So Weasel Pete has pulled out of the Presidential Primary race–nice one with hundreds of thousands of early votes already cast–no chance for those voters to transfer their vote, and Buttigeig supporters second pick was substantially…Sanders.
It was not the “right” time, it was the tactical time to spoil as many potential Sanders votes as possible. He would not have lost money, his organisation was intact, he has let his supporters down.
Of course it was positive having a gay man able to stand on the platform, would not have happened even 10 years ago, but “Mayor Pete” has a sneaky pysops background that he obviously uses in politics. And Ms Warren seems to be going down, it is perhaps the “right” time for her to stop–but she is staying in for now to again herd Bernie votes, her supporters second preference too is largely Sanders.
And now Klobuchar is gone and will endorse Biden. The Democratic party establishment has decided that Biden is now viable and the donors have been giving their instructions to marginal candidates like Pete and Amy. Sh*t fight about to get double dirty.
You got any evidence for your assertion that " Buttigeig supporters second pick was substantially…Sanders "? The numbers I've seen are that Sanders was second choice for around 20% of Buttigieg supporters. While that may be a plurality due to Buttigieg supporters evenly spreading among the other candidates for their second choice, it's not "substantially" going to Sanders.
Of the polls I've seen on second choices, pretty much all second choice distributions were kinda evenly spread across the field. The only standout first choice-second choice pairings were Sanders-Warren and Biden-Bloomberg. But even among those pairings the second choice preference were only a weak pluralities, not a majority as you might expect if voters were choosing on policies and ideologies.
My brother got a cochlear implant about 8 years ago; it transformed his life. I remember sitting at lunch with him one day, and when I grabbed a biscuit from it's packet, he winces and says "I never knew a plastic bag could be so damned noisy!"
Not a lot of people know they were invented and developed here in Brisbane; one of the really good things Australia has done for the world.
There is some controversy in the deaf community about the way the cochlear implant disrupts their rather remarkably vibrant and interesting community, but on the whole most people who get one don’t hand them back in. I’m not sure if funding is the big limitation, or patient suitability around a greater uptake. They aren’t cheap and the follow up adjustments and maintenance require skill techies to get right … but it is certainly incredibly good value for money from a purely expenditure pov.
You would think that this close to Super Tuesday that candidates would make their decision after Tuesday, not a couple of days before. Buttigeig and Klobuchar must think it essential that their voters are freed to make other choices. However Buttigeig did not indicate who that person should be.
So it is fundamentally down to Sanders and Biden. Warren and Bloomberg have no chance.
Naturally Standardnistas will prefer Sanders. But I reckon Trump would beat Sanders in most circumstances. Of course Trump might also beat Biden, especially if Biden preformed badly in the debates.
As always, there's Congress to consider as well. I think it's entirely plausible that Sanders could win election to the Oval Office entirely out of disgust with Darth Drumpf, but there would also be a resurgence in split-ticket voting to ensure the Senate and maybe even the House would be in Repug hands. Specifically to tie Bernie's hands.
Not quite sure what you are talking about here pal…" Naturally Standardnistas will prefer Sanders. But I reckon Trump would beat Sanders in most circumstances. Of course Trump might also beat Biden, especially if Biden preformed badly in the debates."
1. Sanders has been showing he beats Trump in nearly all nation wide polls for at least 12 months..
2. Biden under most circumstances can't string a coherent sentence together and often looks like a deer caught in the headlights on stage..against Trump (really!) you can't deny he is a very good off the cuff debater, will in short order make Biden look lie the senile old man that he actually is.
I would put up links od Biden displaying obvious signs of senility, but why bother, anyone with even the slightest bit of self honestly would be aware of this sad fact already.
Trump – Biden would be a competition between two quite inarticulate people. Sanders can at least string an argument together, although that may not help win debates for him.
Personally I wouldn't write off trump so dismissively, have you actually watched some of his full off the cuff interviews or speeches, and not just the sound bites feed to us by our liberal media?
I have and I can tell you he can be really funny, super quick witted and play an audience like a pro.
Only a fool underestimates the strength of their enemy.
Yes, careless word, I agree. He has smart repartee honed down well. He's just so random at times when he is unscripted that you wonder if he knows what he's saying next. But for sure when there is an audience he changes gear. He's playing to his base in most of these situations. In fact in debates he's framing responses with his base in mind all the time when there are cameras present. That's what makes him so cunning. Yesterday I watched one of his 2020 election adverts, a full 5 minutes. It was chilling – very effective; railing against the same elite he’s part of, yet making himself sound like a champion for the other 99%
And that's why Bernie is the only contender who could match him in debates in my opinion. He's the legitimate caretaker of the 99% not the fake.
Yes I completely agree that Sanders is the only one who could best him in a debate, however what I am not sure about is whether the establishment DNC/Media would not rather lose to Trump than win with Sanders, the equivalent centrist liberals in the UK showed that that is an option they are prepared to take to defend their liberal ideology and power structures.
Ditching just before Super Tuesday is maximises the favours you get from the winner, especially if you endorse the candidate who wins. If you're sure you're not going to get anywhere, bowing out with grace means people still like you. Cabinet posts, party posts, funding for other campaigns, that sort of thing.
The trick is to maximise your benefit to them – bow out too early, you were a timewasting nobody. Bow out too late, you were an arsehole who harmed the winner by delaying the inevitable and running a damaging campaign.
Bloomberg will probably ditch after ST, if he gets pummelled enough. Sure, he's set aside $Xbillion for the campaign regardless, but I reckon even he knows he's screwed. It just needs to be spelled out for him clearly.
You could be right, it is looking a lot like the DNC party faithful are circling the wagons around Biden at the expense of Bloomberg..man the whole centrist thing has turned into a real freak show, it would be quite funny to watch if the stakes for the rest of the world weren't so high.
Biden was always the safe option – lifelong democrat, strongly associated with their previous successful president.
However, Jeb Bush started in a similar position.
Bloomberg basically makes no bones about substituting popular support for cash. I think he's discovered the limit of the hubris of wealth, and fundamentally misunderstood why dolt45 got the nom in 2016.
.."However, Jeb Bush started in a similar position." yeah and Bush wasn't obviously suffering from some sort of age related mental deterioration, which bizarrely (sort of like the kings new clothes) no one in the US media wants to tackle out right…like I said earlier, the moderate DNC runners are starting to look like a real freak show….but then I guess it's anyone but Bernie at this point for them…they would probably run a dead dog now if push came to shove!
Man what a weird reply, I mean what the fuck has that got to do with anything I said?, are you saying that you can't see that Biden is obviously suffering some sort of age related cognitive deterioration?
You should think before you type maybe, or are you like Trump..just operating straight from your lizard brain, well that is what that reply reads like anyway.
are you saying that you can't see that Biden is obviously suffering some sort of age related cognitive deterioration?
I'm saying exactly that. Is he the sharpest tack in the box? Possibly not. Is he suffering from any defect other than being in the public eye for maybe twelve hours a day during a pretty tough campaign road trip? Possibly not.
But, and let me be clear on this, even if I thought Biden were suffering from some for of long term cognitive impairment, I'd still trust Biden's recollections and perceptions over yours any day of the week.
Wow that is actually quite amazing to me that you can't see something so obvious, but maybe you haven't had much to do with old people?….anyway I can tell you this, I spend about five years travelling around New Zealand tracking down old cycle racers and interviewing them.
The age group ranged from about 65-95 yo, over that time I became very familiar with the different stages of mental deterioration in old men, and I can tell you with 100% certainty that Biden is not in good mental shape.
In fact two of my friends I made over those years have only recently passed away, both from dementia, a very sad condition thats for sure.
BTW I have no idea why you keep keep on saying "I'd still trust Biden's recollections and perceptions over yours any day of the week." grow up man, can't we have a serious conversation without dropping that kind of stupid shit into it?…why do that?
Aren't you the guy that posted just a day or two ago about how articulate and witty Don Dementia is?
