Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Now It's On

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  • Rik,

    May the best team win.

    Well - most popular team.

    Question: Would you prefer a Labour-NZ First coalition or a Labour-National (un-thinkable, I know) coalition?

    Since Jun 2007 • 130 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Question: Would you prefer a Labour-NZ First coalition or a Labour-National (un-thinkable, I know) coalition?

    Definitely the latter. Let's face it, at this stage both of those options are only good for their amusement value, and watching the various personalities of the two main parties try and pretend to be on the same side for more than thirty seconds would have endless amusement value. For the three days or so the coalition lasted.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    I choose not to understand what that means.

    1st female PM.

    La-la-la-laaaa... I can't heaaar youuuuu...

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Question: Would you prefer a Labour-NZ First coalition or a Labour-National (un-thinkable, I know) coalition?

    Well, I've got a third option. Key and Clark holding a joint press conference and saying that if more than 5% of those who cast party votes return New Zealand First to Parliament, that's democracy. But they should do so in the full knowledge that Winston Peters and his party will have no role in any government they form. No ifs. No buts. No wiggle room.

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

  • Russell Brown,

    Textual analysis: the PM's statement had 1302 words, nine of which were interesting: "The general election will be held on 8th November."

    Heh.

    Although it is probably notable that "future" and "trust" were both mentioned eight times each.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Deborah,

    I would feel ill if Labour entered another confidence and supply agreement with Winston Peters and NZ First. I've had enough courageous corruption now.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report

  • Tim Michie,

    What Deborah wrote...

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    Oh, and someone should really grow the spine to ask Clark whether she repealed every piece of legislation she opposed as leader of the Opposition.

    Let's see.

    Introduced income-related rents for state housing.
    Created District Health Boards, changed health funding, moved away from fee-for-service funding.
    Reversed ACC privatisation.
    Unwound (somewhat) the Employment Contracts Act.
    Bought back Air NZ and Railways.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • Carolyn Skelton,

    I doubt that will happen. Winston will have probably self-destructed by then. OTOH, the idea of either party in a coalition with ACT/Hide makes me extremely nauseous.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 39 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    But they should do so in the full knowledge that Winston Peters and his party will have no role in any government they form

    That strikes me as rather undemocratic. If they were to say that Winston Peters as an individual will have no role in their Cabinet, then fine, actually wish they would. But to write off an entire party with the backing of 5% of the nation ain't really right.
    And it may encourage Ron Mark et al (as much I dislike them) to either turf Winnie (unlikely) or setup by themselves (I suppose unlikely as well given they wouldn't really get anywhere without him).

    May end up being the same impact, but still...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Mark Easterbrook,

    I'm reviving my off-target prediction from last election: Labour falls a little short of National, but Helen and the resurgent Greens have make-up sex and put together a good solid little coalition.

    Followed by MUCH wailing and gnashing of teeth by the Clark-haters.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 265 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    Did anyone catch the SU2C (Stand Up To Cancer) thing last night? It was the usual schmoltzy US telethon to raise money for cancer research but there were two big points that caught my attention.

    1. No mention (thankfully) of "god" or "jesus" or even "prayer". It was all "science is the only answer".

    2. McCain vs Obama on the question from Lance Armstrong: What three things will you do to help fight cancer?

    McCain said "I will join the fight to stand up to cancer. I have always been a ...blahblahblah etc rhetoric"

    Obama said "First, I will double cancer research funding. Second, I will..."

    Actually I forget the second and third ones, but all three items were actions not vagueries. Totally impressive.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • Paul Litterick,

    Well, I've got a third option. Key and Clark holding a joint press conference and saying that if more than 5% of those who cast party votes return New Zealand First to Parliament, that's democracy. But they should do so in the full knowledge that Winston Peters and his party will have no role in any government they form. No ifs. No buts. No wiggle room.

    Yes. The best idea I have heard so far in this campaign. But bear in mind that his people will still vote for him. They are weird like that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    Has anyone got a date for when Peter Dunne’s traditional surge in the polls is going to happen?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Ben Gracewood,

    I am bubbling with irrational hope that the new election spending laws will somehow curb the proliferation of hoardings.

    Seriously, the way those warty assemblages of 2x4 and posterboard spring up like mushrooms scares and offends me every election season.

    Orkland • Since Nov 2006 • 168 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Let's see.

    Introduced income-related rents for state housing.
    Created District Health Boards, changed health funding, moved away from fee-for-service funding.
    Reversed ACC privatisation.
    Unwound (somewhat) the Employment Contracts Act.
    Bought back Air NZ and Railways.

    And the answer is no. Sorry, David, but I've been on the end of some unutterably tedious harrangues from Old Labour folks about how Helen Clark has failed to bring about the Socialist Paradise. Don't think Clark is losing any sleep over that, though as she's said herself on more than one occasion the ultimate litmus test is what you can get passed in the House. Don't see how that makes her "insincere".

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

  • James Littlewood*,

    Helen and the resurgent Greens have make-up sex and put together a good solid little coalition.

    To which: Party Vote Green.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    Juha,
    just use the URL instead of the embed

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    That strikes me as rather undemocratic. If they were to say that Winston Peters as an individual will have no role in their Cabinet, then fine, actually wish they would. But to write off an entire party with the backing of 5% of the nation ain't really right.

    I don't accept that my hypothetical is in any way "undemocratic'; unless you think there's something seedy about coalitions being formed after elections.

    Now, it would be undemocratic if Labour and National ganged up to pass legislation that declared New Zealand First a terrorist organisation, repealed their registration as a political party and banned its members from sitting in Parliament full stop.

    But that would be more than usually ridiculous, even by the less than exacting standards of the House of Representatives. :)

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

  • David Slack,

    tedious harrangues from Old Labour folks about how Helen Clark has failed to bring about the Socialist Paradise.

    Yes, but that's a different failing from the one you alleged in your initial assertion.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    Really? In the unlikely event Helen Clark ever takes my advice, it's either STFU about National's "secret agenda" and present one of your own NOW, or at least get your story straight. Either John Key is Ruth Richardson in man-drag and therefore to be avoided at all costs, or... well, you in man-drag. Pick a line and stick to it.

    Um, unless the secret agenda involves:

    1. Deny that you would modify policy X, even though you voted against it and you disagree with it in principle.
    2. Lull the electorate into a false sense of "more of the same"
    3. Which enables you to win the election
    4. (__After a few months in office__) Now that you've taken a closer look at things, you really can't allow policy X to keep damaging New Zealand's economy/social fabric/whatever and you really need to make these minor modifications...
    5. Repeat for each dead rat you swallow.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report

  • Tim Michie,

    Has anyone got a date for when Peter Dunne’s traditional surge in the polls is going to happen?

    Are polls actually conducted in Oharia-Belmont?

    If not, expect an uptick among annelids after 'common sense' arises in the leaders' debates.

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Has anyone got a date for when Peter Dunne’s traditional surge in the polls is going to happen?

    He's the 'voice of the silent majority' you know? Where "majority" equals betwwen zero and one percent of voters.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    So to go back to old-school electioning, none of this party-vote-namby-pambyness, does anybody have a good link to info on the candidates for electorates? Auckland Central in particular

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Tim Michie,

    Gareth - Isn't that to be confirmed following Nomination Day (14/10/08)?

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report

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