John Banks announces his resignation

Written By: - Date published: 6:23 pm, June 8th, 2014 - 108 comments
Categories: act, john banks, national - Tags:

John Banks pants on fire

There was no alternative. Either Banks could have sabotaged National’s re-election prospects or he could resign.

John Banks has done the decent thing for National and announced his resignation effective from this Friday.

No doubt the platitudes will now start.  But as far as I am concerned he was someone who had disturbing views on Women, Pacifica, Maori, homosexuals and many people who contribute to the richness and diversity of our community.

Enjoy your retirement John.

108 comments on “John Banks announces his resignation ”

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  1. Tracey 1
    8 June 2014 at 6:43 pm

    Has the gcsb got the tap for the call between banks and key i wonder…

  2. Anthony 2
    8 June 2014 at 6:48 pm

    I agree, every one has a brilliant place on this planet, everyone has some brilliant ideas. Banks added some but there are more beautiful people out there who we all want to here from with their views on society. Maybe now we can.

  3. Jenny 3
    8 June 2014 at 6:53 pm

    National is very high in the polls at the moment. Greg do you think that it would be in National’s interest to call a snap election citing Banks resignation as the reason? And having the added benefit for National of catching everyone else on the hop.

    Is this possible?

    Should we be expecting a shock announcement within the next two weeks, or whenever National feel that they have had enough time to galvanise themselves.

    • Tracey 3.1
      8 June 2014 at 7:06 pm

      been wondering that myself jenny

      • Colonial Viper 3.1.1
        8 June 2014 at 9:22 pm

        It would be an admission that National could not govern the country without John Banks and therefore has ever only had a slim grip on Parliament.

        So no, no snap election if Key can possibly help it.

      • Wayne 3.1.2
        8 June 2014 at 9:46 pm

        Won’t happen. It would look terrible. Part of John Key’s appeal is that he is predictable. If he gives a specific commitment, people can count on it.

        Everyone can plan on Sept 20.

        • Kiwiri 3.1.2.1
          8 June 2014 at 10:02 pm

          “If he gives a specific commitment, people can count on it.”

          Like no GST hike?

          Are you trying very hard to be intentionally blind (a la the Banks style) to the list that Blip has compiled?

        • Mary 3.1.2.2
          8 June 2014 at 10:39 pm

          Hopefully Banks’ resignation has taken the focus away from Key saying the government wouldn’t have used ACT’s vote. If Banks had hung around Key could’ve cashed in on “doing the only right and moral thing” and people would’ve loved him all the more.

        • Colonial Viper 3.1.2.3
          8 June 2014 at 10:46 pm

          Part of John Key’s appeal is that he is predictable. If he gives a specific commitment, people can count on it.

          Keeping the Super age at 65 is going to be a massive win for your team during the TV debates, Wayne. Just congratulating you in advance so you know that not everyone on the Left enjoys walking into a well marked mind field.

        • North 3.1.2.4
          9 June 2014 at 8:20 am

          Your definition of “specific” there Wayne Old Boy ?

        • freedom 3.1.2.5
          9 June 2014 at 8:27 am

          Wayne, the PM’s word is not worth the time it takes to write his name.
          I remember a very specific statement from the PM.
          It was, “We won’t raise g.s.t.” sound familiar? 🙄

        • framu 3.1.2.6
          9 June 2014 at 8:35 am

          well i guess the submissive always sides with the dominant

        • karol 3.1.2.7
          9 June 2014 at 8:58 am

          John Key clearly has a problem with understanding the meaning of “honest”.

          • Tracey 3.1.2.7.1
            9 June 2014 at 9:22 am

            he did change his assessment of banks to “pretty honest”. Kind of like being a little but pregnant.

            Wasnt brownlee struggling to contain a giggle when talking about banks still being in parliament, metaphorically speaking…

            And the liar in chief always leaves the country before big stuff goes down… Remember gcsb warrants

        • Tracey 3.1.2.8
          9 June 2014 at 9:24 am

          you and i agree wayne. Key is very predictable. If his lips are moving etc etc

        • KJT 3.1.2.9
          9 June 2014 at 12:20 pm

          “170 000 jobs”, “a brighter future”, “no rise in GST”.

