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National’s head in the silt on Christchurch East

Written By: - Date published: 8:08 pm, October 9th, 2013 - 17 comments

In Christchurch East National is up and running in the by election, well sort of.  A contributor points out that the National candidate, Matthew Doocey has not referred to the most pressing issues for the residents of Christchurch East, dealing with the EQC and the Insurance companies and the cost of housing.

How to pass treaties – could John Key please stop lying?

Written By: - Date published: 7:55 am, October 9th, 2013 - 44 comments

One thing John Key always seems to like to do is to appear to be stupid about his own job. Last week the fool said that parliament had to ratify a TPPA treaty. Either through incompetence at his job or by deliberately lying to the public, he is completely wrong. This is something that a few minutes reading of the MFAT website could have told him.

APEC, TPP, Crosby-Textor, Philip Morris & John Key

Written By: - Date published: 10:33 am, October 8th, 2013 - 76 comments

John Key’s role as Obama surrogate in chairing TPP discussions at APEC just reinforce how much Key is deeply involved in crony capitalist, Big Corporate serving networks of influence: ones that link him with anti-democratic Big Tobacco, Big Oil, and climate change denial propaganda.

Statistics Data release – new North Island seat proposed

Written By: - Date published: 11:27 am, October 7th, 2013 - 16 comments

Statistics New Zealand has released the census night data and there will be one new seat in the North Island.  The process of sorting out new boundaries could have significant implications for seats particularly those around Auckland.

Kris Faafoi on Broadcasting

Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, September 30th, 2013 - 16 comments

On The Nation Kris Faafoi laid out the bare bones of Labour’s policy on public broadcasting: strengthening public broadcasting across a range of platforms; continuing funding for NZOnAir to commercial broadcasters; balancing commercial & public service broadcasting; a new youth oriented public radio station. [Update: boycotting RNZ – you know why]

Matthew Hooton apologises … sort of …

Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, September 30th, 2013 - 74 comments

nine-to-noon-matthew-hooton1Matthew Hooton has issued a public apology to David Cunliffe for his comments last week.  It is a begrudging pale imitation of a proper apology and it is tucked behind NBR’s paywall but a backdown it is.  All ears will now be on Radio New Zealand today and if Hooton does appear then there will be interesting issues raised about balance.

How?

Written By: - Date published: 7:38 am, September 30th, 2013 - 85 comments

The Herald and John Key are whining that National will have a ‘moral mandate’ to govern after the next election if it is the highest polling party, even if it can’t form a majority and the Left can. But the Herald and Key don’t answer the critical question: how? How would a National Party that can’t secure a majority in Parliament govern?

Hooton and CV “embellishment”

Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, September 27th, 2013 - 53 comments

Hooton has somewhat backed down from his liar liar accusations against David Cunliffe, but the allegations of “CV embellishment” are still coming.  For future reference, I look to the “master” for an example of how not to pad a CV. What can we learn from him?  [Update: John Key’s bio?]

The birth of NZ’s very own Birther movement

Written By: - Date published: 9:07 pm, September 26th, 2013 - 81 comments

slaterThe right must be very afraid of David Cunliffe.  Because they are coming up with the most extraordinarily crazy conspiracy theories to try and discredit him.

Radio New Zealand apologises to David Cunliffe

Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, September 26th, 2013 - 78 comments

rnz logoRadio New Zealand has issued an apology to David Cunliffe following Matthew Hooton’s recent smearing of him.  If only Cameron Slater would do the same because he is starting to get pretty obsessional about Cunliffe.  This may not be a bad thing as he is rapidly turning the Collins faction of the National Party into New Zealand’s equivalent of the Tea Party

Return of the Hollow Men

Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, September 26th, 2013 - 48 comments

With Cunliffe’s Labour in the ascendance, NAct and/supporters pull out their bag of dirty and deceptively manipulative, Hollow Men, tricks. Adviser to John Key & Boris Johnson, Mark Textor, will most likely be used again: ruthless attack politics, playing on fears & prejudices.

