Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Prospects

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    And no, I'm not happy that Winston's gone. 88 thousand people's voices said he should stay and on a day when we're all supposed to be equal, that should be enough. 10% of our new parliament has less support.

    Tussock: There's many more whose electorate votes were not cast for successful candidates, and I don't accept their votes were "wasted" or the people who cast them were somehow disenfranchised.

    And you know something, drooling bigots have the right to stand for Parliament, just like everyone else, but I won't pretend to be too sad when they fail. Isn't it nice to see more brown and yellow faces in Parliament, rather than Winston using them for target practice?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Isn't it nice to see more brown and yellow faces in Parliament,

    Oh dear, Craig don't embarrass yourself or I__ will__ call you stupid :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    mushrooom, snaaaake!

    I the real drinking game I think you yell the first when Dunne appears, and the second for Roger Douglas ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    mushrooom, snaaaake!

    I the real drinking game I think you yell the first when Dunne appears, and the second for Roger Douglas ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    Two questions:

    1/ If not Goff, then whom? Parker is too nice (and was comprehensively rejected by his electorate), and Cunliffe comes across terribly a lot of the time.

    2/ The Herald has a hard-on for Key, describing him as "Wall Street's boy trader". WTF? He was hardly the financial equivalent of Doogie Howser, MD.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    Yes, it's Goff for mine. He has the experience, the acumen, the media skills, and the intelligence. Maybe Shane Jones for deputy.

    If Cullen retires then Tizard's in on the list, I assume.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Craig, I bet you won't bump into John Key at Peter Grimes.

    Remember, his favourite film is Johnny English.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    In the cold, cold light of day, the aspect that bothers me most of Key's giddy teenager speech: no words in Maori, no words for Maori, except where he mentioned Tariana Turia, whom he should have correctly referred to as **co**leader, unless he's already trying to split them up. Except I don't think he's intelligent enough to choose his words that carefully.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Oh dear, Craig don't embarrass yourself or I will call you stupid :)

    Well, Sofie, there are a hell of lot of new MPs coming in from all sides and they're not all whitefellas. I'm sure they're pleased one thing they won't have to face is the usual orgy of poll-fluffing racism and immigrant-bashing from that quarter.

    Craig, I bet you won't bump into John Key at Peter Grimes.

    Near certainly not -- then again, I don't think Helen is going to be treking across the Harbour Bridge this afternoon. Suspect they've both got work to do instead of going with their first instincts and crawling into bed for a week.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis,

    Just a thought for the left wings amongst us

    Isn't it great that we know who is in charge and we don't have weeks/months of the Winston Peters dance of the seven veils

    Surely that cheers you up just a little

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis,

    On the other hand it might be a good idea if the owner (RB )expunges the whole thread as there is some stuff that can only be explained away by to much booze/disapointment and really does not read well in the light of day!

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    On the other hand it might be a good idea if the owner (RB )expunges the whole thread as there is some stuff that can only be explained away by to much booze/disapointment and really does not read well in the light of day!

    Aw, a bit harsh Raymond! Better blog-venting than taking it to the streets. :)

    And nothing on this thread is ever going to be as full-spectrum dopey as the Herald's reliably cock-faced __Your Views__ -- the best argument I've seen against mass literacy for many a year.

    And we get that reliable stand-by:

    I'm leaving. Going to America.

    I'll say exactly the same thing I said to righties who were threatening to leave if Labour won again: I'll drive you to the airport, and don't let the plane door hit your arse on the way out.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I just heard Roger Douglas on NatRad cheerfully talking about his plans for new 'efficiency in government'. I got horror-movie chills.

    Also, I would like Robyn to liveblog my life.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Also, I would like Robyn to liveblog my life.

    I'll second that.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I just heard Roger Douglas on NatRad cheerfully talking about his plans for new 'efficiency in government'. I got horror-movie chills.

    His plans? Remind me who the Prime Minister elect is again, Danielle. I don't think it's Roger Owen Douglas.

