Go Bernie!

Written By: - Date published: 9:55 am, January 14th, 2016 - 91 comments
Categories: us politics - Tags:

91 comments on “Go Bernie! ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Wayne 1
    14 January 2016 at 10:13 am

    Be careful what you wish for.

    If Sanders is the Democratic nominee and Trump the Republican nominee then Trump would likely be the next President of the US.

    Is that what you want?

    • Pat 1.1
      14 January 2016 at 10:19 am

      and you base that assertion on what?

    • Andre 1.2
      14 January 2016 at 10:33 am

      It would certainly make an interesting race, given the way the Republicans eat their own at the moment
      http://www.salon.com/2016/01/13/right_wing_backlash_to_nikki_haleys_gop_state_of_the_union_response_grows_to_reveal_ugly_racial_undertones/

    • happynz 1.3
      14 January 2016 at 11:11 am

      Trump the next president? Get real, Wayne.

      The next president of the US needs 270 electoral votes. Look at the electoral map from the 2012. Which blue states would a Trump candidacy flip?

      • Ad 1.3.1
        14 January 2016 at 12:56 pm

        Ask the same of a Bernie campaign.

        The question is never “who would make the ideal President”, but “who can win”.

        • crashcart 1.3.1.1
          14 January 2016 at 3:02 pm

          Funnily enough there is data on this. Polling shows that Bernie would beat trump and Cruz in both New Hampshire and Iowa in a presidential race. Not by a little either. I believe it is a 19 point lead he has in both states over both of the top republican candidates. Both important purple swing states. More importantly to show the ignorance of Wayne’s comments Hilary would only beat trump and Cruz by a slim margin in one and would actually lose to Cruz in the other.

          The common misconception that Hilary is more electable than Sanders is actually showing in polling to be the complete opposite.

    • Paul 1.4
      14 January 2016 at 11:45 am

      Looks like your prejudiced opinion does not sit with the US populace.

      http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/2016-general-election-trump-vs-sanders

      • alwyn 1.4.1
        14 January 2016 at 1:02 pm

        I wonder how their methodology differs from the results shown by RealClearPolitics which, although still showing Sanders ahead seems to show the gap closing.
        http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_sanders-5565.html

        A Sanders vs Trump campaign would be rather funny except for the terrifying fact that one of them would win. It was best described by Oscar Wilde more than a century ago. Their campaign would be a case of the unspeakable in pursuit of the inedible.

        Personally I would prefer a campaign of John Kasich vs Hillary Clinton. They seem to be the best qualified of the various options.

        • Paul 1.4.1.1
          14 January 2016 at 1:23 pm

          Why is Sanders scary?
          His policies seems pretty much common sense.

          https://berniesanders.com/issues/

          • alwyn 1.4.1.1.1
            14 January 2016 at 2:43 pm

            He is certainly not like either Trump or, in Britain, Corbyn.
            They are both, quite simply, totally nuts.
            He is not however, in my view, competent to be President. The job is vastly too important, particularly at this time to have an unqualified person in the role.
            If I was an American and had to choose between Trump and Sanders I would choose Sanders. However I wouldn’t be at all happy about it. It would merely be that in a choice between the bad and the mad I would have to pick the bad.
            (That is bad as in not competent, not as in evil by the way).
            We need better and, like it or not, Sanders is not the one. He would turn out rather like Jimmy Carter I suspect. A man in a job that is far to big for him.

            • Paul 1.4.1.1.1.1
              14 January 2016 at 2:56 pm

              ‘He is not however, in my view, competent to be President.’
              Why?

              ‘He would turn out rather like Jimmy Carter I suspect.’

              Here are his presidency’s achievements…
              Looks pretty impressive to me.

              1. Created the Department of Energy. The DOE provided the administration with the bureaucratic chops to formulate and implement what could have been a comprehensive, long-term national energy strategy. Had Carter’s aggressive gas mileage standards continued to be pursued by subsequent administrations, we would today — 30-odd years later — be dramatically less dependent on Saudi oil.