          “If he gives a specific commitment, people can count on it”.

          Yeah, right!

    • Lanthanide 3.2
      8 June 2014 at 7:22 pm

      On balance I think they would have benefited from calling a snap election, with Banks being the excuse – it’s semi-plausible.

      I’m certain the reason the election is in September rather than later is because of Banks. If they’d set the election date to November (or not set it at all), then they could have used this as an excuse to go early – start of August or even mid-July.

    • Skinny 3.3
      8 June 2014 at 8:41 pm

      Of course Key-National want a by-election ASAP to give ACT time to build support. ACT is the right arm of the Blues. They want to continue the charade to the gullible public should they get another term. Key-National will go for broke hammering the crap out of us peasants, blame ACT as an MMP concession should they win. Fortunately Mr Dotcom has his main target well and truly in his sights.

    • lprent 3.4
      8 June 2014 at 9:20 pm

      Is this possible?

      It is unlikely.

      1. Typically it takes about 6-8 weeks from a resignation for the Electoral Commission to organise for a by-election. At least that has been the typical lag (not sure what the legislation says). That puts it in early to mid-August. The election is in the latter half of september.
      2. I doubt that Labour or the Greens would have much issue with voting through the required 75% to avoid the by-election. Otherwise it would divert their attention from the general election campaign.
      3. National themselves have pointed out many times there is nothing much on the legislative agenda for the next couple of months that would require that right vote. They have the confidence votes via the Maori party. So it’d be hellishly hard to argue that they couldn’t maintain a government. The electorate(s) tend to dislike parties that arouse them from their stupor without cause.
      4. About the only interested party would have been Act in terms of maintaining the “leader of a party resources” from parliamentary services. However Act usually doesn’t seem to have problems extracting large sums of money from their donor.
      • Jenny 3.4.1
        9 June 2014 at 12:03 am

        Not a by-election, a snap election. ie close parliament early claiming that without Banks vote they no longer can gaurantee confidence and supply and so need to go to the polls early to gain a vote of confidence from and a new mandate to govern from the country as a whole.

      • finbar 3.4.2
        9 June 2014 at 9:39 am

        No by- election or early election is on the cards.What will be on the cards is the National support in Epsom voting A.C.T.understanding that the A.C.T. brand is not to toxic for National ,and if that is the case Labour, and the Greens,voting for the National Epsom candidate as a stratedgy.Or National,swinging in favour of the Conservatives and doing a deal with them in the Hawks Bay.

      • Lanthanide 3.4.3
        9 June 2014 at 9:58 am

        “I doubt that Labour or the Greens would have much issue with voting through the required 75% to avoid the by-election. Otherwise it would divert their attention from the general election campaign.”

        National and Labour together command 76.5% of votes in Parliament. Other parties are literally irrelevant.

  4. bad12 4
    8 June 2014 at 7:10 pm

    Who, John Who, sweep that under the carpet,on to the election,

    Laugh out loud, Grant Robertson put a question in the House last week asking if National planned on passing any more employment Legislation befor the House rose for the election, nail, hammer, head there,

    IF there is anything left on the Legislative agenda that ”willing seller to a willing buyer” Peter the ”hairdo” Dunne has probably just started ringing like an out of control cash register…

    • karol 4.1
      8 June 2014 at 7:23 pm

      It’s the Maori Party that’s needed now to pass the employment legislation. Dunne is already on board.

      • bad12 4.1.1
        8 June 2014 at 7:40 pm

        Probably crying bucket-fulls of tears and cursing John Who as much as us lot are then…

      • Mary 4.1.2
        8 June 2014 at 10:55 pm

        And there’s absolutely no reason why they won’t. Key’s probably already promised them a report into something in return, if he even needed to.

        • Tracey 4.1.2.1
          9 June 2014 at 9:30 am

          and we know what key does with reports… And promises to minor parties…

          • Mary 4.1.2.1.1
            10 June 2014 at 4:08 pm

            Yes, but that doesn’t stop the Maori Party accepting every crumb this government disingenuously gives to it because “every crumb given then taken back is better than no crumb at all”. It was good to see the Maori Party pulling the pin on the ERA stuff, though, but I can’t help but be cynical about how that might’ve happened. Still, credit where it’s due, I guess.