Y'know, the dude that comes out with stuff like this when asked about a coronavirus response:
I think the financial markets are very upset when they look at the Democrat candidates standing on that stage make fools out of themselves, and they say, "If we ever have a president like this" — and there's always a possibility, it's an election, you know, who knows what happens? I think we're going to win, I think we're going to win by a lot — but when they look at statements made by the people standing behind those podiums, I think that has a huge effect.
You're making shit up based on media reports in a pretty hard campaign that's only going to get worse. I get that you don't like Biden, but either you know you're going out on a limb with your diagnosis or you have so much cognitive bias you genuinely can't imagine why someone might not see any basis for your assessment. Either way, I'd believe him over you.
Why make it personal? You made it personal when you chose to use something that affects many people and their families just for some interwebs pointscoring. And I'm really, really toning it down.
Edit: yeah, I say shit about dolt45. He’s a bullshitter. What I tend to avoid is diagnosing him and then finding it incomprehensible that someone might disagree with my internet reckons. That’s what you did in this thread.
"But, and let me be clear on this, even if I thought Biden were suffering from some for [sic] of long term cognitive impairment, I'd still trust Biden's recollections and perceptions over yours any day of the week."
That reply, with all it implies, is disappointingly personal. 'Smart' and 'blinkered' are not mutually exclusive.
"I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others." (1787) Benjamin Franklin
Just grabbing a moment while Gosman is not hogging a hundred lines or two,
I am amazed at how many homes have been built – and are being built – between Wellington and Northland.
The normal Kiwis have set about meeting the housing crisis from the moment the present Government opened for business. Merely two years past.
Sir John Key built ONE SINGLE HOUSE in his nine years of flag mongering. Sir William English built nothing other than attending to his southland sooky staff.
During the same period of time Fletchers Ltd, have shat their britches backwards and forwards. As well as setting fire to A Convention Centre. Hopeless.
And Fonterra handed out a fabulous 8.32 Million $ for a year of slow work by a slow Dutchman.
There would have been no Housing crisis if Key and English and the Beautiful Paula had done a bit of work.
Nine lazy dumb years – given to us by Act and Smational.
I have seen some of the (so called) affordable home that have just been built around the corner from me here in Marewa, they are without doubt the shittest looking homes that I have ever seen built in New Zealand, squashed together like sardine cans, I would give them 12-18 months before they look like the ghetto that they will inevitably become…oh yeah and you need to pay $350,000 + interest to have the privilege to own one of those pieces of shit just to add insult to injury.
The irony is that these piece of shit homes are built right beside existing state homes from the 1950's-60's that are only just starting to have their tile roofs replaced after 70 years of service, there is no way these (so called) "affordable houses" will even still be standing in 70 years.
But that is Free market Liberalism for you…always always short-termism , no long term vision what so ever…and to think some people think these same idiots can help stem climate change, what a sad position we now find ourselves in, Labour, whom are pointless and no one really knows what they stand for or believe, but I am supposed to get excited because they are better than National…that's how low the bar is now for Labour, please just be better than the other political party of fucking psychopaths..
Class: The Little Word the Elites Want You to Forget
Chris Hedges;
"Aristotle, Niccolò Machiavelli, Alexis de Tocqueville, Adam Smith and Karl Marx grounded their philosophies in the understanding that there is a natural antagonism between the rich and the rest of us. The interests of the rich are not our interests. The truths of the rich are not our truths. The lives of the rich are not our lives. Great wealth not only breeds contempt for those who do not have it but it empowers oligarchs to pay armies of lawyers, publicists, politicians, judges, academics and journalists to censure and control public debate and stifle dissent"
David is all over the place today. You could probably count on one hand the times he has used a swear word on his forum over the past 5 years but today he said, "the fucking Prime Minister".
This was because Jacinda Ardern won't sack Shane Jones for racist comments about Indian students.
But then two posts later Farrar uses quotes from Jones with which to attack the government on light rail. He’d forgiven Jones already, or perhaps it was just convenient…
Farrar doesn't want Jones sacked for making racist comments. Farrar doesn't call Jacinda Ardern the 'fucking Prime Minister" because she won't sack Shane Jones for racist comments.
Farrar wants them all sacked and all looking bad because they are in power and National isn't. Using that particular language?
You can count on the fingers of one foot the number of times I've ever used certain language about Farrar. Farrar is just being a fucking drama queen.
Do not build Houses- Implies the great Nationalist Adrian Thornton
He knowingly promotes Act and National – who built nothing! Other than 1 house.
Absolutely nothing. – Key – English – Paula – Each of them Failures.
You are a man of great wealth Adrian – why don't You build great houses. !
Cut the F…ck- and Shit – and yuck. Thanks
[If you address a specific comment, please use the reply button. In any case, you’re barking up the wrong tree and way off the mark with your personal attack. Please tone it down and an apology wouldn’t go astray – Incognito]
It sets out some of the reasons for the problems (largely the increase in immigrants from the Key/English Government, while doing as little as possible about housing and transport), but I am concerned that the possibility is even being considered of adopting a "PPP" structure for a large project. There have been enough PPPs fall over that it should be a requirement that the government keeps on its books for any PPP a contingent liability with a realistic probability of being called to cover the costs of taking over a project. The article sets out why a PPP is effectively a means to transfer money from government to a private supplier. We have a number of large construction projects to compare; nine years of National treating everything as a means of creating private profit. The expressways have not all been unqualified successes – problems with surfaces mean that work on the Kapiti coast is still continuing. By contrast, the urgent need to restore the coastal highway from Kaikoura to Marlborough happened too quickly for such a heavy contractual process – much of the engineering was worked out as the project developed; much was on a labour and materials basis, and it was much closer to an old MoW type of project contractually; and worked better than most had expected.
If our government cannot afford a project, they can even less afford to borrow at higher cost to pay someone else large profits to do it for us. For Labour to criticise such rorts in future, it is important that they not índulge themselves – a future right wing government would see that as an endorsement by the left for subsidising overseas companies . . ..
Given that COVID-19 spread is unavoidable now & the elderly are going to be hit particularly hard (more likely to be infected / more susceptible to a severe case requiring hospitalisation / and, unfortunately, more likely to die from the disease) …
May be time to start encouraging the over-60s to voluntarily stay at home / "self-isolate" for the next 2 or so months (while ensuring in a well-organised, methodical way that they have enough food & other essential supplies available for this period).
Cut down the number of severe cases / chances of hospitals being overwhelmed / needless death.
At least wait until there is a local outbreak – 2 months in isolation then 6 months of the actual outbreak will drive people batty with cabin fever, if they're used to getting out and about.
.
Already seeing the very early stages of an outbreak here … hate to say it but we might expect the first death to occur in 3-4 weeks time (based on the average days elapsed between first confirmed case-to- first death in those Countries that have already experienced an outbreak) … will probably reach a peak somewhere between mid-April & mid-May – the point when hospitals / medical services / supplies are in greatest danger of being overwhelmed … unless we can slow its progress with far more urgent & decisive action than we've seen to date.
People with the virus are highly infectious during the initial 1-2 week pre-symptomatic stage + 80% go on to experience relatively mild symptoms (a segment will be completely asymptomatic) = silent spread going on as we speak. Look at the experience of other Countries … the idea that we only have one or two people infected and that this thing has been fully contained in New Zealand … borders on the ludicrous.
It's the 20% who experience a more severe / acute illness that we need to worry about … and they are disproportionately older & (or) have co-morbidities like diabetes, chronic lung disease, hypertension & heart disease. It could be that the outbreak only becomes fully visible when unusually large numbers of (mainly older) people start presenting to hospitals with acute respiratory distress syndrome. It won't take much for hospitals to be overwhelmed & unable to cope with demand … & then we'll see much greater mortality.
Western Countries in general have been far too lackadaisical … reactive rather than proactive. The complete lack of foresight & urgency has been astonishing to witness.
