Now who’s the f*ckwit?

Written By: - Date published: 1:31 pm, November 12th, 2010 - 86 comments
Categories: corruption, national/act government - Tags: , ,

Pansy Wong has been stood down resigned over her abuse of her ministerial status and perks for her husband’s private business dealings. I expected that Key act ‘relaxed’ and hope for this blow over. That he hasn’t indicates they’ve uncovered something more.

Stuff reports: “It is understood the investigation by Key’s office brought to light fresh information about Wong’s travel.”Will we find out what it is, or will Key pull another Richard Worth on us?

Updates will come, Key is speaking in Japan on the matter.

It looks like Pete Hodgson and Labour have been completely vindicated. He also handled the timing of this very well. Rumours about Wong’s travels have been circulating since last year but they were never going to get a fair hearing during the government’s honeymoon period.

Questions will have to be asked about how the Minister of Spider Petting lazy attitude to managing the government lets this corruption go on until the evidence is brought to the public by the Opposition.

I have to say I can’t think of anyone who will be sad to see the back of Wong as a minister. She was completely useless and a disgrace both in Parliament and as an advocate for women.

86 comments on “Now who’s the f*ckwit? ”

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  1. Idiot/Savant 1
    12 November 2010 at 1:53 pm

    She has also apparently committed fraud. Every time she claimed that travel discount when she shouldn’t have, she misused a document for pecuniary advantage. Its no different from benefit fraud, and people get dragged to court for that. We can’t apply a lower standard to Ministers.

    • bobo 1.1
      12 November 2010 at 1:56 pm

      Pathetic benefit bash diversion tactics…. I wonder if GC will retract his grumpy f*#kwit comment. I will miss watching Pansy’s long winded ramblings in the house and so will labour.

    • mickysavage 1.2
      12 November 2010 at 2:01 pm

      The following is a comment from Wong on Stuff:

      “This action follows questions about use of my parliamentary travel entitlement to pay for my husband to travel within China at the end of 2008.

      Although the trip was a holiday, my husband did conduct some business. Further, I am not able at this point to give the Prime Minister an assurance that this is a one-off situation.”

      I can hear those OIA applications being filed as we speak …

      • Idiot/Savant 1.2.1
        12 November 2010 at 2:09 pm

        I can hear those OIA applications being filed as we speak …

        Nope. This is about parliamentary, rather than Ministerial, travel. And Parliament is exempt from the OIA. Another example of how self-interested politicians protect themselves.

        I need a patsy, BTW, to lodge a criminal complaint with police about Wong’s behaviour. Any takers?

    • Not David Butcher 1.3
      12 November 2010 at 2:08 pm

      I/S – not only is it no different from benefit fraud, it is no different from Parliamentary Travel Fraud. Given that both David Butcher (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=125344) and Roger McClay (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10668683) have been convicted for using Parliamentary Travel to fund private business, it is hard to see how Wong can avoid prosecution.

    • Jim Nald 1.4
      12 November 2010 at 2:13 pm

      I read:

      “As a 14-year veteran of Parliament, Wong qualifies for the gold-plated travel perk scheme – including a lifetime entitlement to subsidised travel for herself and her spouse.”

      As taxpayers who have contributed to the salaries, perks, lifetime entitlements, etc of our honourable ministers, we should like to see a new rule introduced to lift standards by Squeeky Clean, Straight and Ethical Key.

      If the member is found to have repeatedly abused her ministerial status and perks, she will lose her lifetime entitlement.

      • Rex Widerstrom 1.4.1
        12 November 2010 at 5:09 pm

        What a sterling idea, Jim. A Private Members Bill from Labour proposing such a regime would be a brilliant way to show they’ve at least learned the lessons, even if National clearly haven’t.

        I was shocked to realise Wong has been idling her way through 14 years of taxpayer-funded lavishness without achieving anything (aside from semaphoring ‘vote for us, we even like that rare species, the incompetent Asian’, to the Asian community, the way Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi also does, and Ashraf Choudhary does for Labour).

        That’s one advantage of being a serial non-achiever I guess… people forget you’re there, bleeding them dry like a tick.

