Hard News: The Politics of Absence
523 Responses
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Sacha, in reply to
I suppose the question is to what extent the occasional brainfart of a fringe MP can reasonably be attributed to the party itself.
Already has been. Not a hypothetical. You'd expect strong instructions for MPs to be on best behaviour or zip it.
I frankly don’t care much about it.
I doubt either of us is a representative voter. :)
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The Sex Pistols wrote a song about this sort of thing, which has some potential as the basis of a countercampaign:
L
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Islander, in reply to
I have nothing to do with the local DHB and – very tellingly –he wasnt recognised by one of my neighbours who was part of the Mental Health Unit there until 3 years ago-
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Lew Stoddart, in reply to
Then again, I just called Labour's attacks on Leitch this cycle's 'The Gambler' moment, so maybe the musical path is best left untraversed for now.
L
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Sacha, in reply to
a countercampaign
shhh
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This sense of electoral vacancy was particularly exaggerated last Friday, when the Prime Minister of New Zealand spent an hour hosting a radio show on which – because there’s an election campaign on – he was legally forbidden to discuss politics.
Not 'because there's an election on'. He couldn't do it at any stage. As part of news or current affairs it would be allowed; otherwise it's permanently banned.
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We’ve been quietly thinking about how to creatively rebrand the “Building a brighter future” billboard that popped up round our way (Mountain View Rd in the Morningside/Western Springs ’hood).
Unnecessary round our way, where one of those billboards features prominently on the fence of a post-EQNZ-demolished house. It is an utterly fucking tactless campaign to be running down here.
I’d suggest Dan Carter’s groin would probably be a good place to start looking.
I had to quickly check this wasn’t Emma’s column I was reading.
The pain, the physical pain of not responding to that big a straight line.
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izogi, in reply to
I have nothing to do with the local DHB and – very tellingly –he wasnt recognised by one of my neighbours who was part of the Mental Health Unit there until 3 years ago
Do you have any idea if they recognise any of your other local MPs or candidates? Many people I know wouldn't recognise their local MP unless they've had a need to get in touch, and definitely wouldn't have a clue of the potential alternatives until the hoardings go up.
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Islander, in reply to
Just speaking about MPs/MP candidates: Damian O’Connor and Chris Auchinvole we all know about: Rino Tirakatene is known by all Maori voters, and then there’s – whosit? Whatsit? Thingo?
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linger, in reply to
That physical pain would be a groin strain?
(It’s official: Dan Carter’s groin is now Emma’s column. Pwned!) -
There is no denying that First Citizen John Key the First is most beloved. He and the Mad Butcher have a mutual "most beloved" thing going off which they both could not capitalise on as the Warriors missed out.
That Fenton's comment were in bad taste is undeniable - the level of condemnation is outstandingly over the top - the reason I think is that politics and economics are just not a consideration in NZ life and in this election - insults, happy gestures, and all things tabloid carry more media sway.
Politically Key is OK he has squillions and nothing to worry about, the Nats are OK, Labour has resigned itself to a hiding - the people that will be left in parliament likely know who they are and they are OK with where they are at. The minor parties will get it on and rumble.
There is a pretty big under the radar push to get rid of the minimum adult wages and youth rates bubbling away which does not bode well for people who work.
Do Actoids dream of electric Puha? - Don brash in his dreams, perhaps, has visions of the Plastic Waka being used as the largest bucket bong on the planet.
I am appalled that honestly no many if any give a toss about what is going down in this country - it is so under reported it is as if it isn’t really happening.
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Islander, in reply to
Reportage is one thing - how people will vote is quite a different and another thing-
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It’s not as if the commentariat wasn’t moved. “It’s hard to recall when John Key looked this bad,” raged John Hartevelt, describing the show as “an utter farce” and concluding “Excuse me, Mr Key, but what’s fun about another Kiwi soldier dead, and a double blow to the economy? I suppose there is always that Warriors Grand Final at the weekend … ”
Meanwhile, I look forward to Mr. Hartevelt's organ publishing an in-depth investigation into Dan Cater's fucking groin.
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Islander, in reply to
into Dan Cater's fucking groin.