That medical services would be easily overwhelmed is apparent but the question remains what is the alternative expectation?
There is no realistic chance of excluding this new virus from NZ even if we attempted a full lockdown of the border, which would itself cause far more social and health problems than the virus….it will run its course. we will do what we can and yes, some will likely die…as happens every day.
Governments (or the human race) are (is) not omnipotent despite what we like to believe.
Medical scientist with a background in developing anti-viral drugs.
As I discussed, the case-fatality rate for #COVID19 in most people < 50 years old is 0.2% (similar to seasonal flu), but rises substantially to ~15% in people >80 yo.
Thanks, joe90. The age range and the comorbidity factors make more sense than a blanket elderly prognosis. More males die as they smoke more. Comorbidity factors of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, acute respiratory problems, hypertension, all are at play. And age has its weight, but then I wonder how many of these factors also are more prevalent with age. So, thanks again.
High Risk COVID-19 Demographics (for infection / severe or acute form / death):
Older (over 60 … & esp over 80)
Co-morbidities like diabetes, chronic lung disease, hypertension & heart disease.
Male (not for initial infection but possibly for severe form & death … appears to be roughly 60/40 M vs F)
Smoker (possibly)
I mean, the odds are still clearly in favour of a good outcome for those in these demographics infected with the virus – I don't want to alarm anyone – but, as you might expect, a larger minority will experience poorer outcomes compared to younger / healthier cohorts.
Note: By "needless death" … I simply meant lives that would otherwise be saved if hospitals (under the potential scenario discussed) weren't suddenly overwhelmed with demand.
All things considered, the M/F population is remarkably balanced for over 50s in China. It's the younger generations that got unbalanced by their vicious policies.
It has been suggested that I should apologise to you for my comment in which I raised the big rise in Housing in the past two years.
You were of the view that the new houses where you have been and seen are "Fucking Shit" and will not survive for very long.
I do apolologise for offending you in any way that I did. I did draw attention to the fact that the National Government did not build but one house in nine years of Office.
I withdraw my idea that you might care to build a really good house. I apologise for that too.
Finally, I was Banned by Incognito for a whole six months and I am out of touch. Prior to that Ban my record was not perfect, but well enough received.
As I see it – Building Houses now is much more imperative right now – than chatting about Housing built many decades ago.
Please advise me if that is wrongful. May I repeat my Apology and withdraw any thing that offended you.
I appreciate your "here and now" sense of reality.
As for me, I did try to practice walking on egg shells during my Banning, while the Standard flew across the Seven Oceans, and across every Nation of the Globe – as well as the great Great possessions of the Trump Organ.
For me – I like The Standard to work through the "here and now" of New Zealand needs and Targets.
Weka – seems to me to keep close to what we can do – and how we might better achieve our Targets. A recent NZ Farming Article was very good.
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After threatening Prime Minister Chris Hipkins of consequences if he dared to bar her entry, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull has been given her visa, regardless. This will enable her to hold rallies in Auckland and Wellington this weekend, and spread her messages of hostility against an already marginalised trans community. Neo-Nazis may, ...
* Bryce Edwards writes – The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The deal was struck by the Albanese Labor Government as ...
Boomers voted him in, but Brown’s Trumpish moments might spook Aucklanders worried about what a change to National nationally might mean. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR:Auckland MayorWayne Brown has become our version of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, except without any of the insatiable appetite for media appearances. He ...
The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The deal was struck by the Albanese Labor Government as part of its Aukus pact with the ...
Recently you might have heard of a person called Posie Parker and her visit to Aotearoa. Perhaps you’re not quite sure what it’s all about. So let’s start with who this person is, why their visit is controversial, and what on earth a TERF is.Posie Parker is the super villain ...
The chair of Parliament’s Select Committee looking at the Government’s resource management legislation wants the bills sent back for more public consultation. The proposal would effectively kill any chance of the bills making it into law before the election. Green MP, Eugenie Sage, stressing that she was speaking as ...
Open access notables The United States experienced some historical low temperature records during the just-concluded winter. It's a reminder that climate and weather are quite noisy; with regard to our warming climate,, as with a road ascending a mountain range we may steadily change our conditions but with lots of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The Nanny State has scored some wins (or claimed them) in the past day or two but it faltered when it came to protecting Kiwi citizens from being savaged by one woman armed with a sharp tongue. The wins are recorded by triumphant ministers on the ...
Sometimes you see your friends making the case so well on social media you think: just copy and share.On acceptance and decency, from Michèle A’CourtA notable thing about anti-trans people is they way they talk about transgender women and men as though they are strangers “over there” when in fact ...
Not that long ago, things were looking pretty good for climate change policy in Aotearoa. We finally had an ETS, and while it was full of pork and subsidies, it was delivering high and ever-rising carbon prices, sending a clear message to polluters to clean up or shut down. And ...
Comparing (and switching) electricity providers has become easier, but bundling power up with broadband and/or gas makes it more challenging. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The Kākā TL;DR: The new Consumer Advocacy Council set up as a result of the Labour Government’s Electricity Price Review in 2019 has called on either ...
Hokitika-based Westland Milk Products has put the heat on dairy giant Fonterra with a $120m profit turnaround in 2022, driven by record sales. Westland paid its suppliers a 10c premium above the forecast Fonterra price per kilo, contributing $535m to the West Coast and Canterbury economies. The dairy ...
* Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a two-year cooling off period between ministers leaving public ...
New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a two-year cooling off period between ministers leaving public office and becoming lobbyists and ...
This is a guest post by accessibility and sustainable transport advocate Tim Adriaansen It originally appeared here. A friend calls you and asks for your help. They tell you that while out and about nearby, they slipped over and landed arms-first. Now their wrist is swollen, hurting like ...
Floating offshore wind turbines offer incredible opportunities to capture powerful winds far out at sea. By unlocking this wind energy potential, they could be a key weapon in our arsenal in the fight against climate change. But how developed are these climate fighting clean energy giants? And why do I ...
Over the past two or three weeks, a procession of Maori iwi and hapu in a series of little-noticed appearances before two Select Committees have been asking for more say for Maori over resource management decisions along the co-governance lines of Three Waters. Their submissions and appearances run counter ...
The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue war crimes arrest warrants for the Russian President and the Russia Children Ombudsman may have been welcomed by the ideologically committed but otherwise seems to have been greeted with widespread cynicism (see Situation in Ukraine: ICC judges issue arrest warrants ...
Let’s say you’re clasping your drink at a wedding, or a 40th, or a King’s Birthday Weekend family reunion and Drunk Uncle Kevin has just got going.He’s in an expansive frame of mind because we’re finally rid of that silly girl. But he wants to ask an honest question about ...
National Party leader Christopher Luxon may be feeling glum about his poll ratings, but he could be tapping into a rich political vein in describing the current state of education as “alarming”. Luxon said educational achievement has been declining, with a recent NCEA pilot exposing just how far it has ...
Way Beyond Reform: Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have no more interest in remaining permanent members of “New Zealand’s” House of Representatives than did Lenin and Trotsky in remaining permanent members of Tsar Nicolas II’s “democratically-elected” Duma. Like the Bolsheviks, Te Pāti Māori is a party of revolutionaries – not reformists.THE CROWN ...
Buzz from the Beehive Auckland was wiped off the map, when Education Minister Jan Tinetti delivered her speech of welcome as host of the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers “here in Tāmaki Makaurau”. But – fair to say – a reference was made later in the speech to a ...
Morning mate, how you going?Well, I was watching the news last night and they announced this scientific report on Climate Change. But before they got to it they had a story about the new All Blacks coach.Sounds like important news. It’s a bit of a worry really.Yeah, they were talking ...
Always a bailout: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Government would fully guarantee all savers in all smaller US banks if needed. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: No wonder an entire generation of investors are used to ‘buying the dip’ and ‘holding on for dear life’. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ...
