Archive for May, 2011

Youth jobs scheme

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, May 5th, 2011 - 14 comments

It’s not often that the Nats do anything praiseworthy, so I like to take note when they get it right.  Their new youth jobs scheme, even though it only partially reverses their previous cuts, is at least a step in the right direction.

All quiet at the Commerce Commission

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, May 5th, 2011 - 23 comments

Since Paula Redstock was pushed out of the Commerce Commission with a lot of the other brilliant staff, there has not been one cartel or monopoly abuse case prosecuted by the Commerce Commission. This is the very same Commission that was previously saving us millions of dollars each year and paying for itself with its court settlements.

Elitist Nats’ heads in the clouds

Written By: - Date published: 9:40 am, May 5th, 2011 - 18 comments

Wayne Mapp revealed that Murray McCully’s air force flights to Vanuatu cost $65,000 in fuel alone and that he tried to stop McCully. Meanwhile, Key got a free helicopter ride from a photo-op but decided it was a bad look so he paid $2,000 for a 1 hour flight. Well, you and I paid $2,000. It’s always us lesser mortals who pay as Key and co bounce from cloud to cloud.

Key attacks another journalist

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, May 5th, 2011 - 24 comments

The Nats are obviously worried about public reaction to the recent revelations on the role of the SAS in Afghanistan.  And as is usually the case when they feel threatened by a story, the Nats are striking out, trying to discredit or intimidate the source.

US Embassy: Political Objectivity of NZ Media Questioned

Written By: - Date published: 7:20 am, May 5th, 2011 - 9 comments

Here’s an interesting Wikileaks cable on the ‘objectivity’ of the New Zealand msm, particularly the Herald. The cable relates to the period leading up to the last election. Most of it seems like a pretty fair appraisal to me, despite it perhaps being a little optimistic about the influences ideology and profit motive have on […]

Open mike 05/05/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 5th, 2011 - 55 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

Rights and privilege

Written By: - Date published: 8:53 pm, May 4th, 2011 - 218 comments

Righto. I’ve just watched the debate between Harawira and Brash on Close Up and about five minutes fifty into the second part Brash had the gall to challenge Harawira on whether he believed everyone should have the same rights.

Fabians lecture

Written By: - Date published: 3:21 pm, May 4th, 2011 - 1 comment

“Capital Gains Tax” with Craig Elliffe and Chye-ching Huang

Venue: Owen Glenn Building, University of Auckland

Time: May 5th, 6:30 PM

Caption competition

Written By: - Date published: 2:11 pm, May 4th, 2011 - 35 comments

Alan Grayson on Bin Laden

Written By: - Date published: 12:56 pm, May 4th, 2011 - 6 comments

Alan Grayson lost his congress seat in the last election after a concerted attack from the right.

His open letter on the death of Bin Laden shows why the US needs him back next time around.

Billboard fun

Written By: - Date published: 12:17 pm, May 4th, 2011 - 6 comments

Rodney’s golden handshake

Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, May 4th, 2011 - 18 comments

Don Brash was clear that he wanted Rodney Hide to lose his portfolios and leave parliament. Until yesterday. Now Hide will stay on as a lame duck minister with nothing to do for seven months. Will pocket an extra $35,000 salary for his trouble. I wonder what Hide secrets threatened Brash and Key with to get this taxpayer-funded golden handshake.

Freudian slip from Fox News

Written By: - Date published: 10:59 am, May 4th, 2011 - 15 comments

Helen Clark calling the shots

Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, May 4th, 2011 - 19 comments

After a turbulent fortnight in politics, Helen Clark’s new look Green Party is now in place.

Russel’s mana

Written By: - Date published: 7:35 am, May 4th, 2011 - 127 comments

Russel Norman has followed John Key and Phil Goff in the attack on the Mana party.

I’d hoped for better from him.

Perhaps it’s time he reflected on his own mana.

Update: it seems the Dom Post quotes might have been a fit of pique. Russel has posted the following on his facebook page:[more over the break]

Own goal by National flunky

Written By: - Date published: 6:09 am, May 4th, 2011 - 24 comments

Cameron Slater has the inside word on Murray McCully’s $75,000 trip to Vanuatu on a New Zealand Air Force plane that involved flying the 126-seater there and back to drop him and seven staff off, then there and back again the next day to pick them up. This story gets worse the more details come out.