              2. Created the Department of Education. Despite howls from anti-government groups who opposed yet another federal agency, the decision to carve out Education from the already over-burdened Department. of Health, Education and Welfare (now the Department of Health and Human Services) was a bold and necessary one.

              3. Supported SALT II (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks). It sounds trivial today, but in the 1970s a nuclear non-proliferation pact, even a flawed one, was seen as an important step in forging a lasting peace with the USSR. A generation ago, people were genuinely frightened of a nuclear holocaust. Although Carter and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev signed the agreement, the U.S. Congress, in the wake of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, refused to ratify it.

              4. Brokered the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. By initiating the Camp David Accords between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat (which led directly to the landmark treaty), Carter laid the groundwork for improved Israeli-Arab relations. That good relations in the region never materialized wasn’t Carter’s fault.

              5. Installed solar panels in the White House. This was not only a practical gesture, but a symbolic one as well, demonstrating to the world that America was serious about conserving energy, and that conservation does, indeed, begin at home. Alas, Ronald Reagan believed solar panels made the United States look pathetic and needy, and had them removed.

              6. Boycotted the 1980 Olympics. In response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Carter boycotted the Moscow games, a decision that earned him ridicule and scorn, even though Japan, West Germany, China, Canada, et al, supported his decision. Boycotts are unpredictable. Some work, most don’t. Still, who knows what would have happened if the world had boycotted the 2004 Olympics to protest of the U.S. invasion of Iraq? It might have made a difference.

              7. Granted amnesty to Vietnam draft-dodgers. Even though Carter issued these unconditional pardons on January 21, 1977 (his first day in office), the political fallout was severe enough to cost him votes in the 1980 election. Controversial as it was, this gutsy call helped move the country forward, providing closure to one of the most divisive issues in American history.

              8. Established diplomatic relations with China. Officially transferring U.S. diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to mainland China seems like a no-brainer today, but in the year 1979 it was a singularly progressive move.

              9. Pushed for comprehensive health care reform. Carter’s plan was bigger, better, cheaper and — right out of the blocks — had a greater chance of passing in its original form than either Clinton’s or Obama’s plan, but inertia, timidity, and old-fashioned politics (both Democratic and Republican) ultimately killed it.

              10. Returned the Panama Canal to Panama. Another gutsy move that surely cost him votes. By ceding the canal to tiny Panama, the mighty U.S. looked confident and magnanimous…. instead of paranoid and petty. Although Carter was able to secure bipartisan support, of the 20 senators who voted in favor of the treaty, and were up for re-election, only 7 were re-elected.

              http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-macaray/10-good-things-the-39th-p_b_945343.html

              • crashcart …
                14 January 2016 at 3:08 pm

                Stop bringing facts to this discussion. Honestly how could Bernie be qualified. I mean he has only one of the longest and most consistent voting histories around but he also has policies that are widely supported by the majority of Americans.

                • Paul …
                  14 January 2016 at 3:11 pm

                  And he scares alwyn

                • alwyn …
                  14 January 2016 at 3:42 pm

                  Did you actually read this item that you are replying to crashcart?

                  The “his presidency” was referring to Carter.
                  The facts you are so pleased with are not about Sanders at all. They are all about Jimmy Carter. Try reading it properly and you’ll see that.

                  And perhaps you can tell us how you can claim, about Sanders that “he also has policies that are widely supported by the majority of Americans.”
                  Do you have specific evidence of this?

                  • Paul …
                    14 January 2016 at 3:45 pm

                    Yes and you said Sanders ‘would turn out rather like Jimmy Carter I suspect.’
                    Which would suggest a massive improvement on Obama, Bush (x2), Reagan and Clinton.

                    • alwyn …
                      14 January 2016 at 4:02 pm

                      That is a matter of opinion.
                      Personally I think that Obama has been a fair President, as was Bush 1. Both Reagan and Clinton were fairly good. Bush 2 was a flop.