Wealthy vested interests have an oversized influence on political decisions in New Zealand. Partly that’s due to their use of corporate lobbyists. Fortunately, the influence lobbyists can have on decisions made by politicians is currently under scrutiny in Guyon Espiner’s in-depth series published by RNZ. Two of Espiner’s research exposés ...
Yesterday afternoon it rained and traffic around the region ground to a halt, once again highlighting why it is so important that our city gets on with improving the alternatives to driving. For additional irony, this happened on the same day the IPCC synthesis report landed, putting the focus on ...
The Beginning: Anti-Co-Governance agitator, Julian Batchelor, addresses the Dargaville stop of his travelling roadshow across New Zealand . Fascism almost always starts small. Sadly, it doesn’t always stay that way. Especially when the Left helps it to grow.THERE IS A DREADFUL LOGIC to the growth of fascism. To begin with, it ...
Hi,From an incredibly rainy day in Los Angeles, I just wanted to check in. I guess this is the day Trump may or may not end up in cuffs? I’m attempting a somewhat slower, less frenzied week. I’ve had Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new record on non-stop, and it’s been a ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
RNZ has been shining their torch into corners where lobbyists lurk and asking such questions as: Do we like the look of this?and Is this as democratic as it could be?These are most certainly questions worth asking, and every bit as valid as, say:Are weshortchanged democratically by the way ...
RNZ has continued its look at the role of lobbyists by taking a closer look at the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Andrew Kirton. He used to work for liquor companies, opposing (among other things) a container refund scheme which would have required them to take responsibility for their own ...
The Government’s decision to introduce ‘mass arrivals’ legislation goes against the values we all share of Aotearoa as a place where all people are treated fairly, the Green Party says. ...
MINISTER DAVIDSON MUST RESIGN AFTER 'VIOLENCE' COMMENTS Marama Davidson should stand down as ‘Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence’ for the clear and outrageous statement she made at the Posie Parker protest that ‘white straight men’ are the cause of violence. Her offensive, racist, and sexist remarks ...
In response to Newshub and Amelia Wade’s obvious and ham-fisted attempt at a typical and predicted political hit job. As any politically aware reporter would know, any Cabinet subcommittee has a duty and obligation as a part of any government to respond to any UN declaration, in this case ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for the invitation to speak with you today and in your busy lives turning up to this meeting. Forty five years ago, in Howick, often described as racist, and where few Maori lived because it had been a ‘Fencible’ settlement at the time of the Anglo-Maori ...
The Green Party has marked the National Party’s new education policy and given it a fail, especially for its failure to address the underlying drivers of school performance. ...
Political parties that want to negotiate with the Green Party must come to the table with much faster, bolder climate action, co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson emphasised in their State of the Planet speech today. ...
Political parties that want to negotiate with the Green Party after the election must come to the table with much faster, bolder climate action, co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson emphasised today. ...
You will never truly understand, from the pictures you’ve seen in the newspapers or on the six o-clock news, the sheer scale of the devastation wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle. ...
We’re boosting incomes and helping ease cost of living pressures on Kiwis through a range of bread and butter support measures that will see pensioners, students, families, and those on main benefits better off from the start of next month. ...
The error Labour Ministers made by stopping work on a beverage container return scheme will be reversed by the Greens at the earliest opportunity as part of the next Government. ...
“Cabinet needs to do better - and today has shown exactly why we need Green Ministers in cabinet, so we can prioritise action to cut climate pollution and support people to make ends meet,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. ...
Biggest increase in food prices for over three decades shows the need for an excess profit tax on corporations to help people put food on the table. ...
Legislation to enable more build-to-rent developments has passed its third reading in Parliament, so this type of rental will be able to claim interest deductibility in perpetuity where it meets the requirements. Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods, says the changes will help unlock the potential of the build-to-rent sector and ...
A law passed by Parliament today exempts employers from paying fringe benefit tax on certain low emission commuting options they provide or subsidise for their staff. “Many employers already subsidise the commuting costs of their staff, for instance by providing car parks,” Environment Minister David Parker said. “This move supports ...
Today marks the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER), our gold standard free trade agreement between New Zealand and Australia. “CER was a world-leading agreement in 1983, is still world-renowned today and is emblematic of both our countries’ commitment to free trade. The WTO has called it the world’s ...
The Government is making procedural changes to the Immigration Act to ensure that 2013 amendments operate as Parliament intended. The Government is also introducing a new community management approach for asylum seekers. “While it’s unlikely we’ll experience a mass arrival due to our remote positioning, there is no doubt New ...
The Government welcomes progress on public sector pay adjustment (PSPA) agreements, and the release of the updated public service pay guidance by the Public Service Commission today, Minister for the Public Service Andrew Little says. “More than a dozen collective agreements are now settled in the public service, Crown Agents, ...
The Government has introduced the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill to further support the recovery and rebuild from the recent severe weather events in the North Island. “We know from our experiences following the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes that it will take some time before we completely understand the ...
Further assistance is now available to businesses impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, with Customs able to offer payment plans and to remit late-payments, Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri has announced. “This is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to assist economic recovery in the regions,” Meka Whaitiri said. “Cabinet has approved the ...
More than 41,000 sole parent families will be better off with a median gain of $20 a week Law change estimated to help lift up to 14,000 children out of poverty Child support payments will be passed on directly to people receiving a sole parent rate of main benefit, making ...
A major investment by Government-owned New Zealand Green Investment Finance towards electrifying the public bus fleet is being welcomed by Climate Change Minister James Shaw. “Today’s announcement that NZGIF has signed a $50 million financing deal with Kinetic, the biggest bus operator in Australasia, to further decarbonise public transport is ...
A world-leading payments system is expected to provide a significant cash flow boost for Kiwi innovators, Minister of Research, Science, and Innovation Ayesha Verrall says. Announcing that applications for ‘in-year’ payments of the Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) were open, Ayesha Verrall said it represented a win for businesses ...
Minister of Transport Michael Wood joined crowds of keen cyclists and walkers this morning to celebrate the completion of the Te Awa shared path in Hamilton. “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, greener, and more efficient for now and future generations to come,” Michael ...
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little has delivered the Crown apology to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua for its historic breaches of Te Tiriti of Waitangi today. The ceremony was held at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton, hosted by Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua, with several hundred ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has concluded her visit to China, the first by a New Zealand Foreign Minister since 2018. The Minister met her counterpart, newly appointed State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qin Gang, who also hosted a working dinner. This was the first engagement between the two ...
World-class satellite positioning services that will support much safer search and rescue, boost precision farming, and help safety on construction sites through greater accuracy are a significant step closer today, says Land Information Minister Damien O’Connor. Damien O’Connor marked the start of construction on New Zealand’s first uplink centre for ...
Attorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Christopher John Dellabarca of Wellington, Dr Katie Jane Elkin of Wellington, Caroline Mary Hickman of Napier, Ngaroma Tahana of Rotorua, Tania Rose Williams Blyth of Hamilton and Nicola Jan Wills of Wellington as District Court Judges. Chris Dellabarca Mr Dellabarca commenced his ...
Tēnā koutou katoa. Can I begin by thanking Gary Taylor, Raewyn Peart and others in the EDS team for their herculean work in support of the environment. I’d also like to acknowledge Hon Simon Upton, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, my parliamentary colleagues, and the many activists here who strive ...
A new Government-backed project will help ocean-related businesses in the Nelson Tasman region to accelerate their growth and boost jobs. “The Nelson Tasman region is home to more than 400 blue economy businesses, accounting for more than 30 percent of New Zealand’s economic activity in fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing,” ...
After three years of COVID-19 disruptions schools are finally settling down and National want to throw that all in the air with major disruption to learning and underinvestment. “National’s education policy lacks the very thing teachers, parents and students need after a tough couple of years, certainty and stability,” Education ...
People aged over 50 with innovative business ideas will now be able to receive support to advance their ideas to the next stage of development, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen said today. “Seniors have some great entrepreneurial ideas, and this programme will give them the support to take that next ...