    • the pink postman 1.5
      13 November 2010 at 2:17 pm

      Reading her apology bought tears to my eyes. This poor woman who had such a hard life in Hong Kong but overcame it by her hard work . Just like Key who was bought up by his poor solo mum , my heart bleeds for them .
      They have no idea how the majority of working people live . They are a hypocritical lot of sleaze bags. However after reading Wong’s explanation somebody should donate a couple of violins to her and Key.

      • Jim Nald 1.5.1
        13 November 2010 at 2:38 pm

        14 years as MP?
        Not 1, not 4, but 14!
        Pray, tell me, what has she been doing?
        9 years on the opposition benches and ….
        Busy with her electorate (oh, she was list till recently).
        Advocacy for women’s affairs (oh, kiss my bras).
        Policy development for ethnic affairs (oh, let’s fly out and do some field work).

  2. The Voice of Reason 2
    12 November 2010 at 2:01 pm

    What fantastic work from Pete Hodgson and the rest of the Labour caucus! The shine is really coming off Team Key. Who’s next, eh? Tolley’s folly suggests it should be her, but she’s just incompetent. Nope, keep following the money, there will be more of these creeps playing fast and loose with the rules. And as Treetop pointed out on the earlier thread, if Lockjaw Smirk had got his way on the flights perk, this might well have been buried.

  3. Richard 3
    12 November 2010 at 2:03 pm

    So that’s three ministerial “resignations”. Have I missed out any?
    Worth, Heatley, & Wong. Sounds like a 70’s prog rock group.

    • Bright Red 3.1
      12 November 2010 at 2:37 pm

      the music would be awful.

      Heatley, with that permanent terrified but helpless expression, would be lead singer I’m guessing in the style of Ian Curtis.

      • artist not on the dole 3.1.1
        12 November 2010 at 4:33 pm

        i know you jest but in all seriousness, please don’t compare a great artist to these common criminals

      • Daveosaurus 3.1.2
        12 November 2010 at 6:55 pm

        … Actually, the thought of Ian Curtis singing for a prog-rock group… it could be awesome, it could be terrible, but it couldn’t be uninteresting.

        • RobertM 3.1.2.1
          13 November 2010 at 8:30 pm

          I was always an Echo and Ian McCulloch fan. I don’t know why he gets such a bad press from Alan Jones. The Manchester sound was uninteresting. Curtis is too much the classic working class tragedy, wasted talent, the disastrous early marriage. I prefer the militarism of the Bunnymen and their inversion of the Doors.
          On Pansy Wong , in my humble opinion its just Chinese bashing and Key should have shown the same leniency as Lockwood usually does. If anything Pansy was not PC and could say things no other MP could get away with.
          Well its essential Mellisa stay high on the list if the Nats can make any serious claim to multiculturalism.

      • IrishBill 3.1.3
        12 November 2010 at 10:55 pm

        Don’t be using Ian Curtis and these people in the same sentence,

    • bobo 3.2
      12 November 2010 at 2:37 pm

      I heard Creme Brulee might be getting back together 🙂

    • ghostwhowalksnz 3.3
      12 November 2010 at 5:57 pm

      It should have been a 60s quartet- Worth English Heatley and Wong

  4. insider 4
    12 November 2010 at 2:03 pm

    Looks like Wong resigned over travel costs. Hodgson never asked about them. How can he claim credit? Given the attention on such it seems an obvious question. Maybe he was letting it drift out?

    • The Voice of Reason 4.1
      12 November 2010 at 2:19 pm

      Well, I’m not sure that Hodgson is claiming credit, but I’m happy to assign it to him! It looks to me like Hodgson used the lawyers trick of asking one question to get another answered. Or to put it another way, he let Key have just anough information that he could be relied on to react defensively and give Wong full support and therefore have no option but sacrifice her when the full story came out.

      I really think Hodgson has pulled off the greatest stitch up in recent parliamentary history. And in less than a week from go to whoa. Brilliant!

      • mickysavage 4.1.1
        12 November 2010 at 2:25 pm

        I agree that this is way more effective the way it has worked out.

