Calvert switches support to Brash

77 comments on “Calvert switches support to Brash ”

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1. infused 1

   28 April 2011 at 8:03 am

   Racist attitude? Yeah finally the end of One law for you lot, one law for Maori. Might have to vote act this year.
   • the sprout 1.1

     28 April 2011 at 8:06 am

     It sure as hell won’t be the end of One law for rich white guys in bespoke suits and the best lawyers, another law for everyone else.
     • ZeeBop 1.1.1

       28 April 2011 at 12:33 pm

       Inept duo give election game plan away, Brash ‘incomes higher’ switch and bait, incomes will go higher but will not keep up with oil, food, rates, etc prices. Hide admits they are for rights, except of course economic rights for all citizens, i.e. access to living wage jobs. Key meets the French president and discusses Climate Change, with flooding hitting new 100 year highs, from last couple of years new 100 year highs, with longer warmer summer creating a increase fly problem that means the emergence of a small house fly that loves salt leading to more skin infections for children. All signs climate change is here, waiting for the science to catch up will never happen since the Earth Climate is dependant on the Suns Climate, the more exposed we are to the Suns climate the more inevitable the when the Sun goes into high gear that climate change will be more extreme. So why does Key come home and never talk about the details understanding of obvious climate change? Why can he have a nice chat with the French President about climate change but not the people of NZ. The ineptitude of our right wing elite is staggering, business does not want state asset sales, the ACT party chooses the most inept politician to lead them, like we don’t know nothing has changed, that the right still wants to lower the standards so they can pass them even easier. And now its clear that ACT is just National way of justifying going right wing, no ACT no basis for the rush to the far right.
       And what gives with Bennett? I mean here’s a women who bashing beneficiaries, wants to throw them off the benefit, push them into the criminal sector, and wonders why the budget blows out locking up yet more citizens in jail? The economics of stupid.
   • Carol 1.2

     28 April 2011 at 8:07 am

     One Law as decreed by the elitist anti-democratic, rich old white men, and in their interests. One law for all!…. Yeah, right!
     • infused 1.2.1

       28 April 2011 at 8:11 am

       blah blah blah. People are sick of this shit Carol. Why do you think there was a massive surge in support back then? Have you been listening to talk back lately? It’s you lot that are out of touch which is why the only way Labour wins is by election bribes.
       • millsy 1.2.1.1

         28 April 2011 at 11:49 am

         So infused, you think that a fully functioning public healthcare system is a ‘bribe’?
   • rosy 1.3

     28 April 2011 at 8:13 am

     Yeah finally the end of One law for you lot, one law for Maori

     You know you’re talking about Act don’t you? They need to be in power to ‘finally’ end a law. They’re not, and won’t be anytime soon.
   • NickS 1.4

     28 April 2011 at 12:20 pm

     Because there’s definitely no outstanding Crown obligations under Te Treati O Waitangi at all and nor does Te Treati grant tribes a variety of rights over their land and resources….

     ’tis most ironic that those most likely to talk about the law and how we should follow it are also most likely to ignore it when it comes to Te Treati O Waitangi. But hey, why not be a hypocrite when you can cloak your objections in racism and attract teh fucktard vote or use ignorance as an excuse?
2. Colonial Viper 2

   28 April 2011 at 8:10 am

   Hey, perhaps we could go to one law for all once Maori have the same employment, income, education and incarceration stats as everyone else?

   How we gonna achieve that infused?
   • infused 2.1

     28 April 2011 at 8:18 am

     I believe tougher laws on gangs and child abuse would fix a lot of that. Everyone has the same opportunities.
     • Carol 2.1.1

       28 April 2011 at 8:23 am

       Everyone has the same opportunities.…. Yeah right! Rightist fantasy & spin.