                      The best in my lifetime though was Eisenhower. He was miles ahead of any of the others.
                      I think you would approve of some of his comments.

                      “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.”

                      “Should any political party attempt to abolish social security unemployment insurance and eliminate labor laws and farm programs you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group of course that believes you can do these things. Among them are a few other Texas oil millionaires and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid.”

                      “Get it all on record now – get the films – get the witnesses -because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.”

                      “As we peer into society’s future, we — you and I, and our government — must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for our own ease and convenience the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow.”

                      I’ll bet you didn’t expect those from a Republican did you?

                  • crashcart …
                    14 January 2016 at 4:04 pm

                    His reponse was to your comment ion which you stated that he would be worse than Carter and that he would not be qualified.

                    Paul spoke to Carter and I decided to speak to the qualified comment.

                    As to his policies being supported.

                    Money in politics
                    http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/06/02/us/politics/money-in-politics-poll.html?_r=0

                    Universal Health care
                    http://www.gallup.com/poll/4708/healthcare-system.aspx

                    Free Education
                    http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/poll-most-support-making-college-free/article/2572333

                    • alwyn …
                      14 January 2016 at 4:20 pm

                      OK.
                      The problem is that when you reply to a comment that contains quite a lot of statements of fact and then refer to the author introducing facts into the argument I, quite reasonably I think, take it to be those facts you are referring to.
                      That was what made your comment look silly.

                  • North …
                    15 January 2016 at 10:29 pm

                    I think it’s you who misunderstands Crashcart Alwyn, if not yourself.

                    You did after all in anticipation pejoratively conflate Sanders with Carter and spoke some broken biscuits about the latter. Crashcart carried on your line. And assisted by Paul’s excellent contribution made you look silly.

                    Now you disown yourself. Right you are !

              • alwyn …
                14 January 2016 at 3:35 pm

                I don’t really want to get into a debate about the merits, or otherwise of Jimmy Carter but the list above is a bit forced.

                For example
                (1) claims “we would today — 30-odd years later — be dramatically less dependent on Saudi oil.”
                Would you believe, and it is true, that the US imports from the Kingdom come to about 3% of the US consumption? Would even dropping to zero be “dramatically less”?

                (3) Supported SALT II. Well yes, and he signed it but the process started under Richard Nixon and continued under Gerald Ford.

                (8)” Established diplomatic relations with China”. That was the last step in the process. That one really deserves to go to the credit of Nixon doesn’t it?

                (10)”Returned the Panama Canal to Panama”. That one he does deserve. However if you used the same method here as you did with 3 and 8 you would have to ignore Jimmy and give the credit to Bill Clinton. It was actually handed back in 1999.

                The Brookings Institute is a left leaning institution, at least in the way the US defines left. Here is an item they published on Jimmy Carter, and why they say he was a failure.
                http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2000/01/21politics-hess
                I would regard it as a fair review of the man.

                • Paul …
                  14 January 2016 at 3:48 pm

                  The author was ‘a veteran staffer of the Eisenhower and Nixon administrations.’
                  Both Republican Presidents.
                  So the actual author is not ‘left leaning.’

                  Brian Gould is left leaning and wrote a powerful article for the right wing rag the Herald today.

                  Not all authors represent the views of the organisation they are published in.

                  • alwyn …
                    14 January 2016 at 4:14 pm

                    You will also have noted that the editor described Mr Hess and what he has written in this way

                    “Editor’s Note: Following is a column Mr. Hess wrote in June 1978, when Jimmy Carter was just midway through his term. We think it’s worth reprinting. It shows how early Carter’s flaws became apparent to eagle-eyed pundits like Mr. Hess.”

                    It doesn’t sound as if the Brookings Institute were disapproving of the material does it? In fact they do seem to agree with the description of “failure” .
                    Incidentally Hess was an adviser to Carter. He didn’t just work for Republicans. He also worked at Brookings.
                    By the way I believe it is Bryan Gould, not Brian.

