Lawyers, guns and money
Written By:
- Date published:
8:05 am, November 9th, 2020 - 51 comments
Categories: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, uncategorized, us politics -
Tags: trumpocalypse
Over in the United States of America the country is descending into chaos. But so far the farcical type of chaos as opposed to the violent type of chaos and this is a good thing.
Trump is refusing to concede and still claims that the result is fraudulent. Some heavyweight Republicans, George W Bush being the latest have come out against him. But still there are only very few Republicans who have spoken publicly, what is it with the Republican Party are they that willing to trash America’s democratic norms.
The Republican press conference relating to the election declaration was that Monty Pythonesque John Cleese could only dream of writing it. They wanted to hold the conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia but it appears they were told to get lost.
As Trump had already tweeted the details of the conference they did the next best thing. They went to the Four Seasons Garden Centre also in Philadelphia.
The optics were not optimal. The Garden Centre is located between a crematorium and a sex shop.
Who was dying and who was being screwed is not clear.
Super lawyer Rudy Guliani fronted the conference. He offered exactly, precisely no evidence that wide scale fraud had been happening. You would think that if it was so widespread they would at least have a couple of cases documented by now.
Trump was playing golf at the time.
The Murdoch Press has turned against Trump. It appears that even they have standards.
Even Fox News’ Laura Ingham is urging him to at least change the tone of his comments. From Yahoo News:
If and when it’s time to accept an unfavorable outcome in this election, and we hope it never comes, President Trump needs to do it with the same grace and composure that he demonstrated at that town hall with Savannah Guthrie,” she said Thursday. “President Trump’s legacy will only become more significant if he focuses on moving the country forward.”
And watching the Trumpian response to this is very funny. I wonder where they will go to?
Something similar is happening over here. Judith Collins and Stephen Joyce have both tweeted congratulations to Joe Biden but these simple tweets have attracted some backlash from NZ Trumpians. I hope the SIS is taking note.
And there are rumours that Trump has started negotiating an exit package, presumably with a get out of jail free card. What else would you expect?
The feeling I get so far is that the end of Trump will be a comedic farce. Fingers crossed …
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Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...9 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...9 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...10 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...10 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...10 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...12 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...13 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...13 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...14 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...15 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...18 hours ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...1 day ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...2 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...2 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...2 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...2 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...3 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...3 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...4 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...6 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...7 days ago
- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
- Minister of State for Trade heads to Brisbane for PACER Plus meeting
Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg has travelled to Australia to attend the PACER Plus Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. “Trade plays a critical role in driving employment, economic growth, and improving the standards of living in the Pacific Region. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries ...7 days ago
- Proposals to modernise conservation released
Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
- Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get though la...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasn’t given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim ...2 hours ago - NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change
62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPs’ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...4 hours ago - The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law
The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...4 hours ago - The biggest difference between Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and past hīkoi: More support from non-Māori
Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hīkoi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly Pākehā from the South Island. ...5 hours ago
- The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’
When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...6 hours ago
- More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children
Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...7 hours ago
- Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs
That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...7 hours ago
- Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...7 hours ago
- New ‘best practice’ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement – but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...7 hours ago
- Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports
The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...8 hours ago
- 7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because it’s hot outside, or you’re exercising), sweat glands all ...8 hours ago
- Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Here’s what to use instead
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australia’s drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...8 hours ago
- A new stage adaptation of Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs is a delightful homage to theatrical storytelli...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Campbell, Lecturer, Performing Arts, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia Matt Byrne/STCSA Jack Maggs is a delight and a homage to theatrical storytelling in Australia. Based on Peter Carey’s bestselling novel, Jack Maggs follows the ex-convict as he lands ...8 hours ago
- The government has introduced laws for its social media ban. But key details are still missing
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Ron Lach/Pexels The federal government today introduced into parliament legislation for its social media ban for people under 16 years. Communications Minister Michelle ...8 hours ago
- Archives NZ, National Library to cut 27 roles
The Department of Internal Affairs wants to bring the two organisations under the joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian. ...8 hours ago
- Gang patch ban: Members warn of potential for violence to ‘erupt’ as new laws enforced
"I can't see this lasting unless they have a budget to lock fullas up in jail which I think is absolutely stupid, really it's ludicrous," Ngavii Pekapo, who set up a Mongrel Mob chapter 54 years ago, says. ...9 hours ago
- ACT leader David Seymour raises doubts about Waikato medical school
Government documents show ACT leader David Seymour told the government he was "dissatisfied" with a cost-benefit analysis. ...9 hours ago
- National’s Erica Stanford allegedly calls Labour’s Jan Tinetti a ‘stupid bitchR...