        Hodgson gets roundly abused and then gets handed Wong’s head on a platter within a couple of days.

        And Key goes from staunchly defending his minister to meekly accepting her resignation within the same period.

      • insider 4.1.2
        12 November 2010 at 2:26 pm

        Actually in retrospect it is a stupid question; he’s a politician, of course he’s going to claim credit! 🙂

      • Jim Nald 4.1.3
        12 November 2010 at 2:35 pm

        A very big thank you for keeping them honest, Pete Hodgson.
        I’ve said it before* and will say it again: thanks, ‘fork wit’.

        *http://thestandard.org.nz/captain-potty-mouth/#comment-269357

      • ghostwhowalksnz 4.1.4
        12 November 2010 at 5:59 pm

        And a week before the Mana byelection ?

        Taking the gloss off Keys APEC visit gets bonus brownies

  5. SHG 5
    12 November 2010 at 2:04 pm

    If Pete Hodgson actually played it this way – rather than this being something that came to light as a result of Hodgson being a fuckwit – then kudos to him 🙂

  6. Jim Nald 6
    12 November 2010 at 2:05 pm

    And Double Dipton was shooting from his mouth during question time a couple of days ago, accusing Pete Hodgson of being ‘disgraceful’. I thought Pete’s questions might have touched a rotting rorting nerve.

    Will DD retract? Come on, DD, you know you don’t want to.

    • Jim Nald 6.1
      14 November 2010 at 8:20 am

      Why did Bill English not do his homework properly before abusing another member of Parliament and the other side of the House? Who was really being disgraceful? Who should now not be believed? And who should be ashamed?

      This is now available:

      Hon BILL ENGLISH: .. The fact is that the member’s allegations are disgraceful, and they have impugned a member of Parliament in a way that is absolutely unnecessary and unjustified. It is more from the nasty, smearing Labour Party members, who believe that if they keep saying it eventually someone will believe it. The member should be ashamed of himself.
      (http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/1/2/6/49HansQ_20101110_00000010-10-Ministers-Compliance-with-Cabinet-Manual.htm)

      p.s. I am not suggesting that Pete should press the point. But people need to be aware of the blatherings that come out in response to questions.

  7. felix 7
    12 November 2010 at 2:11 pm

    She’d get booted out of some political parties for this, wouldn’t she?

    • The Voice of Reason 7.1
      12 November 2010 at 2:24 pm

      Probably depends on whether the passport she used on the trip is in her name and not that of a dead baby.

    • Bright Red 7.2
      12 November 2010 at 2:34 pm

      in the first presser from Pansy Wong the title was

      “Minister to resign from Parliament”

      3 minutes later

      “CCN – Minister to resign Portfolios”

      I assume it was just a stuff up. Pretty funny.

      Or I wonder if she misinterpreted the orders from the 9th floor?

    • Inventory2 7.3
      12 November 2010 at 6:29 pm

      Chris Carter didn’t get booted out of Labour for being a trougher Felix. He got booted out for undermining the leader. As a National voter most of the time since 1975, I am pleased to see Pansy Wong resign; a rort is a rort regardless of who commits it.

  8. higherstandard 8
    12 November 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Now who’s the f*ckwit?

    Seems to me it’s the long suffering public yet again this vile pile of shit has rorted the taxpayer but the absurd thing is if it had been a trip up there for pleasure with pansy there’d be no case to answer.

    [deleted] , we’d save a heap of cash and the world wouldn’t come to an end.

    [Calls for violence will be deleted. If you really must return to commenting here HS you need to lift your game. — r0b]

  9. Gotham 9
    12 November 2010 at 2:48 pm

    It’s almost a shame that Wong wasn’t stood down earlier from her ministerial role on the simple fact that she is totally incompetent. Ever heard her answering a question in the House?? Almost farcial. Goes to show how totally uninterested in women’s issues this government is, to have such a useless person holding the portfolio.

    Now, who’s going to pick it up I wonder?

