Pass the crisps: UK Election watch

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  • recordari,

    The difference in the UK is that the rules haven't changed. I'm not sure they ever will. I really, really want to be wrong about that.

    That's cold comfort indeed. Just to revisit the voting reform question, the Alternative Vote (AV) they are discussing is more akin to the Australian PV than our PR (MMP), right?

    Once I get my head around the acronym soap, this does seem to be at the heart of the coalition, as discussed in the DM.

    Vote reform, the issue that may end this pact

    If this is true;

    Liberal Democrat peer Lord Jenkins estimated that AV would have increased the Labour majority from 169 to 245, reducing the number of Conservative seats from 165 to 96. This, he noted, would have meant that they would have received 30 per cent of the vote but only 15 per cent of the seats.

    Had AV been in place last week, it would have had a similarly damaging effect on Tory fortunes.

    ...we're in for some fun and games in the coming months.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    Really? She simply opines the coalition will face too many hard choices they can't agree on.

    Well, she's a well-known Labour cheerleader, and the tone of her article smacks more than a little of sour grapes, to my eyes.

    My view is that she went well beyond simply opining. Certainly the second half of the article she seems to calm down a bit, but the first half...

    These parties are cultural enemies. Lib Dems will be easily huffed and miffed, bounced, forgotten and ignored. The Tory partner, five times the size, will trample the other like a rhino without noticing.

    Translation: Little boys who play with Toryfire get burned, and it all ends in tears. Still, if the silly little neophyte wants to hop into bed with the bad boys (rather than Labour where he damn well should be), then he shouldn't expect to be able to come running to me when it all gets abusive.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Apple pie bed...

    Still. Beds, lying in, and all that.

    but can they lie straight?
    and how flammable are these bunks?

    Nancy buoys the spirit....
    in the pursuit of love
    the very Fabrice of society
    can be rent asunder....

    and it did all end in tears,
    dulling!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    Just to revisit the voting reform question, the Alternative Vote (AV) they are discussing is more akin to the Australian PV than our PR (MMP), right?

    I think (and may be wrong) that calling the alternative they are discusssing 'Alternative Vote' is misleading at this stage.

    I think they just agreed to discuss an alternative (to FPP), rather than a Capital-A-Alternative, if you see what I mean.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It offers what I imagine is the unprecedented situation of having a public display of vehement disagreements between two senior members of the same team, simply because they were bitter opponents at the time.

    I wonder how the delicate petals are going to drag themselves off the fainting couch long enough to cover the Labour leadership race -- an exercise traditionally as genteel as junkies with knives in a tinny house fighting over the last hit of P. :)

    Ian Dalziel:

    Very well played, Sir. :)

    And as a bonus, here's a taste of cold love for the Prime Minister

    "Linda and I were very much preoccupied with sin, and our great hero was Oscar Wilde.

    'But what did he do?'

    'I asked Fa once and he roared at me - goodness, it was terrifying. He said: "If you mention that sewer's name in this house I'll thrash you, do you hear, damn you?" So I asked Sadie and she looked awfully vague and said: Oh, duck, I never really quite knew, but whatever it was worse than murder, fearfully bad. And, darling, don't talk about him at meals, will you?" '

    "We must find out."

    "Bob says he will, when he goes to Eton."

    "Oh, good! Do you think he was worse than Mummy and Daddy?"

    "Surely he couldn't be. Oh, you are so lucky to have wicked parents."

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

  • recordari,

    Strangely I have a 'Little Jack Horner' earworm.

    And I'm gutted, because I got to Nancy and Love in a cold climate and somehow juxtaposed Cold comfort farm (see above).

    Pipped at the postman, again!

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Strangely I have a 'Little Jack Horner' earworm.

    Sitting? ....chairs?. Ok, just quickly recordari, as I do not wish to derail,but the only one I wish to sit on that I can't afford yet is The Tom Dixon S chair. Now if only Dad would speak to him for me...:)

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    Doh!!!
    I meant to post this here...

    Could it be? could Mr. Smile and Wave be gone by lunchtime, or at least before desert? Or will the Smiling Assassin/Appetizer be forced to eat his own words?.