Well, I'm not a perfect speller but fuck o dear-
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post-Goff dream-team
Is this two elections away? If the polls hold up, the only Labour MP's about after the upcoming election will be the ones folk don't want now.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
It did strike me that the motivation for Curran’s whoopsie – she’d actually been out door-knocking and meeting families who were struggling while, in her view, the liberal commentariat carped from their keyboards – was rather overlooked in the pile-on. I found the nature and degree of scorn it attracted a bit silly. I frankly don’t care much about it.
With all due respect, Russell, Curran went further than that. Look, I've said more than once there are elements in both National and Labour who really need to accept that their cosy duopoly on power is gone. Hey, if Labour wants to piss on the Greens and the Maori Party and assume they've got nowhere else to go, go to -- it really seems to be working wonderfully so far.
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Islander, in reply to
One of the many things I love about us (ANZers) is how we will spring these wee surprises in and at an election.
Do NOT depend on on a Nat gummint- -
Kumara Republic, in reply to
It seems it's one thing to be optimistic ("Keep calm and carry on"). It's quite another thing to put on the Stepford gloss ("What could possibly go wrong?").
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Russell Brown, in reply to
With all due respect, Russell, Curran went further than that. Look, I’ve said more than once there are elements in both National and Labour who really need to accept that their cosy duopoly on power is gone. Hey, if Labour wants to piss on the Greens and the Maori Party and assume they’ve got nowhere else to go, go to – it really seems to be working wonderfully so far.
Her original sin was a silly bleat, one line, in her Red Alert blog (“And on another note, re white-anting; the attempts by the Greens to encroach on Labour territory is also happening in Australia.”). It didn’t make sense, but I’m not sure it warranted the acres of furious, and sometimes vicious, online commentary it reaped. Curran’s a soft target for everyone, it seems.
And, really, Curran is 28th on the list of a party currently polling in the late 20s (that 2011 party list is not great reading).
I reserve the right to get more exercised about stupid shit the actual Prime Minister says.
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The fact of the matter is the Hollow man Steven Joyce is in charge now and his cynical view of the media, and his contempt for voters and democracy itself ,is a significantly more accurate assessment of reality than the pious hopes and vain expectations of those on the left.
The Bonapartism of his carefully crafted cult of Key is extraordinary, and becoming dangerous.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
I reserve the right to get more exercised about stupid shit the actual Prime Minister says.
And nobody’s saying otherwise (PAS is a place where policing the discussion goes down badly) – but, hey, if the actual public relations professional can’t keep a lid on her shit I’m not surprised Labour has signally failed to be an effective opposition. Which does actually matter in a functional parliamentary democracy – .because good stuff does happen when Labour gets its collective shit together. You know, checks and balances yadda yadda...
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BenWilson, in reply to
Is this two elections away? If the polls hold up, the only Labour MP's about after the upcoming election will be the ones folk don't want now.
Important point, that. The one thing Labour are the most unwilling to change is the one thing people least like about them.
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One last thing…
Agree with them or not, the whole “holding a consistent policy position twice in a row and arguing for it” thing seems to be working out for the Greens doesn’t it?
“White-anting” or actually doing what they were elected to do, and attracting left-leaning folks who (to paraphrase Neil Gaiman on George RR Martin) are not Labour’s bitches? For that matter, I really hope Judith Collins and Simon Power are really proud that they've made up my mind to sit this campaign out. This conservative is rather wedded to reactionary shit like the right to silence, the presumption of innocence and the Police being kept on a very short leash indeed.
Discuss.
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Ben Curran, in reply to
It could be strongly argued that Labour should back the hell out of this social media nonsense, and manage communications in a more formal fashion. Or at least exercise some quality control.
Alternatively, it could be argued that competence with communicating with the public via social media is one of the requirements they should be looking for in new candidates. In the long term, I think it would do the party good to be more connected to the general populace. Having said that, some training for the MP's still around wouldn't go amiss.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
Is this two elections away? If the polls hold up, the only Labour MP's about after the upcoming election will be the ones folk don't want now.
Important point, that. The one thing Labour are the most unwilling to change is the one thing people least like about them.
Again, that list.
Fenton at 18 (a rise of 15 places since 2008!), Twyford at 33? WTF?
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