This post is why I no longer comment on the Standard. No loss, perhaps, but I know I'm not the only one. My politics are certainly on the Left, and I'm happy to see debate here between positions within the broad NZ left (Greens and Labour on tax and ...
It certainly undermines the "Tactical Genius Nat" myth. If they only voted Labour to keep out the Greens, then their work is done, and they can now tell the pollsters that they are really True Blue. But they haven't. Even when nothing is at stake, and ...
Fish. Basketball. Tornado. (is that the game, throwing unrelated things together randomly as if it means something?).
Straightforward, really. It is not the responsibility of the NZ government to save the USA and UK from the consequences of their leaders' decisions. Even Brazil elected its leader. That's if we're talking about "the hardest hit". Not synonymous with "...
TV1 Colmar Brunton poll out at 6 pm, for no obvious reason. Will Jacinda resign if she doesn't have the numbers? (spoiler: No). It would be funny if National and/or Collins go up in this pointless poll ... "The people have spoken, I'm staying on!". Also, ...
Their review is doomed from the start because they are incapable - really, mentally, physically incapable - of saying "Ardern is very good at what she does, and obviously so much better at this politics business than we are". As long as they have that ...
National have announced the terms of reference for their post-election review. To save them time and money, here are the review recommendations: watch the fine Australian movie "The Dish", starring Sam Neill. Or just take 30 seconds to watch this clip on ...
I realize that the "1 pm" myth is now ingrained in the National party folklore, but just for historical accuracy, this was what happened ... May 22 2020: Caucus coup against Bridges, Muller new leader. July 14 20201: Muller quits, Collins new leader. ...
Snap! Even now, the blue bubble remains sealed off from reality. Incredible.
National have re-elected Goodfellow as party president. So the lesson they have learned from electoral disaster is ... nothing. Champagne corks are popping at Labour HQ.
It's the post-Cabinet press conference and it's been the custom for every PM, for decades. Including her upcoming schedule. The nation doesn't "stop at 4 pm". And I note you commented at 4.12 pm, when Hipkins and Ardern were still speaking, which was ...
Employee makes statement ... through her employer's lawyer. Hmmm.
I live in Auckland Central. I would say mask use is no more than 20% among pedestrians in the area, including confined spaces indoors. Higher on buses, but not universal, at all. Not much sign of physical distancing either. Signing in etc. is important, ...
It's funny how "personal responsibility" is a sacred thing in the abstract, but the authorities are to blame when it is put to the test. Anyone who's worked in a large office/apartment building knows what happens when there's a fire alarm ... many people ...
It's only fair that those who actively undermined the "team of 5 million" and the public health response, should now go to the back of the queue. They put lives at risk, while the majority made huge sacrifices. So no vaccine for Simon Thornley, Mike ...
It's less a job, more a summer internship, duties amount to nodding on camera beside a leader who will be gone soon. Still, it puts him on the (very) short list for next leader, and they could do a lot worse - and probably will. National deputy leaders of ...
I'd rather give myself a vasectomy with a plastic spoon covered in hot chili powder.
The closer you look, the worse it gets for the "Strong team". Incredibly, they lost the party vote in 71 out of 72 electorates. They lost the party vote in every National seat. I can't even get my head around that, it's extraordinary. (Epsom was the one ...
Those super-smart National tactical voters who owned the Greens by voting Labour have ... um, now chucked out 3 more electorate MPs. Did the pen slip while they were doing that party vote?
It could not have gone any worse for National. The numbers, the people, everything. Yippee! Matt King fully deserves his fate. He has been one of the worst muck-spreaders on social media (e.g. going on about Saint Jacinda and Nazi Germany). Good riddance.
Salesa is out, Tinetti and Wood are up, David Clark is back and McAnulty is the chief whip, and in a majority government that's a position arguably more important than some ministerial roles. So I doubt it's as simple as "diversity over talent". Two thirds...
It's fun to review the changing attack lines from the opposition over the past 3 years. First it was stardust, the part-time PM. Then they grudgingly acknowledged her leadership - but it was only her, they said. Then they expanded that to 2 people ("it's ...
That's the same accepted wisdom as "minor parties must lose votes when they support major party". It was historically true, but it wasn't the case for the Greens. I'd suggest that potential Green voters can see the value in it. The media or opponents can ...
Correct. But it wasn't part of Key's deal with the Maori Party, when National plus ACT plus UF had a majority regardless. So it's a further refinement, and a significant one I think.
It's been somewhat overlooked, but I think the abstention opt-out clause is very smart politics for both parties. The Greens are not compelled to vote for Robertson's budgets. They've got that upfront, which is way better than having a conf & supp ...
I don't think we can blame the Greens for National's obstinacy on climate change. If the "blue greens" meant anything at all then there might be a slight opening there. But they are nothing, a slogan with zero practical effect.
The last PMs to have an overall majority were Bolger, the various PMs in 4th Labour government, Muldoon. Conciliatory and consultative, weren't they? Ardern could hardly be less like them.
Your last sentence contradicts your first three.
Let's say for argument's sake that opposing Labour leads to an increased Green vote in 2023. What would they do with those votes? Prop up a tired third term government? Hope that no other options are available for Labour? (the New Centre party, doing a ...
If you think the Greens are Labour's lap dog you must have been asleep for at least 18 years.
If the Greens don't accept it, then the Minister of Climate Change will be a Labour MP, and in 3 years' time the Greens will have to face the inevitable questions: "Why did you refuse to lead (or at least, help to influence) government policy on climate ...
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