    • Ad 1.5
      14 January 2016 at 12:52 pm

      The United States with a strong Republican-aligned Executive, Senate, and Congress would be quite something to behold on the world stage.

      President Obama’s State of the Union was on point there yesterday.

    • Lanthanide 1.6
      14 January 2016 at 1:00 pm

      Any centrist candidate will defeat any extremist (and Bernie is extremist, in the US context) in the general election.

      Hard to say how two extremists head-to-head would go, though. I’m not sure Trump would win, because he’s crazy.

      But for that same reason, it suggest that neither Trump nor Bernie will win their nominations.

      • crashcart 1.6.1
        14 January 2016 at 3:11 pm

        Current polling disagrees with you. That doesn’t mean Bernie would win but it certainly shows there is an appetite for non establishment candidates. As shown by both primaries currently being led by very non establishment people.

        • You_Fool 1.6.1.1
          15 January 2016 at 7:38 am

          I do wonder how much the polling will actually reflect the final result. Yes there is appetite for non-establishment candidates, but is it Americans finally waking up to the power of polls to shift debate to issues they actually care about by showing support for extreme candidates before voting for which ever moderate adopts a more sensible policy based on those views.

          I.e. want a more leftist Hillary, tell pollsters you support Sanders and then watch as Hillary tries to more like Sanders then vote Hillary. Republicans ditto (but Trump, Rubico or Cruz as the crazies and which ever of the other 9000 candidates you want)

          From what I have seen, Hillary has picked this up better than the Republicans

          • crashcart 1.6.1.1.1
            15 January 2016 at 7:59 am

            Don’t disagree with you at all. As I said the polls don’t mean Bernie will win but the indicate people are not happy with the status quo. I still don’t think Trump will win the Republican primary. The DNC has a lot of tools to try and push things towards Hilary as well so there is still a strong chance that we end up with a Clinton V Cruz election.

            • You_Fool 1.6.1.1.1.1
              15 January 2016 at 9:59 am

              I doubt that the republician voters will nominate Trump or Cruz or even Carson (as Lanth pointed out my confusion on the bizare right wingers) but that their support is more to do with trying to promote the ideas behind their extremism.

              • crashcart …
                15 January 2016 at 10:08 am

                With how close the first primaries are and the current polling in those states both Cruz and Trump have massive leads over any other contenders. Yes there is probably a bit of error in the polls due to people trying to push more centre candidates out but when we are talking 20 points or more then that is a level of co-ordination that I doubt would happen in polls. Heavy defeats in those first two states will essentially drop most of the also ran’s. This could result in a consolidation in support behind a Rubio type candidate but by that stage he will all ready be trying to catch up.

                Of course anything is possible.

                • You_Fool …
                  15 January 2016 at 12:21 pm

                  It comes down to how much people are willing to back up their frustration at the actual vote as opposed to when a polling company rings and asks. Nothing says you need to answer the pollster the same way as you will actually vote; and if saying Trump helps to make a more centrist candidate sit up and notice then maybe enough people are doing that this time.

                  The republican primaries will be a good sign of how crazy the US right has a actually gone, or how smart/trollish they can show themselves to be

          • Lanthanide 1.6.1.1.2
            15 January 2016 at 9:21 am

            Rubio isn’t crazy and is likely to be the republican nominee. Did you mean Carson?

            • You_Fool 1.6.1.1.2.1
              15 January 2016 at 9:56 am

              Maybe I have confused my crazy republicans, It is hard to separate them sometimes. Although Rubio denies Climate Change so he is a little crazy, though yeah not as crazy as Carson/Trump//Cruz – so sorry wrong crazy

        • Lanthanide 1.6.1.2
          15 January 2016 at 9:19 am

          A more sophisticated modelling of the primaries gives Hillary a 82% chance to win Iowa and 57% chance for New Hampshire:

          http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/election-2016/primary-forecast/iowa-democratic/
          http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/election-2016/primary-forecast/new-hampshire-democratic/

    • Sabine 1.7
      14 January 2016 at 1:10 pm

      bwhahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

      Vote For Trump – cause Bernie is a red commie hippie purple tie die t-shirt wearing socialist.

