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Why John Banks must never be the Super City Mayor

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, December 3rd, 2014 - 60 comments

The Herald today suggested John Banks is thinking of another tilt at the Super City Mayoralty. This video shows why he should never be trusted with this position.

Nothing to hide nothing to fear?

Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, December 3rd, 2014 - 93 comments

I guess we can conclude that Key has something to hide, otherwise what could he possibly have to fear?

Key in for the long term?

Written By: - Date published: 10:33 pm, November 22nd, 2014 - 38 comments

John Key’s election as chair of the International Democratic Union is significant. Key succeeds John Howard who has led the IDU for the past 12 years. Key’s acceptance signals that like  four-time winner Howard, Key plans a long career as Prime Minister of New Zealand. This news should be a wake-up call for the Labour Party’s review of its election organisation and party structure.

Key apology not genuine

Written By: - Date published: 7:39 am, November 12th, 2014 - 219 comments

Key’s apology isn’t genuine, he is still playing the political weasel. Key didn’t “misinterpret the question”, he was just displaying the same level of empathy as his favourite blogger.

Not a great headline for Key

Written By: - Date published: 1:45 pm, November 11th, 2014 - 169 comments

killer-pedophile-joke

Strategic voting

Written By: - Date published: 6:44 am, October 20th, 2014 - 196 comments

It’s all very well taking the moral high ground on strategic voting, but the nice guys are finishing last. Enough already, time for the Left to use the same tactics as the Nats.

Len Brown’s future

Written By: - Date published: 8:53 am, October 19th, 2014 - 41 comments

The Herald has stated that Penny Hulse will not rule out an attempt at the Super City Mayoralty although she will not do so if Len Brown is standing. Now is a good time for Len to say what he intends to do.

Sherman Cunliffe

Written By: - Date published: 8:50 pm, October 17th, 2014 - 308 comments

Surely this should put Paddy Gower and co to bed once and for all. With great grace despite Shearer’s baiting, and with great clarity, Cunliffe has declared he will never seek the Labour leadership again. It was Shermanesque. Now surely he can get on with using his great talent for Labour and not have him […]

Dear David Shearer

Written By: - Date published: 8:51 am, October 14th, 2014 - 278 comments

David Shearer has chosen to publicly call for unity while at the same time attacking David Cunliffe and the concept that Labour’s leadership should be representative.

Some thoughts on David Cunliffe’s withdrawal

Written By: - Date published: 2:30 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 111 comments

Some personal comments on news today that David Cunliffe has withdrawn from the Labour leadership contest.

David Cunliffe announces withdrawal from the Labour Party leadership contest

Written By: - Date published: 2:11 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 336 comments

Statement from David Cunliffe I am today announcing that I have decided not to nominate for the 2014 Labour Party leadership contest. It has been a hard decision to make but it is one that I believe is in the best interests of the wider Labour Party. There is so much work to do on […]

Cunliffe to pull out?

Written By: - Date published: 12:35 pm, October 13th, 2014 - 154 comments

Only a rumour at this stage…

Progressive social media

Written By: - Date published: 9:27 am, October 10th, 2014 - 70 comments

Now that the dust is settling on the 2014 general election it is a good time for progressives to review our and our opponents’ use of social media and what can be done better.  And how do we respond effectively to the approach of the right which is now thanks to Nicky Hager painstakingly clear.

NRT: A surprise policy

Written By: - Date published: 7:12 pm, October 7th, 2014 - 32 comments

Remember National’s social housing policy? The one they campaigned on? The one that talked about how much money they were spending and was all about upgrading and investing in state houses? Somehow, post-election, its transmogrified into selling off a third of the state housing stock. John Key lying to voters as usual eh?

Police raid Hager

Written By: - Date published: 4:07 pm, October 6th, 2014 - 401 comments

Breaking news, police raid Nicky Hager.

National lose majority

Written By: - Date published: 2:18 pm, October 4th, 2014 - 216 comments

The final results are out – National lose a seat (and their majority), Greens gain a seat, Andrew Little is safe.

Final election results due out today

Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, October 4th, 2014 - 109 comments

The final election results are expected to be announced today and I would not be surprised if there is a change in the makeup of Parliament.

First they sold Auckland, then the rest of NZ…?

