While more and more damaging information on Bloombergs past (and present) keeps surfacing, the media and DNC soft pedal on their coverage or critique of him..wonder why?, I suspect it is because as it turns out (if you hadn't worked this out already) liberal centrists in both the media and the establishment DNC care more about maintaining their power and stature and privilege than they do about rising to a supposed higher moral ground or fighting so called foreign interference or for that matter any other attack they have rightly leveled at Trump..yes, as it turns out, as soon as they found their own Trump in the disgusting form of Bloomberg, they are fine with all the shit that make Trump supposedly so dangerous…and in my opinion far more dangerous…
Here's the thing about the centre and especially the liberal centre, they tried to tell us they were post ideology, but we know that was a complete fantasy on their part…but what they have proved beyond a doubt is they are post operating within a moral or ethical framework of any kind.
Howdy BG, that is exactly my point, the so called centre left liberals have moved so far right that they can no longer be regarded as being the self described moderates that they sell themselves as, no they are extremists who have shown that they will defend their ideology at any cost.
If following Corbyn's plight hasn't made that plainly clear, then surely following the democratic primaries has, especially now Bloomberg is in the mix.
It's a simple and obvious truth, almost no-one regards themselves as unreasonable, extreme or evil … no matter what we believe or do. And yes it applies to myself as much as anyone.
Warren for the primary. Then whoever is the Dem nominee for the general, even if it's Biden or Bloomberg. Though if it's either of those two, I'll need my full hazmat suit and a serious drinking sesh before ticking the box, dropping it in the envelope and mailing it off.
I've got no problem with just about anything Bernie would try to do as prez. I'm just doubtful he'll actually be able to achieve any of it. Because he has achieved astonishingly little for his decades in Washington, has demonstrated zero ability to put together a coalition to hash out a compromise on legislation that needs a majority in the House and 60 senators to pass.
If Bernie is the Dem nominee, disgust with the Tangerine Palpatine may be enough to get him into the Oval Office. But there will be a lot of voters that will then go on to tick the local Repug for House and Senate, specifically to be a handbrake on Bernie.
Whereas a Dem nominee whose positions are a bit closer to the top of the normal distribution on most issues may actually end up with a House and Senate that is willing to pass something. Or at least a simple majority in the Senate, to be able to confirm judges and Cabinet posts.
I don't think many commentators here actually understand the complexities of US politics. I think if Bernie is to be the successful Democrat nominee, then much will depend on whom he chooses as his running mate. Trump for instance chose Pence to successfully win the backing of the white religious right, and they will remain faithful to the tangerine dick, as long as he continues to trample over the rights of women, latinos, blacks and muslim; notwithstanding the fact that he is the most corrupt person to have ever been appointed to the office.
There are promising signs, that with the right person running, it might be possible for Democrats to win a majority in the Senate. Susan Collins for instance is now vulnerable in Maine – despite the fact that she won a sizeable majority at her last election.
I do think that the events over the past few weeks are slowly beginning to sink into the consciousness of some, if not all, American voters that their democracy, if not already trashed, is seriously under threat right now. And the blame will certainly land on Republican Senators who abysmally failed to uphold their duty of office.
Bernie is polling 9% ahead of Trump inhead to head……shame Warren lost credibility because she suggested taxes would have to rise to pay for universal health care. Sounds like a bargain to me.
The Dems need to net a minimum of 3 seats in the senate to do anything.
Doug Jones is a real long-shot to keep his Alabama seat.
Cory Gardner (CO) and Susan Collins (ME) look vulnerable, but even if those flip, 2 more are needed.
With Bernie as the nominee, which senate seats do you think the Dems will flip? Thom Tillis (NC)? Joni Ernst (IA)? Either of the Georgia seats? Martha McSally (AZ)? John Cornyn (TX)? Either of the Georgia seats?
Beyond those, it really gets into wild fantasy, like flipping Moscow Mitch's KY seat, of Lindsey Graham (SC). Or Tennessee or Montana.