      Cause he is gonna keep the ladies in their place

      Cause he is gonna get rid of the Mulims, and the rapist drug dealing latinos – or at least he will registrate them or pull an Eisenhower on them https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback

      Cause he is gonna make US great again, after the lefty liberals took all the guns n gods and the country has now gone to shit

      And he is gonna hold on to power just like the geezer in North Corea http://www.thejournal.ie/donald-trump-kim-jong-un-executed-uncle-2543190-Jan2016/

      Do you really think that they would not vote for Trump if Hilary is gonna get the nomination?
      Frankly its about time that the ‘right’ needs to understand that Trump is their baby, they made them, they enable him, and they are gonna go vote for them.
      And then there was the TPPA under Presnit Trump. Don’t ya love how life is gonna be in the future.

      And you know what, there is a segment of the population in NZ that would vote for him – or NZ answer for him (Pullsher Bennefit comes to mind) for the same reasons, just replace Latino with any ethnicity the right in NZ would like to get rid off, of course the Muslim will not be let in, and of course the Ladies need to be put back to their barefoot n breeding days in the kitchen. And let no one even take one look at guns.

      Question: Do you have enough money to survive a Preznit Trump and the TPPA?

      Sadly Wayne i fear you must face the reality, Trump is the ghost the right called for and now they can not rid themselves of it.

      • Anne 1.7.1
        14 January 2016 at 4:06 pm

        Trump is the ghost the right called for and now they can not rid themselves of it.

        Talking of ghosts, a Trump presidency reminds me of a modern-day U.S. equivalent
        of the 1930s/40s Hitler/Nazism in Germany. It wouldn’t be too far fetched to envisage a U.S. wide witch-hunt against Muslims and Mexicans and huge “holding pens” (concentration camps) erected for the ultimate purpose of eliminating them.

    • Naturesong 1.8
      14 January 2016 at 1:33 pm

      It won’t be that close, but not a landslide.

      Huffington Post’s poll of polls is tracking 20 polls from 8 pollsters have Sanders at 49.2% v Trumps 42.5%.

      My pick is Sanders would win over Trump due to large capital interests backing the social democrat, then moving to destroy him and everything he stands for during the first term.

      If Clinton becomes the democrat pick, she takes the presidency.
      If it’s Sanders, Jeb’s the only one who would beat him (poll of polls has him narrowly losing to Sanders).
      However Jeb is 5% v Trumps 37% for the republican primary. So much for that.

      The real meat for the election is not Sanders v Trump, it’s the Senate.
      Republicans currently have a razor thin majority. 34 seats are to be contested, 24 of them with republican incumbents. Guestimate is a dozen seats in play …?

      It is also a bumper year for state governorships with 11 states up for grabs so how local and federal issues intersect are more likely to be present in people’s minds as they vote.

      The only thing I am absolutely certain of though, is that more money will be poured into the US political system than anyone previously imagined possible.

    • Richard@Down South 1.9
      14 January 2016 at 4:19 pm

      I have several friends in the USA… Trump’s rallys are often quite empty of people, and they use tight in shots to make it look like there are a lot of people there… Bernie has pretty good pulling power, he recently filled a hall on campus for 1200 students… (and it was when they were on holiday break)

    • Colonial Viper 1.10
      14 January 2016 at 8:41 pm

      Wayne, Trump/Sanders are doing so well now because people are sick of the US corporate oligarchy/dynastic establishment.

  2. Julia Schiller 2
    14 January 2016 at 10:22 am

    Wayne, I am following this closely, because I still have US citizenship and will be voting in the California primary and the general election. Many polls have shown that Bernie has the better chance of beating Trump and other potential Republican nominees.