    And I think it's time to revive my proposal that the opening prayer when Parliament is sitting be replaced with readings of Chicken Little and The Little Shepherd Boy Who Cried "Wolf!"

    Is it within the realms of possibility that there's enough real bad shit on the horizon without creating more?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    I just heard Roger Douglas on NatRad cheerfully talking about his plans for new 'efficiency in government'. I got horror-movie chills.

    I've managed to avoid hearing a damn thing out of that evil man so far this campaign, and I'm hoping to keep it that way for a long time.

    As far as I'm concerned, this is the worst possible result. Worse, even, than National having an outright majority. I'm prepared to give Key the benefit of the doubt, and accept that he truly means it when he says he won't let Rog anywhere near a Cabinet seat. But that doesn't stop Roger from perching on Rodney's shoulder and squawking instructions that get passed on to the Cabinet. Roger in Parliament at all puts him far too close to the levers of power.
    It also gives National more freedom to go hard-right, while blaming the enactment of the desires of much of the National caucus on Act. McCully et al must be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of being able to do what they want while taking none of the blame.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    His plans? Remind me who the Prime Minister elect is again, Danielle. I don't think it's Roger Owen Douglas.

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Roger Douglas not the Prime Minister of New Zealand before? I think chills are entirely justified. Based on yesterday's performance (scenery! ingenuity!) I for one wouldn't trust bumbling man to have much of an idea of or a firm grip on what the next government is going to be like. And blank slates are awfully easy to be written on.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    His plans? Remind me who the Prime Minister elect is again, Danielle. I don't think it's Roger Owen Douglas.

    He wasn't Prime Minister before, either. He's still one scary dude.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Giovanni, snap. :)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Is it within the realms of possibility that there's enough real bad shit on the horizon without creating more?

    Craig, dropping thousands of civil servants onto the dole queue is not something the country needs at this juncture. Even if they're not strictly necessary, it's better that they're employed, paying taxes, and supporting their families. I know that's not a popular view with the right, but cutting jobs willy-nilly when a recession is coming is precisely the kind of evil that we don't need at present. That's quite "bad shit" enough, and it fits nicely with both National's view of the public service and Act's stated desires to slash state expenditure to the bone.

    We don't need to make this stuff up, because the parties that will be in power in a month's time are on the record as wanting to do exactly that.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • A S,

    Craig, dropping thousands of civil servants onto the dole queue...

    I think thousands is overstating things fairly massively. There aren't that many in Welly (where the question mark about public sector productivity hangs).

    Maybe asking the question about how the public service can best serve the public is something that we should all do regularly, regardless of political leaning.

    Employing public servants for the sake of employing public servants, and building personal empires (which isn't actually all that uncommon) seems a bit pointless.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2007 • 269 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Roger Douglas not the Prime Minister of New Zealand before?

    Sorry, Danielle, counter-snap. Roger Douglas was a Minister of the Crown -- Minister of Finance, come to that. And back on planet earth, MMP doesn't mean a minor party backbencher writes government policy or legislation in interviews. If Helen's answering the phone (and anyone has her numbers), she can confirm that.

    Reader's Digest Version: Douglas can have all the plans he like, they don't actually mean jack shit. Breathe, people, and stop doing these eerie impersonations of Kiwiblog's more unmedicated residents. They're far too good for comfort.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Surely that cheers you up just a little

    Uh, no. There is very little that could cheer me up today.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Reader's Digest Version: Douglas can have all the plans he like, they don't actually mean jack shit.

    So National is going into Government with Act because...?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Uh, no. There is very little that could cheer me up today.

    I remember after the 2002 election (National's worse result ever), David decided we needed a distraction -- so we went off to see Attack of the Clones. Pretty awful movie, but it wasn't the movie's fault that I started sobbing.

    It will pass, and the Four Horsepersons of the Apocalypse were not flicking through the Lonely Planet guide for a nice place to bring about the end of days then. And they aren't now.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

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