The Education Minister has apologised in Parliament for her remark. ...9 hours ago
- Labour backs new Police Commissioner – but warns against routine arming
The alternative to policing by consent would be a police state, which New Zealanders don't want, the party says. ...10 hours ago
- Youth on boot camp pilot re-offended five weeks after release
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said while it was disappointing, it would naïve to think none of the participants would lapse. ...11 hours ago
- In photos: People of the hīkoi, and why they marched
Hikoi mō Te Tiriti has come to an end, going down in history as the largest march to Parliament in Aotearoa. ...11 hours ago
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Ahead of his appearance in Aotearoa, the acclaimed British journalist, podcaster and documentarian talks to Stewart Sowman-Lund about why people are still fascinated by the fringes. The last place I would expect to find Jon Ronson is relaxing in the countryside. The iconic British journalist and writer is best known ...11 hours ago - Kia kaha Lebanon: NZ media only tell half your story of struggle
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution — for the fourth time — in Israel’s war on Gaza, while Hezbollah demands a complete ceasefire and “protection of Lebanon’s sovereignty” in any deal with Israel. Amid the death and devastation, Joe Hendren reflects on his time in ...12 hours ago
- ‘Deserves a Bafta’: After the Party premieres in the UK to five-star reviews
The acclaimed New Zealand drama has just premiered on TV in the United Kingdom, and the five-star reviews are already flowing in. Six months after it was called a “blistering” “tour de force” by Australian critics, and nearly a year since The Spinoff declared it the best drama New Zealand ...12 hours ago
- Drugs are getting cheaper and easier to find in Aotearoa
New Zealanders are drinking and smoking less, but most other recreational drugs are becoming cheaper, more popular and more available, two new reports show. Two significant new surveys about drugs in Aotearoa were released this week, offering a rare insight into New Zealanders’ choice of substances, which ones are becoming ...12 hours ago
- COP29: ‘climate finance’ for the Pacific is mostly loans, saddling small island nations with mor...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Ratuva, Director, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury Lenora Qereqeretabua, the deputy speaker of Fiji’s Parliament, at the COP29 climate summit. IISD/ENB/Mike Muzurakis, CC BY-SA As this year’s UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific ...13 hours ago
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- Dame Jacinda Ardern to be given United Nations leadership award
She will get the champion for global change award from the United Nations Foundation at a ceremony in New York tomorrow. ...15 hours ago
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Analysis: NZ is lifting what was supposed to be a permanent ban on live animal exports. But it’s not the lucrative industry it once was. The post NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand appeared first on Newsroom. ...15 hours ago - Financial forms of family violence affect one in seven of us – but the law is lagging
There are calls for New Zealand’s Family Violence Act to name economic harm as a standalone type of violence, rather than a subcategory of psychological abuse, to bring it in line with the United Kingdom and Australia. Economic harm – restricting access to, sabotaging or exploiting another person’s financial resources, ...15 hours ago
- Downside Risks To Treasury’s Economic And Fiscal Forecasts
New Zealand is currently running a structural fiscal deficit, with expenditure exceeding revenue. Economic growth falling short of expectations has been making it harder for the Government to bring the books back into balance. ...16 hours ago
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Trump knows that now Deutsche Bank can move to get its 2 billion back, that he is going to be fighting numerous lawsuits he has no money to pay for and he is going to end up in jail, Melania will divorce him and can't wait to get out of there, the children will be broke as there is now no money left and there are no friends picking up the phone.
At last !
What about his assets?
He doesn't have any that are not exceeded by his debts. By some calculations I have read regarding just Deutsche Bank alone, his personal guarantees exceed the value of the assets. Then there is Simion Mogilevich the Russian Don-of Dons who according to reports on the New York Attorney Generals case against Trump took over the guarantees of his original DBank liabilities the last time he was heading for bankruptcy , which leads on to the charges of being "owned "by Putin as it is assumed Mogilevich operates under Putin's aegis.
He and all who sail on him are fucked.
Given Deutche Bank has been caught laundering money I wouldn't be surprised they just roll over and let him off as they have already written off US$250 million on Trump Tower Chicago.
Trumps claims of being a billionaire given he has been losing 100's of millions over decades with multiple bankruptcies ,none of his golf courses make a profit,his hotels are barely viable most of his casinos have gone bankrupt.he has only paid $750 in tax in the last 20 yrs.
"Trumps claims of being a billionaire given he has been losing 100's of millions over decades with multiple bankruptcies ,none of his golf courses make a profit,his hotels are barely viable most of his casinos have gone bankrupt.he has only paid $750 in tax in the last 20 yrs"
That would be a fair definition of billionaire perhaps ?
The only unmortgaged business asset might be the so called Trump brand value/goodwill (hahaha), so it would be interesting to see what divorce lawyers would seek as a settlement package.
