Archive for March, 2017

NZDF credibility on the line

Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, March 27th, 2017 - 80 comments

There were several significant developments on Hit and Run and the NZDF over the weekend. Which version of the NZDF story is it that Bill English backs 100%?

Marama Fox on working with a Labour/Green government

Written By: - Date published: 7:24 am, March 27th, 2017 - 73 comments

Marama Fox opens the way for the Māori Party to work with Labour and the Greens.

Open Mike 27/03/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 27th, 2017 - 105 comments

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

Clifton: Nat MPs getting nervous

Written By: - Date published: 6:42 pm, March 26th, 2017 - 79 comments

English is down 6% in the latest Colmar Brunton. Jane Clifton sees Nat MPs getting nervous. “For the Nats, having so long taken a fourth term as read, the possibility that their own leader may soon be less secure in his job than Labour’s will be a toughie.”

Mosul and Aleppo. They’re spelled differently.

Written By: - Date published: 2:05 pm, March 26th, 2017 - 17 comments

Not so much a tale of two cities as the tales we were spun in relation to one.

Global oil and global decline

Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, March 26th, 2017 - 26 comments

Peak oil is being talked again with suggestions that it may be only 5 years away.  And Saudi Arabia’s Aramco is thinking of starting to divest itself of its petroleum assets.

When right-wing hacks confess the damage that they do

Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, March 26th, 2017 - 20 comments

Some right-wing hacks (like Glenn Beck) are recanting their rants and apologising for the damage that they’ve done. I reckon a few more should follow their brave lead.

Open Mike 26/03/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 26th, 2017 - 122 comments

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

Jam tomorrow

Written By: - Date published: 2:20 pm, March 25th, 2017 - 85 comments

It’s too hard! We’ll do it later! Auckland airport rail is just the latest example.

Trumpcare down in flames

Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, March 25th, 2017 - 39 comments

Good news (for those following the tragedy that is American politics).

More thoughts on the Labour-Greens Budget Responsibility Rules

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, March 25th, 2017 - 111 comments

The Labour-Green Budget Responsibility Rules announcement this week ought to dispel the notion that Labour and the Greens cannot work together.

Open Mike 25/03/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 25th, 2017 - 103 comments

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

Daily Review 24/03/2017

Written By: - Date published: 7:41 pm, March 24th, 2017 - 5 comments

Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

Impossible to refuse an inquiry

Written By: - Date published: 12:55 pm, March 24th, 2017 - 67 comments

Bill English should stop being evasive and just get on with an inquiry into the fiasco outlined in Hit and Run. The latest developments make any other outcome ridiculous. The longer English delays the worse he looks.

What is the story?

Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, March 24th, 2017 - 47 comments

I’m finding that the way that stories are reported rather interesting and full of hidden bias. Looking at the London attack and the “Hit and Run” stories, you have to ask about what editors and some journalists choose to focus on in stories. They often seem to miss the point about why things happen and what the consequences are.

Labour Green fiscal framework

Written By: - Date published: 9:16 am, March 24th, 2017 - 97 comments

As widely reported this morning, Labour and the Greens have set out an agreed fiscal framework. Smart politics.

This Government’s citizenship priorities

Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, March 24th, 2017 - 52 comments

Environmental activist Michael Tavares request for an exceptional circumstances grant of citizenship has been refused by this Government whereas right wing libertarian Peter Thiel’s request for an exceptional circumstances grant of citizenship was granted. Why the difference?

A taxing question or two

Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, March 24th, 2017 - 46 comments

Apple aren’t paying tax – are we doing all we can so multi-national’s do pay their share? And would the public actually prefer a tax rise (and decent housing/ health / education) rather than a tax cut?

Open Mike 24/03/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 24th, 2017 - 107 comments

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

Daily Review 23/03/2017

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, March 23rd, 2017 - 24 comments

Photo (c) Glenn Jeffrey  Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

NZ is number one – for domestic violence

Written By: - Date published: 9:47 am, March 23rd, 2017 - 96 comments

It’s great that the government is planning some action on this shameful situation. It’s a pity that they are treating the consequences, not the underlying social problems that contribute so much to the causes, and it’s a pity that it’s taken so long.

London attack

Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, March 23rd, 2017 - 92 comments

A person has carried out an attack on Parliament in London. Guardian: “Four people have died, including a police officer and one man believed to be the attacker, police said.”

A tale of two valedictory speeches

Written By: - Date published: 7:28 am, March 23rd, 2017 - 32 comments

Compare and contrast Helen Clark’s and John Key’s valedictory speeches.

Open Mike 23/03/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 23rd, 2017 - 52 comments

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

Wayne Mapp does not deny civilian deaths in botched raid

Written By: - Date published: 5:33 pm, March 22nd, 2017 - 84 comments

Good on you Wayne. Hit just got real.

Daily review 22/03/2017

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, March 22nd, 2017 - 11 comments

Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

Oil prospecting on the shores of Lake Te Anau?

Written By: - Date published: 3:10 pm, March 22nd, 2017 - 22 comments

The Nats are buying another fight with NZ’s nature lovers. Last time they tried something like this 50,000 marched in Auckland and they were forced to back down.

Hit and Run – time for an inquiry

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, March 22nd, 2017 - 21 comments

Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson’s book Hit and Run makes a compelling case for the Government to conduct a full inquiry to see if New Zealand forces were complicit in the killing of innocent men and women and if there was a cover up.

Reid poll

Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, March 22nd, 2017 - 67 comments

The latest Newshub / Reid poll shows nothing dramatic on the party preference, but has talking points for both left and right on the (largely nonsense) preferred PM question.

Greenpeace protesting oil conference in New Plymouth

Written By: - Date published: 9:55 am, March 22nd, 2017 - 3 comments

Greenpeace protestors are blockading an oil conference in New Plymouth. “If we’re to have a future, oil can have no future.”

John Key’s legacy of lies

Written By: - Date published: 8:46 am, March 22nd, 2017 - 25 comments

Even then, local “journalists” were just parroting overseas reports despite having a major vanguard for the post-truth epoch playing out right before their very eyes