       I believe that a fairer society, more equal opportunities to get jobs earning a fair wage & more equal opportunities to get vocational and academic qualifications will go some ways to fix the gang, problems, crime problems, and child neglect & abuse problems.
     • Colonial Viper 2.1.2

       28 April 2011 at 8:41 am

       I believe tougher laws on gangs and child abuse would fix a lot of that. Everyone has the same opportunities.

       You think this because tougher laws have worked so far?

       Didn’t know you were a fan of the anti-smacking legislation until now mate.
     • south paw 2.1.3

       28 April 2011 at 8:47 am

       Yes, lets throw even more Maoris in prison, its worked liked a charm so far!

       “Everyone has the same opportunities.”

       No they don’t.

       Typical hysterical nonsense from a member of hypocritical “I’m not racist but…” White New Zealand.
       • g_man 2.1.3.1

         28 April 2011 at 9:37 am

         Okay, this is something I’m genuinely curious about (as opposed to just stirring 🙂 )

         Why do you say that not everybody has the same opportunities?
         • Colonial Viper 2.1.3.1.1

           28 April 2011 at 9:48 am

           Because poverty and low educational levels perpetuate themselves across generations, while wealth and high educational levels perpetuate themselves across generations.

           The Right Wing explanation for this is that some people (the poor, the uneducated) tend to be intrinsically inferior to others and that most of them will never make anything worthwhile of themselves, and hence deserve all the suffering that they get from the rest of society, due to their general laziness and inferiority.
         • Shane Gallagher 2.1.3.1.2

           28 April 2011 at 10:00 am

           Because if you are one of the quarter of children who live below the poverty line you will not have
           – enough food to eat so you will be distracted and anxious at school
           – enough proper clothes to wear so you will not have shoes all the time or be warm enough
           – a stable home environment because poor people suffer food insecurity and that doubles your parents\’ chances of psychological disorders and distress
           – a stable home environment where you get to do your homework and be taught at home
           – a stable emotional environment so that you do not grow up stressed and worried out of your young mind and all that goes with that
           – a healthy home so you may well end up suffering third world diseases which NZ leads the OECD in by a long shot, all of which are totally preventable, like rheumatic fever, which then affects your health for the rest of your life
           – any of the social networks that other kids have to help them build up emotional and psychological support away from their family and for helping them in school, sport and getting work
           – knowing that you are dirt poor and the effect that all by itself has on your chances in life

           Hope that helps a shine a bit of light on what should shame the whole of New Zealand.
           • Draco T Bastard 2.1.3.1.2.1

             28 April 2011 at 3:45 pm

             Well said.
         • fraser 2.1.3.1.3

           28 April 2011 at 12:14 pm

           it not just oppourtunities – its also access to resources
     • Lanthanide 2.1.4

       28 April 2011 at 10:06 am

       Yip, punishing people harder for abusing their children is going to change their mind.

       At the moment they’re like “hmm, lets see, I can smack my kid up within an inch of his life and go to jail for 6 years for it. Sounds like a good deal, lets roll!” and with harsher penalties they’ll be like “hmm, lets see, I can smack my kid up within an inch of his life and go to jail for 12 years for it. Not worth it. Maybe I’ll just psychologically torture him instead and only go to jail for 4 years! Deal!”.

       I mean, seriously, do you really think punishing people harsher is going to change people’s behaviour?
       • calltoaccount 2.1.4.1

         28 April 2011 at 11:58 am

         Thanks Shane and Lan, well put. Infused, can you directly answer the points these two people make, otherwise just piss off.
3. vto 3

   28 April 2011 at 8:26 am

   Well from what I can see it is one law for Maori, one law for the rich, one law for the honkies… on it goes. May as well have a whole bunch of separate laws and regulations for each group with different skin, different race, different eyes and noses, different socioeconomic groups. Everyone, just everyone.

   Then nobody could complain.

   When did the dream of egalitarianism die in our land?
   • Carol 3.1

     28 April 2011 at 8:30 am

     When did social, cultural and economic elitist-driven colonisation end in Aotearoa?

