Latest primaries – Rubio gone

Written By: - Date published: 1:44 pm, March 16th, 2016 - 95 comments
Categories: us politics - Tags: ,

Results are coming in from Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio in the US primaries.

Early days in some states but at the moment it looks like a clean sweep for Clinton, and possibly for Trump (Kasich is ahead in his home state Ohio, but only 4% reporting at time of writing). Update: Ohio has been called for Kasich. Rubio lost his home Florida.

See The Guardian: Rubio ends campaign as Trump and Clinton win Florida – primary day live

95 comments on “Latest primaries – Rubio gone ”

  1. aerobubble 1

    See what happens when Trump, a democrat, runs for the Republician nomination for President. lol

    • aerobubble 1.1

      Come on already. Trump is media saturated golden child, the liberal drinking coolaid media democrat lovers are all behind him.

    • Mike C 1.2

      @AeroBubble

      Yes … Trump is a “Money-Making Capitalist Racist Sexist Pig who Loves Guns and War”.

      He has one foot in the Democratic Party and the other in the Republican Party.

      Trump has got a truckload of street cunning coming out of his mouth and his arse. LOL.

      • Colonial Viper 1.2.1

        Trump doesn’t love war, drones and regime change anywhere like what Clinton does.

        • swordfish 1.2.1.1

          Yep, she’s dangerous. Very much immersed in the highly sanitised abstractions of the Washington Consensus, she was the leading proponent in the Obama Administration of the hawkish doctrine of “liberal interventionism” and “humanitarian war” promoted by Susan Rice and, in particular, the influential Samantha Power. These three pushed hard for the Libyan debacle and then extended the same rationale to Syria.

          When it comes to opportunities to demonstrate toughness, nothing quite sets Clinton’s pulse racing like a good “humanitarian intervention”. US Presidential candidates, of course, have long felt the need to at least pay a certain amount of homage to the “exceptionalist” creed, but Clinton’s attachment to the faith borders on the obsessive. The idea of “America’s unique responsibility for global leadership” has always , of course, simply been a euphemism for military intervention, where the US supposedly has a unique role in leading the world towards a democratic future of an implicitly capitalist and neo-liberal nature. Held with as much religious fervour and as little regard for contrary evidence as the kind of dogmatic faiths that these Liberal Democratic Hawks usually like to deride.

          Essentially, the pursuit of what she calls in her memoir “violent extremism” provides an open-ended excuse for on-going military intervention, no matter how hare-brained.

          Despite all the soaring rhetoric, it’s little more than GW Bush/Cheney-style interventionist US foreign policy, the usual Imperial adventures, serving to legitimate all the familiar aims of furthering the interests of US big business. In contrast to the somewhat greater restraint of the pragmatic Realist tradition, not to mention the more Isolationist tradition.

          Exceptionalists like Clinton seem congenitally unable to conceive of a multi-polar world where some nations might just prefer to go their own way. They don’t acknowledge the legitimacy of other nations’ interests.

          And she certainly has all the chaos and blood of the now failed state of Libya on her hands – Libya now routinely referred to as “Hillary’s War”. Sec of Defense Gates, VP Biden and Nato commander Wesley Clark were all opposed / Clinton, Power and Rice all emphatically urging action. Cheney would have been proud.

          Like good Cold War warriors, US exceptionalists, of course, reject the very concept of spheres of influence. So Clinton, for example, characterises Nato’s eastward expansion as a bulwark against “Putin’s aggression” (she’s compared him to Hitler). Rather than the provocation (and betrayal of an earlier American President’s pledge to Gorbachev) that it clearly was.

          She also describes herself as “staunchly pro-Israel”, which as well as entailing strong support for Israel’s regular massacres also apparently means being anti-Iran. As Obama was signalling his intention to accept a diplomatic solution with Iran, Clinton continued to fuel fears about Iran vis-à-vis Israel, warning the Iranians that the US could “totally obliterate them”, and argued for “crippling sanctions” against them. It’s been argued that, to placate pro-Israel voters, Clinton would have liked the sanctions to be even tougher. The key aim, according to one of her aides, was to punish Iran, somewhat undercutting all the humane rhetoric underpinning liberal interventionist claims.

