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Collins’ dilemma & lameduck Key

Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, March 30th, 2012 - 36 comments

Judith Collins’ behaviour might strike some as strangely aggressive. Some might even suppose she wouldn’t behave like this unless she was in the right. But let’s put ourselves in her shoes. She wants to be leader. She is now embroiled in a scandal that could end her career. If she could put an end to it without resigning, she would nip it in the bud. Clearly, she can’t.

Key linked to Pullar claim

Written By: - Date published: 7:22 pm, March 29th, 2012 - 153 comments

Close Up tonight led with the allegation, based on a leaked document, that John Key (and other prominent Nats) were listed as supporting a $14 million dollar insurance claim by Bronwyn Pullar.

Hubris in pink

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 pm, March 27th, 2012 - 23 comments

“Crusher Collins up close”  headlines a two-page article by Andrea Vance in the Saturday March 10 DomPost. It’s not on the Stuff website but deserves a wider audience. John Key might have been unwise to have stayed away on holiday this week – he should remember what happened to Jim Bolger.

Ambrose should sue as Police & Key fail Laws 101

Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, March 27th, 2012 - 56 comments

When a government figure says someone broke a law when there has been no conviction they are effectively imposing an extra-judicial punishment by defaming them. Key and the Police cannot be allowed to serve up extra-judicial punishments to whomever they choose by branding them a criminal and then not taking them to court to prove it.

Back to fluff

Written By: - Date published: 4:56 pm, March 26th, 2012 - 13 comments

It appears there is something irresistible about travelling with the PM. While the fact that only 2 news organisations can send a journalist to cover our leader’s involvement in a 54 nation conference is disappointing, so is the fact that being part of that cosy group travelling with JK makes everyone a bit too matey.

Key tries to save face over tea tapes

Written By: - Date published: 3:37 pm, March 26th, 2012 - 42 comments

Throughout the teatapes affair Key has received special treatment. Huge police resources have been wasted. Today’s announcement of no charges is even timed for when Key is overseas. Key claims to be vindicated but no court has ruled Ambrose broke the law. The ruse of the warning and the letter of regret is clearly intended to allow Key to save face. Key literally asks us to “move on” but he must answer for the resources he had wasted and the chilling effect on the media of his strong arm tactics.

John Key: Aussie miners’ stooge

Written By: - Date published: 2:39 pm, March 22nd, 2012 - 14 comments

John Key was busy last night working for the causes of Aussie miner Bathurst, “officiating” at the opening of their lobbying office, and pressuring DoC to give them concessions to the Denniston plateau and help them destroy a unique ecosystem. How much more of him can NZ’s “clean, green” image take?

The real questions

Written By: - Date published: 8:29 pm, March 21st, 2012 - 83 comments

Why did Key express confidence in Smith after reading the 2nd letter that is the supposed reason for him going? Why did he really resign, what are they trying to distract us from? How did it happen that the woman who Smith resigned over also is the person who got the largest ACC leak in history? What deal did Smith get to stay in Parliament avoiding a risky by-election?

Smith to go

Written By: - Date published: 7:45 am, March 21st, 2012 - 218 comments

Even 1 year ago, there would be no doubt what would happen next. He would have sacked Smith without hesitation. Has Key lost those instincts already?
Updates: won’t comment now but will this afternoon. Needs time to make some backroom deals so that skeletons stay in closets? Smith was been summoned to Wellington. Press conference at 1.45. And  He’s gone. They’re trying to downplay the reasons. What a disgrace. Full video of Key offloading Nick Smith

Better ideas from Finland

Written By: - Date published: 2:43 pm, March 16th, 2012 - 55 comments

David Shearer used Finland as an example of successful small country economic development in  yesterday’s very good speech, but his main focus was on education. Dianne Ravitch in the NY Review of Books shows how Finland also leads the world in education – and with few tests and excellent teachers, they don’t need to bag any “bad” ones.

Key’s speech explained

Written By: - Date published: 12:34 pm, March 16th, 2012 - 13 comments

Reorganisation is busy-work for when you can’t think of anything useful to do.

Juking the stats

Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, March 16th, 2012 - 12 comments

There’s some odd omissions from Key’s new ’10 targets’. There’s nothing hard. Nothing about closing the gap with Australia, formerly goal number 1. Nothing about creating jobs, despite 170,000 being promised. Nothing about the cycleway that was going to end the recession. It invites a closer look at the 10 targets. And then you discover, they’ll all happen anyway.

If this is it…

Written By: - Date published: 12:43 pm, March 15th, 2012 - 20 comments

Key and co’s habit of making vague lists of things they would like to happen, rather then doing anything to make them happen, is becoming a joke. The other day it was a 6 point business action plan, not to be confused with their 4 priorities or 6 point plan for growth or 120 point economic plan. Key’s big speech today addresses the 4 priorites with a 10 point wishlist. English says they’ll be divided into 5 themes. 4 priorites times 10 results divided by 5 themes. You’ll need NCEA level 2 just to do the maths.

Key’s laundry list of broken promises

Written By: - Date published: 10:58 pm, March 14th, 2012 - 57 comments

He must resign. Surely. Here is Key, speaking to the PSA in 2008, making very specific promises about public service jobs, tax cuts, and asset sales that helped him get elected. Promises he has since broken. There’s no excuse. He wasn’t blind-sided by events. He made these promises never intending to keep them. Key is refusing to comment but if the man has any ethics he’ll resign.