     When did our dream of an egalitarian land become a full reality?
     • higherstandard 3.1.1

       28 April 2011 at 8:33 am

       “When did the dream of egalitarianism die in our land?”

       When a variety of different lobbyists, politicians and various other troughers decided they could make more dosh out of dividing and ruling.
       • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1

         28 April 2011 at 8:42 am

         Damn hs, your answers are getting good lately.
4. lprent 4

   28 April 2011 at 8:37 am

   Obviously the big story today is going to be the ongoing soap opera amongst the actoids. Best piece so far about the implications has been Gordon Campbells take. Although IrishBill is consistently the most accurate in predicting events.

   Meanwhile I am chasing aroung looking at the anti spam issue, trying to get a problem that I can see.
   • Carol 4.1

     28 April 2011 at 8:34 am

     Yes, it’s the end of Hide, for sure, and the strengthening of joined-at-the-hip NAct, and onward with their plan to sell what’s left of NZ to local and international wealthy elites.

     And come the weekend, the focus should be on Mana & Harawira.

     Still getting anti-spam issues today & a need to repost quickly to get it recognised.
5. Sam 5

   28 April 2011 at 8:40 am

   Brash told campbell last night that he was intending on running the same policy framework he ran in 2005 – he rightly pointed out that National under this framework recieved 39.10% of the vote.

   Keeping this in mind, i think the Left have every reason to be worried about a Brash-Led Act party and the eventual Key-Brash led NAct coalition that will have a strong mandate for economic reform.

   I’ll be watching this with interest.
   • Colonial Viper 5.1

     28 April 2011 at 8:52 am

     Keeping this in mind, i think the Left have every reason to be worried about a Brash-Led Act party and the eventual Key-Brash led NAct coalition

     Contrarily, I really hope Brash gets the leadership and the possibility of a Key/Brash coalition becomes a very real one to the electorate 😀
6. Sam 6

   28 April 2011 at 9:29 am

   CV – You make the mistake of assuming the electorate has changed their position in the last two terms. I wouldn\’t be so sure – there is a very strong argument for economic reform currently, and the mantra “borrowing 300m a week!” is ringing loud in peoples ears.

   People will be more inclined come november to vote for a party with a real and clear economic reform policy which will curtail current borrowing and spending.

   Unless the left come up with something solid, then that really only leaves two options..
   • Colonial Viper 6.1

     28 April 2011 at 9:54 am

     People will be more inclined come november to vote for a party with a real and clear economic reform policy which will curtail current borrowing and spending.

     I think good stuff is coming down the pike as we speak…but yeah it’s taking simply ages.
   • Draco T Bastard 6.2

     28 April 2011 at 3:50 pm

     and the mantra “borrowing 300m a week!” is ringing loud in peoples ears.

     And the reason why it’s ringing loudly in everyone’s ears is because of John Key and Acts tax cuts and give-aways to the rich and austerity for the poor.
7. RedLogix 7

   28 April 2011 at 9:34 am

   On the contrary CV. My reading is that white NZ is quietly disturbed about the privatisation of the S&F to corporate iwi… while ordinary Maori will see nothing.

   I’m predicting that this combination of letting Brash lead with the ‘tired old racist’ agenda, while Key keeps his brand clean… will be a landslide winner.

   And Trotter is right. Working NZ is not going to vote for a Labour Party that continues to dislike their values and condescend down to them.

   This election is going to be a massive loss to the centre left…. as never seen before… unless something dramatic happens between now and the election. Just swapping Goff for another leader is not the right answer, it would be seen as desperate and would fail to address the root issues anyhow.

   My gut feeling is that the right answer is for the entire left, Labour and the Greens need to collaborate openly and clearly on a fresh new strategy, focussed on social inequality, environmental issues and equality of opportunity for all people in this country… without getting sidetracked by special interests.

