The ‘Rankin Effect’

Written By: - Date published: 7:39 am, May 19th, 2009 - 11 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, democracy under attack, national/act government - Tags: , ,

Why is the National government delaying its announcement of the Supercity transitional agency? The Rankin Effect. That’s the flinch you get when your rampant arrogance becomes a bit too obvious.

But despite the Rankin Effect, it looks like most of Rodney Hide’s picks for the new board will pass Key’s test. Who wants to take a punt on how long it’ll be before these oligarch cronies turn their cold values into something Aucklanders just don’t want?

11 comments on “The ‘Rankin Effect’ ”

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  1. Ron 1
    19 May 2009 at 8:01 am

    “Also where the last of the Maori generals took their people and were basically never defeated” ……oooor before their connections to local contructon firms, local politicians, or companies in line to buy local body assetts are revealed. It’ll look like the plot to one of those 40’s gangster films

  2. The Baron 2
    19 May 2009 at 11:44 am

    For christ’s sake Eddie – quit with interviewing yourself and wait another day to see who the faces are on this transition board.

    Oh but yet again, that wouldn’t fit your spin, would it? Mother Theresa could be appointed to this Board, and you would still find a way to say “awful”.

    More partisan cheerleading masquerading as analysis and discussion from our “favourite” hack. Down time in Mt Albert eh?

    • The Voice of Reason 2.1
      19 May 2009 at 11:50 am

      Mother Theresa would indeed be “awful”, Baron. She’s dead. But then, you look at Roger Douglas and start to wonder …

      • Pat 2.1.1
        19 May 2009 at 12:01 pm

        Actually, it doesn’t matter who is appointed, rather what they do on the Board over the next 18 months.

        The left will will have us believe Auckland will be sold to the Chinese in the next 18 months. You can cry wolf as much as you like, but if there ends up being no substance, then voters will learn Goff’s mob are bleaters rather than a viable alternative.

        • r0b 2.1.1.1
          19 May 2009 at 12:05 pm

          Actually, it doesn’t matter who is appointed, rather what they do on the Board over the next 18 months.

          Yes of course. And those two things are entirely unrelated. Entirely. And while we’re here – wanna buy a bridge?

        • The Voice of Reason 2.1.1.2
          19 May 2009 at 12:07 pm

          That’s a bit naive, Pat. Electoral politics is about perception not substance. If it were the other way round, there’d be no dog whistles, Bill English would be the Nats’ leader and Helen Clark would still be PM.

          captcha: travelled subversive (too right!)

          • Pat 2.1.1.2.1
            19 May 2009 at 12:23 pm

            Nonsense. A transition board is tasked with overseeing a specific outcome. The general conspiracy theory is that the Board appointees will instead further their own personal agendas and collectively a right wing conspiracy. I contend that this is BS.

            The Left would be better spending 18 months finding and promoting their preferred mayoral and council candidates, and a policy platform for them to campaign on. If they get organised, they could make it work.

          • Maynard J 2.1.1.2.2
            19 May 2009 at 12:51 pm

            Pat, if the Left collectively suspect the Transitional agency will rort the system and set it up to favour them and their mates, preparing for the game on an uneven pitch would be less productive than fighting for an even pitch. Ambulance at bottom of cliff and all that.

            You may contend that the idea is bullshit as is your right. No one will listen to that contention when we’re presented with an undemocratic plan to be implemented by Hide’s hand-picked cronies.

            “A transition board is tasked with overseeing a specific outcome.”

            Be nice if we got any say into what that outcome is. It is 98% decided of course, by Hide and Key alone with no research or consultation and after ignoring the bulk of the RC recommendations. What’s not to like about this situation?

            oh, and Auckland won’t be sold in the next 18 months. They will be very very very super quiet on any possibility of that happening. It will be up to the Left to find out how they plan to do it and fight those plans – better use of time than running little mayoral campaigns.

  3. toad 3
    19 May 2009 at 12:41 pm

    Seems that Melissa Lee won’t front the Mt Albert candidates debate on Auckland Governance.

    I guess that after the debacle over the SH16 motorway stopping South Auckland’s criminals from burgling in Mount Albert, Melissa’s minders must be worried that “in the heat of the moment’ she might reveal Christine Rankin as her preferred nominee to chair the Auckland Transition Authority.

  4. inpassing 4
    19 May 2009 at 1:56 pm

    Another possibility being at this time.. of claiments to the LA Min’s call for “vision”… visionaries.. and well, they gotta do what he tellem !.. in the now established ego-centri-city..

    A must read.. with rave local reviews.. he-he- 🙂

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