Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Prospects

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  • James Littlewood*,

    What's worse:

    - National alone
    - National + Act
    - National + Act + Maori

    Obviously, from any opposition's point of view, the government is automatically compromised, and therefore improved with the presence of Winnie.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    @ James.
    I thought about the Greens but couldnt use the term stupid, in any form, in the same sentance. They're just too cuddly, sensible and nice. ;-)
    I'm thinking of giving my party vote to NZF just to see the look on JK's face when Winnie gives him a big cheesy grin and tells him to F@%* off.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    What's his suggestion?

    Credit controls, and more government intervention in the macro-economy generally.

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I voted today - I am busy tomorrow so I am not sure if I'll have time.

    Two thoughts after voting at AUT.

    1/ I queued for 40 minutes to vote. I was outraged, and 30 minutes into the wait I pulled out my piece of voting paper and made a call to the chief returning officier and asked the lovely who answered if she considered 40+ minutes acceptable??? She said no, and she would dispatch reinforcements post-haste to the polling station.

    What a wonderful country we live in, no queueing for hours like the disgraceful system in the USA, and a disgruntled citizen can whip out his mobile and phone the chief returning officer direct to organise reinforcements.

    2/ Given that with special voting and hui and coalition forming etc etc forming a government takes a reasonably liesurely amount of time, who do we just have a single voting day? Why can't we vote over a weekend? Apparently the ealry voting thing was a raging success in the US election.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • slarty,

    Thought I'd refresh my memory

    2005 Morgan poll just prior to the election

    Labour 38.5%
    National 37 %

    Now, how does grand coalition sound? Maybe Helen & John could do an announcement just so we could see the look on the faces of Dunne et al, knowing they have just been made completely irrelevant!

    I can dream.

    Since Nov 2006 • 290 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I guess I owe you a beer, then !

    I shall hold you to that. Cheers.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Mikaere Curtis,

    Why can't we vote over a weekend?

    You've been able to cast early votes for weeks, does that count ?. I did that last time and it was a breeze, so am interested to here that AUT was oversubscribed.

    I like the single general polling day approach because it means you get a result that night.

    Tamaki Makaurau • Since Nov 2006 • 528 posts Report Reply

  • Jim Cathcart,

    "Labour have not done a good job on it at all, although I think it's fair to say both Kiwisaver and the SuperFund will directly reduce private debt in the longer-run."

    Well I'm not sure about that because the amount that we collectively save will grow at a rate that will not grow as fast as debt servicing. Secondly, given that Kiwisaver and the SF are heavily focused on equities, we have a long, long haul to actually build any wealth.

    Since Nov 2006 • 228 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    I pulled out my piece of voting paper and made a call to the chief returning officier and asked the lovely who answered if she considered 40+ minutes acceptable??? She said no, and she would dispatch reinforcements post-haste to the polling station.

    Tom, that is awesome! I love this country's electoral system, and that's just one of the reasons.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Credit controls, and more government intervention in the macro-economy generally.

    Credit controls? Yikes, they've been out of fashion for a very long time...

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

  • Paul Litterick,

    My major gripe is that the incumbent government has done nothing to warn people that their borrowings are funded offshore and the implications of that when it all turns to custard (as we're seeing now).

    Only a nanny state would do something like that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    It looks like a National Government would be poised to rip up climate legislation, with "the UN says global warming stopped in 1998" Rodney around the table, and a lot of National MPs who privately agree with him on doing nothing.

    Business uber alles, it isn't happening, and even if it is we'll find solutions and invent our way out, and it will be much cheaper in 50 years when the economy is much much bigger. Never mind that this is close to the opposite of the position of highly respected economists and scientists.

    (However, the Greens overreaction to GE wins them few friends and squanders their credibility.)

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Well I'm not sure about that because the amount that we collectively save will grow at a rate that will not grow as fast as debt servicing.

    So you think Kiwisaver plans need to be made compulsory and slowly ramped up to some level above 5%?
    ME TOO! :>

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

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Now, how does grand coalition sound?

    Terrifying and disastrous all at once?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    However, the Greens overreaction to GE wins them few friends and squanders their credibility

    Ya know what I like about the Greens this time round? My wife said the other day "but they've said nothing on economic policy", to which I replied "thank God" (all due respect to our Green members of course)

    If the Greens specifically stick to sustainability, Kyoto-responses, environmental cleanliness etc I'd certainly be ticking them just to try and overweight those views - and this time round they seem to be more in that mode. Sticking to their organic, put-on-this-jumper-instead-of-the-heater knitting if you will...

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

  • James Harton,

    Credit controls? Yikes, they've been out of fashion for a very long time...

    So has nationalising banks.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2007 • 51 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    __Greens will be around 13%__

    That puts me in parliament.
    I guess I owe you a beer, then !

    Mikaere, I think we'd all feel a little sense of ownership if that happened. Good luck.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Those figures from 2005 pre-election polling are interesting. So we're actually talking about a swing to National of only about 5%? That's not exactly huge, is it?

    In other news: I still think we're fucked. Sigh.

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    Mr Barnes: Guess which finger I've got rigidly extended at this very moment?

    Not sure Craig but while you're there check that prostate.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Sargent,

    Why can't we vote over a weekend?

    You've been able to cast early votes for weeks, does that count ?. I did that last time and it was a breeze, so am interested to here that AUT was oversubscribed.

    I like the single general polling day approach because it means you get a result that night.

    I don't know. A Telethon style TV weekend marathon with the target being 100% voter turnout could work. Although we would have to make do without Pete Sinclair.

    New Total!!

    Since Nov 2006 • 28 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    In other news: I still think we're fucked. Sigh.

    Oh Danielle, don't believe the hype. Stay positive, vote early, vote often.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • mjl,

    The thing I like best about John Campbell is the irony of him playing a clip of the daily show's indecision 08 on Wednesday (the final end-game alpha action ... judgement day '08) for lulz sake just two days after those appalling ads for TV3's leaders debate had finished.

    Since Jul 2008 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    The thing I like best about John Campbel ...

    Actually, I should make it clear I like John Campbell -- and his new stand-up screen thing.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    while you're there check that prostate

    Rofflenui. Made my arvo. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    Here is a question - anyone know what is happening in the Rimutaka electorate? How rich would it be for Winston to get back in on Ron Mark's back!

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

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