Open mike 04/05/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 4th, 2011 - 72 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

McCully joins Flying Squad

Written By: - Date published: 5:31 pm, May 3rd, 2011 - 6 comments

With his RNZAF jaunts to photo-ops, John Key has set an example his ministers seem keen to follow. Having seen Key use Air Force helicopters to enjoy the V8s and do karaoke at the Parachute festival, Murray McCully has learnt that our Air Force is there to ferry about ministers. On 13 February our Foreign […]

Conservative majority in Canada

Written By: - Date published: 5:16 pm, May 3rd, 2011 - 29 comments

Stephen Harper’s Conservatives have won majority government in the Canadian election with under 40% of the vote on a turnout of just over 58%. We will be able to get an idea of what a second term John Key government would be like as Harper is cut from the same cloth as Key and Cameron. […]

Tornado!

Written By: - Date published: 3:35 pm, May 3rd, 2011 - 22 comments

A tornado hit Albany in Auckland City. There has been at least one fatality. Judging by the number of sirens coming over the bridge, there must be a number of injured. Small tornados are not uncommon in Auckland, but previously there has only been a single known fatality.

NZMA position on health inequity

Written By: - Date published: 2:54 pm, May 3rd, 2011 - 18 comments

NZ’s doctor’s organisation is prescribing a healthier society: putting kids first, reduced income inequality (higher minimum income), investment in skills and education, and equity, not equality in our social services – helping most those with the greatest need. Take note Don, John.

Key calls snap Election for June 4

Written By: - Date published: 1:55 pm, May 3rd, 2011 - 29 comments

Now if the sight of that headline made you feel a bit sick for a moment, you might want to ask yourself ‘How well prepared would my party be if Key called a snap election?’ The reason it might pay to ask is that it’s not outside the realms of possibility that Key could manufacture […]

The same old answer

Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, May 3rd, 2011 - 27 comments

 

If Don Brash is the answer, what’s the question?

War Nerd on Al Qaeda

Written By: - Date published: 11:10 am, May 3rd, 2011 - 13 comments

The best US blog is eXiledonline. They’ve done huge work to expose the Tea Party and its shady backers. Their insight into the class issues underlying economic crisis both raw and diamond-sharp. And one of their writers, Gary Brecher aka the War Nerd, covers conflicts with eyes wide open. Here’s his take on Al Qaeda, coincidentally written last week:

John Key’s shakey government

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, May 3rd, 2011 - 35 comments

The Nats have ‘soft-launched’ via Kiwiblog and Whaleoil that Rodney Hide and John Boscawen will both lose their portfolios and ACT will have no ministers. Farrar points out this will benefit ACT’s taxpayer funding to the tune of $130,000, which is somehow sweet while spending $500,000 on a by-election to get a mandate is a serious crime.

America writing our laws?

Written By: - Date published: 6:34 am, May 3rd, 2011 - 22 comments

Wikileaks cables show that America has been “helping” draft out copyright law.  They also lobbying to undermine Pharmac.  How many other New Zealand laws are they writing?

Open mike 03/05/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 3rd, 2011 - 64 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

Osama Bin Laden dead

Written By: - Date published: 3:53 pm, May 2nd, 2011 - 190 comments

3 News is reporting that “Osama Bin Laden is dead and the US is in possession of his body, according to reports from a senior US counter-terrorism official”.

Another blunder

Written By: - Date published: 11:55 am, May 2nd, 2011 - 156 comments

Phil Goff has gone one step further today and ruled out working with anyone that signs up to The Mana Party, not just the already ruled-out Hone Harawira. A Labour Party spokeswoman is reported by the Herald as saying “He doesn’t prescribe to the values of Hone Harawira.”

Would Phil Goff care to explain which of Harawira’s values he doesn’t ‘prescribe’ [sic] to?

Collins fudging crime stats?

Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, May 2nd, 2011 - 10 comments

Police Minister Judith Collins’ announcement that crime dropped last year left more than a few people scratching their heads. The economic conditions, especially high unemployment, should mean more crime, not less. Now, we’re starting to learn the answer: procedural changes that havem wiped thousands of crimes off the stats.

Mana up and running

Written By: - Date published: 10:21 am, May 2nd, 2011 - 37 comments

The Mana Party already have a great website that suggests someone who knows what they’re doing is looking after the communications. Well worth taking a quick look.