    "The good news is that I was having dinner with Ngati Porou, as opposed to their neighbouring iwi which is Tuhoe, in which case I would have been dinner. Which wouldn't have been quite so attractive."

    As he himslf says "These are always the challenges of Government. Nothing';s beyond the creativity of this one - trust me."
    Trust indeed, or should that be "Trussssset Meeeee"

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • recordari,

    The Tom Dixon S chair.

    Yummm! This is my 'I could never afford that, but god I want it' chair.

    Regina ll Armchair From Poltrona Frau. I would have to get the fluffy cat to go with it.

    I'm guessing after the above news, the furniture porn is over, unless we start eating it.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    A sturdy serving table, perhaps?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Voting on the Herald site now...


    NZH Poll
    What do you think of John Key?
    Mr Smile and Wave (51%)
    Doing a great job (49%)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    there's no poll option for "needs seasoning" then?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Gaetano Pesce. Up 5 and 6 (1969)
    This
    drool

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

  • Sacha,

    At first I was going to say This Mortal Coil's 1984 Album It'll End In Tears, but that sort of obscure reference is best saved for a music thread.

    Every thread's a music thread..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    I ordered the National Prime Minister as I felt like I needed a change from what had become my normal fare for the last three terms. The dish had a disappointingly bland outward appearance when served at the table, but I was assured by the waiter that the taste was to die for.

    On sampling, I found there was a bitter aftertaste of free market economic policies. Frankly, someone should have told the cook that these were past their use-by date in the 1980's. The dish also relied heavily on imported failed policies to spice it up: I nearly choked on a school standards bone that I assume had been carelessly tossed into the recipe mix without proper public consultation.

    Aside from that, I found it difficult, even after 18 months of careful chewing, to discern any policy flavour at all.

    Although I personally wouldn't order this dish again, my dining companions seemed eager to go for seconds, although this might have had more to do with the lack of a credible alternative on the menu.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Mike Graham,

    I think that the Herald must have closed the John Key poll about mid-morning as it's been showing those same percentages since then (and possibily earlier).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Every thread's a food thread..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    it's been showing those same percentages since then

    Perhaps the script spammers are in perfect political balance?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    it's been showing those same percentages since then

    What's with the version on The Standard where the numbers are exactly the other way around (51% for "doing a great job")?

    A few of the left politics blogs seem to be keen on "Mr Smile and Wave" as a nascent attack meme, but somehow I can't see it striking fear and loathing into the heart of the average voter.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    It's also criminally misleading and politically incompetent when you look at the scale of the stealthy gutting of the public sector that is going on. Since when does "cap the public sector" mean getting rid of 1500 public servants?

    As long as the wittering left keep talking about a do-nothing govenrment, there's bugger all chance of change.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    It's also criminally misleading and politically incompetent when you look at the scale of the stealthy gutting of the public sector that is going on.

    OK, Smiling and waving assassin then? With a side of relish. I am amishussss my preshussess.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Anyhoo, are Tuhoe going to take this lying down? I think they may find it difficult to digest after being told that they can't have their confiscated lands returned by the grinning gesticulator. Could this be the choke point of Johns career? Could we see our John applying for a job with Al Harrington?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    "The good news is that I was having dinner with Ngati Porou, as opposed to their neighbouring iwi which is Tuhoe, in which case I would have been dinner. Which wouldn't have been quite so attractive."

    Two part answer to this:

    Prime Minister: Come here so I can slap you, you dumb-fuck white trash.

    Tuhoe: Given the smack I've heard you folks talk about other iwi over the years (next to none of it in jest), please put the weeping crocodile away because I'm all out of white guilt for the quarter. (I could mention Tame Iti, but that's far too easy a cheap shot even for me.)

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    Iti's line about returning the car but not the ownership papers I thought was pretty good actually. The PM embarrassed himself again but that's neither novel nor enjoyable at this point.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    (I could mention Tame Iti, but that's far too easy a cheap shot even for me.)

    Ah, but, Tame Iti could pass it off as "Performance Art" I don't think John was ever considered for the Comedy Festival, although some may say that he does a passable King Leer.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

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