    • QoT 9.1
      12 November 2010 at 5:20 pm

      Well that’s the point. I think even a National party with vague amounts of depth in their talent chart would still have given Women’s Affairs and Ethnic Affairs to Wong, just to establish that they’re not immigrant-loving femin@zis like Labour.

      • Treetop 9.1.1
        13 November 2010 at 3:08 pm

        I think that Wong was totally unsuitable to be the Minister of Women’s Affairs as she did not remedy the issue of her husband booking air fares to go on a business trip. Were I in her position I would have stood up to my partner. Is there a cultural reason for her to not have stood up to her partner regarding him making the travel booking/s?

  10. bobo 10
    12 November 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Seems Wong wasted no time in rorting if this happened in 2008 just like Worth, was the trip at the time actually a private holiday or ministerial trip to China ? Would we have known about this without parliamentary expenses being opened up?

    • insider 10.1
      12 November 2010 at 2:52 pm

      bobo

      I think the travel benefit is available to all MPs not just ministers. She’s been in Parliament since 96.

      • bobo 10.1.1
        12 November 2010 at 3:09 pm

        I guess its more than just the actual travel expenses with a MP using their time to pursue private business matters on public money. Wow shes been there since 96 only been a electorate mp since 2007?

        http://www.pansywong.co.nz/
        her pic looks like shes been caught red handed 🙂 Naughty Pansy

  11. tc 11
    12 November 2010 at 2:56 pm

    I’ll miss Pansy and her intelligent debating and razor sharp humour……wonder which superstar the nats have ready and waiting to go in her high profile portfolio…..how about that bastion of equality and reason Hekia Parata, having seen her on backbenchers she’d be great, intelligent, humorous and best of all thinks Shonkey is the messiah.

    • Jim Nald 11.1
      12 November 2010 at 3:05 pm

      Melissa Lee, with her huge asset of formidable intellect, deep sensitivity and wisdom, would be ideal to be parachuted into the Women & Ethnic Affairs portfolios.
      Pansy, who featured in the National campaign ad with Melissa, should support Melissa.

    • pollywog 11.2
      12 November 2010 at 3:45 pm

      wonder which superstar the nats have ready and waiting to go in her high profile portfolio

      I’d give Big Tau the job just for a laugh…

      • Gotham 11.2.1
        12 November 2010 at 4:09 pm

        Just read that Georgina Te Heu Heu is going to stand in to Wong’s ministerial role. She has more cred with me than most Nats – after standing aside following Brash’s Orewa speech.

      • Richard 11.2.2
        12 November 2010 at 4:13 pm

        Stranger things have happened……remember when Gerry Brownlee was the Maori Affairs Spokesman when the Nats were in opposition?

        • ghostwhowalksnz 11.2.2.1
          12 November 2010 at 6:06 pm

          Thats because he was a teacher of Maori ( and woodwork) at St Bedes College.
          Not sure he was qualified for either

        • Jim Nald 11.2.2.2
          12 November 2010 at 6:31 pm

          Umm umm umm … how about resorting to the sophistication & expert safe hands of Tony Ryall?

          As bonus, the Women’s & Ethnic Affairs portfolios should, for formal or ceremonial occasions, bring some interesting additions to his wardrobe.

      • ak 11.2.3
        12 November 2010 at 5:43 pm

        (Big Tau! Luvit Poll, ta – right up there with Mauler Bennett)

    • Bright Red 11.3
      12 November 2010 at 4:08 pm

      actually, they might try that – to give her a last minute publicity boost.

      assuming the new person gets both Wong’s portfolios – women’s and ethnic affairs – and you want a minister to represent those groups, the only other non-pakeha woman in National who isn’t already a minister is Melissa Lee

      • toad 11.3.1
        12 November 2010 at 5:30 pm

        Now, that would be fun! You are joking. Surely? Aren’t you, BR?

        Mind you, the cunning plan might be that elevating Lee to Cabinet would make Tolley look competent.

