election 2008

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An election strategy, not a governing strategy

Written By: - Date published: 2:50 pm, August 15th, 2008 - 20 comments

When you look at the policy National has released, it’s clear that the focus is on winning the election, not on developing policy that would work. There is a most appalling lack of detail – most of the policy one-page wonders from National have left me with more questions than answers because of lack of […]

Excel magic

Written By: - Date published: 4:46 pm, August 13th, 2008 - 12 comments

Insight into Mr Key costing his tax policy (lots of clever bits, best viewed in fullscreen) – hosted by 08wire

Cui bono?

Written By: - Date published: 6:22 am, August 8th, 2008 - 63 comments

So, who stands to gain from National borrowing $5 billion if it becomes the Government? Ultimately, the people who lend the money are ones who walk away with the profit and in a time of international uncertainty in the financial markets and collapsing finance companies at home, speculators are looking for a safe, profitable harbour […]

TV3 on the leaks from National’s conference

Written By: - Date published: 2:06 pm, August 6th, 2008 - 4 comments

Here’s the recent coverage from TV3 and political reporter Duncan Garner. On Bill English’s comments regarding the sale of Kiwibank (aired August 4, 2008): On Lockwood Smith’s hints at a secret agenda (aired August 5, 2008): [Apologies for errors in the previous videos, have re-uploaded fresh copies, AYB]

Nats’ policy top 10, what’s missing?

Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, August 6th, 2008 - 24 comments

Here’s the top 10 policy priorities that John Key bullet-pointed at the conference on Sunday. See if you can spot what’s missing: 1. Tax cuts. (for the rich) 2. Disciplined Government spending. (while borrowing huge amounts for unspecified government spending) 3. Stop growth of public service. (except Nats’ promises already require about 1000 more public […]

Clown princes

Written By: - Date published: 3:28 pm, August 5th, 2008 - 27 comments

The ‘Key-English secret recording followed by denial followed by excuse followed by apology’ debacle is, well, an utter debacle. If these clowns ever win an election – which has to be questionable after this sort of political mismanagement – similar antics will make opposition rather more pleasant than it otherwise is for Labour. There are […]

Key’s shell-game wears thin

Written By: - Date published: 12:40 pm, August 5th, 2008 - 20 comments

On National Radio’s Morning Report and Nine to Noon yesterday, Key ran the ‘not telling’ line once again and it was once too often. Asked a simple question: ‘What projects are you going to spend the extra money you plan to borrow on?’ Key refused to answer. You could hear the self-satisfaction in his voice […]

Key’s vision: tax cuts for rich, more debt for youse

Written By: - Date published: 3:39 pm, August 3rd, 2008 - 71 comments

In a speech described by attendees as ‘more bullet points’, John Key announced to the National Party conference today that National would borrow $5 billion more over 6 years to finance infrastructure – specifically roads and the broadband ‘plan’. The money-man has dressed it up cleverly, of course. A fancy new class of ‘investment vehicle’ will be […]

A quick Brethren reference

Written By: - Date published: 10:56 pm, August 2nd, 2008 - 121 comments

At last an upfront acknowledgement of the Exclusive Brethren’s support for National during the 2005 election campaign. According to Colin Espiner: Day One of National’s annual conference is nearly over and so far the biggest clanger has been departing Tauranga MP Bob Clarkson’s thank-you to the Exclusive Brethren during his departing remarks to delegates. There was […]

TV3 promoting a National/NZF government?

Written By: - Date published: 2:23 pm, August 1st, 2008 - 12 comments

It seems TV3 has decided to promote a marriage between John Key and Winston Peters this week.   They appear to be paying for ads on Google that come up when you search for “John Key” or for “Winston Peters“, but not for other leaders like Helen Clark or Jeanette Fitzsimons. What’s more, when you […]

Effervescent stylist slams politicians

Written By: - Date published: 7:53 am, August 1st, 2008 - 22 comments

New Zealand stylist Stephanie Rumble – best known for her fallout with Addington race officials after claiming that a giant bottle of Lindaur was her “date” in an attempt to avoid a newly introduced ban on BYO alcohol at the event – says that Helen Clark is too inhibited, John Key needs some contrast, Gerry […]

Lucky Aussies, they kept their work rights

Written By: - Date published: 2:12 pm, July 31st, 2008 - 62 comments

Some of our friends on the Right have been putting themselves through strange mental contortions over the recent series of posts we’ve had on the impact of National and the Left on wages. To recap: we’ve shown that National let the minimum wage stagnate while inflation ate its buying power, the Labour-led Governments have increased it, […]

Why Labour thinks it can win again

Written By: - Date published: 1:30 pm, July 29th, 2008 - 54 comments

Here’s a well-reasoned article by Therese Arseneau in which she canvasses the reasons behind Labour thinking it can still win. She puts it down to: MMP, their ‘core vote’, voter mobilisation, National’s policies, Helen Clark herself and a bit of a mix of good management and good luck. Definitely worth a read.

Will the real National policy please stand up?

Written By: - Date published: 3:25 pm, July 28th, 2008 - 18 comments

A reader noticed a difference between National’s workplace policy as quoted by us and as quoted elsewhere. We and some others have: “Continue to allow union access to workplaces with the employer’s consent.” taken from the PDF of the workplace policy. While others have: “Continue to allow union access to workplaces with an employer’s consent, […]

Nats painted into a corner

Written By: - Date published: 12:55 pm, July 28th, 2008 - 30 comments

John Key has announced Working for Families would be kept unchanged by a National-led government. That’s the same Working for Families that National attacked endlessly. Key himself said “Working for Families is a real ‘Maharey special”. It started as a mess, it was completed as a mess, and it will remain a mess the whole […]

Will you vote for higher levies?