          She’s been an aggressive critic of Obama’s allegedly “timid” reluctance to arm “moderate” rebels in Syria, to the extent that she’s been attracting admiring glances from various leading Neo-Conservative ideologues (Victoria Nuland, married to leading Neo-Con and co-founder of the Project for the New American Century, Robert Kagan, moved from Cheney’s staff to Clinton’s after the latter became Sec of State). And like every good Neo-Con, Clinton’s given to soaring abstractions about the inevitable spread of democracy, with an emphasis that military force is necessary for “the global good”. Obama finally yielded to interventionist demands from Clinton/Rice/Power amid the hysteria over ISIS, leading to the remarkably incoherent / counter-productive Syrian policy the US pursues today.

          At the same time, Clinton also made Afghanistan a much harder, longer, more tortuous trial for all concerned, siding with the generals against Obama’s better instincts.

          As one astute reviewer of Clinton’s 600 page quintessential candidate’s memoir (Hard Choices) put it: “Recent history becomes a series of rescue missions, staged opportunities for heroism worthy of Hollywood, mobs of brown-skinned extras look up to see helicopters – we are saved ! The Americans have arrived ! Such are the dreams that hover unarticulated in our political unconscious, allowing our leaders to redefine war as humanitarian intervention.”

          • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.1.1

            Hi swordfish, could I edit your comment for clarity and put it up as a standalone post?

            • swordfish 1.2.1.1.1.1

              Yep, no probs, CV. Cheers.

              I can see why you want to edit for clarity – reading it back, I noticed some irritating repetition (and some slightly pompous rhetoric here and there).

          • Chooky 1.2.1.1.2

            +100…in other words Hillary Clinton is a BIG menace

      • Chooky 1.2.2

        What we have been wondering is … is Trump actually a REPTILE?

        …and what is under his GINGER toupee?

  2. alwyn 2

    Trump, for crying out loud.
    How could US Republicans be so stupid.
    The man is a nut.
    I was personally in favour of Kasich (not Kaisch by the way) but anyone beating Trump looks impossible.
    It makes a preference very easy doesn’t it? to paraphrase the old slogan of the 1968.
    “Dump the Trump”

    • r0b 2.1

      Yeah thanks, fixed typo.

    • joe90 2.2

      How could US Republicans be so stupid

      .

      Gosh, that’s a hard one, alwyn, but perhaps the rump of the old south and those Reagan Democrats finally twigged.
      /

      This was always coming. The contempt dripping from Williamson’s writing, and from that pathetic appeal from alleged conservative “leaders” never was far from the minds of the Republican elites. They so easily distracted the “Reagan Democrats” with shiny-object social issues while shoving most of the nation’s wealth upwards that they almost can be forgiven for thinking that the tactic would work forever. I mean, it worked for George W. Bush, for god’s sake.

      http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a43042/republican-elites-turn-on-trump-supporters/

      This is absurd if you think of economic policy in pragmatic terms. But it is perfectly sensible if you think of economic policy as a moral framework built around the protection of natural economic rights. “They failed themselves,” Williamson sneers about poor whites. The marketplace hasn’t failed the white working class; the white working class has failed capitalism.

      http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/03/conservatives-to-white-working-class-drop-dead.html

    • Richard McGrath 2.3

      Interesting, of late the media have been determined not to mention the guy coming second in the GOP race, Ted Cruz. Perhaps they think by shutting him out of the MSM news the voters will forget about him…

  3. Andre 3

    Ohio and Florida are likely the two biggest swing states in November. They’ve gone pretty solidly for Clinton.

