Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: And meanwhile ...

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  • dc_red,

    Although, it must be said, that is still rather better than our own smacking parties did on Saturday

    Heh - both RAM and the Republic Party got fewer party votes than they have members (assuming both genuinely met the 500-member threshold).

    Good on Bill and Ben, btw. No mean feat to get more than 1 person in 200 voting for you.

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

  • Ian MacKay,

    Where is Craig? Craig?

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report

  • Eddie Clark,

    "Brain Edwards"? Careful, Roger Douglas will try to eat him. Braiiiiins.

    On a more serious note:

    Pew has some fascinating exit poll numbers on Obama's victory, showing he made gains in virtually every voter group (the exception: over-65s). He also made gains over 04 in nearly every religious sub-group, mostly notably the religious but "unaffiliated" voters.

    Interestingly, Obama did way worse that Kerry amongst teh gayz. I have no idea why - maybe related to disappointment at Clinton not being the nominee? Gay peeps seem to have this inexplicable love of Hilary.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

  • Andrew Smith,

    And why is it that we care about Marilyn Musgrave?

    Since Jan 2007 • 150 posts Report

  • James Harton,

    Because too much public bitching might upset TVNZ's new owners :)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2007 • 51 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    Good on Bill and Ben, btw. No mean feat to get more than 1 person in 200 voting for you.

    Agreed.

    In my angst-ridden last week I even toyed with voting for them. But I thought it would’ve been wasted.

    In retrospect, the fact they outscored the 2 parties supposedly representing 87% of an outraged community was quite a statement in itself.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • David Ritchie,

    The Libz and the Workers Party have more in common than they'd like to admit. A party vote of less than 0.6%, for example.

    Since Nov 2006 • 166 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    And why is it that we care about Marilyn Musgrave?

    Because I find it both interesting, and cause for cheer that that the American public appears to have turned on the hardline theocons.

    Musgrave's record of Christianist culture war and seedy corruption approaches parody.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Interestingly, Obama did way worse that Kerry amongst teh gayz. I have no idea why - maybe related to disappointment at Clinton not being the nominee?

    Were gat right as much of a wedge issue last time round? I can't recall anything quite so headline-worthy (and fight-worthy) than Proposition 8 in California, and Obama kept mum about that, after stating during the campaign that he was against gay marriage.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Okay, gay rights, not gat rights. Although gat rights could be intriguing too.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Gay peeps seem to have this inexplicable love of Hilary

    Where is Craig? Craig?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • dc_red,

    In retrospect, the fact they outscored the 2 parties supposedly representing 87% of an outraged community was quite a statement in itself.

    Well said. And they basically performed as well as a third party of a similar ilk (the Kiwi Party), which put in a lot of effort, it must be said.

    The demise of the Alliance was remarked on by a few (just 1700 party votes) - but if you take in all the constituent parts of the old beast the tally is quite impressive.

    Greens (6.4%) + JAP (0.9%) + Alliance (0.08%) + Democrats (0.05%) + a proportion of the Maori Party's 2.2% (I assume this is where the Mana Motuhake party went?)

    The only old member of the Alliance to have been completely obliterated were the "Liberals". Gilbert Myles and that other guy.

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

  • Eddie Clark,

    Giovanni, last time there was a federal constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage on the table, supported by Bush (sponsored, incidentally by..... Marilyn Musgrave!). So if anything gay Americans had more to lose with a Republican president than this time round. It was more of a wedge issue in 2004. Still, I don't really think that explains it.

    (Of course, the 2004 amendment died - not enough crazy congresspeoples to progress it, but it was on the table at the election.)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

  • Eddie Clark,

    Where is Craig? Craig?

    Hey, Craig isn't the only gay in this village. Just... erm... the loudest and most right wing.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Of course, the 2004 amendment died - not enough crazy congresspeoples to progress it, but it was on the table at the election.

    Not on the ballot, though, right? I stand corrected anyhow, I'm just curious.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Luke Williamson,

    Thought you might like this:
    http://warner.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/title/?em
    However, my brother insists that Obama is as conservative as all hell and there will be little or no change to the US approach to the world. 100% support of Israel in whatever they do, and just a shift of soldiers from Iraq to Afghanistan. We shall see I guess.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report

  • James Green,

    The demise of the Alliance was remarked on by a few (just 1700 party votes)

    They were actually up on their last election tally (For some reason, the only candidates I know personally are in the Alliance and the Libertarianz -- although this probably has more to do with Dunedin being a village rather than a reflection of my own political leanings).

    The Kiwi Party should find solace in that their single issue is about as popular as legalising cannabis.

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report

  • Eddie Clark,

    No - US constitutional amendments are harder to do than Californian ones - you cant just stick it on the ballot and have 50% +1 people think it's a good idea.

    Besides, Prop 8 was only California (although there were also anti-gay amendments on ballots in Arkansas, Florida, and Arizona), and the trend of teh gayz away from the Democrats at this election was nationwide.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    However, my brother insists that Obama is as conservative as all hell and there will be little or no change to the US approach to the world.

    Well, he's already making good on his promise to get Gitmo detainees proper trials. That's a bit special.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    However, my brother insists that Obama is as conservative as all hell and there will be little or no change to the US approach to the world. 100% support of Israel in whatever they do, and just a shift of soldiers from Iraq to Afghanistan.

    I understand that kind of cynicism, but I have a wee list of happiness:

    - he's removing the global gag rule
    - he's planning on closing Guantanamo and giving everyone there an actual trial
    - he is undoing Bush admin policies on stem cell research and climate change

    These are all good things. (Also: trivial, but he talked about a shelter dog. Even *mentioning* a shelter dog is a good thing: more people in the USA might adopt some neglected mutts.)

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    Well, he's already making good on his promise to get Gitmo detainees proper trials.

    Obviously trying to appease his detainee base.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Well, he's already making good on his promise to get Gitmo detainees proper trials. That's a bit special.

    Shit yes and how many days did this take? I week !

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

  • giovanni tiso,

    Also: trivial, but he talked about a shelter dog. Even *mentioning* a shelter dog is a good thing: more people in the USA might adopt some neglected mutts.

    And he described himself as a mutt, that was kinda cute.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    __Not on the ballot, though, right?__

    No - US constitutional amendments are harder to do than Californian ones - you cant just stick it on the ballot and have 50% +1 people think it's a good idea.

    Also - there has never been a nationwide referendum.

    The US Constitution is amended by getting a two-thirds majority in the House and the Senate to agree to something, and then getting three-quarters of the states to agree to that (some states will get their agreement in their legislatues, others would put it to a public vote).

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Eddie Clark,

    Meanwhile, John Ansell is going completely nutso about Helen Clark over in the comments at Poneke's blog. Gracious in victory, much? And this is an intelligent, personable, sensible guy, from what I've seen and heard from him. Gah, if anyone here gets to this level of personal attacks about Key or English, please shoot them, Russell.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

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