the praiseworthy and the pitiful

Categories under the praiseworthy and the pitiful

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Doofus of the week

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:15 pm, November 10th, 2017 - 45 comments

The award for doofus of the week this week goes to David Bennett for one of the most nonsensical speeches Parliament has ever seen.

So there was a housing crisis after all

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:05 am, November 4th, 2017 - 403 comments

The briefing to incoming Housing Minister Phil Twyford shows clearly that a crisis in housing developed under National’s watch.

@realDonaldTrump does not exist

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 6:27 am, November 4th, 2017 - 4 comments

For a brief moment, the internets rejoiced.

The repeal of the Hobbit law

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:24 pm, October 29th, 2017 - 70 comments

Labour has indicated that as a priority it wishes to repeal the Hobbit law, a clumsy attempt in breach of International Law to prevent workers in the film industry from organising collectively and to divert attention from the fact that the National Government had been played by Warner Brothers.

Strewth, Aussie Government loses majority

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 4:53 pm, October 27th, 2017 - 51 comments

Kiwi of the year nominee and Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been ruled ineligible to hold his seat and the Liberal National Government has lost its majority.

Spare a thought for Steven Joyce

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:30 am, October 26th, 2017 - 36 comments

Steven Joyce had a bad day yesterday. His claim that National’s use of one of Eminem’s song was “pretty legal” was shown to be anything but. And he stuck to his claim that there was a $11 billion dollar hole in Labour’s budget, casting doubt either on his honesty or on his competence.

Nats – lousy at government – “brilliant” at opposition

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 9:57 am, October 15th, 2017 - 102 comments

Peters has the opportunity to put an end to this useless government (and turn National into “the opposition from hell”). I think he’s going to ’96 us, but I’d be happy to be proved wrong

Guest post: Deconstructing yet another National has moral right to govern argument

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 9:15 am, October 11th, 2017 - 41 comments

A guest post by Swordfish on the implausibility of the claims by Dr Claire Robinson’s odd claim that the 2017 election result was a win for the status quo.

Cameron Slater makes valuable contribution to blog defamation jurisprudence

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:04 am, October 5th, 2017 - 55 comments

Cameron Slater and friends and clients are in the High Court defending a claim that he defamed three health researchers. They tried to have the case kicked out but failed. The judgment makes for an interesting read.

Guns

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:42 am, October 3rd, 2017 - 155 comments

Another gun massacre has occurred in the United States. And the well worn excuses and justifications by the right and the gun lobby are again being used.

National no friends

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:27 am, October 2nd, 2017 - 194 comments

In a sign of desperation Bill English rang Winston Peters on the weekend but the call was not answered. Clearly National realises that waiting for the special votes to be released will significantly weaken its bargaining position.

The Herald doesn’t want Winston to go with Labour

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:58 am, October 1st, 2017 - 132 comments

The Herald has offered a number of opinions this weekend saying that Labour forming a coalition with New Zealand First would be a very bad thing.

Good work if you can get it

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:37 am, September 27th, 2017 - 116 comments

During the election campaign elements of the farming community protested the possibility of a water tax and of farming being in the ETS on the basis the sector could not afford it. In awkward news it has since come to light that the Chief Executive of Fonterra and senior executives are being paid huge salaries.

Spare a thought for ACT and David Seymour

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:12 am, September 25th, 2017 - 45 comments

David Seymour and the ACT Party are back in Parliament but their role this term will be nothing other than nodding lap dog.

Is NZ doomed to lying politics now?

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:20 am, September 21st, 2017 - 179 comments

Bill English and the Nats are now running firmly on a platform of lies – Gower calls them on this for a second time this week. Should the political left get down in the gutter too? Is NZ doomed to lying politics now?

The Herald reverts to type

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:27 pm, September 16th, 2017 - 45 comments

John Armstrong has come out in the Herald swinging wildly and claiming without evidence that Jacinda Ardern’s campaign has stalled, and criticized her policy positions but because he thinks they are only a bit better than National’s.

Our Nation’s Stolen Generation Moment

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 8:26 am, September 16th, 2017 - 8 comments

A guest post by @invisiphilia on the recent Mahinarangi Forbes interview on the Hui on the abuse of children in foster care and why the Government is wrong in refusing to have a proper independent inquiry into what went wrong.

#sheepgate: National paid out money to settle a non existing dispute without legal advice

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 9:57 am, September 15th, 2017 - 26 comments

In a case of extraordinarily bad timing for National it has been confirmed that despite claims to the contrary MFAT never provided National legal advice about the merits of any possible claim made concerning New Zealand’s banning of live sheep exports.

National use opening of Christchurch Justice Precinct for political purposes

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:43 am, September 13th, 2017 - 21 comments

National has acted in breach of State Services Commission guidelines for the pre election period by having a flash opening of the Christchurch Justice Precinct even though it was not finished.

After nine long years National discovers there is child poverty in New Zealand

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:57 am, September 10th, 2017 - 98 comments

Bill English has finally committed the Government to doing something about Child poverty. But why has he and National taken so long?

Who agrees with you Bill?

Written By: Natwatch - Date published: 6:39 am, September 8th, 2017 - 20 comments

Last night Bill English emphatically defended and agreed with Steven Joyce’s lie about a “hole” in Labour’s budget – specifically the disproved figure of $11.7 billion. Jacinda Ardern took him apart with one simple question. English has nothing left now.

Finance debate – Grant Robertson vs big flaming gasbag

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 8:32 am, September 7th, 2017 - 54 comments

The RNZ debate between Labour and Nat finance spokespersons has just concluded – Grant Robertson vs a big flaming gasbag. Robertson very strong, gasbag unable to name One Single Person who agrees with his $11.7bn big lie.

Joyce keeps digging

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:08 am, September 6th, 2017 - 11 comments

Steven Joyce is spinning furiously and is now claiming that Labour has set aside no money for budget increases for many Government Departments. But when Labour’s figures are compared to PREFU it is clear that Labour is planning to maintain or exceed National’s propose future spend.