    • joe90 3.1

      AP Politics Verified account
      ‏@AP_Politics

      BREAKING: Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic primary in Ohio. @AP race call at 8:38 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall

      https://twitter.com/AP_Politics/status/709901687893454848


      AP Politics Verified account
      ‏@AP_Politics

      BREAKING: Gov. John Kasich wins the Republican primary in Ohio. @AP race call at 8:54 p.m. EST. #Election2016 #APracecall

      https://twitter.com/AP_Politics/status/709905729872855040

      edit: Florida – 84% returned, Clinton leads 138 to 52

      • Sacha 3.1.1

        Watch Repug party elites swing behind Kasich now.

        • alwyn 3.1.1.1

          One can only hope so.
          At least Kasich is capable of being President. as is Clinton.
          Trump as the candidate, with a chance of winning should scare the bejesus out of everyone. The man is mad.

          • mikesh 3.1.1.1.1

            Trump at the moment has an outside chance of becoming president; but without his “political incorrectness” he would have no chance whatsoever, so perhaps much of it is for electoral purposes only.

    • AmaKiwi 3.2

      Andre

      This was a primary open only to democrats. There is no assurance Clinton will carry Florida against Trump or any Republican.

      • Andre 3.2.1

        Sure. But in the states that are likeliest to matter in November, the Democrat voters appear to be solidly behind their likely eventual nominee.

        I’d be really worried if Sanders had won solidly in all the swing states, but Clinton got the nomination because of strong support in the other states. Because then there would be a big risk enough swing state Sanders supporters would just stay home in November, tipping it to the Republican.

  4. joe90 4

    Burn

    OhNoSheTwitnt ‏@OhNoSheTwitnt

    Breaking: Rubio aborts campaign

    OhNoSheTwitnt
    ‏@OhNoSheTwitnt

    Fitting that Marco Rubio aborted his campaign not because it was it was his choice but because some men decided for him.

    https://twitter.com/OhNoSheTwitnt/status/709905698516279297

  5. weka 5

    I’m glad Rubio said this this week before he stepped aside (I wouldn’t call it an emotional tirade so much as a man speaking the truth when he doesn’t normally).

    http://www.upworthy.com/marco-rubios-emotional-tirade-against-donald-trump-is-required-viewing-for-every-voter?c=ufb1

    If you don’t want to listen to the protestors, there’s a conservative saying it. You’ve been warned America, but I guess that’s the point, it doesn’t matter, because the Trumpites support violence so long as you are on the right side.

    • Mike C 5.1

      @Weka

      I love Donald Trump … and I am a Middle Right Voter.

      Thought that most of the folks around here would want Trump to become President of the United States … because he is against the TPPA?

      Oh that’s right … Hillary is also not backing it. LOL.

      So do Labour Party Voters support Clinton or Trump … because I am confused by the hypocrisy.

      • Andre 5.1.1

        You’ll get along just fine with Colonial Viper.

        • Mike C 5.1.1.1

          @Andre

          That’s fantastic !!!

          I don’t feel so alone in here anymore.

          Thanks for that.

          You have become my friend. (Smiley Face).

      • weka 5.1.2

        What did you think of what Rubio was saying in the video?

        • Mike C 5.1.2.1

          @Weka

          That it is a shame that the Republican Party Heirachy didn’t allow Rubio to speak his own mind previously … instead of all of the practiced media responses that Rubio has given to the Media prior to that.

          Rubio seemed almost normal in that video footage … and you have to wonder why he didn’t speak out like that much earlier?

          • weka 5.1.2.1.1

            I think it’s obvious why he didn’t, but I was asking you what you thought about what he was saying about Trump.

            • Mike C 5.1.2.1.1.1

              @Weka

              That what Rubio was saying about Trump could be true.

              Does that give you the answer you want and need?

              Because even though that video was about an hour long … and I only watched the start of it … that is the conclusion I came to in that short space of time.

              • weka

                The vid is 16 mins and no that doesn’t answer my question.