“Dark, dirty and heartless” – Nats & Nick Smith

Written By: - Date published: 10:56 pm, September 25th, 2013 - 52 comments

Two very good speeches in the General Debate in the House  from opposition leaders.  They highlight Nick Smith’s dodgy record, & why he should be stood down as a Minister in Key’s “Dark, dirty & heartless” government. [Update: Key – on (dis)honesty]

Key loses his “Centre”, Herald spins right, Smith on the ropes

Written By: - Date published: 11:31 am, September 25th, 2013 - 35 comments

Cunliffe’s moderate, centre left Labour is on the rise; MSM-supported, NAct smears & negative spin is in over-drive.  John Key and the NZ Herald editorial  spin from the radical “neoliberal” right.  Slippery Nick Smith, a NAct weak point, is under concerted pressure. [Updated]

We have just over 400 days to change this Government

Written By: - Date published: 6:52 am, September 25th, 2013 - 52 comments

Cunliffe-Labour-save-our-futureDavid Cunliffe’s reign as leader of the Labour Party has started with a great deal of promise and this morning’s Herald Digipoll is encouraging.  Labour is finally looking united and policy statements are sharp and effective.  But we may be no more than 400 days to the next election.  And unless we want the instability of a Labour Green NZ First Coalition then support for the left and work by its activists will need to be increased dramatically.

Doing what we’re best at

Written By: - Date published: 2:37 pm, September 24th, 2013 - 53 comments

National is a very traditional party. They think that NZ is good at clearing land and raising animals, with a bit of mining on the side. The population is there to service farmers and miners on low wages. That may have been the case in the 1950’s. But as usual they’re hopelessly dated. Sometimes in recent years it has appeared to me that Labour thinks that way as well. But it looks like David Cunliffe is intent on refocusing us back on the burgeoning hi-wage and hi-growth hi-tech sector.

Labour’s reshuffle

Written By: - Date published: 3:31 pm, September 23rd, 2013 - 83 comments

Details of the Labour Caucus changes are now appearing in the media.  The update is Parker, Robertson and Jones will be the core of the economic team, King retains Health, Shearer gains Foreign Affairs and Cosgrove and Hipkins retain their current responsibilities.  Mahuta and Moroney are elevated to the front bench and this will help gender balance.

Updated with full list.

Hooton – please apologise

Written By: - Date published: 1:46 pm, September 23rd, 2013 - 220 comments

Matthew Hooton accused David Cunliffe of lying about his involvement with the Boston Management Group when it was providing advice that led to the development of Fonterra.  A little research supports Cunliffe’s claims and not Hooton’s.

“Predistribution”: From Miliband to Cunliffe

Written By: - Date published: 10:11 am, September 23rd, 2013 - 41 comments

Ed Miliband got the idea of pre-distribution from Jacob Hacker. Cunliffe has followed.  Can “pre-distribution” underpin a new direction for the left in NZ: one relevant to the challenges of the 21st century, especially in countering the too wide inequality gap & re-instating social democracy?

Beyond the MSM? You Bet!

Written By: - Date published: 10:18 am, September 20th, 2013 - 221 comments

David Cunliffe spoke to the Left base in the Daily Blog Live interview last night: economy, tax, employment, GCSB, TPPA & more.  He raises hopes for a new, post GFC social democratic vision. But he spoke to those with economic & policy knowledge. His nods towards better social security, away from bennie bashing, need fleshing out.

Wendy Brandon: DC’s chief of staff

Written By: - Date published: 6:45 am, September 19th, 2013 - 65 comments

Ok, I’m very pleasantly surprised. David Cunliffe has made a very interesting choice for chief of staff. Based on what I know about the task, she looks like a damn good fit for the role. In fact I’m just surprised that he managed to attract her at all for the thankless task.

I’ve always thought that the Chief of Staff role should be exercised by someone who was more managerial and staff orientated rather than being deeply embedded in the political game.