   We need to start articulating ideas that actually connect with the many… rather than the few.
   • Colonial Viper 7.1

     28 April 2011 at 9:52 am

     +1

     Doubly so for this:

     My gut feeling is that the right answer is for the entire left, Labour and the Greens need to collaborate openly and clearly on a fresh new strategy

     However I see problematic signs that the Greens see their opportunity as picking up votes bleeding from Labour, and that they are not interested in increasing the overall Left vote as a whole.

     I’m predicting that this combination of letting Brash lead with the ‘tired old racist’ agenda, while Key keeps his brand clean… will be a landslide winner.

     although I am not sure how Key can keep his brand “clean” while simultaneously bedding a “tired old racist” Brash.
   • Carol 7.2

     28 April 2011 at 9:52 am

     Where exactly, in the current Labour Party and it’s so far stated policy directions, is it catering to special interest groups? … which, in this thread, seems to mean Maori. In goff’s rejection of working with Hone?… in its NO ASSET SALES campaign? In it’s targeting of the need to support and work for families struggling to put food on the table? on the need to create more jobs and education opportunities for all?… etc.
     • rosy 7.2.1

       28 April 2011 at 10:08 am

       Agree Carol. It seems to me that Labour is doing all it can to talk to the middle-income group with no plans at all for anything like a liberal or Maori agenda.
       • grumpy 7.2.1.1

         28 April 2011 at 10:09 am

         No. not especially Maori but according to Damien O\\\’Connor also gays and unionists, plus tired old has been feminists.

         The core Labour values are being taken over by National and leaving Labour as a party of identity politics.
         • rosy 7.2.1.1.1

           28 April 2011 at 10:15 am

           Grumpy, can you outline a policy that Labour is promoting for Maori, feminists or gays this year? (Union-friendly policies I’d expect)
           • Colonial Viper 7.2.1.1.1.1

             28 April 2011 at 10:23 am

             I think RL is right about Trotter’s comments.

             Large sections of the working class feel like that many of their attitudes and behaviours are looked down upon by Labour.

             National killed Labour with their brilliant Iwi/Kiwi message and that message still resonates with the electorate. (rosy – a lot of voters don’t care about specific policies, they only care about the image and reputation of a party)

             The basic fact is that we are in such miserable economic conditions for workers/unemployed, with a Govt which is walking around in circles of ever increasing debt, yet Labour still sits on just 31-32% approval ratings. Lower than in 2008.

             A major disconnect between Labour and the electorate still exists.
             • Carol …

               28 April 2011 at 10:27 am

               So, CV, are you talking about perception, rather than reality, about inability to communciate accurately and/or appropriately with a large section of the electorate, rather than about the policies Labour are working on?
               • Colonial Viper …

                 28 April 2011 at 10:51 am

                 Perception/image is a huge part of it, also Labour have been slow to release policy so far this year (part of it is deliberate as they don’t want the Blues lip sync’ing it) which makes it hard to get traction on specifics.

                 As an example of substance, a lot of unions don’t think Labour went far enough to advantage workers and unions in their 9 years in power for instance. Better than National? Definitely. But that’s not a ringing endorsement in itself.
             • rosy …

               28 April 2011 at 10:32 am

               It seems to me that by abandoning a liberal agenda and not resonating with the working class (Key seems to be much better at this) that Labour is shedding the votes of both groups.
               • Colonial Viper …

                 28 April 2011 at 10:53 am

                 A liberal agenda will not move Labour ahead because it is too easy for Key to shadow it with their own moves.

                 And there are also far too few votes in it. Labour burnt through political capital with prostitution law reform and with civil unions. It did not create political capital with those moves.
                 • Pascal's bookie …

                   28 April 2011 at 11:15 am

                   “And there are also far too few votes in it.”

                   maybe true, but they are the votes labour has got at the moment. Do you want to risk losing them?

                   Why not trying to offer those ‘large sections of the working class’ something positive to vote for?

                   Why the need to blame liberals for Labour’s failure to have offered that something?