                • Mike C

                  @Weka

                  With all due respect … I gave you an answer that was my own personal view of what Rubio was saying about Trump.

                  Perhaps you could clarify your question further for me.

      • DoublePlusGood 5.1.3

        If you love Donald Trump you cannot in any reasonable way be considered “Middle Right”.

        • Mike C 5.1.3.1

          @DoublePlus

          I love “The Donald” and I have always been a Middle Right Voter … and … sometimes my personal Political views go to the Left.

          See if you can figure all of that out. LOL.

          • DoublePlusGood 5.1.3.1.1

            All it really tells me is that your views are not consistent with each other and thus warrant you thinking critically about them more.

            • Mike C 5.1.3.1.1.1

              @DoublePlus

              So because I am a Centre Right Voter … I am not allowed to sometimes agree with the Lefts Political Policies … or like Donald Trump?

              I didn’t know that there was a Rule Book stating this to be so. LOL.

        • alwyn 5.1.3.2

          Just remember the old (1964) parodies of Goldwater’s campaign slogan.
          They applies perfectly to Trump
          “In your heart you know he’s right, far right”
          or, and this really applies to Donald “In your guts, you know he’s nuts”

  6. Ad 6

    Off you go Sanders.
    You’re just not going to make it.

    • weka 6.1

      why do you care?

    • Olwyn 6.2

      I don’t think you get it Ad. Primarily, Bernie leads a movement. If he gets the nomination, and then goes on to become president, the movement will be beside itself with joy. If he doesn’t, the movement will still be there, and hopefully still building and exerting its influence. People need hope, and whenever I see these dismissive remarks of yours, I feel personally affronted. It comes across as if you think that those the establishment can’t be bothered with should just give up.

      • weka 6.2.1

        +1 Olwyn

        I don’t get it. I can understand someone supporting Clinton, but the antipathy towards Sanders from a leftie strikes a bum note.

        • North 6.2.1.1

          If you look at Ad closely Ad’s always been like that. Almost like he/she doesn’t want Lefties to fuck up his/her ‘consumateness’ in whatever Ad thinks he/she is so consummate at. Can’t be bothered looking back but I’m thinking that Ad was just the same about Corbyn. Happy to be corrected if I’m wrong.

          Ad is Borat……ah ah ah sorry Borad.

        • North 6.2.1.2

          Ad’s a Leftie maybe but he/she is a wahanui first……a big mouth who thinks the extent of the world is the extent of his/her cogitations. He/she is a boring oppressive fuck in my book. With a superiority complex hard. To be straight up.

          • Ad 6.2.1.2.1

            Just relax a little.

            People who dish it on Clinton should take a little gentle ribbing.

  7. Chooky 7

    Interesting that the troops don’t have much faith in Hillary…and favour either Sanders or Trump

    ‘US troops divided between Trump and Sanders over military hotseat’

    https://www.rt.com/usa/335731-us-troops-divided-sanders-trump/

    “US troops are split between the ‘all guns blazing’ Republican Donald Trump and the anti-war Democrat Bernie Sanders on the issue of which presidential candidate should assume supreme control of the armed forces.
    While political commentators still debate whether foreign policy is seen as a major issue by regular US voters, the fact that somebody new in 2017 will have their finger on the button for war surely plays on the minds of the country’s military personnel.

    After all, it is these men and women – based in around 150 countries – that will be doing the hard yards on the battlefield…

  8. Wayne 8

    Well, its increasingly looking like Clinton versus Trump.

    I don’t see any prospect of Sanders eclipsing Clinton. He would need around 65% in all of the upcoming primaries to beat her. That is not going to happen. In fact the reverse is more likely. As it becomes clearer that Clinton has an insuperable lead, Sanders support will drain away. As someone who supported Hillary Clinton in 2008, it is good to see that her time has now finally come.