A cross government target for relevant government procurement contracts for goods and services to be awarded to Māori businesses annually will increase to 8%, after the initial 5% target was exceeded. The progressive procurement policy was introduced in 2020 to increase supplier diversity, starting with Māori businesses, for the estimated ...
77,000 fewer children living in low income households on the after-housing-costs primary measure since Labour took office Eight of the nine child poverty measures have seen a statistically significant reduction since 2018. All nine have reduced 28,700 fewer children experiencing material hardship since 2018 Measures taken by the Government during ...
Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tēnā koutou katoa, ni sa bula vinaka saka, namaste. Deputy Prime Minister, a very warm welcome to Aotearoa. I trust you have been enjoying your time here and thank you for joining us here today. To all delegates who have travelled to be ...
$2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...
[CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā tangata katoa, o moana-nui-a-kiwa, E ngā mate, haere, haere, haere atū ra, manuia lau Malaga. Thank you for the kind introduction and opportunity to join you this morning. It is always good to be here in Aukilani, where I ...
E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi, tēnā koutou katoa. Talofa lava and thank you Catherine, for the warm welcome. I’m sorry that I can’t be there in person today but it’s great for the opportunity to contribute virtually. I’d like to start by acknowledging: Alzheimers New Zealand, ...
Transport Minister Michael Wood has today launched the first national EV (electric vehicle) charging strategy, Charging Our Future, which includes plans to provide EV charging stations in almost every town in New Zealand. “Our vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to have world-class EV charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, ...
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
The Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...
E te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...
113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today. “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Crowley, Adjunct Associate Professor, Public and Environmental Policy, University of Tasmania Labor and the Greens on Monday announced a deal to strengthen a key climate policy, the safeguard mechanism, by introducing a hard cap on industrial sector emissions. But the ...
The native parrot the kea is under siege from aerial spread 1080 poison drops says a West Coast wildlife advocate Laurie Collins of Westport. While it is accepted that a good proportion of New Zealanders are opposed to aerial 1080 poison drops used ...
West Coasters might have a taste for the gung-ho but pragmatism has taken a turn for the cautious at an extraordinary Greymouth council meeting Outspoken West Coast Regional Council chair Allan Birchfield has been rolled by his colleagues in a bid to make peace with the government and stem the ...
By Tim Wilson, Executive Director, Maxim Institute* What does politics produce when mixed with violence and intimidation? Sadly nothing constructive, plus a humungous helping of anger, division, recrimination, spleen and confusion. Oh, and headlines. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Senator Lidia Thorpe’s defection from the Greens changed the power dynamic in the Senate. Now the government needs two crossbenchers (and the Greens) to pass legislation opposed by the Coalition. Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Crowley, Adjunct Associate Professor, Public and Environmental Policy, University of Tasmania Labor and the Greens on Monday announced a deal to strengthen a key climate policy, the safeguard mechanism, by introducing a hard cap on industrial sector emissions. But the ...
Security guards have made their voices heard and now have enough signatures to initiate a Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) for workers in their occupation. Since the Fair Pay Agreements Bill was passed in October 2022, more than 1000 security guards across Aotearoa New ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bianca Fileborn, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, The University of Melbourne ShutterstockThe following article discusses sexual violence, self-harm and suicide. Gender and sexuality diverse (LGBTQ+) people experience disproportionately high levels of sexual violence, but we still know very little about ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jesse J. Fleay, Republic Constitutional Scholar, Federalist, Co-Author of the Uluru Statement, University of Notre Dame Australia Australia is preparing for a referendum to decide on the proposed Voice to parliament for First Nations people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated the ...
Toni Collette and John Leguizamo tell Tara Ward about the electric drama set in a world where gender equality becomes a sudden and shocking reality.There’s a moment halfway through in The Power when it seems Toni Collette could be channeling Jacinda Ardern. A mysterious medical event is sweeping the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona Charlson, Conjoint NHMRC Early Career Fellow, The University of Queensland Shutterstock Last week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, comprised of the world’s most esteemed climate experts, delivered its sixth report and “final warning” about the climate crisis. It ...
The government's national security arm says it is working on how to address the spread of disinformation and this is not directed specifically at the general election. ...
Poet Ash Davida Jane talks with poet Andrew Johnston about his Selected Poems, which spans 23 years of his published work. I’ve started writing this review in the notes app on my phone from the backseat of my friend’s car, which feels a far cry from the world of Andrew ...
National is demanding Marama Davidson apologise to cis white men over her comments from Saturday. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he considers the matter closed. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Manlik, Casual Academic and PhD Candidate, Macquarie University ABC The recent ABC mini-series, In Our Blood, offers a fictionalised account of Australia’s response to AIDS, focusing on the development of a partnership between impacted communities, health professionals and government. ...
Aucklanders – it’s your last chance to have a say on the council’s upcoming budget. Submissions close at 11pm tonight, after which they will be collated and considered by councillors before a final proposal’s released by the end of June. As my colleague Tommy de Silva explained earlier this month, ...
Aucklanders – it’s your last chance to have a say on the council’s upcoming budget. Submissions close at 11pm tonight, after which they will be collated and considered by councillors before a final proposal’s released by the end of June. As my colleague Tommy de Silva explained earlier this month, ...
After breaking a years-long gap between New Zealand ministerial visits to China, Nanaia Mahuta says the relationship is in good shape but the Government will keep discussing differences of opinion between the countries - including support for Ukraine New Zealand will keep pushing China to use its influence to help end ...
The government has commissioned an inquiry after forestry waste caused widespread devastation in Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle. But records show experts have been sounding the alarm for decades – why did no one hear them?This story was first published on Stuff. Ten minutes into the grey wasteland of the Mangatokerau ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Oliver A.H. Jones, Professor, RMIT University Shutterstock You might have noticed many skin and haircare products are advertised as “paraben-free”, or come across online influencers warning parabens are terrible for your health. But what is a paraben? And could a ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson should apologise to white men over the “sweeping generalisation” she made ahead of the Posie Parker counter-protest on Saturday. That’s according to National’s leader Christopher Luxon who was questioned on the comments this morning at parliament. Davidson was caught on camera blaming “cis white men” ...
Candida auris is more likely to infect those who are already ill or immunocompromised and is fatal for 30-60% of those infected.What is Candida auris?Candida auris (also known as C. auris) is a type of fungus called a yeast. It was first identified in 2009 from the ear ...
Lorde’s always been mysterious and her latest newsletter to fans does nothing to change that. The New Zealand singer has just wrapped up her lengthy Solar Power tour in support of her third album released at the height of the delta Covid wave back in 2021. And while reports have ...
New Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. Other items of interest and importance todayPOSIE PARKER RALLY The Facts: New Zealanders are world leaders in respecting transgender men and women Chris ...
New figures show the government has called on just 3 percent of the half a billion dollars approved to build or expand mental health hospital facilities. ...
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins believes the polarising debate in the wake of British gender activist Posie Parker's New Zealand visit has not been helpful, nor was it helpful to bring ethnicity and race into the debate. ...
The Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year will be announced this Thursday. The judges have had their work cut out for them choosing a winner from these finalists.There are hundreds of New Zealanders across the motu who devote time to their communities. Those people who go the extra mile ...
Late last year, at the time David Farrier was readying to release his new documentary Mister Organ, broadcaster Sean Plunket started tweeting out what appeared to be court documents. As we detailed in our extensive timeline of the Mister Organ saga, the tweets included claims that Farrier had been served ...
Prime minister Chris Hipkins’ morning media round has been largely dominated by remarks made by one of his ministers over the weekend. Marama Davidson, who is also co-leader of the Green Party, was caught on capture at a counter-protest to anti-trans speaker Posie Parker stating: “I am the prevention violence ...
If insurers aren’t involved in discussions on how New Zealand adapts to climate change, we risk whole sections of the country becoming uninsurable. As New Zealand considers how to better prepare for a future affected by climate change, the insurance sector needs to be part the discussion on where and ...