      • Frank Macskasy 4.1.3
        8 June 2014 at 11:15 pm

        Relying on the Maori Party will mean the end of National’s intended labour law “reforms”. No way could the Maori Party vote for union-busting legislation. Not this close to an election.

        Workers rights will be safe for another three months at least.

        • Mary 4.1.3.1
          9 June 2014 at 1:11 am

          Don’t forget that john key could eat a baby and National’s support would go up. Reintroducing the Employment Contracts Act via the amendment won’t cause a ripple.

      • Tracey 4.1.4
        9 June 2014 at 9:28 am

        are you referring to the paternity leave bill karol? Does that come up again before house sittings end? Cos it would still need english’s veto, and doesnt his veto require the maori party to support him, and they just very publically voted against the government?

        • karol 4.1.4.1
          9 June 2014 at 9:41 am

          No, I think it’s this one. Helen Kelly tweeted yesterday that it’s the one that aims to abolish tea breaks.

          • Tracey 4.1.4.1.1
            9 June 2014 at 9:52 am

            ah, ok. Shame i was hoping paternity would come up again, and the maori party would be caught in a bind

            • karol 4.1.4.1.1.1
              9 June 2014 at 10:01 am

              The Maori Party may still be in a bind. As far as I can see, it could be close as on the second reading, there were only 2 Maori Party votes recorded and nothing from Horan.

              Ayes 61 New Zealand National 59; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.

              Noes 58 New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 7; Māori Party 2; Mana 1.

      • finbar 4.1.5
        9 June 2014 at 9:44 am

        As it now stands we will have a repreive on the proposed Employment legislation till after the election should they win.

  5. emergency mike 5
    8 June 2014 at 7:14 pm

    He was (ah, was,) an arrogant, self-impressed, bullying narcissist who made a political career out of dog-whistling to bigots.

    • sockpuppet 5.1
      8 June 2014 at 7:50 pm

      Sounds like Winston.

      • emergency mike 5.1.1
        8 June 2014 at 8:01 pm

        Pretty much, but I think Banks rates higher on the bullying scale, and Winston has a few more tricks up his sleeve whereas Banks is more of a political one trick pony. Winston is more of a sophisticated operator, but exactly this kind of ending was inevitable for John “I’m the victim here” Banks.

      • Roy 5.1.2
        9 June 2014 at 9:40 am

        Winston’s EQ is a little bit higher, but that’s not saying much since Banks’ was marginally higher than Absolute Zero.

  6. Sacha 6
    8 June 2014 at 8:34 pm

    The movie will be a great watch.

  7. swordfish 7
    8 June 2014 at 8:42 pm

    A tragic end to one of this Country’s greatest ever politicians.

    New Zealand’s answer to Nelson Mandela.

    A Man for all Seasons.

    Loved and respected by Left and Right alike.

    I salute you, Mr B, you whirlwind of sauce, you.

  8. Harry Holland 8
    8 June 2014 at 8:51 pm

    This piece quoting Graham McCready on Stuff has some unfortunate content that will increase sympathy for Banks and could also make the Probation Service more cautious about how they treat him…

    “He claims to be indifferent to what sentence Banks will receive on August 1, but he’s not very convincing, explaining at length how Banks’ “fantasy” of a discharge without conviction will see him talk himself into jail.

    With the authority of someone who has had several brushes with the law himself… …McCready says darkly that the Probation Service doesn’t like Banks.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10132048/Laughing-all-the-way-to-the-Banks

    • Frank Macskasy 8.1
      8 June 2014 at 11:56 pm

      I suspect Banks won’t be discharged without conviction as he has a conviction from 1991 for illegally using a cellphone on a plane, and was fined $750.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/opinion/columnists/6871465/The-long-and-the-short-of-it

      Mind you, with the Clean Slate ACT, which ACT opposed if I recall (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0411/S00590/govt-tells-multiple-offenders-to-start-lying-act.htm), that criminal record may be “sealed”, so it won’t apply.

      • veutoviper 8.1.1
        9 June 2014 at 8:14 am

        Good points, Frank. IIRC correctly the provisions of the Clean Slate Act, that earlier 1991 conviction would have been ‘clean slated’ seven years later – ie 1998.

