Posts Tagged ‘constitution’

Govt unprepared for transition when Queen dies

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, November 4th, 2021 - 70 comments

“We will soon be required to face the question, ‘After Elizabeth — what next?’,” Peter Hamilton wrote in his just published memoir, New Moons for Sam. He says it would be completely inappropriate for Elizabeth’s son Charles or his heir, William, to become Aotearoa’s next head of state. A head of state elected by 2/3rds of Parliament perhaps?

Freedom of speech – the knife-edge.

Written By: - Date published: 4:43 pm, January 17th, 2021 - 18 comments

I have a problem with dimwits waving around a slogan of “free speech” without understanding it. Ignorant fools more interested in screaming slogans than understanding the constraints of their ‘right’. The events of the last 4 years in the USA have made that very clear. So I thought I’d point out a few facts of life about constraints on freedom of speech – with a sidetrack through Trumps’ incitements to riot.

Constitutions that build citizen power and joy

Written By: - Date published: 7:05 am, May 23rd, 2020 - 34 comments

Emerging from the current crisis, what kind of state can be envisaged that could do the opposite of this consciousness deflation, by enabling and encouraging an empowered citizenry, and harnessing public intelligence, creativity and ingenuity for the common good?

NRT: A constitutional change

Written By: - Date published: 3:01 pm, May 26th, 2017 - 8 comments

I/S at No Right Turn writes: “The Court has ruled that the High Court was right to declare that National’s 2010 prisoner voting restrictions (the ones which were so shabby and shoddily passed that they brought Parliament into disrepute) were inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act

Trump handed his own arse by appeals court

Written By: - Date published: 1:34 pm, February 10th, 2017 - 42 comments

The stay on Trump’s Muslim Ban is upheld. He took it about as well as you would expect.

The constitution is screwed

Written By: - Date published: 4:10 pm, January 31st, 2017 - 117 comments

Trump goes full fascist and fires the acting Attorney General for daring to question his Muslim Ban order.

Cameron prefers ornamental Lords

Written By: - Date published: 9:36 am, October 28th, 2015 - 15 comments

Fascinating developments in British politics as The House of Lords opposes Cameron’s cuts to tax credits and chooses instead to protect the poor. Cameron is incensed.

UK Election

Written By: - Date published: 8:24 am, May 7th, 2015 - 45 comments

The UK votes tomorrow. A hung Parliament is predicted, and the UK enters uncharted warters, guided only by a cabinet manual. Will Cameron dig in at No. 10?

Impeach John Key

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 am, November 29th, 2014 - 142 comments

The honour system is broken, exposing the flaws of our political model.

National identity

Written By: - Date published: 9:52 am, November 24th, 2014 - 49 comments

A recent report from the Waitangi Tribunal questions the “constitutional” foundation of NZ and challenges the received wisdom of our history.

Then why don’t you release the advice John?

Written By: - Date published: 6:49 am, May 21st, 2013 - 151 comments

A legal expert has raised the alarm over the Nats’ latest outbreak of constitutional arrogance. So too has the Attorney General, and the media. Key says it’s all OK (of course), but why should anyone believe him when his government won’t release the advice that it has received?

NRT: The Constitutional Conversation

Written By: - Date published: 10:33 am, March 5th, 2013 - 6 comments

A useful note from NRT on the constitutional review. Make your submissions…

3 more years of this

Written By: - Date published: 2:08 pm, December 12th, 2011 - 37 comments

On Breakfast this morning, John Key said that losing a confidence vote “by definition, constitutionally means a snap election”. No. If a government loses the House’s support, then another one can be formed that does have Parliament’s support. Only if that cannot happen is there an election. Key has been PM for 3 years. He should know the basics.

Armstrong on the constitutional review

Written By: - Date published: 7:13 am, December 10th, 2010 - 41 comments

John Armstrong pulls no punches on the constitutional review, the second time in recent history that he has called the government a disgrace.  Add it to the ever growing list of outrageous behaviour from the Nats.  Is this the worst government for democracy in the history of NZ?

John Key’s blue-eyed baby misdirection

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, October 5th, 2010 - 28 comments

John Key really does say some extraordinary things when he’s trying to placate the media, and often it works because journos are bamboozled into accepting what he says as fact. Yesterday, he defended the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act saying the Governor-General tests the appropriateness of each CERRA law. Dead wrong.

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