  12. Lanthanide 12
    12 November 2010 at 3:01 pm

    Oh well, looks like my ignorance of Wong’s ministerial-ship has corrected itself naturally 🙂

  13. Gotham 13
    12 November 2010 at 3:17 pm

    Aside from the overseas rebate, all MP spouses are ‘entitled’ to unlimited ‘free’ domestic travel for any reason other than private business purposes.

    From what I understand, the Greens are the only party to have their own guideline that spouses only travel with their MP partner, when the partner is on official parliamentary business. But, may be wrong about this – anyone know if Labour instructs their MPs in a similar way??

    I bet if someone was to look into whether domestic travel for spouses was never used for private business interests all hell would break loose…

  14. Irascible 14
    12 November 2010 at 4:46 pm

    I understand the next question in the House as a followup to Pansy’s resignation wil be to the Minister of Tourism: ” Will the Minister of Tourism be advising the PM to take a long holiday in Hawaii to be perfectly relaxed about Ms Wong’s admission of corrupt behaviour as a Cabinet Minister and will the Minister of Tourism be offering the PM rent free use of his residence in Hawaii?”
    The PM is expected to accept the offer but the MoTourism will be unable to answer the question as he is not presently in the country.

  15. Vicky32 15
    12 November 2010 at 4:58 pm

    I had heard something about it on the radio this morning, but not that she had resigned her portfolios. Great news!
    Deb

  16. Anne 16
    12 November 2010 at 5:44 pm

    Radio NZ political editor, Brent Edwards (think it was Edwards) is suggesting there may be more to come on this issue and that Wong could be forced to resign from parliament. That makes for an interesting scenario. The Nats will try hard to drag things out for as long as possible so that they don’t have to call a by-election. It would almost certainly see a drop in National’s Botany majority.

    • artist not on the dole 16.1
      12 November 2010 at 5:52 pm

      “It would almost certainly see a drop in National’s Botany majority.”

      shouldn’t that be National’s Mushroom majority
      the one where they keep everyone in the dark and feed them bulls#!t

    • Vicky32 16.2
      12 November 2010 at 6:59 pm

      Interesting! It’s jolly well about time that one of *them* is out of Parliament… not just out of their portfolio…
      Deb

    • Carol 16.3
      12 November 2010 at 7:00 pm

      NBR is also reporting that Hodgson is hinting at more to come. Goff on TV3 news said he thought there was a possibibilty of Wong having to resign from parliament altogether. I think he was suggesting there might be legal action against Wong.

      http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/hodgson-suggests-more-wong-revelations-ahead-133151

      Mr Hodgson said it was not for him to pursue the matter further, but suggested that the police or SFO might take an interest in the affair.

      When pressed by reporters, Mr Hodgson referred to Labour MP David Butcher, who was convicted in 1999 for fraudulently claiming MP’s airfare rebates.

      But also on TV3, people in the Botany electorate said Wong had been a hard-working electorate MP, and was well regarded prior to the admission of guilt. I also got the impression a few years back, when Wong was an opposition MP, that she seemed to engage with and represent south east Asian people well. ie speaking for them on various issues.

      She hasn’t impressed me as a minister.

  17. Anne 17
    12 November 2010 at 6:56 pm

    Hi Gina
    Excellent comments but think this might be the wrong post. 😉

    [Gina’s comment deleted at her request — r0b]

  18. Gina 18
    12 November 2010 at 7:03 pm

    Hi Anne. Yep I have no idea how that happened. I tried to post it about 5 times to the “High pay” thread with no luck then the page jumped and it somehow ended up here. Tried to post a comment several minutes ago but couldn’t get a anti spam word to appear. My mobile broadband is crap right now so I’ll point the finger at Vodafone.

    • Anne 18.1
      12 November 2010 at 8:06 pm

      Yes, I’ve had a few problems in the past too. I blamed it on Lynn (lprent) playing around with the site and messing things up in the process. 😛

  19. Hilary 19
    12 November 2010 at 7:11 pm

    Jim McLay was once National\’s Minister for Women’s Affairs so anything is possible. I think Pansy Wong also deputises for Tariana in her Disability Issues portfolio. They could ask Rodney to do that now since he’s bizarrely become minister of special education.