    I have in fact been surprised that Sanders has done as well as he has. He has always seemed to me an improbable, and in my view a potentially dangerous (by this, I don’t mean he is reckless) President. But he would be isolationist and in my view the world would be much worse with an isolationist America.

    In fact this is the same charge that I would also level against Trump. His nativist, protectionist stance would be dangerous for the world. The last time it was tried, in the early 1930s with the imposition of protectionist tariffs, it turned the 1929 Wall Street crash into a world wide depression.

    Nevertheless Trump is likely to be the Republican nominee. He will go into the convention with probably 45%+ delegates. The next closest, Cruz I guess, will have less than 35%. It would be pretty hard to deny Trump the nomination in those circumstances.

    So all power to Hillary in November this year.

    • Ad 8.1

      That’s the logic your felliw Republicans will have when they go through a super-mess convention, have a few ’68-style riots of their own, and figure it was Hillary all the way.

      Hillary will get it done.

    • Mike C 8.2

      @Wayne

      What’s the story about the possibility that Hillary Clinton might be charged with an offense in the mean time prior to the actual Presidential Election?

      There has not been anything much said at all about Clintons alleged misdemonours in the media.

      So if she goes to prison after she perhaps gets elected as the President of the United States … then what happens next?

      • Phil 8.2.1

        The VP becomes President.

        • Mike C 8.2.1.1

          @Phil

          Yeap … but who is the Vice-President of the USA likely to be at this point in time if Clinton becomes President?

          Clinton doesn’t want Sanders as her Deputy … so who is she likely to pick right now?

          • North 8.2.1.1.1

            I’m tripping now…….Bill ?

          • joe90 8.2.1.1.2

            Julian Castro, I reckon.

          • AmaKiwi 8.2.1.1.3

            “Clinton doesn’t want Sanders as her Deputy” Really?

            That’s a very tough call to make. She might want Sanders inside the tent pissing out rather than outside the tent pissing in. Like Cheney and Biden, Sanders is too old for a White House run in 8 years, so she doesn’t have to worry about Sanders stabbing her in the back. She’d like to have his young first time voters.

            There are many reasons she might not want Sanders. But don’t rule him out. They have been amicable towards each other in the debates.

            Not even his close advisers imagined JFK would want Johnson as V-P. But he offered him the spot because JFK needed Johnson’s southern votes to win the White House.

            • Ad 8.2.1.1.3.1

              If it was West Wing season 7 Clinton would go for a southerner as well.

              Or California. Pelosi?

              Or if she wants real policy attack, Warren.

            • Phil 8.2.1.1.3.2

              In a ‘normal’ election season, I’d say the running-mate pick doesn’t matter much at all. But the enthusiasm of Sanders’ support might be a significant factor to consider in his favour.

              On the other hand, the VP is responsible for heading up the Senate (and has deciding vote in the event of a tie?). The 2016 senators up for re-election are those that were last elected in the 2010 republican ‘wave’ election and there is a good chance the senate could be tied (the Dems would need to win back four seats, which is an entirely realistic prospect).

              If Clinton is president, she may want someone more compliant to the party line to head up the Seante.

              • Andre

                Sanders also keeps his Senate seat until 2018 if he doesn’t become P or VP nominee. He replaced a Republican in 2007. There’s no guarantee Vermont would elect a Democrat to replace him.

                • Phil

                  If a sitting senator becomes P or VP, there is no vote to replace that individual. Instead, the Governor of Vermont has authority to appoint a replacement senator. The sitting (D) Governor is not standing for re-election.

                  Vermont leans strongly Democrat, so it’s unlikely the Republicans will pick up this senate seat through the back door.

    • Anne 8.3

      Surprise me and come out and say it loud and clear Wayne. The thought of Donald Trump in the White House fills you with absolute horror.

      No diplomatic niceties – just a straight down the middle admission. Then I will know that both sides of the NZ political coin are as one on this frightening possibility.