        Nevertheless, I don’t believe that Banks will be discharged without conviction. Judge Wylie’s full decision is very specific and precise (not wishy washy) and he was very clear as to who he believed and who he didn’t. The use of words to the effect that Banks had ‘engineered’ the Dotcom situation were also pretty clear. I think Wylie was very professional and very astute in his judgement and also in his decision to hold formal conviction and sentencing until August 1.

        Time will tell.

        Thanks for the link to that article – well worth reading for a concise history of Banks and politics over the last couple of decades.

      • Jackal 8.1.2
        9 June 2014 at 10:09 am

        Being that Banks has effectively been in contempt of court by providing false evidence, I think the Judge should make an example of him. Anything less than a moderate sentence will indicate that the judicial process is not independent of the government.

      • toad 8.1.3
        9 June 2014 at 10:19 am

        The clean slate provisions do not apply to sentencing, so Banks’ previous conviction is relevant at his sentencing:

        See section 19 Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004.

        19 Exceptions to general effect of clean slate scheme

        (1) An eligible individual must state that he or she has a criminal record if subsection (3) applies.

        (2) A government department or law enforcement agency, or an employee or contractor of a government department or law enforcement agency, that holds or has access to criminal records may disclose the criminal record or information about the criminal record of an eligible individual if subsection (3) applies.

        (3) This subsection applies if—

        (a) the eligible individual’s criminal record or information about the eligible individual’s criminal record is necessary for any of the following purposes:

        (i) the exercise of the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution functions of a law enforcement agency or an overseas agency or body whose functions correspond to those of a law enforcement agency; or

        (ii) the administration of sentences or the management of remand inmates by a law enforcement agency; or

        (iii) the exercise of security-related functions of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service; or

        (b) the eligible individual’s criminal record or information about the eligible individual’s criminal record is relevant to any criminal or civil proceedings before a court or tribunal (including sentencing) or proceedings before the New Zealand Parole Board; or

        …

  9. Anne 9
    8 June 2014 at 9:01 pm

    The tea party photo on the main TS page will surely go down in history as one of our all time classics. Look at the recording device sitting there… stands out like a sore toe. Hilarious. How could anyone have not noticed and commented on it? Because the two of them were busy playing to the press ‘gallery’. John Key was furious… jumped to conclusions and thought he’d been taken for a ride and sought spiteful revenge. Hence the police complaint. And the innocent cameraman was bullied into “apologising to Key” for something he hadn’t done- not deliberately anyway.

    • Weepu's beard 9.1
      8 June 2014 at 9:25 pm

      That photo should feature large on opposition campaign posters, with a suitable caption. The NZ public shouldn’t be allowed to forget the prime minister’s close association with a electoral fraudster.

    • Sacha 9.2
      8 June 2014 at 9:32 pm

      “Hence the police complaint” – nah, that was Joyce over-reacting to them discussing rolling Brash.

    • Bazar 9.3
      8 June 2014 at 9:42 pm

      Yes Anne
      Whenever i see a closed drawstring bag, i always know its that its a remote microphone thats turned on and recording everything thats said.

      Its also common sense that its impossible to have any privacy when you’re in a public place, regardless of any expectation of privacy.
      That its also ok to record such non-private conversations and sell what’s said.

      I can’t say i like Banks, but i hope a line is drawn in the sand to keep MPs in line as a result.
      I expect the only real lesson learnt will be to use secret trusts instead like Cunliffe does, thats the legally sanctioned way you to pretend not knowing whose paid you.

      • Crashcart 9.3.1
        9 June 2014 at 8:07 am

        Are you saying that National don’t funnel money through trusts?

        Of course you could just invite rich people to pay for an expensive meal. Then have the resteraunt owner make the doation that way they can all sit down and tell you exactly what they expect for the money they are giving that will in no way be listed in their name.

        I am sure though that Key will name all those who are happy to be named and return the money to those who aren’t just like Cunliff did because hes so honest and trust worthy.

  10. Dale 10
    8 June 2014 at 9:02 pm

    Well goodby John. Taking money from someone you know very little about was a disaster waiting to happen. And the way you did it was shoddy to say the least. You always came across to me as holyer than though. Kim.com is a vengeful nasty man,you now enter the list of other unfortunates that take his money and come a cropper. At least you did the decent thing this time.