Cunliffe’s not so shabby question: broadband costs

Written By: - Date published: 12:57 pm, September 18th, 2013 - 41 comments

The MSM largely reported on Cunliffe stumbling over the word Chorus in his first question yesterday to PM Key.  But Key’s answers and later replies to the media, indicate corporate-friendly, cronyist manipulations and dodgy phone advice. [Update: Coalition for Fair Internet Pricing]

Clean and neat

Written By: - Date published: 7:41 am, September 18th, 2013 - 87 comments

Paddy Gower’s gleeful predictions of ‘blood on the floor’ of caucus didn’t happen. Tracy Watkins’ unrealistic demand that Grant Robertson (whom she incorrectly thought would win the leadership race) be retained as deputy was never going to happen. What we saw was a neat, least moves action that puts the economy front and centre of Labour’s brand.

Cunliffe’s team

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 am, September 17th, 2013 - 197 comments

Cunliffe has asked David Parker to be his is Cunliffe’s deputy. Moroney & Lee-Galloway Whips, Robertson Employment, Jones Economic Development. Audrey Young at the NZ Herald. Parker to retain finance, Robertson leader of House. Will there be a strong female presence in the front bench?  Tracy Watkins on Stuff: [Updates]

John Key’s anti-democratic government

Written By: - Date published: 9:31 am, September 17th, 2013 - 48 comments

John Key tries to smear the winner of Labour’s democratic leadership contest as “far left”, while his government continues in its anti-democratic, plutocratic ways: sale of Meridian to avoid referendum; Joyce’s Broadband pricing “arm twisting”.

Cunliffe declares war on National and the TPPA

Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, September 17th, 2013 - 178 comments

Day one of Cunliffe’s leadership and he is into battle mode.  He has made it clear that unity in the caucus is expected.  And he has deftly raised the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement as a political issue.

Cunliffe wins – now what?

Written By: - Date published: 12:26 pm, September 16th, 2013 - 91 comments

David Cunliffe Labour leader-1Day one of David Cunliffe’s tenure as Labour leader and the tone is being set.  There will be unity in the party and Labour is going to take the fight to National and John Key.

Labour leadership contest a fantastic innovation

Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, September 16th, 2013 - 132 comments

Well, didn’t that work well? For the past three weeks, Labour has dominated the political news with three contenders show-casing its values. There was remarkably little aggro – witness Tracy Watkins’ desperate scratching for any time conflict story. David Cunliffe has emerged with the legitimacy of a democratic victory, and a much stronger-than-expected mandate.

Do Armstrongs dream of electric sheep?

Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, September 14th, 2013 - 83 comments

John Armstrong gets it right: David Cunliffe’s going to win tomorrow. But he also gets it really wrong. Armstrong cooks up a conspiracy where Cunliffe’s job is to win the election, then Robertson will roll him. It’s almost as if, in the middle of Labour’s first democratic leadership selection process, he’s forgotten that Labour now has a democratic leadership selection process.

Housing: the options, the new left narrative?

Written By: - Date published: 11:07 am, September 13th, 2013 - 75 comments

The response to Metiria Turei’s sttements about affordable housing on The Vote, raises questions about political narratives are told to the general electorate? The Greens, Mana and Cunliffe have stressed their “vision“.  How to tell it so it reaches the hearts of New Zealanders?

TV3 needs to be fact checked

Written By: - Date published: 9:43 am, September 13th, 2013 - 75 comments

alternative-vs-mainstream-media-450x250TV3’s analysis of the Labour Leadership contest is leaving a lot to be desired.  Rather than reporting on what has happened they are trivialising the leadership campaign and getting important details wrong.

My votes

Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, September 12th, 2013 - 100 comments

I voted for Cunliffe, Robertson, and Jones in that order. My reasons are in this post. It is unnecessary for people to speculate on additional motivations.

But if any MP or jonolist wants to try to run a politically based smear on me like they did on Jenny Michie, Mike Williams, and others then I’m perfectly happy to tear them a new rectum through their political credibility over the next decade.