                   If labour makes a play of signalling that they are moving away from liberalsim. that will lose them votes, and it may well not gain them any.
                   • Colonial Viper …

                     28 April 2011 at 11:25 am

                     A “let’s not put at risk what we already have” approach is a recipe for electoral failure. It failed for Helen Clark in 2008 and if used again will fail again this year.

                     For the next 10 years Labour has got to put economic and worker policies first. Does that mean that Labour moves away from social liberalism? I suggest only in terms of what the headlines are, in the background much can be done to continue social liberal progression. It is strong Left leaning economic + worker policies which are going to win the votes needed to gain power. That’s got to be the priority, the emphasis.

                     Why not trying to offer those ‘large sections of the working class’ something positive to vote for?

                     Yes this should be done.
                   • Draco T Bastard …

                     28 April 2011 at 4:00 pm

                     It is strong Left leaning economic + worker policies which are going to win the votes needed to gain power.

                     And those policies resonate across the identity politics that caused Labour to lose their way.
           • grumpy 7.2.1.1.1.2

             28 April 2011 at 11:28 am

             What CV said…….it’s not the policies, it’s the perception and the fact that last time Labour implemented all it’s “social” changes without going to the electorate with it’s policies for a mandate.
   • Draco T Bastard 7.3

     28 April 2011 at 3:52 pm

     +1

     And, yes, the entire left needs to put together a viable and sustainable vision that provides for everyone and that the majority can agree with.
8. ianmac 8

   28 April 2011 at 9:36 am

   Quite frankly and I must be very frank about this , er because Frank told me that if I am very frank when talking to the media this will quite frankly boost my chances of taking over the frankly deficient National Government and once I have taken over then it will be one step more to abolish the stupid waste of money spent on pointless elections and frankly only I or the royal we will lead the country to overtake Australia and the World.
   “Hail Sir Frankly Brash Donald His Royal Highness Emperor of the World!”
9. ak 9

   28 April 2011 at 10:19 am

   It’s the same tired old formula – talkback and hacks whipping up hate and division while Pilate Key keeps his distance (coincidence on the timing?) and rides the wave of filth with clean hands. Last time blatant femina*i misogeny, this time the Maori Party is already lost so pure racist hatemongering gets a free rein.

   Only hope for the future and reputation of this country is that it’s population has matured: and that, as in 2004, 7 months out is another case of premature race-hate-ulation.

   It’s Hatemonger and Conquer all over again.
10. GINA 10

    28 April 2011 at 10:21 am

    If Brash gets the NOD then Labour must make lots of noise re this been engineered by Roger Douglas and how this shows that National and Douglas are joined at the hip. Brashes comments on Campbell live last night made it clear they are two branches of one party. Differnet Names, same real agenda.
11. Steve Withers 11

    28 April 2011 at 10:29 am

    infused: The Treaty is a property agreement. The people who think it;s about race ARE racists…..as they focus on the fact one party to the property agreement is – in their view – not white. The problem they face these days is all the growing number of blond haired, blue-eyed people descended from the Maori signatories to the property agreement. These people highlight that it isn’t about race…it’s about being heirs to parties to an agreement regarding land, sovereignty and stewardship. The “racists” have focused on race in order to avoid dealing with the property rights issues as they tend – from 1840 to today – to uphold property rights……unless the people are brown. They can’t keep the two separate if they admit that race is irrelevant for the purposes of the treaty…as it is fundamentally a property agreement securing the property rights of those who lived here before the Crown arrived.
    • the sprout 11.1

      28 April 2011 at 10:47 am

      well put
12. bbfloyd 12

    28 April 2011 at 10:48 am

    So now we wil be treated to the national party campaignining as “act light” rather than labour light. sounds like the sort of thing any warner bros marketing manager would have been proud to have dreamed up.

