zzero use

This week’s Jonolist award goes to….

Written By: karol - Date published: 8:35 am, September 12th, 2013 - 86 comments

Jonolist award to Patrick Gower for slanted reporting of a non-poll result, continuing his anti-Cunliffe lines. Special mention to 3 News report on The Vote bovver boys, against affordable housing for those in need, forcing a “back-down” from Turei on lowering house prices. Need better MSM.

Assessing the contenders’ campaigns

Written By: Michael Foxglove - Date published: 7:18 am, September 12th, 2013 - 101 comments

Robertson had to show some flare, show he’s more than an affable apparatchik, that he’s capable of wowing crowds and raising his profile: Not achieved

Jones had to show he had some real depth under the bravado and not start saying weird things under pressure: Not achieved

Cunliffe had to show he that he can meter his charismatic side to avoid gaffes and that he was genuinely something different from the B Team that’s led Labour since Clark: Achieved.

Cunliffe shows leadership steel

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 9:32 pm, September 10th, 2013 - 352 comments

David Cunliffe faced his first leadership challenge today and came through it with flying colours. He set a high standard, and when that standard was tested he lived up to it. That’s leadership. It’s tough on our Jen, but I’m sure she agrees it was the right thing to do. Contrast that with John ‘Higher Standards’ Key’s protection of Bill ‘Double Dipton’ English.

Labour Leadership Contest – the final meeting will be streamed

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 3:44 pm, September 10th, 2013 - 24 comments

The final leadership meeting is scheduled for Christchurch this evening. The tour has been an outstanding success for the party and in the interests of the party what has been achieved needs to be consolidated and built on. And tune in to www.3news.co.nz at 7:45 pm for live streaming of the speeches.

6 for Christchurch East

Written By: Bunji - Date published: 1:18 pm, September 9th, 2013 - 12 comments

Labour yesterday announced the 6 candidates standing for selection to be the Christchurch East candidate in the impending by-election. All are locals, and there’s no Clayton Cosgrove despite early rumour-mongering. It looks a talented list.

The bankster memorandum

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:41 am, September 9th, 2013 - 160 comments

John Key honed his skills as a speculative banker. As PM, this casino capitalist has undermined democracy, & promoted international corporate interests, while beneficiaries & workers are brutalised, inequalities enhanced and NZ’s economy & sovereignty damaged. Does one Labour leader contender have his ~~number~~ measure?

Labour Leadership Campaign – Blackball Meeting

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:52 am, September 9th, 2013 - 58 comments

Day ten of the Labour Leadership Campaign TOur and the parties are off to Blackball on the West Coast, the spiritual birth place of the Labour Party.

Cunliffe’s vision

Written By: James Henderson - Date published: 8:06 am, September 9th, 2013 - 129 comments

Just a few days of hustings to go, and next Monday we’ll have a new Labour leader. David Cunliffe looks home and hosed: the polls show he’s favoured by Labour supporters and, importantly, the wider public; the only unions to declare a preference have backed him; and there’s a steady trickle of MPs swapping to get themselves on the right side of history. He’s done it by offering what Labour’s lacked: vision.

Labour Leadership Campaign – Weekend Edition

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:34 am, September 7th, 2013 - 206 comments

Days 7 and 8 of the Labour Leadership Campaign tours and the candidates are approaching the final straight. This weekend there will be Labour Leadership meetings in Nelson, Wellington and Dunedin. And TV3’s poll results on the leadership will no doubt attract intense attention.

Cunliffe passes my campaign litmus test

Written By: Jenny Michie - Date published: 8:14 pm, September 6th, 2013 - 83 comments

I’ve just spent the last week on the road with David Cunliffe and his wife Karen. Campaigns are a handy litmus test to see people as they really are when under pressure and performing to grueling schedules. As a general rule I’m prepared to like most people but as friends who know me well will […]

It’s about jobs … and social security?

Written By: karol - Date published: 9:34 am, September 6th, 2013 - 168 comments

Cunliffe & Robertson stress the need to improve employment laws, jobs, wages, the economy, workers’ rights. Cunliffe invokes Savage-like social security & the need to end the Nats beneficiary bashing. Wider community pressure is needed for there to be real political change away from the destructive neoliberal scam.

The invisible man

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 8:50 am, September 6th, 2013 - 91 comments

From the start of the Labour leadership contest, Cunliffe has been the man to beat. In the one scientific poll, he was favoured to lead by 30% of the population, Jones by 11%, Robertson by 10%. He’s been seen as having the strongest member and union backing from the start. Robertson needed a blinder in the roadshow. And that means the media fascination with Jones is hurting Robertson the most.

Labour Leadership Campaign – days six and seven

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:42 am, September 5th, 2013 - 32 comments

Day six of the Labour leadership marathon and the parties are off to Hamilton. David Cunliffe and Grant Robertson have released campaign videos and a virtual meeting is being scheduled. And a day off tomorrow which I am sure the parties will be pleased about.

David Cunliffe

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 11:04 am, September 4th, 2013 - 267 comments

In accordance with our general rules about candidates posting, David Cunliffe has sent in a guest post. He will be available to answer some questions. The post will be fully moderated.

Other candidates for the historic Labour leadership primary are welcome to send similar posts with the same rules.

Labour leadership campaign – day five

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:54 am, September 4th, 2013 - 27 comments

Day five of the leadership campaign and the contenders meet tonight in Tauranga.