Pull the other one, John

Written By: - Date published: 8:16 am, March 13th, 2012 - 81 comments

Key to Mike Hosking: “New Zealand either needs to borrow more or earn more, and I’m in the camp that we need to earn more”

Postcards from the “brighter” future

Written By: - Date published: 11:32 am, March 10th, 2012 - 24 comments

Hey John – where’s our “Brighter Future”? Hey National voters – was this what you voted for?

ImperatorFish: Dick Fritter’s Salute to John Key

Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, March 9th, 2012 - 4 comments

Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here.
Our latest Political Pundit column in praise of the masterful John Key – parliamentary clown extraordinaire.

Key’s tarnished crown

Written By: - Date published: 8:27 am, March 9th, 2012 - 13 comments

I only recall ever picking up Management magazine once. It was back in 2009, I think, and John Key was on the cover. The article was like Playboy for managers, porn for stuffed suits. Breathless adoration of their god-king. Now, even the capitalist class is waking up to the fact that they’ve been taken by the greatest con man in the country. That’s if the latest edition is anything to go by.

Nat revolt over Crafars sale

Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, March 4th, 2012 - 70 comments

Remember the hagiographies after the first hundred days of National’s first term? In the second term, things couldn’t be more different. The Sunday-Star Times has printed dozens of emails it obtained (a leak?) that were sent to Key opposing the sale of Crafar farms. Many of them are brutal comments from former National supporters. Key didn’t even provide comment for the article.

FIFY

Written By: - Date published: 2:05 pm, March 2nd, 2012 - 25 comments

Bill English: “A government can’t have a lot of impact on the job market. It is what it is.” He’s only half right.

Key on leadership ballots

Written By: - Date published: 7:44 pm, February 27th, 2012 - 6 comments

“I’ve been around these votes before when at the last moment they change” John Key said today about the ALP leadership ballot. He certainly has; in 2003 he promised Bill English his vote then shifted at the last minute to Don Brash who won narrowly. Key talks about Labor needing a repair job; but I think the next challenge may be in the Coalition.

The long slide

Written By: - Date published: 6:34 am, February 20th, 2012 - 66 comments

According to the latest 3 News poll. National’s long slide has begun. Key’s popularity has also fallen to its lowest level yet as PM…

Key involved in Radio Live show

Written By: - Date published: 10:56 pm, February 14th, 2012 - 25 comments

Watch Grant Robertson’s question to Key today Robertson to Key on Radio Live Key didn’t know his office was deeply involved in the show that breached the Broadcasting Act? Even though he personally chose the guests? It was a matter solely between the Electoral Commission and the broadcaster? Judge for yourself.

John Key’s emergency descent

Written By: - Date published: 11:22 am, February 12th, 2012 - 15 comments

A great graphic from the Sunday Star Times as John Key starts dropping towards a hard landing in the personal popularity stakes. And in the great tradition of  journalists everywhere, the rest of the article is about how he is still preferred by rubber fetishists.

Key’s legacy

Written By: - Date published: 10:20 am, February 12th, 2012 - 120 comments

Authors here have been saying for a while that Key may well quit during this second term. Even John Armstrong can see the writing on the wall. So what will Key’s legacy be?

Armed police storm Key mansion

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, February 10th, 2012 - 25 comments

Armed Police assisted by the Eagle helicopter, the counter-terrorism unit, customs officials, and the police launch towed on its trailer have raided Prime Minister John Key’s Parnell mansion, executing warrants relating to the illegal ‘DJ Key’ election ad. Simultaneously, a joint Police-SAS taskforce has stormed RadioLive, deploying teargas and tasering all present.

PM’s office cuts Radio Dead

Written By: - Date published: 6:16 pm, February 9th, 2012 - 52 comments

An internal memo in the PM’s office after they received the Electoral Commission’s advice on the Radio Live’s PM Hour broadcast says: “So the Electoral Commission has replied, and basically said they can’t make a judgment on a radio show without seeing a transcript. But they have been pretty clear about putting the responsibility on the broadcaster, which is useful.” Key’s office knew they were skating close to the wind but were happy to cut Radio Live loose. Lesson here for media.

DJ Key broke the law

Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, February 9th, 2012 - 43 comments

The Electoral Commission’s decision on the ‘DJ Key’ hour on RadioLive has been leaked. It shows that Key’s hour-long DJ spot was an election ad. It’s the only sensible decision. Key was clearly on the show to promote his brand to win votes. He made several political comments. RadioLive now faces a $100,000 fine for perverting our election. And Key’s reputation takes another hit.

Key runs from Waitangi

Written By: - Date published: 3:36 pm, February 5th, 2012 - 176 comments

National’s honeymoon with Maori is well and truly over, as Key beats a hasty retreat from Waitangi.

An unrelenting focus on jobs

Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, February 3rd, 2012 - 9 comments

Key and Banks on ACT: snap elections, coups & Isaac

Written By: - Date published: 10:15 am, January 27th, 2012 - 56 comments

The  tea tapes contain a pivotal exchange where John Banks and John Key talk about “restructuring” ACT – including Banks confirming his orders from Key to make Catherine Isaac the new leader. We also learn that National advisors called Key in a panic during the Brash coup calling on him to stage a snap election. It’s an insight into the cynicism of National and Key, and also Key’s poor political judgement.

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