Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Limping Onwards

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  • DexterX,

    What is Labour going to fight the election with?

    A problem Labour has in opposing the sale of non-core state assets is that it is something they were looking at doing - that is if you believe Mallard.

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0808/S00124.htm

    To win the debate on the assets sale question all the Nats really have to do is point out that this is where Labour were going anyway.

    I'm curious - has any body received any mail outs about a Labour membership drive?

    I have received stuff from the Nets and the Greens a few months ago but nothing from Labour.

    I wonder if Labour are even that interested in presenting a credible (government in) opposition - are they waiting for people to tire of the Nats after three terms?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Lew Stoddart,

    As far as ‘look it up’ went; Giovanni had already indicated that he couldn’t be arsed reading further on the topic, so I decided against belabouring the detail.

    Excuses. *Sigh*.

    Surely if I fail to read any further into your writings it's your fault, no?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Steve:

    It's possible to criticise Bennett's performance as a minister of the Crown (or Gerry Brownlee's, for that matter) without making derogatory comments about her weight. Only as difficult as you choose to make it, dear.

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

  • Jan Farr, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    I still believe Labour has a good chance of winning the next election, why?. Well, what have National actually done? The majority of those that voted for them last time because they wanted that tax cut have discovered they are actually worse off after the GST hike and rising fuel costs. We only need Bollard to up the interest rate and most of the swinging National voters will be going backwards. They will be praising Labour for installing WFF and start seeing this do nothing Government for what it is, a bunch of self entitled, nasty, mean bastards. John Key has already said he is off if he loses and that makes him look like a sore loser. Tolley looks more and more like she wants to eat children and Paula Benefit looks like she’s already eaten the entire nations food. Bill English seems to be drifting on regardless of the crisis approaching and Gerry Brownlee is ready to sink his teeth into what’s left of Christchurch. All Goff has to do now is smile and wave and he’s ahead.

    Now if that was the spin the papers had been taking, my guess is that the direction of this blog would have been entirely different. I agree, by the way.

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report Reply

  • Jan Farr, in reply to Jan Farr,

    Quick! Dissolve the people! Elect another!

    Blaming the voters may make you feel better. But its the last refuge of the politically incompetent,

    Hi Idiot Savant. Did you notice that little word ‘some’? I used it on purpose.

    Just to be a little clearer. We won the right to vote. With rights come responsibilities - if we ditch the responsibilities the rights become meaningless. Which is what's happening now IMHO.

    Carterton • Since Apr 2008 • 395 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Steve:

    It’s possible to criticise Bennett’s performance as a minister of the Crown (or Gerry Brownlee’s, for that matter) without making derogatory comments about her weight. Only as difficult as you choose to make it, dear.

    Or if it really is impossible for you to do that, I can ghost some material for you -- just e-mail me a billing address for the invoice.

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

  • Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Nick Kearney,

    Yes, which is why I commented (sarcastically) on the absurd suggestion David paid for his list position.

    Fair enough. Things must be pretty pretty awful in ACT to get Garrett up to no. 5 then.

    BTW: I have a windows machine and I don't see any 'edit' thingy when you hover next to the reply button.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,

    BTW: I have a windows machine and I don’t see any ‘edit’ thingy when you hover next to the reply button.

    Mm. Get a Mac.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    As we discovered last week "a week is a long time in politics", as Harold Wilson famously said.
    It's still six months 'til the election and therefore plenty of time for National's fortunes to take a dive. Maybe Key will suffer his equivalent of "Corngate" ? Mike Williams said that Labour's poll support went down 30% when that hit. Presumably the same would happen to National ? Crystal-ball gazing I know, but anyway...

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Clint Fern, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,

    BTW: I have a windows machine and I don’t see any ‘edit’ thingy when you hover next to the reply button.

    It only appears for a limited period (5 minutes?).

    Nelson • Since Jul 2010 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    Oh we can only live in hope, can't we?

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

  • Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Dude, if I’ve got to explain the sexism of using a woman’s appearance and/or weight to denegrate, then you’re just not going to get it.

    I agree here. It is quite sexist to use a woman's appearance and/or weight to denegrate.