21st Century Leadership Election

Written By: Ben Clark - Date published: 1:43 pm, September 3rd, 2013 - 12 comments

As part of the Labour Leadership Election there is to be a ‘virtual hustings’ – an online forum for Q&A organised by Labour. Scoop have agreed to facilitate, and are now harvesting the questions.

Labour leadership campaign – day four

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:16 am, September 3rd, 2013 - 72 comments

Day four of the Labour Leadership campaign and the parties are heading to the Hawkes Bay. The meetings so far have been positive, happy affairs and the candidates have been on their best behaviour. May this unity continue.

Enough for us all, but they want it all for themselves

Written By: Michael Valley - Date published: 7:37 am, September 2nd, 2013 - 180 comments

The howls of outrage from the Right elite were predictable. Robertson and Cunliffe promising a living wage for all government workers, are they crazy? Decent pay for cleaners? That’s not what their granddaddies fought for. It was predictable but it still makes you angry. These are the same people who cheered when the elite got billions in tax cuts. These are the people we have to throw out of power.

‘Mind the Gap” – the way forward

Written By: karol - Date published: 11:06 am, August 30th, 2013 - 77 comments

TV3’s Mind the Gap documentary (Bryan Bruce) is very important because it put before the general population the damaging impact of income inequality in a clear and and straightforward manner. The solutions? Ideas from academics, journalists, campaigners & opposition politicians/parties.

Ladies and gentlemen, your Prime Minister

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 9:32 am, August 28th, 2013 - 66 comments

Much has been made of Key’s bizarre performance in the House yesterday. Some are naturally questioning his medical intake after his unhinged laughing at his own weak pre-written jokes in answer to Labour questions. But, for me, it was his response to Russel Norman’s questions that was more telling. His utter contempt for accountability is something every Kiwi should see.

Is high-fiving schoolgirls a parliamentary purpose?

Written By: Michael Valley - Date published: 7:21 pm, August 27th, 2013 - 72 comments

It’s all drama today as Patrick Gower discovers that Labour’s leadership candidates are using their parliamentary flight allowance for the debates. As if selecting the leader of a parliamentary party isn’t a parliamentary purpose. If you’re going to play crusader, Mr Gower, how about looking at how much of John Key’s $650,000 travel budget goes on trips to high-five schoolgirls or play in toy boats?

Smell the fear

Written By: karol - Date published: 2:28 pm, August 27th, 2013 - 236 comments

John Key claims he doesn’t care who becomes the next parliamentary Labour leader, while trying to drive a wedge between candidates. As Cunliffe gains momentum, Key turns negative on Cunliffe & throws some stones in his glass house. Gordon Campbell puts things in perspective.

War on the poor: flexible super

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:20 am, August 27th, 2013 - 94 comments

Dunne’s proposal for flexible superannuation is a U-Turn for Key, while he hides behind it being a Dunne and flexible initiative & good for low income people. Sue Bradford argues against Dunne’s initiative, saying it will benefit those on higher incomes. She prefers better and universal benefits.

David Cunliffe enters the leadership race

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 2:41 pm, August 26th, 2013 - 530 comments

As anticipated David Cunliffe has announced that he is entering into the race for Labour’s leadership. Let the contest begin!

The momentum of expectation….

Written By: karol - Date published: 12:20 pm, August 26th, 2013 - 115 comments

[Update] Surrounded by women, especially Pasifika women, Cunliffe announced he is standing for Labour leader. Iain Lees Galloway and Nanaia Mahuta signed the nomination forms. Report from New Lynn: photos added – Cunliffe answers some questions.

1938 15

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:15 am, August 25th, 2013 - 2 comments

A Sunday feature – each week a random section scanned from a copy of The Standard, September 15th, 1938. Find out more here.

Why I electorate vote Cunliffe: op ed

Written By: karol - Date published: 12:10 pm, August 23rd, 2013 - 138 comments

I wasn’t going to express my opinion on the upcoming Labour leadership selection process. However, the usual right leaning MSM hacks seem to have been following the current Labour caucus leadership in naming Robertson as the frontrunner. This is my op ed testimony for my frontrunner, the MP for my electorate: Cunliffe.

No time for experiments

Written By: Jenny Michie - Date published: 3:04 pm, August 22nd, 2013 - 158 comments

We all knew David Shearer was a good guy and he’s just proved how good – and noble – a man he is by resigning rather than forcing a messy and protracted leadership coup. Let’s hope that caucus, Labour members and the affiliates will be as clear headed. Now is not the time for another […]

Big announcement at 1:30 … Shearer stands down as leader

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:30 pm, August 22nd, 2013 - 336 comments

It is confirmed that David Shearer has announced that he will stand down as Labour’s leader after a new leader is selected. The leadership will now be decided under the Party’s constitution.

Shame!

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 7:45 pm, August 21st, 2013 - 136 comments

So the Key-Dunne spying Bill is now law. The privacy of your electronic communications now depends on the favour of an untrustworthy PM, and the best efforts of a legal system (much derided by said PM) in interpreting a confused mess of a law / Hansard record / letter to The Herald.

Shame shame shame on all those MPs who ignored the concerns of the people who elected them and passed this travesty.

If lawyers don’t understand the law…

Written By: Bunji - Date published: 12:59 pm, August 21st, 2013 - 32 comments

Then it’s a bad law. Who does John Key think is going to interpret the GCSB law other than lawyers from the Law Commission, the Human Rights Tribunal, the Privacy Commissioner etc?