    In fact, Bernie can appeal to Trump supporters because he understands their anxieties, but addresses them in a way that brings people together, well, the 99% anyway.

    Although I can’t argue that there are a few points that would make a Clinton presidency preferable to a Republican one, she would represent no real progress for the millions of Americans who are underpaid and who lack health care and access to education. Over the years, she, Bill and now Chelsea have raised millions speaking to banking, health provider, and other corporate interests and her policy views have been accordingly warped. Bernie is beholden to no one and has been reliably guided by his compassion and steadfast principles throughout his many years in public office, which, by the way, outnumber hers, even if you grant her the 8 years spent as first lady.

    Bernie is proposing raising minimum wage to $15/hour (HRC supports a rise to only $12 over some years), repairing sagging infrastructure to create jobs, free tuition to public colleges & universities, and universal Medicare. He has done the numbers and demonstrates how to pay for all of this. His desire to address climate change and his reluctance to deploy the military will mean a better world for all.

    Everyone should #FeeltheBern and hope that his example will provide an inspiration for politics here in NZ too.

  3. Manuka AOR 3
    14 January 2016 at 11:13 am

    Hillary’s lead is shrinking nationwide, according to an NYT poll:
    http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/01/13/clintons-lead-over-sanders-shrinking-nationwide-poll

  4. sweetd 4
    14 January 2016 at 11:24 am

    Talk on the US news channels the other night was that Hillary is in deep trouble over the FBI email investigation, they say there are at least 16 instances she could be prosecuted on, the latest being that NSA signals intelligence being passed to private sources.

    They further more speculated that FBI could look at inditing in 60 days or less and they (FBI) have over 100 agents working on this case at present.

    More speculation was that the DMC would alter their rules to make Biden the Dem candidate.

    Not my opinion, just the talk on the US news channels.

    • happynz 4.1
      14 January 2016 at 11:42 am

      …err…DNC…though I’m down with RunDMC. Wak This Way, indeed! 🙂

      The current chair of the DNC, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, doesn’t appear to be too popular with the Democrat activist wing.

      Biden already announced that he is not seeking the office of president.

    • weizguy 4.2
      14 January 2016 at 12:30 pm

      Let’s be honest – that’s the talk on Fox…

    • Lanthanide 4.3
      14 January 2016 at 1:04 pm

      They don’t need to ‘alter’ any rules to make Biden the candidate – yet. They’d only need to do that if Bernie stacks up a majority in delegates.

  5. Anno1701 5
    14 January 2016 at 12:10 pm

    Trudeau first, Sanders next, Corbyn in a few years time

    is this a global swing ?

  6. Rich 6
    14 January 2016 at 12:36 pm

    A Trump presidency wouldn’t be so bad. It would probably lead to economic collapse, mass starvation and rioting, a nuclear war with North Korea and the collapse of the USA as a nation.

    The survivors might wind up creating quite sensible small countries out of some of the states, like Oregon. Others, like Texas, would wind up like a cross between Mexico and Somalia, but they’d be too small and poor to be a global problem.

  7. Michael 7
    14 January 2016 at 1:06 pm

    Yes!

    If Bernie wins in Iowa or New Hampshire, he will have the momentum to become the Democratic nominee, and the next President.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/bernie-sanders-destroys-donald-trump-by-13-points-6-more-than-clinton-_b_8936840.html
    In a general election, Sanders would destroy Trump with a 13-point lead. Hillary would eke by with a 7-point lead, when you consider the poll’s margin of error.

    72% of Independents and 59% of all Americans do not trust Hillary Clinton. Independent voters – who make up 40% of the electorate – are essential to winning an election in the US. Independent voters like Bernie Sanders.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/13/us/politics/hillary-clintons-lead-over-bernie-sanders-slipping-in-new-poll.html Among voters under 35, Sanders has a 2-1 lead over Clinton.