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, October 3rd, 2014 - 28 comments

A quiet shift in a dodgy Key govt-SkyCity deal: TVNZ land, sold to SkyCity for its convention centre, is to be used for a new hotel.  Plus: non-mandated deal between Auckland Transport Authority & a US corporate – intense surveillance of Aucklanders’ diverse activities.

The Monkeywrench

Written By: - Date published: 2:01 pm, September 29th, 2014 - 75 comments

Some thoughts from a different angle on ‘what went wrong’, or maybe just saying stuff along the lines of what plenty of other people are thinking

Pick up the ball

Written By: - Date published: 10:53 am, September 28th, 2014 - 30 comments

In the spirit of new badly needed Left Unity. The Left opposition needs to start setting the agenda. First “feed the kids” needs to be picked up. Second the corporate welfare for Solid Energy needs a lot of scrutiny. So does the the state funding of oil exploration.

David Clark on Dunedin North

Written By: - Date published: 9:01 am, September 28th, 2014 - 44 comments

MP for Dunedin North David Clark has been reflecting on the very successful result in the electorate.

Cunliffe’s statement

Written By: - Date published: 1:12 pm, September 27th, 2014 - 280 comments

Labour’s Council is currently meeting. David Cunliffe is expected to make a statement today at 2:30. It will be covered live by RNZ, 3 News and other outlets.  Update:  David Cunliffe has announced his resignation from the leader’s position but will contest the vacant leadership.  Get ready for a leadership contest …

What will Kim Dotcom do next?

Written By: - Date published: 9:34 am, September 27th, 2014 - 173 comments

Nice to see one Journalist speaking up about National’s vicious personal attacks on Kim Dotcom. What will Dotcom do next? My guess is that he will stay out of NZ politics from now on.

Local Bodies: Greens Immediately Become the Opposition.

Written By: - Date published: 7:16 am, September 27th, 2014 - 63 comments

bspout at Local Bodies was well up on the Greens list, but as the Greens only got 10%, he didn’t get into parliament. But as he says, with Labour navel gazing and NZ First lacking experience, the greens are currently the only effective opposition at present.

I disagree

Written By: - Date published: 1:53 pm, September 26th, 2014 - 112 comments

With Lynn, which according to the trolls should see me banned 😈

I think the Labour results show voters understand MMP, not that Labour doesn’t.

Labour obviously never worked out MMP

Written By: - Date published: 8:59 am, September 26th, 2014 - 104 comments

Perhaps it is time for activists to have two parties. The one that specialises in electorates and the one that focuses on party vote. Because it is becoming evident that Labour is unlikely to ever manage to make the transition to being a MMP party. Their MPs clearly don’t care for the party or the brand.

The last five days

Written By: - Date published: 5:53 pm, September 25th, 2014 - 63 comments

An accident… Then an odd thing starts to happen. Instead of helping the survivors and securing the scene, the rescue crew start fighting amongst themselves. How did the crash happen? Was it was the driver’s fault? What was the main cause of the accident?

The Election That Left One Third of Us Behind

Written By: - Date published: 5:32 pm, September 23rd, 2014 - 171 comments

No one should begrudge John Key and the National party the right to celebrate an impressive election victory. It is little consolation to those who opposed them that the win is very much a personal triumph for the Prime Minister rather than for the party and government he leads. As the tumult and the shouting […]

Labour’s leadership

Written By: - Date published: 10:24 am, September 23rd, 2014 - 216 comments

David Cunliffe has just announced that he will seek to continue as leader of the Labour Party and will let the party decide.  A contest for the leadership is almost inevitable.

Clean it up

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, September 23rd, 2014 - 70 comments

Action Station has a full page ad in today’s NZ Herald, asking to clean up dirty politics. Dirty Politics is not any isolated attack politics or criticism of those in power.  It is a relentless two track strategy, an orchestrated smear machine, aimed at moving politics rightwards & disengaging (left wing) voters. Update: Hager comments on the election.

Our children in Wellington

Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, September 23rd, 2014 - 282 comments

I’m pretty sure that David Cunliffe would win a members and affiliates vote. So suck it up MPs, stop playing your silly caucus games and do some frigging work this term rather than the self-indulgent posturing you wasted time with last term. We have to start building campaigning machinery as soon as possible. You are getting in the way.