He was paid over $200M for The Apprentice, so he must have some money put away somewhere – maybe offshore so he escapes taxes.
Some say he will start his own TV network, for mine he cannot afford that. His options include promoting Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui GTV Media Group TV outlet in return for a big payoff or a reality show to replace the Kardashions (or both).
The Trump brand has to be worthless now in the cities surely. Maybe a few motels in some southern backwater where at cut rates one can set up a meth lab.
gold standard adrian. cheap, plated , peeling, tacky, but gold standard.as seen outside your local garden centre..
Hmmm, a Monty Python sketch or a Quentin Tarantino ending?
produced and directed by the coen brothers,, PLEASE!
If only the Marx brothers were still with us. Pence reminds me of Harpo.
Stanley Kubrick
Incognito Clock work Orange.Tick Tock Trump has run out of time.
It is certainly a relief that the decomposing jack'o'lantern's efforts to steal the election with violent MAGAmorons and sleaziest swamp-lawyers have turned out to be the same kind of bloviating lazy clueless incompetence that most of his other efforts have been.
Nah, the Murdoch Press saw the writing on the wall and jumped.
+1
Totally. Murdoch works with the power which just changed hands.
Fox now has to figure out how to walk the line rather than be across it having already upset orange45 over calling arizona correctly till he departs.
Nah, like Slater and Farrar, the right wing blogosphere makes more money when the left wing is in power. Simple business decision by Murdoch.
Trump's legacy is the US covid map right now resembles the electorate map. All those small counties that could have been relatively safe with isolation and leadership – deep red. His legacy is death.
Much of his nonsensical 'undo it because Obama did it' moves he's made will be reversed by Biden's team in the opening days of his governance.
Trump has exposed the flank of the billionaire class, the GOP, and their utter disregard for human life. They think they're strong, much like National's screeching in 2017. Without holding power, the BS is more readily exposed.
When the blinkers come off from Trump's followers, those working poor, the backlash will be tremendous. The GOP will not be able to fart without angering the now righteously angry deep south.
Trump's legacy will be to totally undo decades of the planning of tedious fantasies for racist assholes everywhere. He almost had it, but in losing this election has instead completely exposed the corruption of the GOP, the greed of the billionaire class, the hypocrisy of the evangelicals, and the failing of the white right to look after their own.
He has screwed everyone who touched him. Perfectly on form.
This response to Judith Collins, referred to in the online citation, was very apt.
""I hope you lot learn the lesson here. This style of politics of division and hate is being thrown out en masse by the people," one person wrote."
Indeed, I would have hoped that the final election result here in NZ with Labour at 50% and National at 25.6% would have already given the message to National that their style of politics, their diffident candidate choice and their poor choice of policies, and often changing them. did not work in 2020.
Bluff and bluster, berserkers and boofheads, bullshit and bullying.
Instead, I hope that the Labour government with Green support will teach National what a ‘strong team’ is, what a ‘strong economy’ looks like, and create ‘more jobs’ with decent wages and conditions as for example the fruit-picking and wine industries seem to need.
Clearly expressed Anne. Thanks for that.
So Rudi, the drunk from New York presides over a press conference the morning after… in front of a garden centre which is alongside a sex shop and a crematorium.
How very apt!
I believe it's so he can go fuck himself afterward.
Apparently there's a legit Four Seasons Total Landscaping twitter account, and after looking at it I have even more questions and fewer answers …
https://twitter.com/fstl1992/status/1325340847190241281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1325340847190241281%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs9e.github.io%2Fiframe%2F2%2Ftwitter.min.html1325340847190241281
https://www.metabunk.org/threads/2020-us-election-current-events.11439/page-3#post-242571
Especially considering he resembles an undead vampire-zombie hybrid LOL
Humpty Dumpty built a great wall.
Then
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
Yes indeed!
Untill the American people vote in a Gvt that will withdraw all the occupying forces back home and desist interference in others affairs there is nothing to rejoice about. The track record of the US, be it Republican or Democrat in regard to warmongering has not yet happened and there is doubt it will ever reach that point.
Rejoice away with your faulse hopes and admirations of the latest farce if it makes you feel good, it wont last and soon you will be berating the Biden leadership or prove you are far from being left wing as you profess to be. Down with the US.
Some say that the pessimists are the realists, I find them sad and boring as they fail to take any leadership in solving community problems – I usually avoid such people.
That's nice
A tyrant has been deposed, and there is every reason to celebrate. No we haven't achieved world peace and nobody thinks so. Cheer up Byd0nz, take the moment and smile. Sorry that I wasn't nice to you.
That's quite a pessimistic outlook.
Yes! Your right – caught out – hard to be optimistic about pessimism but.