It will also be a couple of months before a decision is made on what approach will be taken with Coromandel’s SH25A which has been closed since cracks appeared on January 27 in the wake of ex-Cyclone Hale. Any fix will take nine to 12 months to implement. Access in ...
Consumer NZ has warned customers to be aware of “unsubstantiated” or “misleading” eco-friendly claims made at the supermarket. The watchdog has taken a closer look at several items including a supposedly “planet conscious” air freshener, “ocean plastic” bags and “industrial compostable” teabags. But Gemma Rasmussen, Consumer’s head of research and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clancy William James, Senior Lecturer (astronomy and astroparticle physics), Curtin University ASKAP.CSIRO We have just published evidence in Nature Astronomy for what might be producing mysterious bursts of radio waves coming from distant galaxies, known as fast radio bursts or FRBs. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wanning Sun, Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock Early this month, the Daily Mail published a story online implying three Chinese men taking photos at the Avalon Airshow in Melbourne were spies. After complaints and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vincent Ho, Associate Professor and clinical academic gastroenterologist, Western Sydney University Shutterstock We all get hiccups from time to time, and sometimes they just won’t seem to go away. Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm – the muscle ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Shutterstock A new report card on Australia’s environment reveals 2022 was a bumper year for our rivers and vegetation – but it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darcy Watchorn, PhD Candidate, Deakin University Discoveries of albino animals have a unique ability to capture the public imagination, often leading to flurries of social media and news coverage. (Think Migaloo, the famous white humpback whale.) It’s easy to see why ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Dumay, Professor – Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University Pxfuel What distinguishes a company that makes “good” chocolate (chocolate untainted by child labour, modern slavery, deforestation and the overuse of agrichemicals) from one that merely makes chocolate? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle de Souza, Lecturer in Law, University of New England Binge British comedy Romantic Getaway recently dropped on streaming service Binge. The show stars Katherine Ryan and Romesh Ranganathan as Alison and Deacon, a couple desperate for a child. Alison ...
The GCSB and NZSIS revealed concerns about the growing threat of foreign interference yesterday as RNZ launches new Chinese language news service and the national security system faces reform, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
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So Weasel Pete has pulled out of the Presidential Primary race–nice one with hundreds of thousands of early votes already cast–no chance for those voters to transfer their vote, and Buttigeig supporters second pick was substantially…Sanders.
It was not the “right” time, it was the tactical time to spoil as many potential Sanders votes as possible. He would not have lost money, his organisation was intact, he has let his supporters down.
Of course it was positive having a gay man able to stand on the platform, would not have happened even 10 years ago, but “Mayor Pete” has a sneaky pysops background that he obviously uses in politics. And Ms Warren seems to be going down, it is perhaps the “right” time for her to stop–but she is staying in for now to again herd Bernie votes, her supporters second preference too is largely Sanders.
What a contest.
And now Klobuchar is gone and will endorse Biden. The Democratic party establishment has decided that Biden is now viable and the donors have been giving their instructions to marginal candidates like Pete and Amy. Sh*t fight about to get double dirty.
You got any evidence for your assertion that " Buttigeig supporters second pick was substantially…Sanders "? The numbers I've seen are that Sanders was second choice for around 20% of Buttigieg supporters. While that may be a plurality due to Buttigieg supporters evenly spreading among the other candidates for their second choice, it's not "substantially" going to Sanders.
Of the polls I've seen on second choices, pretty much all second choice distributions were kinda evenly spread across the field. The only standout first choice-second choice pairings were Sanders-Warren and Biden-Bloomberg. But even among those pairings the second choice preference were only a weak pluralities, not a majority as you might expect if voters were choosing on policies and ideologies.
https://morningconsult.com/2020-democratic-primary/
Ricky got his implant! So happy for him :_
And BIG thank you to the anonymous donor x
https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2020/03/living-in-silence/
My brother got a cochlear implant about 8 years ago; it transformed his life. I remember sitting at lunch with him one day, and when I grabbed a biscuit from it's packet, he winces and says "I never knew a plastic bag could be so damned noisy!"
Not a lot of people know they were invented and developed here in Brisbane; one of the really good things Australia has done for the world.
There is some controversy in the deaf community about the way the cochlear implant disrupts their rather remarkably vibrant and interesting community, but on the whole most people who get one don’t hand them back in. I’m not sure if funding is the big limitation, or patient suitability around a greater uptake. They aren’t cheap and the follow up adjustments and maintenance require skill techies to get right … but it is certainly incredibly good value for money from a purely expenditure pov.
Funding. And our thanks to Aus for wi-fi as well.
You would think that this close to Super Tuesday that candidates would make their decision after Tuesday, not a couple of days before. Buttigeig and Klobuchar must think it essential that their voters are freed to make other choices. However Buttigeig did not indicate who that person should be.
So it is fundamentally down to Sanders and Biden. Warren and Bloomberg have no chance.
Naturally Standardnistas will prefer Sanders. But I reckon Trump would beat Sanders in most circumstances. Of course Trump might also beat Biden, especially if Biden preformed badly in the debates.
As always, there's Congress to consider as well. I think it's entirely plausible that Sanders could win election to the Oval Office entirely out of disgust with Darth Drumpf, but there would also be a resurgence in split-ticket voting to ensure the Senate and maybe even the House would be in Repug hands. Specifically to tie Bernie's hands.
Not quite sure what you are talking about here pal…" Naturally Standardnistas will prefer Sanders. But I reckon Trump would beat Sanders in most circumstances. Of course Trump might also beat Biden, especially if Biden preformed badly in the debates."
1. Sanders has been showing he beats Trump in nearly all nation wide polls for at least 12 months..
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_sanders-6250.html
2. Biden under most circumstances can't string a coherent sentence together and often looks like a deer caught in the headlights on stage..against Trump (really!) you can't deny he is a very good off the cuff debater, will in short order make Biden look lie the senile old man that he actually is.
I would put up links od Biden displaying obvious signs of senility, but why bother, anyone with even the slightest bit of self honestly would be aware of this sad fact already.
Trump – Biden would be a competition between two quite inarticulate people. Sanders can at least string an argument together, although that may not help win debates for him.
Personally I wouldn't write off trump so dismissively, have you actually watched some of his full off the cuff interviews or speeches, and not just the sound bites feed to us by our liberal media?
I have and I can tell you he can be really funny, super quick witted and play an audience like a pro.
Only a fool underestimates the strength of their enemy.
Yes, careless word, I agree. He has smart repartee honed down well. He's just so random at times when he is unscripted that you wonder if he knows what he's saying next. But for sure when there is an audience he changes gear. He's playing to his base in most of these situations. In fact in debates he's framing responses with his base in mind all the time when there are cameras present. That's what makes him so cunning. Yesterday I watched one of his 2020 election adverts, a full 5 minutes. It was chilling – very effective; railing against the same elite he’s part of, yet making himself sound like a champion for the other 99%
And that's why Bernie is the only contender who could match him in debates in my opinion. He's the legitimate caretaker of the 99% not the fake.
Yes I completely agree that Sanders is the only one who could best him in a debate, however what I am not sure about is whether the establishment DNC/Media would not rather lose to Trump than win with Sanders, the equivalent centrist liberals in the UK showed that that is an option they are prepared to take to defend their liberal ideology and power structures.
How great that the American President is really funny, super quick witted and plays an audience like a pro.
How sad the qualities a country and the world needs from an American President are not those ones.
Of course, that goes without saying.
Ditching just before Super Tuesday is maximises the favours you get from the winner, especially if you endorse the candidate who wins. If you're sure you're not going to get anywhere, bowing out with grace means people still like you. Cabinet posts, party posts, funding for other campaigns, that sort of thing.
The trick is to maximise your benefit to them – bow out too early, you were a timewasting nobody. Bow out too late, you were an arsehole who harmed the winner by delaying the inevitable and running a damaging campaign.