Just supposing it's Jeff Sessions. As far as Trump is concerned he is not a patch on his current head poodle in the DOJ. Well will have to wait and see on 3 March. 🙂
@ Red Logic, 'Pretty much everyone regards their own position as reasonable and moderate' I know that you are saying that in good faith, but I just don't agree with holding that view, I think that advocating that position is a copout…by extension you could say that Pol Pot regarded their position as reasonable etc.
It is high time that we as progressives (as they are doing in the US and UK) say our ideology is right (for this time and space in history) and the Right (and centrists) have had their turn and failed, their ideology just plainly dosen't work for most of the humans on the planet or for that matter the planet either..end of story, so get the hell out of our way!
by extension you could say that Pol Pot regarded their position as reasonable etc.
And that was precisely my point; they almost certainly did. As did any of history's monsters. As Andre said, self-awareness is a rare and fleeting thing.
And your argument would be much more persuasive if so called 'progressives' had a better track record. Not all new ideas are good ones, some like marxism turn out to be utter catastrophes.
their ideology just plainly dosen't work for most of the humans on the planet or for that matter the planet either
Yet even the most cursory comparison with how people lived 200 years ago demonstrates that most humans on the planet are a lot better off. Of course the world isn't perfect, but you have to ask 'compared to what?'
And demanding that the 50% of the human race who identify as conservative to STFU, is not a stable basis on which to introduce enduring and constructive change. You are going to have to work with them, and learn to frame your ideas in terms they understand and can live with. Indeed the best way to get a conservative on board with a progressive idea is to show them how to make a buck at it.
well, pol pot and hitler might have conceded that their positions were extreme (because the measures they took were extreme compared to what most people would have considered). But I suspect both thought their positions were logical and reasonable. And they might well have regarded everyone else as being grossly negligent, and their measures weren't as far as they could have gone and therefore they were "moderate" by that measure.
But I don't know anyone who's gone "my beliefs are extreme and unreasonable, I recognise this, but that's how I vote".
Whenever I take one of those "Political Compass" type quizzes, I always end up near the edge of the map, with the line from my spot to the centre passing close by the Greens. And the Greens' support is generally a mere single digit.
So I'm well aware my actual political views are extreme in comparison to the general population. But I'm not interested in convincing anyone of the purity of my thought. I'm interested in progress towards what I believe in, no matter how small. And I'm particularly disappointed when power is held by those that want to move in a direction opposite to my beliefs. So I support whomever is closest to my position that actually has a decent chance of gaining and exercising power.
Same here; I always end up close to the left hand edge on the economic axis, but fairly midway on the authoritarian/libertarian axis. Like you I realise this makes me a real outlier and while I am comfortable in my own skin about this, it also means as you put it well 'I don't have to convince anyone of the purity of my thought'.
And certainly I cannot claim any privilege to force my views on anyone.
The bugger of it is, sometimes it means I feel the need to choke down a large dead rat and support someone that actually wants to move a bit in the opposite direction to my beliefs.
That happens when the only other alternative wants to move hard and fast in the opposite direction to my beliefs. I'm really not looking forward to that huge serving of week-dead roadkill rat in November, served up by Biden or Bloomberg.
Looked into basalt fibres a few times. But every time there was a grade of glass or polymer fibre that was a better fit for the application.
For compatibility with steel, IIRC there's some very specific chemical environments where basalt works a bit better than glass. But generally glass is inert enough there's not a significant difference.Further comments really need to be specific to what properties need to be compatible with steel, some are close (eg thermal expansion), some are way off (eg modulus, strain to failure).
If toughness is a major criteria, my first impulse is that S2-glass is likely to be better, unless it's in one of those specific chemical environmnents where basalt shines.
Marine. The thermal expansion compatibility and toughness was what took my attention, plus the low permeability. I need about 20kg of epoxy based fairing compound to go over an epoxy primer on clean steel, then topped by more epoxy high build and then urethane. Flake looks the right fit, but I can't find an Australian source and I was wondering if it would be worth importing.
Given the relatively small scale of this experiment I'm not sensitive to cost … but thanks for the sanity check.
If were ever to step into the world of pain involved in trying to fair something using epoxy loaded up with milled fiber, I'd just use whatever the local composites supplier had. The tiny extra performance from basalt in an application like that will make negligible difference in final performance.