    • bad12 10.1
      8 June 2014 at 9:50 pm

      Pfft, did the decent thing, as if those that pull the strings didn’t ultimately tell Banks through the puppet Whyte to resign,

      Banks has not a shred of honor, if He had he would have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity instead of going to the Court attempting to stop a trial occurring,

      i have seen first hand the lack of honor exhibited by Banks when He appeared in 1991 at the District Court in Wellington for His first conviction, Banks had with Him as Minister of Police His police liason officer Inspector Sharky who Banks tried to physically shove into the dock in stead of Himself as if the charge was anything to do with the officer,

      (with a name like Sharky you would expect at least a movie be made,oh hang on ”Shark in the Park”,)

      As the few of us left the Court up Lambton Quay we happily told the lone cop plodding His beat that the boss had just been convicted, far from give us the expected F off that young cop hung His head in shame,( i just about felt sympathy for Him),

      Banks should have resigned and been gone from politics on that day,but, despite my advice given while he sat in the body of the Court waiting for the judge, Banks as in the current case denied wrongdoing even after being convicted,

      No morals, no honor, John Banks deserves nothing but a jail cell…

      • dimebag russell 10.1.1
        9 June 2014 at 9:09 am

        his worst crimes were those where he changed the council by-laws and evicted pensioners from their long term residences so that his mates could re-develop upper Queen street for higher paying rents.
        what a horrible little man.

    • Tracey 10.2
      9 June 2014 at 9:47 am

      are you saying john key knows messrs shui and liu really well?

  11. Tiger Mountain 11
    8 June 2014 at 9:03 pm

    …The Banksie tory check list;

    • it will never get to court
    –Banksie ends up in court
    • there is no real case to answer
    –McCready private prosecution taken over by crown and proceeds
    • Dotcom will not be a reliable witness
    –Banksie criticised for being an unreliable witness (aka liar) by judge
    • he won’t be found guilty
    –Banksie is found guilty
    • he shouldn’t have to resign from parliament and won’t resign
    –Banksie resigns from parliament
    • John Key will not be touched by all this, National are riding high and Dotcom has nothing on him
    –fill in next development here…………………………………….

    • Akldnut 11.1
      8 June 2014 at 11:47 pm

      “Prime Minister John Key said tonight: “Mr Banks’ resignation was the right thing to do under the circumstances.”

      Now is the time for Labour to get stuck into National thru Act and Banksie ala tea pot tapes

  12. Dale 12
    8 June 2014 at 9:30 pm

    Don’t think KDC has anything on Key. Many others have tried and come up short. Just ask Mike Williams. It was embarrassing watching Banks squirm under pressure at question time. At least this election will be a great watch. Bring on the campaign. Will it help DC in the one on one debates? Maybe not now the Banks fiascoe is over bar the scraping over the ashes. When is the next poll?

    • Tracey 12.1
      9 June 2014 at 9:34 am

      well, so far on the court judged honesty score it is

      John banks nil dotcom one

    • yeshe 12.2
      9 June 2014 at 9:44 am

      Agree with you Tracey, but not with Dale. I believe KDC, as promised, does have proof that Key knew of him prior to the dates Key gave in the House. I also think it was at least a part reason for calling the early election date. Whatever we might think of KDC, he has managed follow-through on his promises .. so far at least.

      And the evidence will be given in Akld High Court, not just blatted away in the House .. can’t wait actually !

  13. Richard McGrath 13
    8 June 2014 at 9:36 pm

    He was a conservative, and a bigot. And I believe he was dishonest over the issue of Dotcon’s tainted money, so he had to go.

    Key should bring the election forward while this issue is fresh in the minds of voters.

  14. phillip ure 14
    8 June 2014 at 9:45 pm

    “..It was embarrassing watching Banks squirm under pressure at question time..”

    i liked how he always went on the nod…in q-time..