    Now all they need is an endorsement from Sarah Palin.
    • Draco T Bastard 12.1

      28 April 2011 at 4:10 pm

      Considering the gift of $30m taxpayer dollars to WB perhaps it was dreamed up by them.
13. korero 13

    28 April 2011 at 10:54 am

    Celia Wade-Brown recently found herself undermined at Wellington City Council when a group of councillors decided to hold a meeting to approve NZTA highway projects without telling her. It also killed her election promise for light rail between Wgtn Central and the airport.

    Today we learn that road safety and public transport funding will be cut to fund national highway construction.

    We also hear that a member of the National party has gained enough support to take over the Association for Consumers and Taxpayers.

    The common factor is Steven Joyce, List Member of the National Party, Campaign Manager in 2008.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/719263

    With an international rugby tournament and an election six months away we are seeing a mobilisation of grumpy old men now that the immediate phase of the Pike River and Ōtautahi (Christchurch) disasters seems to be over – although aftershocks continue.

    How are proponents of road safety, public transport, and light rail to respond ?

    (1) Emotively. Anyone who has had to attend a crash scene where a car-load of youngsters has impacted the back of a flat-bed truck at speed, the tray shearing off the tops of their skulls leaving them wedged dead in a sitting position with grey matter dribbling down their faces will find themselves much more aware of the importance of road safety and public transport. Blathering away in a radio station never will.

    (2) Rationally. With oil prices on an inexorable upward curve road transport haulage becomes increasingly uneconomic increasing the impetus for rail, light rail, and public transport.

    I have attached a few more links below.

    Joyce has done some good stuff in banning mobile phones while driving and bringing NZ\’s right-hand-rule in line with the rest of the world (wikipedia link, below), but I think Mike Lee is right ..

    >Mike Lee today labelled transport minister Steven Joyce’s thinking “fairly
    >basic small-town red neck stuff – standard roads first and pro urban-sprawl.”

    Kia Kaha !

    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/claims-fuel-tax-deferral-stunt-4143041

    http://tumeke.blogspot.com/2011/03/is-steven-joyce-corrupt.html

    http://transportblog.co.nz/tag/steven-joyce/

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Joyce

    http://www.westernlinkroad.co.nz/2011/03/23/steven-joyce-close-up-tvnz/

    http://www.aucklandtrains.co.nz/2010/12/01/lee-blasts-joyce-over-cbd-link/
    • Colonial Viper 13.1

      28 April 2011 at 10:58 am

      Celia Wade-Brown recently found herself undermined at Wellington City Council when a group of councillors decided to hold a meeting to approve NZTA highway projects without telling her.

      A mayor without the political nous to get the strong support of a significant block of councillors behind her is pretty much dead in the water.
      • outofbed 13.1.1

        28 April 2011 at 12:02 pm

        No It was Labour Wellington councilors supporting Stephen Joyce’s Roads of National party significance.
        What as that all about?
      • korero 13.1.2

        28 April 2011 at 12:23 pm

        Hide quits.

        http://www.3news.co.nz/Hide-quits-as-ACT-leader/tabid/419/articleID/208820/Default.aspx
    • millsy 13.2

      28 April 2011 at 11:52 am

      Compare and contrast with the Auckland Council, which has support for public transport across the board.

      Its all good making promises, but you need a bunch of councillors to support you when you wish to implement them.

      Thats why the major parties need to contests local body elections.
14. Colonial Viper 14

    28 April 2011 at 11:00 am

    I wonder what plum $$$ job Hide will be given after November.
15. Marina777 15

    28 April 2011 at 11:04 am

    I think Brash wanting everyone to accept the notion that Maori, Asian and Pakeha are all the same as a ‘whole’ regardless of their ethnicity is unrealistic. I see how he ‘as a front’ is purposely making out that it is rational and ‘modern’ to treat all New Zealanders as equal regardless, and that all New Zealander’s should be classed in this fashion.
    But people aren’t that simple, he his clumping people into one category and treating all people as part of one big heap. When in ‘reality’ he should ‘know’ that people are actually all individual, with feelings, and depth, and with a great sense of pride for their heritage.
    I believe that Maori (the everyday Maori folk) do need a step up, not because I believe they aren’t capable, on the contrary, but after years and years, and an extensive history, of being ripped off by the Pakeha and being treated like second-rate citizens, this effect rubs off on the psyche and this affects their whole surroundings.
    And because of this there is a lot of anger there.