But I would be super careful to understand the epoxy involved to be sure it was a good choice.
And I'd be super careful to finish the glass-filled fairing below the final surface and skim with something nice and easy to sand. I really wouldn't enjoy trying to sand back a heavily fiber-filled fairing compound. But then, I'm seriously lazy.
The UK and US elections are a real world demonstration of “hegemony” aka pervasive dominance.
Neo liberalism is maintained by ideological force inclusive of media and psychology, as much as by state force in Western style countries. Associated consumerism and hyper individualism foster the familiar “dog eat dog” approach to most areas of life, that make it harder to organise and involve people in public affairs.
Bloomberg’s “me me me” spend millions campaign vs Bernie’s street by street organising could not be a clearer contrast.
Agree. Brexit queered the pitch big time. With hindsight the least worst solution was there all along–Labour would respect and implement the Brexit Referendum vote diligently, and implement its domestic manifesto too.
Recent erosion rate ~2m/yr (Google Earth images over ~7.5 years)
Width of camp to base of old sea cliff ~40m
So, ~20 years at current rate (although camp would be unusable before that)
But, as you say say, increase in storms (due to more energy in the system) + sea level. So likely increase in erosion rate (assuming no increase in sediment supply). Something like a cliff collaspe south of the camp might temporarily halt or reverse erosion as longshore drift goes northward.
Yup … absolutely godawful. I try to hold back from any ME threads because I'm aware of the utter impossibility of any positive outcomes under the current conditions. Anything anyone does or doesn't do is pretty much damned from the outset by intractable positions and reductionist arguments.
I feel terrible for the people in this story, but I personally believe this is a tragedy with roots beyond human comprehension, and it's climax is nowhere in sight.
I've visited Syria under Bashar. From that experience, I'm firmly of the view he is a thoroughly nasty POS. When there was an uprising of locals wanting to rid themselves of him, they deserved the support of everyone that values human rights and a people's right to self-determination.
But fuck, when assorted outside powers saw the opportunity for a willy-waving proxy war, and local evil opportunists saw openings to push their own twisted agendas, it pretty quickly became very difficult to work out where one's sympathies should lie.
But one thing remained constant, labeling all the opposition to Assad as "headchoppers" was always a simple smear that only served the propaganda pushed by liars on the side that was initially clearly in the wrong.
Thanks for that. I realise that visiting a country doesn't make anyone any kind of expert, but it does create a connection and a sense of place and history that is worth listening to.
In the 80's I spent considerable time as a visitor to a number of marae, but notably this one near Taumaranui. My grandfather is Ngati Porou. When we lived in Masterton we saw much of what Ward writes about first hand. Everything he is saying is based in a grim reality that is impossible to deny.
I totally agree with his conclusion, until people are willing to take some responsibility for their choices it is impossible to help them.
At the same time I'm still willing to accept that people's bad choices don't arise in a vacuum. History does matter in that it creates context.
Two perspectives that I believe are both valid and essential. Reductionist arguments that exclude one or the other are the barrier to progress …
If this leads to hapu taking ownership of the problems then I'd support it. Of course there will be some who will take this self determination and attempt to parlay it into separatism, but that's another question.
I think the idea that the govt (any govt) can solve social issues (not sure if thats the correct term) is one of the biggest barriers to overcome
The govt can set the agenda, can set policies, can create (or destroy) jobs etc etc but in the end its family, whanau, community etc etc that will have a greater effect in stopping (well not stopping because it'll never end) this
Yes. Helping people is incredibly hard, it's more likely to compound the problem than help if you blunder in with 'one size fits all' solutions as govts are bound to try.
Family is always the most intimate, powerful influence on us all … for good or bad.
Well well well Puck. I agree with you for once. I guess though that Governments can set up a society that values everyone no matter who or where but the essence of the National tribe is stated as everyone for themselves. If you ain't one of them it is because you are lazy. (An elderly friend of mine is a staunch National man yet he does so much for others including creating a growing inclusive rugby club to cater for young people where they just play the game for fun.)
It is a nebulous idea but to declare a wish for people to help others and value kindness might have better results than the above self centred ones.
