Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Congratulations, Mr Key

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  • Che Tibby,

    The future under National will be...

    you forgot all the dancing sikhs.

    i've already phoned party hq and asked for a few of those. especially the way they livened the place up a little.

    the downside is that they'll doubtless all be carrying guns, for "self-defence" of course.

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    His disabilities policy is historic, not only in what it contains (among other things, it ratifies the UN convention on the rights of the disabled)

    His policy may do that, but unlike in New Zealand, ratification of treaties isn't an executive power.

    Obama may sign the US up (as you'll know, they've yet to even do that, let alone ratify the thing), but ratifying the treaty will require support in the Senate, and while the Democrats have a majority, they look unlikely to have a filibuster-proof majority, and even if they did that still wouldn't be enough! Ratification of treaties by the Senate requires a two-thirds vote.

    I wonder if this is a little like various parties' entrenchment promises in New Zealand ... sounds good to some, but meaningless without the numbers.

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

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    lol @ Craig.
    My jokes may not be funny but I like your style of humor.
    I'll leave the funny stuff to you I reckon, eh.

    The future under National will be like those Sky City advertisements, where everybody wins on the pokies and the tables, where everybody is happy and everybody is white.

    yeah and in the U.S. they have Obama and Las Vegas.
    Here we have John Key, two dollar slot machines and chicken in a basket...

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    I tend to get jokes when they're funny. Kind of missed this one.

    Woh, what happened to gracious in victory?

    There is a harmless joke to be had in any political party holding a convention in a casino (yes yes, it's technically not the casino side of the business etc etc, sorry Mr Joke Police)...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Ratification of treaties by the Senate requires a two-thirds vote.

    Huh, didn't know that - puts a slightly different spin on the US being removed from the international scene. That really seems unworkable for the country in a two-party, partisan environment.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Che Tibby,

    the back of an envelope • Since Nov 2006 • 2042 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    He pulled out that appalling line about 'having no kids makes you inferior' - citing the fact that the front bench of the Labour Party had one child between them whilst the National Party had 23.

    Well he's full of shit, then. Phil Goff has 3 kids, for starters.

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

  • Greg Wood,

    Yesterday, not one person I encountered had anything at all to say about the election. Nobody even started a conversation. It's almost like someone farted in polite company and everyone's hoping the smell will go away and the conversation return.

    Even down here in the depths of Parnhell, the mood is not delirious. The guy behind the coffee in the cafe across the road is asking everyone "So whaddya think of the weekend's result?" -- and the answers are desultory, mumbled, and verging on disconsolate -- or is that dispassionate? The best I heard: "Well, I guess we voted for it and now we'll have to see what we voted for, eh."

    Whoops.

    Now back in Aucktown • Since Dec 2006 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Well he's full of shit, then. Phil Goff has 3 kids, for starters

    go figure - these are the sorts of things that these idiots rave on about.
    And he also thinks 'parents should be able to smack their children' etc etc.

    'ANTI-SMACKING BILL' anyone?
    Man, that one was flogged to death on the 'good upstanding parents of NZ'.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • David R,

    OK, that Ferengi comparison on Rodney Hide was the ultimate chaos burn.

    AKL • Since Sep 2008 • 22 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Yesterday, not one person I encountered had anything at all to say about the election. Nobody even started a conversation. It's almost like someone farted in polite company and everyone's hoping the smell will go away and the conversation return.
    Even down here in the depths of Parnhell, the mood is not delirious...

    Also being a resident of 'Hi-de-hi' Parnell I was walking with my son up to get the papers from the dairy and it was like a ghost town - I almost expected to see a tumbleweed go by.
    A very odd feeling there yesterday morning.
    I suspect the locals were still in bed hung-over from celebrating the fact a little poodle on heat won the seat again and those millions of dole-bludgers in NZ would be put to work on chain gangs real soon.

    However, there was some excitement when we nearly got run over by a blonde in an Audi driving at speed the wrong way down a one-way street.
    No doubt she'd voted ACT the night before and presumed that meant now more pesky nanny government could tell HER which way down the street she could drive!