  20. Irascible 20
    12 November 2010 at 7:26 pm

    As a Botany resident I have NOT been impressed with Wong as our local MP. She is distant, unapproachable and incomprehensible. One of her first acts as an MP was to tell the Howick College prize giving that National had no intention of implementing National Standards as there were excellent reporting systems already in place. That statement was quickly revealed to be nothing more than a deliberate mis-speak in order to curry favour with the audience.
    Hard-working for the electorate?? A qualified Yes, if you live on the Howick peninsula and a definite NO if you live in the South Auckland end of Botany.
    The sooner she goes the better for Botany and the country.

  21. ianmac 21
    12 November 2010 at 8:14 pm

    Just arrived back and catching up. Has this been said?
    If a beneficiary cheats and gets money by abusing the system he/she is prosecuted in court for obtaining money for pecuniary advantage , or something.
    The Speaker’s statement was that Pansy Wong has promised to repay any money that she was not entitled to. It did not say that prosecution would follow if there is a case to answer! (Phillip Field?)
    Please don’t tell me that if she repays the money, that will be the end of the matter. Please?

    • bobo 21.1
      12 November 2010 at 8:47 pm

      Hasn’t it always been the case with politicians or the “elite” in general? They lose their “public standing” as punishment where the common kiwi serf gets jail time.. Mr “I do a lot of work for charity” Roger McClay is a good example.

      So if I shoplift a plasma tv at Harvey Norman and get caught by in store security, just say “fair cop” and hand it back and walk out the store, no harm done aye.. or say your allblacks management and autograph their shirt… and have the hdmi cable thrown in..

  22. roblyn 22
    12 November 2010 at 10:35 pm

    This is quickly turning in to a “hand in till” government.

  23. Drakula 23
    12 November 2010 at 10:55 pm

    I think that Pate Hodgeson should be put on the New Years Honours List for a knight hood!!!!

    What am I saying!!!!!! No No not the honours list: that is is just a gallery of rogues!!!!!!!

    If he is made a knight that will absolutely ruin his credibility with the left!!!!!!!

    I will Have to think of another reward; Any suggestions out there?

  24. tea 24
    13 November 2010 at 8:57 am

    Corruption in our cabinet!

  25. Pascal's bookie 25
    13 November 2010 at 10:40 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10687306

    In 2008, Mrs Wong’s husband, Sammy Wong, helped broker a deal between Mr Preest and Auckland businessman Terry Yang which involved moving Mr Preest’s hovercraft company to China. Mr Wong is a shareholder in the joint venture. But the deal went sour and Mr Preest is suing Mr Yang in China.

    Mr Wong told the Herald that in hindsight it was foolish to involve his wife – the only reason she came to China to visit the company was because he spent so much time there.

    But Mr Preest said yesterday that Mrs Wong’s involvement was far greater than just witnessing official documents related to the deal.

    He said she visited the company twice, and made it clear she was there as a Government minister.

    Wonder if the PM’s office spoke to Mr Preest before making the official announcement re fuckwittery.

  26. Frank Macskasy 26
    13 November 2010 at 1:04 pm

    If I may…

    I’m no friend of National. To me, this is the most lack-lustre, do-nothing, unimaginative, and pointless government we’ve had since… since… well actually, I can’t think since when.

    To me, the Key administration fails not because of what they’re doing wrong, per se, but what they are not doing well. Point in case; unemployment.

    Unemployment isn’t “just” 164,000 of our fellow New Zealanders out of work. It has flow-on effects much greater on our economy, society, and touches practically every facet of our country.

    John Key’s pet-project, the cycleway, was his ambitious answer to addressing – in part – our high unemployment. Well, Mr Key, if you or any of your staff are reading this, here is a question for you;

    * If the cycleway was a means by which we could reduce a small part of our unemployment – why on Earth have you not applied the principle on a grander scale? Why not provide more than just 70 jobs by instigating projects that could “soak up”, not 70, not seven hundred, but perhaps SEVEN THOUSAND unemployed?

    We have a waiting list of thousands of people – families – on NZ Housing’s books waiting for a home.