Hone Harawira was the last MP to seriously push “Feed the Kids”, well done Hone! and now Labour via the coalition Govt. have actually started a $45mill year 1-8 lunch trial.
So why are they not trumpeting this fact. Embarrassment that it is necessary at all? don’t be whakama Labour–Scandinavian countries provide nutritious meals to their school children. It is wise spending.
National by various accounts, and the evidence on social media, has a number of IT people polluting online forums with reactionary nonsense, so why cannot the Govt just issue announcements about positive things it has done?
I am as critical as anyone on the Labour Caucus support for the neo liberal consensus that has essentially frozen political progress in time, around the early 2000s, but fer crissakes I still support necessary reforms and people should perhaps be told about them?
Wonder if Assange's beaks are going to offer evidence to back this claim.
Donald Trump offered Julian Assange a pardon if he would say Russia was not involved in leaking Democratic party emails, a court in London has been told.
The extraordinary claim was made at Westminster magistrates court before the opening next week of Assange’s legal battle to block attempts to extradite him to the US, where he faces charges for publishing hacked documents. The allegation was denied by the former Republican congressman named by the Assange legal team as a key witness.
Assange’s lawyers alleged that during a visit to London in August 2017, congressman Dana Rohrabacher told the WikiLeaks founder that “on instructions from the president, he was offering a pardon or some other way out, if Mr Assange … said Russia had nothing to do with the DNC [Democratic National Committee] leaks.”
The argument being made by the Assange team is that the request for extradition by the US is entirely political in nature, and because of that, it should not be proceeded with. By presenting this fact of a possible pardon should Assange produce a hard drive or some other such device that showed that the hack of Clinton's emails was not done by the Russians 😉 then that would relieve a monkey off of T's back – and we know how sensitive he is to that accusation of collusion with his mate Vlad.
The statement was made by a Edward Fitzgerald QC in court. The code of conduct to which he has sworn includes:
“you must not knowingly or recklessly mislead or attempt to mislead the court. That includes not making a submission or representation which you know is untrue or misleading.”
Over the past few days we have seen that T is open to giving his friends a free pass from jail in return for some quid pro quo. So it is extremely likely that despite the efforts at the time of the "adult in the WH", John Kelly, to prevent such an offer being made, it would not be surprising if it was.
Anyone else just watch the live evisceration of Bloomberg in the debate (on MSNBC).
They called him out to release women in non-disclosure agreements to freely speak, and he wouldn't do it. He could barely get a word and dropped the ball every time he was handed it. It's half time and second half about to commence.
Yeah – I've have heard that come Super Tuesday the berg will have melted away by then. Here is hoping . Having said that I'm also hoping that he honours his promise to fund the advertising for the successful nominee. Some of his ads so far have been hugely hard hitting and very successful in reaching the target audience
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 ...
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Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
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Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
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When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
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While more and more damaging information on Bloombergs past (and present) keeps surfacing, the media and DNC soft pedal on their coverage or critique of him..wonder why?, I suspect it is because as it turns out (if you hadn't worked this out already) liberal centrists in both the media and the establishment DNC care more about maintaining their power and stature and privilege than they do about rising to a supposed higher moral ground or fighting so called foreign interference or for that matter any other attack they have rightly leveled at Trump..yes, as it turns out, as soon as they found their own Trump in the disgusting form of Bloomberg, they are fine with all the shit that make Trump supposedly so dangerous…and in my opinion far more dangerous…
Here's the thing about the centre and especially the liberal centre, they tried to tell us they were post ideology, but we know that was a complete fantasy on their part…but what they have proved beyond a doubt is they are post operating within a moral or ethical framework of any kind.
To call them "centrists" is a stretch A.T.-I suggest that Bloomberg is to the Right of Soimon's party in NZ.
Howdy BG, that is exactly my point, the so called centre left liberals have moved so far right that they can no longer be regarded as being the self described moderates that they sell themselves as, no they are extremists who have shown that they will defend their ideology at any cost.
If following Corbyn's plight hasn't made that plainly clear, then surely following the democratic primaries has, especially now Bloomberg is in the mix.