      • Wayne 8.3.1

        Anne,
        Not “absolute horror”, but I am clear in my support of Clinton above either Cruz or Trump. Having met her, she is real smart, has clear insight, has an international outlook, and has good and honourable intentions. However, I don’t have quite the fear of Trump as many on the left do. I suspect he would not be nearly as bad as many apprehend.
        But Hillary will be way better. Especially for New Zealand and the Asia/Pacific. And no doubt she will be hoping Obama gets TTP through on his watch, probably in the lame duck Nov to Jan session. That way it is done before she gets into the Whitehouse.

        • Anne 8.3.1.1

          Can you not see the similarities between the modern day Trump rhetoric and the Hitler rhetoric of the 1930s? I’m far less convinced he would moderate his stance if he should gain the presidency. He may do so initially, but his megalomania is likely to ultimately increase in direct proportion to his increase in power.

          • Wayne 8.3.1.1.1

            Anne,

            The Hitler analogy should be reserved for the very worst. For instance Pol Pot, or Milosevic who both directly ordered the mass killing of tens of thousands of civilians. It is why the comparison has been made with ISIS, after they lined up thousands of people and machine gunned or beheaded them.

            Trump, might be boorish, loud mouthed and pugnacious, but he is not in the same realm.

            A better comparison is Berlusconi, or to take a New Zealand example, Muldoon. Neither were good for their respective countries. Maybe Hugo Chavez is also a comparison, but even that is probably going too far.

            As for Trum’ps megalomania, to the extent that it exists, the US political system, with its diverse sources of power and it checks and balances, would limit it. The US has a very robust democracy, and Trump cannot break it, even if he is the President.

            • crashcart 8.3.1.1.1.1

              I think you missed the point there Wayne. People are not comparing 1944 Hitler to Trump. It is the rhetoric he used when he was initially forming the Nazi Party. The xenophobic (then anti-semetic) statements. Inciting violence from his supporters against legitimate protestors.

              I doubt he would go full blow Hitler in the future but he seems to have read his play book on how to take power.

              • Wayne

                Crashcart,

                Hitler is not the right comparison, and I had the 1930’s in mind, as well as the 1940’s, in my previous post.

                By the early 1930’s before he had become Chancellor, Hitler had tried the Munich putsch of 1923, he had written Mien Kampf, and there were the quasi -military Brownshirts, who used extreme violence (ie killed people).

                I am sticking with the Berlusconi comparison. To me it is by far the closest analogy to the Trump phenomena. It is also worth recalling that Muldoon personally punched protesters, and was quite proud of it.

              • Anne

                It is the rhetoric he used when he was initially forming the Nazi Party. The xenophobic (then anti-semetic) statements. Inciting violence from his supporters against legitimate protestors.

                Thanks crashcart. That is precisely what I meant. It’s interesting we have to dot every ‘i’ and cross every ‘t’ with these righties and yet the lefties are able to recognise the distinctions without any trouble. Something to do with open and closed mindsets perhaps?

        • North 8.3.1.2

          Oh “Dr” what a spittling fuck you are…..there ya go…..”However, I don’t have quite the fear of Trump as many on the left do. I suspect he would not be nearly as bad as many apprehend.”

          A “suspect” which accommodates the likes of you to do the double-handed shake shake shake whatever the season. You are a piece of self-interested shit when it comes down to it Wayne.

          • Sacha 8.3.1.2.1

            Dr Mapp has a doctorate. Those quote marks make you look like an ass, not him. Best to attend to the argument, not the person.

        • DoublePlusGood 8.3.1.3

          “an international outlook” – yes, one that involves destabilising countries so she can create more terrorists to fight. Not a very smart international outlook.

        • One Two 8.3.1.4

          “has good and honourable intentions…”

          Everyone has different levels of development, awareness and intuition

          That one is at a particularly low level

        • AmaKiwi 8.3.1.5

          “I don’t have quite the fear of Trump as many on the left do. I suspect he would not be nearly as bad as many apprehend.”