    But in defence of Steve I will say that weight gain in politicians is a hazard, and marks out newbie politicians from the more experienced. The mark of a first term newbie is weight gain; there is alot of food on offer at all the meetings, workshops, briefings, working lunches, dinners with CEOs, conference lunches etc. Alot. And not all of it healthy either.

    The obvious solution is to stay away from the food, but it can be difficult for those who like food. It helps to have a sport you can do, which is why Trevor Mallard rides a bike competitively, and Helen went climbing in mountains.

    Sorry for the threadjack - as you were.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Christopher Dempsey, in reply to Jacqui Dunn,

    Mm. Get a Mac.

    Hmmm, yes. I note that Campus IT are selling ex-lease Macs, most of which I suspect come from the Architecture school across the road where I work. Given the amount of abuse they get I'm not so sure...

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report Reply

  • Clint Fern, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    Surely Labour can come up with something better than just hoping that something goes wrong for National.

    Nelson • Since Jul 2010 • 64 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,

    Given the amount of abuse they get I’m not so sure…

    Verbal? Surely not. Physical, then?

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,

    It helps to have a sport you can do, which is why Trevor Mallard rides a bike competitively, and Helen went climbing in mountains.

    And John Banks ran.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Marcus Turner, in reply to Lew Stoddart,

    Thanks Lew,

    I'll find out more about Drew Westen and George Lakoff.

    Regarding the more recent discussions concerning the rights and responsibilities of voters: is it likely that the level of knowledge about policies etc. - at a population level - is likely to change? Is there much precedent for this?

    Since Nov 2006 • 212 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Clint Fern,

    BTW: I have a windows machine and I don’t see any ‘edit’ thingy when you hover next to the reply button.It only appears for a limited period (5 minutes?).

    15 minutes. Works on Linux too. Also in Opera and it doesn't care how much you weigh or what size you are, because computers don't care, unlike people who have freedom of choice whether other people allow it or not, it's just logic.

    Oh, Craig and Jackie. You both know me so why do you think the worse when you read between my lines, do I now have to explain everything and write twice as many lines?. bugger that.
    Tell your friends to vote Labour.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Grant McDougall,

    It’s still six months ’til the election and therefore plenty of time for National’s fortunes to take a dive. Maybe Key will suffer his equivalent of “Corngate” ? Mike Williams said that Labour’s poll support went down 30% when that hit. Presumably the same would happen to National ?

    I’m not really sure what Williams’ point is there, because he should know Labour’s result in the one poll that really mattered was 41.26% of the popular vote, a net gain of three seats and National’s worse result in the party’s history. All that despite Labour and the Greens sniping at each other during the campaign and still increasing their caucuses when the tumult and the shouting died.

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

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    I expect better from you because you are better. I expect nothing from the Kiwibog-SubStandard Axis of Stupid because they are nothing.

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

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,

    Yes, which is why I commented (sarcastically) on the absurd suggestion David paid for his list position.

    Sincere question, Nick: what was the nature of the agreement then?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    I'm with Craig on this one, Steve. I love you, you know that. You are much better than that. I have zero love or tolerance for Bennett but calling her fat, whilst it may be true, has nothing to do with her hateful way of being. Or maybe it does. But that's her business.

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

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Clint Fern,

    yeah, i'm not entirely up with the state of play in the maori seats, and maori voters seem to be very canny with vote-splitting.

    but at least maintaining their party vote isn't so unlikely. assuming they lose Katene's seat they could still manage three at a minimum (again assuming an overhang). that's a perfectly adequate number of seats to go into coalition with the Nats.

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

  • Gareth Ward,

    I'd take all the "the media and the voters have significant responsibility for the position we're in" folks much more seriously if I believed they all said exactly the same thing after the 2002 election.
    However I suspect that when "your side" isn't getting favourable coverage or reaction it's because the people just aren't getting the message; and when the "other side" aren't it's because of the insight of the people and balanced accurate reporting.

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

  • Che Tibby, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    I have zero love or tolerance for Bennett but calling her fat, whilst it may be true, has nothing to do with her hateful way of being. Or maybe it does.

    i'll go out on a limb and suggest that her problems run a lot deeper than body image.

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

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