Pretty much everyone regards their own position as reasonable and moderate …
heh, speak for yourself…
It's a simple and obvious truth, almost no-one regards themselves as unreasonable, extreme or evil … no matter what we believe or do. And yes it applies to myself as much as anyone.
True self-awareness is such a rare and fleeting thing. Projection, on the other hand …
When will you be posting that your voting for Trump this year? Just waiting for that Bernie nomination?
Warren for the primary. Then whoever is the Dem nominee for the general, even if it's Biden or Bloomberg. Though if it's either of those two, I'll need my full hazmat suit and a serious drinking sesh before ticking the box, dropping it in the envelope and mailing it off.
I've got no problem with just about anything Bernie would try to do as prez. I'm just doubtful he'll actually be able to achieve any of it. Because he has achieved astonishingly little for his decades in Washington, has demonstrated zero ability to put together a coalition to hash out a compromise on legislation that needs a majority in the House and 60 senators to pass.
If Bernie is the Dem nominee, disgust with the Tangerine Palpatine may be enough to get him into the Oval Office. But there will be a lot of voters that will then go on to tick the local Repug for House and Senate, specifically to be a handbrake on Bernie.
Whereas a Dem nominee whose positions are a bit closer to the top of the normal distribution on most issues may actually end up with a House and Senate that is willing to pass something. Or at least a simple majority in the Senate, to be able to confirm judges and Cabinet posts.
Exactly.
I don't think many commentators here actually understand the complexities of US politics. I think if Bernie is to be the successful Democrat nominee, then much will depend on whom he chooses as his running mate. Trump for instance chose Pence to successfully win the backing of the white religious right, and they will remain faithful to the tangerine dick, as long as he continues to trample over the rights of women, latinos, blacks and muslim; notwithstanding the fact that he is the most corrupt person to have ever been appointed to the office.
There are promising signs, that with the right person running, it might be possible for Democrats to win a majority in the Senate. Susan Collins for instance is now vulnerable in Maine – despite the fact that she won a sizeable majority at her last election.
https://www.newsweek.com/republican-susan-collins-democratic-challenger-holds-slim-lead-2020-maine-senate-race-new-poll-1488122
I do think that the events over the past few weeks are slowly beginning to sink into the consciousness of some, if not all, American voters that their democracy, if not already trashed, is seriously under threat right now. And the blame will certainly land on Republican Senators who abysmally failed to uphold their duty of office.
Bernie is polling 9% ahead of Trump inhead to head……shame Warren lost credibility because she suggested taxes would have to rise to pay for universal health care. Sounds like a bargain to me.
The Dems need to net a minimum of 3 seats in the senate to do anything.
Doug Jones is a real long-shot to keep his Alabama seat.
Cory Gardner (CO) and Susan Collins (ME) look vulnerable, but even if those flip, 2 more are needed.
With Bernie as the nominee, which senate seats do you think the Dems will flip? Thom Tillis (NC)? Joni Ernst (IA)? Either of the Georgia seats? Martha McSally (AZ)? John Cornyn (TX)? Either of the Georgia seats?
Beyond those, it really gets into wild fantasy, like flipping Moscow Mitch's KY seat, of Lindsey Graham (SC). Or Tennessee or Montana.
The democrats should adopt the slogan, the Democratic party, well be the resistance when we finally get control of all branches of government.
It's an all in arm wrestle as who is to be the repugnant nominee in Alabama though.
Just supposing it's Jeff Sessions. As far as Trump is concerned he is not a patch on his current head poodle in the DOJ. Well will have to wait and see on 3 March. 🙂
Agreed Andre. I have seen polls on 538 that say the Republicans will hold on to the Senate.
@ Red Logic, 'Pretty much everyone regards their own position as reasonable and moderate' I know that you are saying that in good faith, but I just don't agree with holding that view, I think that advocating that position is a copout…by extension you could say that Pol Pot regarded their position as reasonable etc.
It is high time that we as progressives (as they are doing in the US and UK) say our ideology is right (for this time and space in history) and the Right (and centrists) have had their turn and failed, their ideology just plainly dosen't work for most of the humans on the planet or for that matter the planet either..end of story, so get the hell out of our way!
by extension you could say that Pol Pot regarded their position as reasonable etc.