Bloomberg will probably ditch after ST, if he gets pummelled enough. Sure, he's set aside $Xbillion for the campaign regardless, but I reckon even he knows he's screwed. It just needs to be spelled out for him clearly.
You could be right, it is looking a lot like the DNC party faithful are circling the wagons around Biden at the expense of Bloomberg..man the whole centrist thing has turned into a real freak show, it would be quite funny to watch if the stakes for the rest of the world weren't so high.
Biden was always the safe option – lifelong democrat, strongly associated with their previous successful president.
However, Jeb Bush started in a similar position.
Bloomberg basically makes no bones about substituting popular support for cash. I think he's discovered the limit of the hubris of wealth, and fundamentally misunderstood why dolt45 got the nom in 2016.
.."However, Jeb Bush started in a similar position." yeah and Bush wasn't obviously suffering from some sort of age related mental deterioration, which bizarrely (sort of like the kings new clothes) no one in the US media wants to tackle out right…like I said earlier, the moderate DNC runners are starting to look like a real freak show….but then I guess it's anyone but Bernie at this point for them…they would probably run a dead dog now if push came to shove!
I'd never vote for him in a primary, but I'd trust Biden's recollections and perceptions over yours any day of the week.
Man what a weird reply, I mean what the fuck has that got to do with anything I said?, are you saying that you can't see that Biden is obviously suffering some sort of age related cognitive deterioration?
You should think before you type maybe, or are you like Trump..just operating straight from your lizard brain, well that is what that reply reads like anyway.
I'm saying exactly that. Is he the sharpest tack in the box? Possibly not. Is he suffering from any defect other than being in the public eye for maybe twelve hours a day during a pretty tough campaign road trip? Possibly not.
But, and let me be clear on this, even if I thought Biden were suffering from some for of long term cognitive impairment, I'd still trust Biden's recollections and perceptions over yours any day of the week.
Wow that is actually quite amazing to me that you can't see something so obvious, but maybe you haven't had much to do with old people?….anyway I can tell you this, I spend about five years travelling around New Zealand tracking down old cycle racers and interviewing them.
The age group ranged from about 65-95 yo, over that time I became very familiar with the different stages of mental deterioration in old men, and I can tell you with 100% certainty that Biden is not in good mental shape.
In fact two of my friends I made over those years have only recently passed away, both from dementia, a very sad condition thats for sure.
BTW I have no idea why you keep keep on saying "I'd still trust Biden's recollections and perceptions over yours any day of the week." grow up man, can't we have a serious conversation without dropping that kind of stupid shit into it?…why do that?
Aren't you the guy that posted just a day or two ago about how articulate and witty Don Dementia is?
Y'know, the dude that comes out with stuff like this when asked about a coronavirus response:
edit: also https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/20/as-a-foreign-reporter-visiting-the-us-i-was-stunned-by-trumps-press-conference
I don't care what experience you think you have.
You're making shit up based on media reports in a pretty hard campaign that's only going to get worse. I get that you don't like Biden, but either you know you're going out on a limb with your diagnosis or you have so much cognitive bias you genuinely can't imagine why someone might not see any basis for your assessment. Either way, I'd believe him over you.
Why make it personal? You made it personal when you chose to use something that affects many people and their families just for some interwebs pointscoring. And I'm really, really toning it down.
Edit: yeah, I say shit about dolt45. He’s a bullshitter. What I tend to avoid is diagnosing him and then finding it incomprehensible that someone might disagree with my internet reckons. That’s what you did in this thread.
That reply, with all it implies, is disappointingly personal. 'Smart' and 'blinkered' are not mutually exclusive.
OK, change "Biden" to "Sanders" in the previous few comments and then look at who is "blinkered".
"Blinkered is as blinkered does."
I certainly can see Buttigeig being Secretary of State in a Biden administration. And that could position him well in a future presidential contest.
Buttigieg as Secretary of State? What do you see in his background and qualifications that would make him suitable for that?
About the only thing even vaguely foreign-policy related I'm aware of is his tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Getting the Job Done
Just grabbing a moment while Gosman is not hogging a hundred lines or two,
I am amazed at how many homes have been built – and are being built – between Wellington and Northland.
The normal Kiwis have set about meeting the housing crisis from the moment the present Government opened for business. Merely two years past.
Sir John Key built ONE SINGLE HOUSE in his nine years of flag mongering. Sir William English built nothing other than attending to his southland sooky staff.
During the same period of time Fletchers Ltd, have shat their britches backwards and forwards. As well as setting fire to A Convention Centre. Hopeless.
And Fonterra handed out a fabulous 8.32 Million $ for a year of slow work by a slow Dutchman.
There would have been no Housing crisis if Key and English and the Beautiful Paula had done a bit of work.
Nine lazy dumb years – given to us by Act and Smational.
I have seen some of the (so called) affordable home that have just been built around the corner from me here in Marewa, they are without doubt the shittest looking homes that I have ever seen built in New Zealand, squashed together like sardine cans, I would give them 12-18 months before they look like the ghetto that they will inevitably become…oh yeah and you need to pay $350,000 + interest to have the privilege to own one of those pieces of shit just to add insult to injury.
The irony is that these piece of shit homes are built right beside existing state homes from the 1950's-60's that are only just starting to have their tile roofs replaced after 70 years of service, there is no way these (so called) "affordable houses" will even still be standing in 70 years.
But that is Free market Liberalism for you…always always short-termism , no long term vision what so ever…and to think some people think these same idiots can help stem climate change, what a sad position we now find ourselves in, Labour, whom are pointless and no one really knows what they stand for or believe, but I am supposed to get excited because they are better than National…that's how low the bar is now for Labour, please just be better than the other political party of fucking psychopaths..
Yes, this race-to-the-bottom, market driven, housing shenanagins is the best argument for a reboot of Ministry of Works.
Have the state build and manage housing stock.
Makes so much sense, unless there were a bunch of landlords overseeing things…..
Yep you hit the nail right on the head there…."Makes so much sense, unless there were a bunch of landlords overseeing things….."
Klobuchar out and endorsing Biden.
Class: The Little Word the Elites Want You to Forget
Chris Hedges;
"Aristotle, Niccolò Machiavelli, Alexis de Tocqueville, Adam Smith and Karl Marx grounded their philosophies in the understanding that there is a natural antagonism between the rich and the rest of us. The interests of the rich are not our interests. The truths of the rich are not our truths. The lives of the rich are not our lives. Great wealth not only breeds contempt for those who do not have it but it empowers oligarchs to pay armies of lawyers, publicists, politicians, judges, academics and journalists to censure and control public debate and stifle dissent"
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/class-the-little-word-the-elites-want-you-to-forget/
Farrar watch:
David is all over the place today. You could probably count on one hand the times he has used a swear word on his forum over the past 5 years but today he said, "the fucking Prime Minister".
This was because Jacinda Ardern won't sack Shane Jones for racist comments about Indian students.
But then two posts later Farrar uses quotes from Jones with which to attack the government on light rail. He’d forgiven Jones already, or perhaps it was just convenient…
You can't have it both ways, David!
Farrar doesn't want Jones sacked for making racist comments. Farrar doesn't call Jacinda Ardern the 'fucking Prime Minister" because she won't sack Shane Jones for racist comments.
Farrar wants them all sacked and all looking bad because they are in power and National isn't. Using that particular language?
You can count on the fingers of one foot the number of times I've ever used certain language about Farrar. Farrar is just being a fucking drama queen.
Professional gymnast. Whichever way the money and power flow..
Do not build Houses- Implies the great Nationalist Adrian Thornton
He knowingly promotes Act and National – who built nothing! Other than 1 house.
Absolutely nothing. – Key – English – Paula – Each of them Failures.
You are a man of great wealth Adrian – why don't You build great houses. !
Cut the F…ck- and Shit – and yuck. Thanks
[If you address a specific comment, please use the reply button. In any case, you’re barking up the wrong tree and way off the mark with your personal attack. Please tone it down and an apology wouldn’t go astray – Incognito]
Settle down. Adrian is nothing of the sort. Just read his comments better.