    • bad12 14.1
      8 June 2014 at 10:07 pm

      Lol Phillip, i was wondering whether botox can send a user into Lala land, i have had the sneaking suspicion that John Who was pumping that into His face for quite some time,

      Maybe He likes cocktails…

  15. Dale 15
    8 June 2014 at 9:54 pm

    No political party would willingly bring on a election while there is the smell of a rotting corpse still in the nostrils of the voters. Key is too smart to let his opponents say he told you a date then changes it. What Labour need to do is focus on policy,good strong positive stuff. The voters aren’t gullible like many would us to think. They want positive news,it’s been a hard few years with the GFC and earthquakes. Sure hammer National on where they have screwed up but don’t let the negative overpower the message.

  16. tsmithfield 16
    8 June 2014 at 9:54 pm

    I feel a bit sorry for him actually.

    What he is really guilty of is not organising his affairs well enough. If he had funnelled the donations through a trust like Len Brown did, then it would never have come to this. The trust would have donated to his campaign, and he would have then declared the trust as a donor.

    Having said that, he really had no alternative but to resign.

    • felix 16.1
      8 June 2014 at 10:08 pm

      Not organising his affairs well enough? Nope, he is guilty of electoral fraud.

      And yes, if he had not broken the law, he wouldn’t be in this situation. 🙄

      • Tracey 16.1.1
        9 June 2014 at 9:36 am

        fascinating that dotcoms seperation made the news but banks seperation from amanda didnt make a dent… No suggestion she had to back his version cos he had control of all matrimonial property through trusts or anything.

    • McFlock 16.2
      8 June 2014 at 10:12 pm

      well, if we’re going to get philosophical about it, what he’s really guilty of is nothing more than what a dozen criminals a day are guilty of: thinking that he’s better than everyone else.

      Otherwise he never would have intentionally signed a declaration he new to be false.

      A cogent reminder for all of us, really.

      • Tracey 16.2.1
        9 June 2014 at 9:40 am

        and dont forget the gnashing of teeth of his ilk when women are charged with stealing nappies… No excuses it is about personal responsibility they squeal while handing the tradesman cash for the spa pool installation.

    • Bearded Git 16.3
      9 June 2014 at 9:53 am

      He lied through his teeth tsmithfield. Or do you believe him when he said he didn’t remember flying into KDC’s place? It’s called a cover up.

      What an idiot Key sounded on MR this morning saying he thought Banks was honest.

  17. Steve Withers 17
    8 June 2014 at 10:11 pm

    My immediate issue with Banks is his myopia with respect to his own corrupt electoral practices. He knew where the money was coming from and didn’t declare it. He also tried to weasel out of being responsible by saying he’d signed a return that he hadn’t read…..so if there was an error it was someone else’s.

    John. You signed it. The responsibility is ALL yours.

    To think this guy was a Cabinet Minister and Mayor of Auckland for a term.

    I know HE still thinks he’s an honest man. That is the problem right there. He wasn’t.

    • felix 17.1
      8 June 2014 at 10:15 pm

      Mayor of Auckland for TWO terms actually. Just not consecutive terms.

      • karol 17.1.1
        8 June 2014 at 10:22 pm

        Thank the gods he never got that 3rd term – would’ve been the first term for some of us who were amalgamated in 2010. All that money, and all it got Banks was infamy and shame.

    • Tracey 17.2
      9 June 2014 at 9:43 am

      he deliberately tried to conceal his knowledge of it, so not just didnt declare it.

      The use of “we” in his speech outside court shows he takes no personal responsibility for his actions… The cost to taxpayers of his appeal, review, challenges will have been very high, but the man who lead the party of personal responsibility and sensible use of tax payer money

      Simply

      DOESNT GIVE A SHIT

  18. redfred 18
    8 June 2014 at 10:31 pm

    Dear John
    I just wrote to say
    my love for is gone
    so Im sending you this song
    tonight Im with another
    John, Its your brother (nod to Jamie Whyte)
    Dear John

    Yours John Key.

    Unfortunately he is likely to back on radio with his boorish hate speech show

  19. Dale 19
    8 June 2014 at 10:43 pm

    Hey Tsmith at least Cunners knows how to hide money from KDC. Yep in a trust.

  20. Kerry 20
    8 June 2014 at 11:59 pm

    I was told by an ex employee at the old Rob Roy that it was bought by a Trust belonging to Bansksie’s Family. They knew it had to be removed for the tunnel because he knew of the long term plan while he was the Mayor of Auckland.