  8. Anno1701 8
    14 January 2016 at 4:00 pm

    For any body who hasnt seen it

    GREAT interview with Bernie Sander & Killer Mike ( from Run the Jewels )

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCnrQZbqIQU

    well worth a watch !

  9. katipo 9
    14 January 2016 at 4:20 pm

    This has been doing the rounds on the interweb…

    The Hillary campaign has been recently started attacking Sanders over his healthcare policy when Hillary aide aka daughter Chealsa said Sanders would dismantle Medicare and Medicaid — and “strip millions and millions and millions of people of their health insurance.”

    Sanders FB page then posted the following photo of Hillary & Bernie
    http://imgur.com/nmsKrTG
    with the inscription….
    “To Bernie Sanders with thanks for your commitment to real health care access for all Americans…” – Hillary Rodham Clinton, 1993

    classic

  10. Bob (Northland) 10
    14 January 2016 at 6:17 pm

    In the latest NBC polls Bernie Sanders has gone from 2% support at the beginning of the Iowa Democratic Candidate selection process to trail Hillary by 4% and now leads her in New Hampshire by 6% (both figures within the margin of error)
    In Nationwide Presidential polls he leads all Republican candidates by a far greater margin than Hillary.
    He leads Donald Trump by 13% and Hillary leads Trump by 7%.
    His main support base are younger voters (under 45) but he is now attracting older voters as he “finally” gains “minimal” mainstream exposure.
    He even has crossover support from disenchanted Republican supporters, and if he can garner African American and Latino support the momentum will give him overwhelming support which the DNC will not be able to ignore, or certainly ignore at their peril.
    This has all been achieved despite a total shutdown on exposure by ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and all mainstream media outlets. Even Fox (Faux) News has given him more exposure!
    Only the Democratic National Convention aided by Corporate funding will attempt to stop Sanders – and there will be public outrage and protests if the DNC attempts to override the People and impose their will.
    Sanders is a Light on a Hill, and may yet be the salvation of true Democracy in the U.S. and throughout the World.
    This is not idealistic wishful thinking, this is People Power.
    “Feel the Bern!”

    • alwyn 10.1
      14 January 2016 at 7:32 pm

      My goodness.
      Your impassioned eloquence reminds me of this old tune
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSiVjlknuSw
      “Sanders is a light on a Hill and may yet be the salvation” etc etc.
      Reminds me of Ronald Reagan in full flight.

    • Wayne 10.2
      14 January 2016 at 10:50 pm

      I would not read too much into the poll results of the various match ups at this stage. The voters simply have not thought about the options enough for the results to be predictive.

      My gut feeling is that Sanders is too far left for most American voters, hence the reason why I think in a Sanders Trump contest, Trump wins. Trump seems to be more the epitome of the American ethos, at least of a particular sort. As I said my view is not based on polls but on my perceptions.

      But for the record, my actual preference for the next US President is Clinton, and in second place Rubio. But I think his time is four years away.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 10.2.1
        15 January 2016 at 4:24 pm

        😆

        Always listen to your gut, Dr. Mapp. The gut has far more nerve endings than the brain.

      • gnomic 10.2.2
        15 January 2016 at 11:26 pm

        Hillary Clinton for US president? Nah. Perhaps get a dementia check? Backing Hillary is not a good sign.

        You must have heard her comments on the murder of Gadaffi? ‘We came, we saw, he died.’ Finger on the trigger, not good.

        And what about the hair? Someone who has a new hairstyle every few days is a fit and proper person to govern the greatest nation in the world? What is that about?

    • Colonial Viper 10.3
      15 January 2016 at 11:30 pm

      Uh, the United States was never set up as a democracy, but as a republic. The Founding Fathers structured the electoral system of the country to prevent popular democracy from the get-go.