          Wayne, can you translate that into German so I can look up which German politicians said that in 1933?

      • North 8.3.2

        Call on “Dr” Wayne to come up with real shit ? And not have the Tory Monocle fixed firmly on the main chance Anne ? Silly you !

        It’s not for nought he’s called “Main Chance Wayne in Sun or Rain”. Wayne wouldn’t compromise the Faustian possibility of Ambassador Wayne presenting credentials at the Faustian Trump White House (no one else wanting it…..awwh maybe Potato Hekia.) All for the good of The World of course yeah yeah yeah……and continued bludging/junketing on ‘The Gubmint’……theirs and ours.

        C’mon Anne……thought you knew your bludging Tories better than that.

  9. Wayne 9

    Mike C,

    Yes I have been reading that. But I don’t see it happening.

    From what I understand the State Department emails on her own account were classified retrospectively. It does not seem any truly secret emails were ever in her own email account. It seems that it was material that would be classified in NZ as “restricted”, which is the lowest classification level, and in many cases it is hard to see why it is classified at all.

    But in the US, who knows what some zealous prosecutor will do?

    But surely it is really only a technical offence, if one at all.

    • Mike C 9.1

      @Wayne

      How would I know anything about “Presidential Legal Shit and Stuff”?

      The other Clinton came close to being impeached … so why is it so hard to imagine that this Clinton couldn’t possibly be impeached?

      It happened to Nixon.

      One thing I have learned in life … is to “Never Say Never”.

    • RedLogix 9.2

      The issue may not pivot on the exact classification of the emails. The mere fact that she was conducting public business on a private server seems to contravene all manner of law and protocol relating to official record keeping.

      Or to put it another way; I simply cannot think of an innocent explanation for it.

  10. gristle 10

    Trump, Rubio, whoever. Look at how the election will be stolen. Focusing on the primaries allow all sorts of robbery to occur.

    In low income suburbs the number of polling stations can be as low 20% the number of polling stations in more affluent suburbs on a pro rata basis.

    500,000 voters are being wiped from the role as people with the same first and last name committed felonies or they are thought to have double voted even though addresses do middle names are different. Note not actually double voted. This of course is happening most in swing states.And they focus on people with non white sounding names.

    Vote on a Tuesday to make it inconvenient for working people.

    Gerrymandering of Congress seats to get a majority

    Permanent exclusion of ex prisoners from the electoral role.

    Trying to make 600,000 Peuto Recians to have to show proof of citizenship and voter enrollment to vote.

    Each State having a choice on how votes are to exercised. Mechanical devices (remember the hanging chad) other have ballots and others have computerized systems.

    Each state stacks their state’s electoral commission with their dominent party hacks.

    Look how the election can be stolen cause it happened with Bush.

  11. millsy 11

    Hopefully Sanders lands a place in Hillary’s cabinet.

    Perhaps Housing and Urban Development. I heard he did great things with regards to that area when he was mayor of Burlington, VT?

    • aerobubble 11.1

      The republician party is a party of smoke and mirrors, it could get away with it because growth from cheap oil kept allowing them to destroy as the market kept picking up or papering over the mess. Not anylonger. Trump rightly spied a party over extended in its bullshit, out of touch with its consumer and highly leveraged that anyone on the ticket got little oversight and a weight of yes men to push them on.
      The Republician was and is a ethically corrupt party on steroids. Trump is just exposing how idiotic it has become, necessity, Republican white males aren’t enough anymore to get them over the line.

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    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 KōreroBy 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 ...
    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 KōreroBy 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 ...
    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 KōreroBy 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 ...
    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 KōreroBy 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 KōreroBy 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 ...
    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 KōreroBy 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 ...
    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 KōreroBy 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 ...
    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
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    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
    17 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
    20 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
    20 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
    22 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
    24 hours 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 Pokapū 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

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