  21. Vaughan Little 21
    9 June 2014 at 12:17 am

    I could see the corruption coming a mile off. It starts with entitlement. Entitlement flourishes when the wealth gap takes off.

  22. meconism 22
    9 June 2014 at 3:33 am

    He was a political whore. He was never, even loosely affiliated with the policies of the ACT Party. He was a bigoted, racist, homophobe whose epitaph rightly will read: Convicted fraudster and liar. Ironically his last public statement reported in SST today was fuck off. Couldn’t have put it better myself.

    • Tom Gould 22.1
      9 June 2014 at 8:24 am

      Wonder if he got that PR advice from Michelle Boag? And old Red Alert posting from 2010 says she is the same person “who had the Winebox Inquiry filmed under false pretences and was found by Sir Ronald Davison to have deceived the Commission of Inquiry and found guilty of contempt.” So I guess she would know where Banksie is coming from?

      • vto 22.1.1
        9 June 2014 at 9:43 am

        Oh yes, forgot about that.

        Michelle Boag guilty of contempt of court.

        Says it all….

      • Anne 22.1.2
        9 June 2014 at 9:48 am

        That’s right Tom Gould. She was working for Michael Fay and co. at the time and they wanted a video of Winston Peter on the witness stand.

        At the time everyone thought they were a film crew recording the proceedings with official sanction. Then it came out afterwards the judges and court officials knew nothing about it.

  23. fisiani 23
    9 June 2014 at 8:45 am

    There are 14 weeks till the election. Banks will take up the political oxygen this week. If you want proof just see how the Labour earthquake insurance announcement today resonates with the public in 7 days. Friday the World Cup starts. Commonwealth Games. All Black matches and terrible campaigning weather in July and August then comes September and 3 TV debates. John Key in the Blue corner. John Key who has knocked out Helen Clark, Phil Goff and David Shearer. The undisputed unbeaten heavyweight champion. In the Red Corner – Davy and the GIMPs. Current odds on the champ 74%. the chump 26%.

    • Tiger Mountain 23.1
      9 June 2014 at 8:52 am

      Peeeoow!!!
      (the sound of a bullet deflecting–thanks to Frank Macskasy)

    • Bearded Git 23.2
      9 June 2014 at 9:57 am

      fis-people are stuck inside watching tv more in July/August-the timing could well help the Left.

      • fisiani 23.2.1
        9 June 2014 at 10:28 am

        Correct they are watching Shortland street and Coronation St . They are not watching Campbell Live as much which has had a staggering drop in viewership since their GCSB fiasco. Tv news consists of sound bites and polls showing Nat 47 Labour 27.

        PS Revolutions don’t start when people are watching TV.

        • Bearded Git 23.2.1.1
          9 June 2014 at 10:40 am

          ummm MMP fis.

          31+11+7=49% (where IMP is 7%)

          • fisiani 23.2.1.1.1
            9 June 2014 at 11:13 am

            Laughed out loud. Money cant buy you love nor votes. The fat Kraut will be extradited. Mata Harre will try to steal Green and Labour votes. 40% is all the far left will get.

    • redfred 23.3
      9 June 2014 at 11:17 am

      What world cup?

      • fisiani 23.3.1
        9 June 2014 at 1:33 pm

        Do you live on another planet?
        4 billion people are expected to watch THE world cup.
        I repeat 4 billion. Not the 900 million who watched the Olympics but 4,000,000,000 people.
        or then again they might tune into hear The Cunliffe pontificate.
        The phone is off the hook. When the score is 47-27 and the winning team is well on top then no one picks up the phone.

    • David H 23.4
      9 June 2014 at 1:05 pm

      I think you are screwed on the weather front they (NZ Herald Weather ) are predicting a warm july and maybe into august and polling day? hopefully should be a nice sunny spring day.

  24. dimebag russell 24
    9 June 2014 at 9:05 am

    fishyanus been reading too many comics. but to carry on his analogy then the champ has been riding in on the back of the mafia fixes and now it is time to bet the other corner.

  25. Dale 25
    9 June 2014 at 9:45 pm

    Why is KDC offering 5mil for info if he already has stuff on Key?