See my Moderation note @ 11:38 AM.
Auckland public transport has been a problem for years, and options for 'solving' the problems are not easy to resolve. This is a good article:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119863249/government-splits-three-ways-on-light-rail-as-more-details-emerge-of-dramatic-super-fund-plan
It sets out some of the reasons for the problems (largely the increase in immigrants from the Key/English Government, while doing as little as possible about housing and transport), but I am concerned that the possibility is even being considered of adopting a "PPP" structure for a large project. There have been enough PPPs fall over that it should be a requirement that the government keeps on its books for any PPP a contingent liability with a realistic probability of being called to cover the costs of taking over a project. The article sets out why a PPP is effectively a means to transfer money from government to a private supplier. We have a number of large construction projects to compare; nine years of National treating everything as a means of creating private profit. The expressways have not all been unqualified successes – problems with surfaces mean that work on the Kapiti coast is still continuing. By contrast, the urgent need to restore the coastal highway from Kaikoura to Marlborough happened too quickly for such a heavy contractual process – much of the engineering was worked out as the project developed; much was on a labour and materials basis, and it was much closer to an old MoW type of project contractually; and worked better than most had expected.
If our government cannot afford a project, they can even less afford to borrow at higher cost to pay someone else large profits to do it for us. For Labour to criticise such rorts in future, it is important that they not índulge themselves – a future right wing government would see that as an endorsement by the left for subsidising overseas companies . . ..
Given that COVID-19 spread is unavoidable now & the elderly are going to be hit particularly hard (more likely to be infected / more susceptible to a severe case requiring hospitalisation / and, unfortunately, more likely to die from the disease) …
May be time to start encouraging the over-60s to voluntarily stay at home / "self-isolate" for the next 2 or so months (while ensuring in a well-organised, methodical way that they have enough food & other essential supplies available for this period).
Cut down the number of severe cases / chances of hospitals being overwhelmed / needless death.
At least wait until there is a local outbreak – 2 months in isolation then 6 months of the actual outbreak will drive people batty with cabin fever, if they're used to getting out and about.
.
Already seeing the very early stages of an outbreak here … hate to say it but we might expect the first death to occur in 3-4 weeks time (based on the average days elapsed between first confirmed case-to- first death in those Countries that have already experienced an outbreak) … will probably reach a peak somewhere between mid-April & mid-May – the point when hospitals / medical services / supplies are in greatest danger of being overwhelmed … unless we can slow its progress with far more urgent & decisive action than we've seen to date.
People with the virus are highly infectious during the initial 1-2 week pre-symptomatic stage + 80% go on to experience relatively mild symptoms (a segment will be completely asymptomatic) = silent spread going on as we speak. Look at the experience of other Countries … the idea that we only have one or two people infected and that this thing has been fully contained in New Zealand … borders on the ludicrous.
It's the 20% who experience a more severe / acute illness that we need to worry about … and they are disproportionately older & (or) have co-morbidities like diabetes, chronic lung disease, hypertension & heart disease. It could be that the outbreak only becomes fully visible when unusually large numbers of (mainly older) people start presenting to hospitals with acute respiratory distress syndrome. It won't take much for hospitals to be overwhelmed & unable to cope with demand … & then we'll see much greater mortality.
Western Countries in general have been far too lackadaisical … reactive rather than proactive. The complete lack of foresight & urgency has been astonishing to witness.
That medical services would be easily overwhelmed is apparent but the question remains what is the alternative expectation?
There is no realistic chance of excluding this new virus from NZ even if we attempted a full lockdown of the border, which would itself cause far more social and health problems than the virus….it will run its course. we will do what we can and yes, some will likely die…as happens every day.
Governments (or the human race) are (is) not omnipotent despite what we like to believe.
The concern has to be more than just age, surely?
What are the factors that put some people at more risk of 'needless death' from this virus?
"More likely". How much more? And why?
Has Grey Power responded to these recent events?
Have gerontologists or geriatricians pronounced?
Medical scientist with a background in developing anti-viral drugs.
This is a 30 minute video. Any written responses which can be re-read, excerpted, and are edited for unnecessary wording?
In 30 minutes I can read chapters of books. Videos are a less than satisfactory source of information.
Thanks, though.
I've been following this site.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-sex-demographics/
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/
Thanks, joe90. The age range and the comorbidity factors make more sense than a blanket elderly prognosis. More males die as they smoke more. Comorbidity factors of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, acute respiratory problems, hypertension, all are at play. And age has its weight, but then I wonder how many of these factors also are more prevalent with age. So, thanks again.
High Risk COVID-19 Demographics (for infection / severe or acute form / death):
Older (over 60 … & esp over 80)
Co-morbidities like diabetes, chronic lung disease, hypertension & heart disease.
Male (not for initial infection but possibly for severe form & death … appears to be roughly 60/40 M vs F)
Smoker (possibly)
I mean, the odds are still clearly in favour of a good outcome for those in these demographics infected with the virus – I don't want to alarm anyone – but, as you might expect, a larger minority will experience poorer outcomes compared to younger / healthier cohorts.
Note: By "needless death" … I simply meant lives that would otherwise be saved if hospitals (under the potential scenario discussed) weren't suddenly overwhelmed with demand.
Bear in mind that gender ratio might be skewed by Chinese population demographics.
All things considered, the M/F population is remarkably balanced for over 50s in China. It's the younger generations that got unbalanced by their vicious policies.
https://www.populationpyramid.net/china/2019/
Yet another example of why the change of government really mattered …
Pregnant women no longer criminals in NZ – another step closer
It's not only about votes in Parliament. It's about setting the agenda.
PMs English and Bridges would never have gone there.
Yeah, compared to them Key was bold. He was inspirational, he was a true leader. He went to the flag.
Well I hope this guy gets a hefty sentence. What a cruel bastard.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12313564
To: Adrian Thornton
It has been suggested that I should apologise to you for my comment in which I raised the big rise in Housing in the past two years.
You were of the view that the new houses where you have been and seen are "Fucking Shit" and will not survive for very long.
I do apolologise for offending you in any way that I did. I did draw attention to the fact that the National Government did not build but one house in nine years of Office.
I withdraw my idea that you might care to build a really good house. I apologise for that too.
Finally, I was Banned by Incognito for a whole six months and I am out of touch. Prior to that Ban my record was not perfect, but well enough received.
As I see it – Building Houses now is much more imperative right now – than chatting about Housing built many decades ago.
Please advise me if that is wrongful. May I repeat my Apology and withdraw any thing that offended you.
Nice work, OT.
I'm not much of an apologiser so you've done better than I would have been able to.
Thanks Muttonbird.
I appreciate your "here and now" sense of reality.
As for me, I did try to practice walking on egg shells during my Banning, while the Standard flew across the Seven Oceans, and across every Nation of the Globe – as well as the great Great possessions of the Trump Organ.
For me – I like The Standard to work through the "here and now" of New Zealand needs and Targets.
Weka – seems to me to keep close to what we can do – and how we might better achieve our Targets. A recent NZ Farming Article was very good.
Doing something for the sake of it….the markets further demonstrate their irrationality
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/03/reserve-bank-of-australia-cuts-interest-rates-to-record-low-05-amid-coronavirus-concerns
Covid 19 impacts will not be addressed by a rate cut….it is a supply issue
Inquiry into the Treasury’s Budget related Information Security Systems
Finding summary: the 2019 Budget leak was 100% Treasury's fault.
"When what has occurred is revealed, Grant Robertson will need to resign." (Simon Bridges, May 28).
Hello? Simon? Still there? Hello? Why the silence now?
Opposition 101: If you shout "Resign", you should really mean it. Otherwise you just spend your credibility for no gain.
Simon's homework: read Boy Who Cried Wolf.
You're right, Grant Robertson looks bloody silly now
So why aren't National demanding he resign?
Stupid then, or wrong now, take your pick.