    Let’s “connect the dots” on this one: 164,000 unemployed plus a waiting list of thousands for housing plus a stagnant economy.

    If it’s good enough to have a cycleway built, at tax-payers’ expense (and I’m not agin it), then why not for heaven’s sake expand the concept on a bigger scale?

    Initiate a crash building programme. Build ten thousand state housing “units” (homes, to us lesser mortals). Employ thousands of people currently out of work. Train new apprentices. And get the economy moving again.

    Because you sure as hell won’t do it with tax cuts for the highly-paid. The stats are pretty clear on that.

    If Canterbury’s economy is going to grow as a result of rebuilding ‘quake-damaged homes, imagine what the country could experience if we implemented a building-programme country-wide?

    To be honest, I’m not overly bothered by Ms Wong’s mis-use of taxpayer’s money.

    Neither am I terribly fussed at Warner Bros extorting a further $15 million out of our wallets to pay for Jackson’s toys.

    What does concern me is that John Key has wasted three years doing nothing to alleviate the worst recession since… since… I do know that one: the Depression.

    Mr Key, in the final analysis, voters will judge you next year as to what you’ve achieved. And if the best you can offer is (a) give more money to the rich (b) make it easier to cycle from Bluff to Cape Reinga – then I wouldn’t be holding out much for your chances for re-election.

    C’mon, John – inspire us!!!

    • Jim Nald 26.1
      13 November 2010 at 1:24 pm

      Dear Mr Frank Macskasy

      Thank you very much for your message which has been passed to the Prime Minister.

      In the meantime, we have a response for you:

      *Fart*

      Yours sincerely
      Need-to-change pants

      captcha: noisy (!!!)

    • Treetop 26.2
      13 November 2010 at 2:33 pm

      Oh Frank, you are expecting far too much for the government to employ the unemployed to build housing to house the most vulnerable and needy. Is there a difference between Labour and National in not suitably housing people e.g. one person being allowed to live in a three bedroom home and a family of six living in a two bedroom home? The biggest waiting list in my area is for single people.

      There is also the unfairness of people being housed by Housing NZ being $8,000 better off a year and those recieving the accommodation supplement being $4,000 better off a year than those not recieving any housing assistance.

      Wealthy people do not need housing assistance and the unwealthy are off the housing radar as far as National is concerned.

    • handle 26.3
      13 November 2010 at 3:23 pm

      But Frank, that would depress house prices! It would be morally wrong to impede the wealth of National/Act voters or the freedom of the market to do nothing.

      Of course, handing over billions to construction companies to build motorways for trucks while creating hardly any jobs is another matter altogether. Campaign donation, you say?

  27. Herodotus 27
    13 November 2010 at 3:08 pm

    Eddie, there should be another by-election if Pansy is found to have been a recidifice offender (I am sure that she will be found out to be one), perhaps the IRD should also investigate to see that there has been no double dipping regarding Mr Wongs business expense claims that may have also been covered by the state. But the difference is that she is an electroate MP and so could hang around with delay tactics, or even resign from Nat and operate as an independant e.g. CC
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=806Z42bqBGE
    But the The Stranglers could do a best of to describe this:
    Hanging Around- their passing comment is very 70’s leftish perspecitive 😉
    No More Heroes
    Nice n Sleazy
    Walk on By
    Something Better Change

  28. Irascible 28
    14 November 2010 at 12:07 am

    Has Key begun washing his hands of Pansy, softening her up to fall fully on her sword and resign from Parliament?
    TV3 certainly suggests the possibility.
    http://www.3news.co.nz/Pansy-Wongs-political-future-in-jeopardy/tabid/419/articleID/186134/Default.aspx

    Mind you Key is still being “coyly indecisive” about the use of the travel privilege by the Wongs even though there is evidence that the Wongs were knowingly booking their travel through her office and using the perks.

  29. Irascible 29
    14 November 2010 at 3:49 am

    The rats are leaving the ship. Key is drawing the distance from the Wongs alright.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4341155/Pressure-goes-on-Wong-to-quit-Parliament-too

    When do the police start asking questions?

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