    To have a good future for New Zealand the government need’s to ‘understand’ the individual more. I don’t believe Maori need extra special attention but their culture needs to be upheld, so future generations, of Maori, can grow up to be proud and filled with sense of honour from where they have come from. Then the psyche changes, anger subsides and soon as ‘acceptance’ prevails, for all, for all cultures at hand, then all people from different ethnicities learn and grow to accept one another.

    Because in the end the true goal is- to love one another, and to do that human beings must respect each other.
16. ianmac 16

    28 April 2011 at 11:18 am

    The call from Frankly Don Brash is one law for all. He says that this is not so at the moment. Wondering if there is any NZ Law which is not the same for all? Anyone?
    • vto 16.1

      28 April 2011 at 12:28 pm

      name suppression

      foreshore and seabird
17. randal 17

    28 April 2011 at 11:48 am

    Doctor don is doing this for the good for the country.
    • Campbell Larsen 17.1

      28 April 2011 at 12:07 pm

      Dr Deluded you mean
18. millsy 18

    28 April 2011 at 11:55 am

    What are the consitutional implications of having a governing party’s supply and confidence partner’s leader outside of parliament?

    Where’s Edgler when you need him?
19. Carol 19

    28 April 2011 at 12:07 pm

    Well, there you see it, without Act, according to Rodney, Clark would still be PM, as he hands over leadership to Brash.
20. MikeG 20

    28 April 2011 at 12:20 pm

    Why should Key stick with Hide as a Minister when it appears that he hasn’t even got the support of his caucus?
    • Carol 20.1

      28 April 2011 at 12:25 pm

      The RNZ reporter has raised the possibility of a snap election, with Hone possibly going to a by-election etc.
      • NickS 20.1.1

        28 April 2011 at 12:30 pm

        The elephant in the room though is Christchurch. Since things are still stuffed in much of the eastern city, and Brownlee’s doing little it seems to speed up reconstruction and housing the needy, a snap election has the potential to bring these and other issues to the forefront and backfire on National.
    • Colonial Viper 20.2

      28 April 2011 at 12:27 pm

      Part of the deal to get Hide to move along quietly. $$$
21. NickS 21

    28 April 2011 at 12:24 pm

    Muwahahahaha.

    Hides gone and Brash has just inherited one of the most dysfunctional parties in Parliament next to United Future. Which given his past inability to deal with the National caucus is going to lead to drama, even if he tries to bribe them.
    • Pascal's bookie 21.1

      28 April 2011 at 12:31 pm

      (an)Other funny bit is how Brash was saying yesterday that Hide has no future in ACT with Brash as leader, and Hide pipes today saying that he realised Brash is the man for the future of ACT and told him so last night. But he’ll stick around on a minister’s salary till nov KTHNXBAI
      • NickS 21.1.1

        28 April 2011 at 1:06 pm

        Wodders truly is an exemplar for all on how not to be an MP in Parliament.
        • Draco T Bastard 21.1.1.1

          28 April 2011 at 4:23 pm

          I hoping he becomes the exemplar of how NACT work to maintain their hold on power and the Treasury benches. It’s obvious, after all, that Brash was placed into Act by command from National/Act backers so that Epsom voters would be happily bring Act back into parliament.
22. Frank Macskasy 22

    28 April 2011 at 1:52 pm

    I’m not surprised that Calvert ‘turned’. She has always been attracted to the Dark Side, and finally succumbed. She will make a fine acolyte for Darth Brash…
    • Colonial Viper 22.1

      28 April 2011 at 4:27 pm

      Huh, becoming an MP for ACT isn’t enough to be considered as going to the Dark Side in itself? 😯

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