wrong with D4J doing the same here?”
I’ll make it easy for you (although it’s not like you don’t already know exactly what we all mean, and know we’re right, but persist in your style of tring to pretend you have apoint…) but if those comments were made by a right wing poster then they would be still going, and would have probably evolved to making comments that are genuinely offensive, and not humerous.
I.e. what they have done isn’t ban-worthy given the standard of the bog. A lot worse is forgiven, but only if you meet one particular criteria. Care to guess what that is?
And you know it’s true. If not, then I suggest to all that TDS doesn’t read Kiwiblog or is neurotically unable to recognise offensice comments that come from the right. Just like someone else…
I doubt you’ll admit to the distinction, but it’s very obvious to everyone despite your transparent attempts to hide the real issue. You’re not very good at it BTW.
he is good at wasting the attention and key-strokes of the sane though.
Ah, worth it to make sure everyone knows he’s supremely dim.
And besides, highlighting the hypocrisy of free speech campaigner DPF censoring dissenting voices on his blog just never gets old for me….
ok, there’s the entertainment angle then
Here’s a little exercise for you lads
Step 1. Create a new ID on KB
Step 2. Post a few right-wingy comments
Step 3. Post a comment calling Farrar a fat cunt
Step 4. Claim that someone else used your account
And see if you get banned
Here’s an exercise for you TDS:
Step 1. Create a new ID on KB
Step 2. Make a few right wing comments
Step 3. Start comparing Labour to the Nazi Party, and persistently make racist, sexist, bigoted and homophobic remarks about the party’s membership, voting base and leadership, in each and every thread, whether it has anything to do with the topic at hand or not.
And see if you get banned. Because you won’t.
As for your experiment, I doubt you would get banned if you were sufficiently right-wing.
Looking at it objectively, a right winger wouldn’t be likely to make that comment, as they are likely to support Farrar. It is more believeable that someone on the left would make such a comment, as they would disagree with Farrar.
Therefore the right-winger would recieve benefit of the doubt, the left-winger clearly wouldn’t as we have seen! (although I did miss that comment, wish I’d seen it in context…)
So that wee experiment wouldn’t show much I’m afraid, flawed methodology.
pilott you and your pesky empirical realites
Objectively?
Lol Why don’t you try it and see. Then come back here and start whining about how mean everyone is.
Alternatively, try the same thing to RB at PAS – and see how you get on.
Left wing censorship – will never happen right?
Spout – who appointed you to the peanut gallery?
Because I don’t want to call Farrar something entirely nasty. Standards and all that. However if you think about it, I go in to bat hard for the right, and then come out with an insult like that – he’s going to assume it wasn’t me.
Try let me paint you a picture – do you think Craig Ranapia, Whale Oil or Pascal would be blocked if they said it and then said someone had used their accounts. Honestly, just think about it!
I would like it place on record that
I do not think that DPF is a short fat bald Tory C**T
He is after all an, independent commentator
Grabs coat and dissapears
“he’s going to assume it wasn’t me.’
See, there is a difference that you need an account to post at KB, so the convenient excuse of “someone else used my name” doesn’t apply.
Go, on, make a new account and give it a go!