Trump may be gone, but let's not kid ourselves. Trumpism is now endemic in the Republican party and it's no more virulent than in the apparatuses of state repression – no one loves Trump more than the police unions of America.
In the middle of an utterly mis-managed pandemic, with a corrupt administration full of clowns, incompetents and chancers, Trump came with a few hundred thousand votes of coasting home with a comfortable victory. Worse, Trump's supporter voted FOR Trump, the massive turnout that got Biden over the line was overwhelmingly AGAINST Trump. All the Democra's victory showed is that with the tailwind of a crisis that requires technocratic competency and a massive, potentially non-repeatable turnout against an existential threat the centre can still just about squeak a narrow win.
Biden's speech was masterful, but it was a mainly a masterful display of wishful thinking – a desire to return to a fairy tale normality circa 1992 that is never returning. If he genuinely thinks that just telling everyone to dial it back and try and get on a little better will work then he is in for a very rude shock.
Like UK Labour the Democrat establishment has of course wasted no time in punching… left, attacking it's parties left despite the progressive Democrats doing very well in general. Number one target of the Dem establishment, AOC has been unusually vociferous on social media in the last few days. Although she has only been in congress for two years, she is now clearly one of the most powerful Democratic politicians and clearly the de facto leader of the left faction and she can see the blame game the DNC and the centrist establishment are going to try and play. Down ticket, the Democrats suffered reverses with their tired proscription of centrism. The grassroots movements – Black Lives Matter, Defund the Police – that mobilised so many voters are going to be betrayed by corporate Democrats, and I doubt they'll bother to vote for Biden again – yet there is no discernable sign that the feeble gerontocracy that sits atop the Democratic party even recognise the country that the Trump loyalists or the BLM/Defund the Police protesters live in. They seem to have no strategy to build a sustainable winning electoral coalition.
Trump won't be running for the GOP in 2024 but a Trumpian candidate will. The Democrat establishment will potentially be offering at best another Hillary Clintonesque like candidate in Kamala Harris and at worst an octogenarian Biden. The one they'll do anything to avoid – including losing to the GOP contender – will be nominating AOC.
No hope Sanctuary? (ironic name).
The Democrat establishment will potentially be offering at best another Hillary Clintonesque like candidate in Kamala Harris and at worst an octogenarian Biden.
Biden has been clear that he sees himself as a single-term President. But, of course, power is intoxicating so who knows if he will stick to that commitment.
The main difference between Harris and Clinton is that Harris hasn't been subject to 30+ years of sustained character assassination from a surprisingly far-sighted (on this subject alone) Republican party.
Don't annoy me with the facts!
Good comment. A slightly less obnoxious more competent candidate could have won.
Scary …
Also…if there was no virus..trump would have been much harder to defeat…
Let's not mistake what Trump stood for, and what we should call it. Fascism
It will be a fitting end if he is evicted at gunpoint and thrown onto the streets.
Trump was always a publicity hound – his defenestration ought to be characterized by the flamboyant ambition that ruled his presidency. He might try man-powered flight off the Chrysler building, holding the bait for Discovery Channel's Shark Week, or, if he's really courageous, explaining to the Russian Mafia why he won't be repaying his debts.
Sounds like Trump is well and truly F$%ked IMHO ?
However it is not over until the Fat Lady Sings ?
Goodness in images
Ironic Given Jim Henson ,sesame street was filmed in and around Trumps property developments and Trump defunded PBS .Henson slipped in snide remarks about Trumps bullying tenants out of their apartments calling him Grump.
A great melange – new word for me! Got it out of the newspaper quiz. It's very informative reading a newspaper that you've paid for and helped to retain in this country's ownership.
These images are really good Andre. I'm thinking as I look at Barack Obama that he has lovely white teeth. Seeing how bad they are at picking Presidents in the USA why not line them up like at a horse fair, and check their teeth and health status. It would cost less than the costly farce they go through now. Less chaotic.
And for better quality farting in the Low as well as the High House, get rid of the old farts and get younger ones in. No Pres. younger than 35 and none older than 55, would be a band that still have their marbles, and likely to feel part of a community before they get to that gated or living-on-my-island age.
Actually trump just came out and said the things that the Republican party have been dog whistling for a decade. the nasty side of politics that Trump rode to power has been there all along, and will persist after Trump is a footnote. I was not a fan of Reagan and Bush for their politics, but they were not openly racist and bigoted. The tea party started the rot.
It will take another generation to clean up the Republicans. Joe Biden may not be very effectual at economic or energy policy change, but he may be the right person to reach across the divide, if any reaching is possible.
Let us hope that this transition – or is that 'transformation' – involves Lawyers and money and not too many guns ………