    I did manage to yell out "wrong way you bint!" to her but it was too late - she had already voted.

    My litte boy just wanted to check out the milk truck.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    __Ratification of treaties by the Senate requires a two-thirds vote.__

    Huh, didn't know that - puts a slightly different spin on the US being removed from the international scene. That really seems unworkable for the country in a two-party, partisan environment.

    It kept the US out of the League of Nations, and torpedoed US support of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (though, when it comes down to it, they weren't close).

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Also being a resident of 'Hi-de-hi' Parnell I was walking with my son up to get the papers from the dairy and it was like a ghost town - I almost expected to see a tumbleweed go by.
    A very odd feeling there yesterday morning.

    Ponsonby Road was still oddly quiet yesterday afternoon, actually, although I wouldn't venture on a reason.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    No doubt she'd voted ACT the night before and presumed that meant now more pesky nanny government could tell HER which way down the street she could drive!

    *presumed that meant NO MORE pesky nanny government could tell HER...*

    edit!

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    By the way, did anyone see the valedictory piece on Helen Clark on last night's TV one news. It was terribly mean-spirited given that such things are usually reasonably generous.

    I thought it was very bitter and twisted as well. They had Brash on who said "she'll be remembered as a very poor Prime Minister".
    All I can say is why do the words "sour grapes, "sore loser" and "sad old man" spring to mind ?

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    why wasn't [GST reduction] not adopted also by the Greens

    Because it would be one of the less effective ways of helping poorer people, compared with increased WFF, reduced lower rates of income tax, or increased benefits.

    Green policies are reality-based, not kneejerk reactions.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    The future under National will be...

    We're already living longer apparently. Thanks John.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    *presumed that meant NO MORE pesky nanny government could tell HER...*

    edit!

    either way it was funny, TP

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    Well he's full of shit, then. Phil Goff has 3 kids, for starters.

    Charles Chauval's got a couple, and so has Chris Carter. I dunno what they're complaining about.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    It's politics - basically say that 'all Labour MPs are anti-family' and you get your 'middle-NZ' Mt. Roskill families all riled-up to vote for a party with 'Christian' values.
    Eh.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • Jono,

    This is the second time this meme has cropped up on Blogs today, but how widespread was it before the election?

    It feels like an extension of the "Helens got no kids = Labour is anti-family" equation.

    It doesnt matter if it isn't "reality-based" as long as it fits with the reality the opposition was pushing, and I wouldn't be surprised if was being whispered at play centres and church lunches for the last God-knows how long, along with all the other smears.

    Whangarei • Since Oct 2008 • 20 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    On the subject of Linda Clark on the telly...

    Man, I thought she was out of the media and in PR land?

    All I can say is I'm glad she is not doing Morning Report anymore!
    Jeeze!

    In regard to the Helen Clark pieces on the news - most of them I found gave her pretty good kudos I thought.
    In fact some of them seemed to be longer than the pieces on Key winning - lol
    Mike Moore's comments were very complementary considering their history.
    You can see how even John Key obviously wants to be as effective as Helen - secret role model I bet!

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

  • tim kong,

    Not just living longer.

    Apparently, the election, according to the headline writers will boost the NZ economy.

    NZ Herald announces recession almost over!

    Bah. Who needs policy makers anyway? More elections. One a month!

    And before you jump in Craig - I think it's a silly headline, and I don't think John Key is really the devil incarnate, nor do I expect or demand that he be the Messiah.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Graham,

    The future under National will be...

    We're already living longer apparently. Thanks John.

    and the price of petrol dropped 5 c/litre today. This new government is superb!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    It doesnt matter if it isn't "reality-based" as long as it fits with the reality the opposition was pushing, and I wouldn't be surprised if was being whispered at play centres and church lunches for the last God-knows how long, along with all the other smears.t

    Well it tends to be about the 'perception'.
    You can present a bunch of facts to people but the perception is something else....

    Same thing as Rodney-the-poodle barking on about 'dole bludgers' etc.
    The 'perception' of the uniformed believes that half of NZ is still on the dole and 'my tax money is paying for them to do nothing' when the reality is quite different.

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report Reply

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