And that was precisely my point; they almost certainly did. As did any of history's monsters. As Andre said, self-awareness is a rare and fleeting thing.
And your argument would be much more persuasive if so called 'progressives' had a better track record. Not all new ideas are good ones, some like marxism turn out to be utter catastrophes.
their ideology just plainly dosen't work for most of the humans on the planet or for that matter the planet either
Yet even the most cursory comparison with how people lived 200 years ago demonstrates that most humans on the planet are a lot better off. Of course the world isn't perfect, but you have to ask 'compared to what?'
And demanding that the 50% of the human race who identify as conservative to STFU, is not a stable basis on which to introduce enduring and constructive change. You are going to have to work with them, and learn to frame your ideas in terms they understand and can live with. Indeed the best way to get a conservative on board with a progressive idea is to show them how to make a buck at it.
well, pol pot and hitler might have conceded that their positions were extreme (because the measures they took were extreme compared to what most people would have considered). But I suspect both thought their positions were logical and reasonable. And they might well have regarded everyone else as being grossly negligent, and their measures weren't as far as they could have gone and therefore they were "moderate" by that measure.
But I don't know anyone who's gone "my beliefs are extreme and unreasonable, I recognise this, but that's how I vote".
Whenever I take one of those "Political Compass" type quizzes, I always end up near the edge of the map, with the line from my spot to the centre passing close by the Greens. And the Greens' support is generally a mere single digit.
So I'm well aware my actual political views are extreme in comparison to the general population. But I'm not interested in convincing anyone of the purity of my thought. I'm interested in progress towards what I believe in, no matter how small. And I'm particularly disappointed when power is held by those that want to move in a direction opposite to my beliefs. So I support whomever is closest to my position that actually has a decent chance of gaining and exercising power.
Same here; I always end up close to the left hand edge on the economic axis, but fairly midway on the authoritarian/libertarian axis. Like you I realise this makes me a real outlier and while I am comfortable in my own skin about this, it also means as you put it well 'I don't have to convince anyone of the purity of my thought'.
And certainly I cannot claim any privilege to force my views on anyone.
The bugger of it is, sometimes it means I feel the need to choke down a large dead rat and support someone that actually wants to move a bit in the opposite direction to my beliefs.
That happens when the only other alternative wants to move hard and fast in the opposite direction to my beliefs. I'm really not looking forward to that huge serving of week-dead roadkill rat in November, served up by Biden or Bloomberg.
Total off topic. Have you any experience with Epoxy/Basalt composites?
Specifically I'm looking to optimise toughness and compatibility with steel.
Venn diagram says it all.
Looked into basalt fibres a few times. But every time there was a grade of glass or polymer fibre that was a better fit for the application.
For compatibility with steel, IIRC there's some very specific chemical environments where basalt works a bit better than glass. But generally glass is inert enough there's not a significant difference.Further comments really need to be specific to what properties need to be compatible with steel, some are close (eg thermal expansion), some are way off (eg modulus, strain to failure).
If toughness is a major criteria, my first impulse is that S2-glass is likely to be better, unless it's in one of those specific chemical environmnents where basalt shines.
Marine. The thermal expansion compatibility and toughness was what took my attention, plus the low permeability. I need about 20kg of epoxy based fairing compound to go over an epoxy primer on clean steel, then topped by more epoxy high build and then urethane. Flake looks the right fit, but I can't find an Australian source and I was wondering if it would be worth importing.
Given the relatively small scale of this experiment I'm not sensitive to cost … but thanks for the sanity check.
Cheers.
If were ever to step into the world of pain involved in trying to fair something using epoxy loaded up with milled fiber, I'd just use whatever the local composites supplier had. The tiny extra performance from basalt in an application like that will make negligible difference in final performance.
But I would be super careful to understand the epoxy involved to be sure it was a good choice.
And I'd be super careful to finish the glass-filled fairing below the final surface and skim with something nice and easy to sand. I really wouldn't enjoy trying to sand back a heavily fiber-filled fairing compound. But then, I'm seriously lazy.
lol … indeed. That's why I was planning on a generous layer of HB sandable epoxy. But yes you are probably right.
The UK and US elections are a real world demonstration of “hegemony” aka pervasive dominance.
