Posts Tagged ‘epsom’

ACT in blue – gives up all pretense

Written By: - Date published: 10:04 am, August 1st, 2017 - 10 comments

Northland is not a “dirty deal”

Written By: - Date published: 11:10 am, March 9th, 2015 - 125 comments

Despite Mr Gower’s excitable tendencies, Andrew Little’s comments that Northland voters may wish to vote to send a signal to the government is not a “dirty deal”.

If Banks resigns

Written By: - Date published: 12:21 pm, May 1st, 2012 - 70 comments

A by-election in Epsom. If ACT or National win, the Right retains 61 votes. But, between resignation and swearing in typically takes 3 months during which the Right would have 60 v 60. Legislation fails on draws. Asset sales, SkyCity, welfare cuts, even the Budget could all fail if the Maori Party wants. And what if the Conservatives win? They’re anti-asset sales and crony capitalism. You can see why Key is turning a blind eye.

The Goldsmith Gambit

Written By: - Date published: 3:22 pm, November 21st, 2011 - 49 comments

This will be one of the dirtiest political and anti-democratic tactics ever designed in NZ history. It has the potential of delivering a second John Key term, gifting Epsom to ACT and of discrediting MMP in one foul swoop: a true Tory Trifecta.

New Goldsmith signs go up

Written By: - Date published: 6:44 am, November 20th, 2011 - 35 comments

Apparently, Paul Goldsmith is not even handing out his business card in Epsom any more. And Imperator Fish reports on the extreme lengths he is going to in an effort to lose. But his popularity cannot be quelled. #hipstersforgoldsmith is big on Twitter. And new, completely legal, campaign posters are sprouting up. Can’t wait for Goldsmith’s victory party.

Goldsmith removing Goldsmith signs

Written By: - Date published: 10:31 am, November 16th, 2011 - 80 comments

Most politicians crave attention, especially when they’re trying to win an electorate.  Not so National’s Paul Goldsmith!  A Standard reader snapped these pictures of Goldsmith removing (apparently “unofficial”) Goldsmith electoral signs.  It’s almost as if he doesn’t want to get elected!

A wee reminder

Written By: - Date published: 4:16 pm, November 15th, 2011 - 21 comments

MANA’s Epsom Candidate Pat O’Dea, reminds the voters of Epsom who  they are really voting for.

Epsom: spit or swallow?

Written By: - Date published: 8:59 am, November 14th, 2011 - 66 comments

Oh to be an Epsom voter – what an enviable menu of options you have. A National candidate who cares so much about the electorate that he goes to extraordinary lengths to discourage people from voting for him, or a racist former National politician soundly rejected by all of Auckland after a dismal ‘Supercity’ mayoralty who’s actively campaigning to undermine his own racist former National politician party leader.

What a shonkey farce!

Was it a full moon?

Written By: - Date published: 1:02 pm, November 10th, 2011 - 61 comments

Oh hell. My worst fears have been realized. John Key is a wereperson. He is morphing into an incantation of the countries biggest ever political disaster. And talking of other story lines from True Blood. John Banks has been wandering around with the decapitated head of Don Brash.

The greatest threat to Banks: Brash (& that story)

Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, November 10th, 2011 - 39 comments

John Banks says the brand he is campaigning for in Epsom is ‘Brand Key’, not ACT. Epsomites don’t want three-time loser Don Brash but it’s unavoidably true that a vote for Banks is a vote for Brash. This is leading to a further unattractive debacle as Banks tries to distance himself from his leader, who he’s trying to get into parliament.

Why no photo-op for Banks?

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, November 6th, 2011 - 34 comments

John Key has been asked if he will be giving an explicit order to National voters in Epsom to vote for John Banks. He said ‘not today’. He said that a few weeks ago too. No photo-op of Key shaking Banks’ hand either. Why the hold-up? What could possibly be behind National wariness of linking Brand Key to Banks?

Death cab for Banksie

Written By: - Date published: 9:43 pm, October 20th, 2011 - 170 comments

Another Epsom poll has ACT’ stuffed. Goldsmith: 37%; Banks: 24%; Parker: 17%. However, it also says the blue-rinsers will obediently tick Banks if Key explicitly tells them to. But will he? Will the chance of saving 2% ACT be worth the nationwide loss of votes from linking Key’s brand to that mess of a party? His equivocating suggests the Nats haven’t decided.

Chart o’ the day: failed gambit

Written By: - Date published: 11:54 am, October 9th, 2011 - 38 comments

Clusterf*ck in Epsom

Written By: - Date published: 10:25 am, August 4th, 2011 - 61 comments

It looks like the race for Epsom is about to get a whole lot more exciting. Former ACT funder Colin Craig seems set to throw his hat into the ring against ACT’s John Banks, National’s Paul Goldsmith, and Labour’s David Parker. It only needs Winnie to join in to make a real party of it. Can Parker slip through the middle and win?

Epsom & marginal deals

Written By: - Date published: 7:25 am, July 22nd, 2011 - 65 comments

What to make of Epsom? I haven’t so far had a strong opinion on the topic, but I’m starting to come down on the side of “if you can’t beat them, join them”.

A Right Jackup

Written By: - Date published: 4:02 pm, May 30th, 2011 - 18 comments

So it appears that John Banks will get to face his mayoral campaign manager, Aaron Bhatnagar, as National candidate for Epsom. National will continue to ensure Act’s survival, as latest polls keep Act at about 2%.

Epsom a done deal

Written By: - Date published: 2:57 pm, April 19th, 2011 - 43 comments

Recently Irish Bill wrote on the Nats’ dilemma in Epsom.  Looks the deal is now done, and predictably Key has decided that he needs ACT’s numbers (however small).

Some Epsom arithmetic

Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, April 17th, 2011 - 8 comments

Unsurprisingly it’s taking the nats a wee while to decide who to stand in Epsom.

I’d imagine that’s because they’re struggling with the maths.

Cthulhu’s hold on Espom threatened

Written By: - Date published: 3:15 pm, October 15th, 2010 - 29 comments

This might just be Danyl’s best satire piece ever:

National to stand Spider God in Epsom

‘All hail the Spider God,’ said a press release issued by the National Party. ‘The new National candidate for Epsom in 2011.’

Hide begging for his political life

Written By: - Date published: 3:02 pm, October 11th, 2010 - 74 comments

So Rodney Hide is reduced to publicly begging for his political life, asking National for an easy ride in Epsom.  It will be interesting to keep an eye on National’s response.  Especially with the name of defeated Auckland Mayoral candidate John Banks already being mentioned…

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