  11. Bob (Northland) 11
    14 January 2016 at 8:22 pm

    Impassioned eloquence? Well, thank you1
    Do you see any other competent, honest contenders? Contenders who want to remove the influence of money on the electoral process, who want to make policy the centre point of Voters decision making? Who want to restore and protect the democratic process? Anywhere in the U.S. or any country for that matter?
    Jf so name them and I will hold them up also as a “Light on a Hill” and a protector of democracy.

    • alwyn 11.1
      14 January 2016 at 8:30 pm

      For the Republicans my pick would have been John Kasich actually.
      He isn’t going anywhere though is he?
      I really can’t comment on any of the people who never put their heads over the barricades though.

  12. Bob (Northland) 12
    14 January 2016 at 9:25 pm

    John Kasich, the Managing Director of Lehman Brothers when it went into bankruptcy and former political and business commentator with Fox (Feaux) News?
    A strong advocate for Government bailouts of private banks, and dismantling the Social Security system,private prisons, charter schools, U.S. invasion of Iraq.
    Competent?
    Perhaps.
    Honest?
    His views, actions and decisions don’t indicate that is a strong trait of his.
    Ethical?
    highly debatable.
    Keep looking,

    Regardless of your political leanings I think you will find Bernie Sanders is the only candidate who fits this bill.
    I do however have considerable respect for Jill Stein (Green Party) but a vote for the Green Party in the U.S. will never happen.

    • alwyn 12.1
      15 January 2016 at 12:53 pm

      You describe Kasich as being “the Managing Director of Lehman Brothers”.
      That tends to imply that he was running the whole business. He wasn’t. He was as his Wiki biography says “managing director of Lehman Brothers’ Columbus, Ohio office”.
      He was “a managing director”.
      These firms have hundreds of people with that sort of title. The clients much prefer to be talking to someone who is a “Managing Director” than to someone who is a “Branch Office Manager”. Wouldn’t you?

      However that isn’t that important. Of all the Republican candidates I think he is the one who would be best equipped to be President. I don’t think that Bernie has the ability on the Democratic side.

      Of course if you want to see what I think of all the announced candidates, of both parties, I would refer you to the funniest final line ever to appear in a movie.
      Have a look on YouTube for the last line of the movie “Some Like It Hot” when Jack Lemmon finishes explaining why he cannot marry his suitor, played by Joe E Brown.
      It is the very last line Joe says.

      • crashcart 12.1.1
        15 January 2016 at 1:16 pm

        I think you are right about Kasich being the most reasonable candidate on the Republican side. I obviously disagree on the Democratic side about who would be the best candidate but I do think it is more likely that Hilary will win the nomination at this stage.

  13. UncookedSelachimorpha 13
    15 January 2016 at 1:09 am

    My God I hope Bernie wins – in time the belief that there is an alternative to neoliberal garbage could spread to NZ. Just wish he was ten years younger though.

    Hopefully Trump’s support has ‘a high floor and a low ceiling’, as some have suggested.

  14. Nck 14
    15 January 2016 at 4:01 pm

    I have been following Bernie and I believe he is going to be the next US President. Clinton is just Republican lite (totally owned) and I won’t mention those other nutters.

  15. Anno1701 15
    16 January 2016 at 6:55 pm

    Jose Mujica for president 2016 !

    Go Pepe !!!

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 27

    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 27 were:1. The Minister for Ford Rangers strikes againTransport Minister Simeon Brown was again the busiest of the Cabinet ministers this week, announcing an ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    40 mins ago
  • Ticket To Anywhere

    You got a fast carAnd I want a ticket to anywhereMaybe we make a dealMaybe together we can get somewhereAny place is betterYesterday’s newsletter, Trust In Me, on the report of abuse in state care, and by religious organisations, between 1950 and 2019, coupled with the hypocrisy of Christopher Luxon ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 hour ago
  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    19 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet


    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te PokapĆ« Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kƍrero, he kƍrero, he kƍrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kƍrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatƫ rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. â€œFor too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T01:06:44+00:00