Neo liberalism is maintained by ideological force inclusive of media and psychology, as much as by state force in Western style countries. Associated consumerism and hyper individualism foster the familiar “dog eat dog” approach to most areas of life, that make it harder to organise and involve people in public affairs.
Bloomberg’s “me me me” spend millions campaign vs Bernie’s street by street organising could not be a clearer contrast.
@Tiger Mountain, exactly right +1
corbyn lost on Brexit….fully 50% of Labour's 2015 pro Brexit vote switched to Bojo in 2017
Agree. Brexit queered the pitch big time. With hindsight the least worst solution was there all along–Labour would respect and implement the Brexit Referendum vote diligently, and implement its domestic manifesto too.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/119630604/classic-kiwi-campground-for-sale-after-owners-pull-out-of-seaside-development
Another coastal campsite up for grabs. Let's hope the government snaps it up and makes it DOC campsite.
It was gutting to see what happened to the Opoutama campsite on the Mahia peninsula a few years back. Such a lost opportunity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duk7OfxOzdU
If we haven't learned enough from that to ensure it doesn't happen again there's something wrong.
In between rising sea levels and likely increased storms, how long do you reckon until that bit of land becomes sea?
Very roughly:
But, as you say say, increase in storms (due to more energy in the system) + sea level. So likely increase in erosion rate (assuming no increase in sediment supply). Something like a cliff collaspe south of the camp might temporarily halt or reverse erosion as longshore drift goes northward.
Not sure its worth the $1.6M…
Every time I get deluded into thinking I might be the nerdiest commenter here, someone comes along to set me straight.
Curiouser and curiouser…
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/lawyer-assange-was-offered-us-pardon-if-he-cleared-russia/ar-BB10aAm7?li=BBqdg4K&ocid=mailsignout
What's happening in Syria now that Asshat and Pootee know their hands are completely free …
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/its-like-the-end-of-the-world/ar-BB109K9J?li=BBqdg4K&ocid=mailsignout
Yup … absolutely godawful. I try to hold back from any ME threads because I'm aware of the utter impossibility of any positive outcomes under the current conditions. Anything anyone does or doesn't do is pretty much damned from the outset by intractable positions and reductionist arguments.
I feel terrible for the people in this story, but I personally believe this is a tragedy with roots beyond human comprehension, and it's climax is nowhere in sight.
I've visited Syria under Bashar. From that experience, I'm firmly of the view he is a thoroughly nasty POS. When there was an uprising of locals wanting to rid themselves of him, they deserved the support of everyone that values human rights and a people's right to self-determination.
But fuck, when assorted outside powers saw the opportunity for a willy-waving proxy war, and local evil opportunists saw openings to push their own twisted agendas, it pretty quickly became very difficult to work out where one's sympathies should lie.
But one thing remained constant, labeling all the opposition to Assad as "headchoppers" was always a simple smear that only served the propaganda pushed by liars on the side that was initially clearly in the wrong.
I've visited Syria under Bashar.
Thanks for that. I realise that visiting a country doesn't make anyone any kind of expert, but it does create a connection and a sense of place and history that is worth listening to.
Heres something some apologists, politicians and media types should have a read but they won't
https://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/our_stories/maori-victims-of-crime-tk79/
Pssst – you can leave off everything from the ? onwards in links like that. eg: https://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/our_stories/maori-victims-of-crime-tk79
Thanks for that, it turns out you can learn something new everyday
Spread the joy 🙂
In the 80's I spent considerable time as a visitor to a number of marae, but notably this one near Taumaranui. My grandfather is Ngati Porou. When we lived in Masterton we saw much of what Ward writes about first hand. Everything he is saying is based in a grim reality that is impossible to deny.
I totally agree with his conclusion, until people are willing to take some responsibility for their choices it is impossible to help them.
At the same time I'm still willing to accept that people's bad choices don't arise in a vacuum. History does matter in that it creates context.
Two perspectives that I believe are both valid and essential. Reductionist arguments that exclude one or the other are the barrier to progress …
Oh yeah agreed.