Written By: - Date published: 4:17 pm, July 21st, 2008 - 20 comments

If National wins the election, it will privatise the Work Account of ACC (and maybe other ‘profitable’ accounts). We know that this may have negative effects on coverage for workers but the problems go further taking out the Work Account may compromise the whole ACC system. Every year, ACC needs to run a surplus so […]

Taxing choices

Written By: - Date published: 12:40 pm, July 21st, 2008 - 85 comments

There are four options open to National regarding the tax expectations it will deliver large tax cuts ($20+ per person a week = $3 billion+ a year) additional to Labour’s. a) fail to meet those expectations by offering small cuts. Who would vote for a one-trick pony that won’t do its trick? b) cut taxes […]

Oram’s Ides of March

Written By: - Date published: 5:32 pm, July 20th, 2008 - 53 comments

Rod Oram can nearly always be relied upon for insightful analysis that takes debate a step further. In the SSTimes today he asks: “are we being realistic about the current state of the nation? Each person will have his or her own view. But if, as individuals and a society, we’re gloomier than the facts […]

Lightening the load

Written By: - Date published: 12:35 pm, July 18th, 2008 - 12 comments

A universal student allowance of $350 isn’t going to happen. It’s too expensive and would bar major new spending in any other area. But more relief from debt would be welcome. There’s an increasing recognition that student loans are locking young people out of the housing market, making them perpetual cash-cows for the property speculators […]

Key moves to shut down hard questions

Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, July 18th, 2008 - 31 comments

Part of the Crosby/Textor MO is to avoid any hard questioning or real investigative journalism from the media. Step one in this process is be matey with journos. They’re people too and they can fall for charm. When that fails and something embarrassing comes out, attack the journo. Key did this over the “we would love […]

Nats’ ACC policy all about ideology

Written By: - Date published: 6:23 am, July 18th, 2008 - 13 comments

National’s ACC privatisation policy is another of its one page wonders (this time with three page backgrounder skimming the history of ACC and restating the policy in longer sentences with no more detail). In the policy documents and in the interviews by National and its allies, no evidence has been provided that privatised ACC will […]

Tearaway on election ’08

Written By: - Date published: 12:41 pm, July 15th, 2008 - 37 comments

A reader just alerted us to the fact that Tearaway’s latest issue features a piece on election ’08. Gotta love the question about what each leader would do with a billion dollars. Damn, where are C/T when you need ’em…? (Click the image for a larger version)

Contrary to Key, Govt does target waste

Written By: - Date published: 11:21 am, July 13th, 2008 - 54 comments

The idea that a government would purposely spend money in a wasteful manner is patently absurd. Voters want more government services and lower tax, any dollar of wasteful spending not only takes away from a government’s ability to meet those desires but also gives voters an active reason to vote against the Government. That’s a […]

Failure to front up

Written By: - Date published: 6:43 am, July 12th, 2008 - 68 comments

When was the last time John Key did an in-depth interview? Why would a potential Prime Minister be afraid to be exposed through a long interview? What does he have to gain by keeping his public appearances brief and tightly controlled? How can New Zealanders get past the mask and have a chance to properly […]

Positive moves on housing

Written By: - Date published: 10:58 am, July 9th, 2008 - 88 comments

Housing has always been an important issue for Labour. The First Labour Government instituted a massive State house building project, freeing working class New Zealanders from slum landlords, creating healthier living conditions, and stimulating the economy during the Great Depression. Now, New Zealand faces some of the same conditions as existed at the start of […]

Blueprint for a Crosby/Textor campaign

Written By: - Date published: 6:13 am, July 8th, 2008 - 41 comments

While trying desperately to paint Crosby/Textor as ‘just ordinary consultants’ and argue that C/T does nothing that polling and research companies do, National allies like the Herald have also puzzled over why National won’t just admit to being C/T clients. The answer is simple: C/T are not ordinary consultants giving media training or policy advise […]

Havoc interviews Hager

Written By: - Date published: 5:44 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 15 comments

Hager confirms that his info comes from a leak from within the National Party, not as the Nats would have you believe, a devious external computer hacker intent on exposing them.

Nats’ NGO policy, give the money to Aussies

Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, July 7th, 2008 - 18 comments

Charities are voicing fears that under a National Government public funding for NGOs would be administered by an Australian NGO called Mission Australia with dire consequences for small charities here. The NGOs say Key thinks there are too many NGOs here and wants to starve them of cash. Mission Australia does the admirable work you expect from […]

Democracy under attack

Written By: - Date published: 3:02 pm, July 6th, 2008 - 27 comments

Ruth Laugesen’s got a piece in the SST today entitled “How National’s spin doctors operate“. She points out that Crosby/Textor’s methods, contrary to the opinion of many other journalists here, do differ from what are considered standard focus group and polling methodologies. Auckland University political studies senior lecturer Jennifer Lees-Marshment suggests that C/T are different […]

National’s New Plymouth candidate quits

Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, July 6th, 2008 - 28 comments

National Party’s New Plymouth candidate Clem Coxhead has reportedly wanted to be in politics since he was nine years old. Earlier this year he won a hard fought and sometimes bitter internal selection process. Puzzling then that he’s now abandoning the candidacy citing “work commitments”. The Taranaki Daily News has been informed that “business dealings […]

Mr Key, where is your ‘positive, ambitious campaign’?

Written By: - Date published: 6:01 am, July 4th, 2008 - 67 comments

In four separate interviews this week, John Key used more or less exactly the same line to divert from questions on his use of Crosby/Textor: ‘I’m the Leader of the party and I’ll set the tone of the campaign. And it will be a positive, ambitious, outlooking campaign because that fits with my personality‘ OK, everyone can […]