If this leads to hapu taking ownership of the problems then I'd support it. Of course there will be some who will take this self determination and attempt to parlay it into separatism, but that's another question.
I think the idea that the govt (any govt) can solve social issues (not sure if thats the correct term) is one of the biggest barriers to overcome
The govt can set the agenda, can set policies, can create (or destroy) jobs etc etc but in the end its family, whanau, community etc etc that will have a greater effect in stopping (well not stopping because it'll never end) this
Yes. Helping people is incredibly hard, it's more likely to compound the problem than help if you blunder in with 'one size fits all' solutions as govts are bound to try.
Family is always the most intimate, powerful influence on us all … for good or bad.
Well well well Puck. I agree with you for once. I guess though that Governments can set up a society that values everyone no matter who or where but the essence of the National tribe is stated as everyone for themselves. If you ain't one of them it is because you are lazy. (An elderly friend of mine is a staunch National man yet he does so much for others including creating a growing inclusive rugby club to cater for young people where they just play the game for fun.)
It is a nebulous idea but to declare a wish for people to help others and value kindness might have better results than the above self centred ones.
Hone Harawira was the last MP to seriously push “Feed the Kids”, well done Hone! and now Labour via the coalition Govt. have actually started a $45mill year 1-8 lunch trial.
So why are they not trumpeting this fact. Embarrassment that it is necessary at all? don’t be whakama Labour–Scandinavian countries provide nutritious meals to their school children. It is wise spending.
National by various accounts, and the evidence on social media, has a number of IT people polluting online forums with reactionary nonsense, so why cannot the Govt just issue announcements about positive things it has done?
I am as critical as anyone on the Labour Caucus support for the neo liberal consensus that has essentially frozen political progress in time, around the early 2000s, but fer crissakes I still support necessary reforms and people should perhaps be told about them?
Thanx TM, I didn't know that.
I remember Hone saying that funding the kai in schools could come from bringing home the troops from Afghanistan.
It got my vote.
Wonder if Assange's beaks are going to offer evidence to back this claim.
Donald Trump offered Julian Assange a pardon if he would say Russia was not involved in leaking Democratic party emails, a court in London has been told.
The extraordinary claim was made at Westminster magistrates court before the opening next week of Assange’s legal battle to block attempts to extradite him to the US, where he faces charges for publishing hacked documents. The allegation was denied by the former Republican congressman named by the Assange legal team as a key witness.
Assange’s lawyers alleged that during a visit to London in August 2017, congressman Dana Rohrabacher told the WikiLeaks founder that “on instructions from the president, he was offering a pardon or some other way out, if Mr Assange … said Russia had nothing to do with the DNC [Democratic National Committee] leaks.”
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/feb/19/donald-trump-offered-julian-assange-pardon-russia-hack-wikileaks?
While it's a fascinating detail, I can't see how it fits into an argument against extradition.
Is it part of making a case that the extradition request is retribution by the Spraytan Stalin for a dirty political deal gone wrong?
The argument being made by the Assange team is that the request for extradition by the US is entirely political in nature, and because of that, it should not be proceeded with. By presenting this fact of a possible pardon should Assange produce a hard drive or some other such device that showed that the hack of Clinton's emails was not done by the Russians 😉 then that would relieve a monkey off of T's back – and we know how sensitive he is to that accusation of collusion with his mate Vlad.
The statement was made by a Edward Fitzgerald QC in court. The code of conduct to which he has sworn includes:
Over the past few days we have seen that T is open to giving his friends a free pass from jail in return for some quid pro quo. So it is extremely likely that despite the efforts at the time of the "adult in the WH", John Kelly, to prevent such an offer being made, it would not be surprising if it was.
Anyone else just watch the live evisceration of Bloomberg in the debate (on MSNBC).
They called him out to release women in non-disclosure agreements to freely speak, and he wouldn't do it. He could barely get a word and dropped the ball every time he was handed it. It's half time and second half about to commence.
Yeah – I've have heard that come Super Tuesday the berg will have melted away by then. Here is hoping . Having said that I'm also hoping that he honours his promise to fund the advertising for the successful nominee. Some of his ads so far have been hugely hard hitting and very successful in reaching the target audience
YES, it was a beautiful moment 🙂