Polity by Rob Salmond

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Polity: The overconfidence man

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  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    We collectively can push for better accountability. Everyone can help. No matter what preference of Party. If we treat the opposition as one instead of individual groups, the opposition will be a more powerful force.

    Amen to that, though one would have to be Pollyanna personified to work the likes of Trevor Mallard into that. On a brighter note, the reincarnated David Shearer seems to have found his second wind. Lately you could almost believe that he and Greens global affairs spokesperson Kennedy Graham were on the same team.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    We collectively can push for better accountability.

    Amen to that,

    On a slightly different note, as one of the (9 or 10) complainants to the Press Council over Glucina's ponytail article, I was pleased with the ruling* and very pleasantly surprised how supportive Press Council people were in their interactions.
    It brought home that using such mechanisms to hold those in power- which includes 'the media' - to account is something we can all do.
    I'd love to think it played a role in Glucina leaving the Herald, but I suspect MediaWorks bosses, despite being in receivership, threw a bucket of money at her (and HDP and Garner - bet it all adds up to more than Campbell cost .... )
    * can't find the mandatory publication of it, which I think was in the print edition, anywhere on The Herald's website, other than at the bottom of the original article. This is something the Press council could look at, I reckon. Should be "banner of the day".

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to simon g,

    With Helen Clark and Jim Bolger, “having a beer” with the PM seemed an unlikely thing, but an insignificant thing. Now it seems to be the only thing.

    Sometimes I wonder if it's the most successful astroturf job ever pulled off in NZ. Or has Tall Poppy Syndrome cashed up and mutated into the Nouveau Riche?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    This is something the Press council could look at, I reckon. Should be "banner of the day"

    The herald should have been ordered to acknowledge the ruling in print etc. If the Northern Advocate had to retract info re, Ruakaka Kauri within a couple of days of that story going to print, who is pulling the strings?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    If the Northern Advocate had to retract info re, Ruakaka Kauri within a couple of days of that story going to print, who is pulling the strings?

    People who can afford lawyers. Since forever.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Euan Mason,

    Sadly we’re probably looking down the barrel of a fourth term for Key. Andrew Little is a nice guy but he isn’t resonating with the public. This public is insensitive to serious misbehaviour by the Nats so long as JK gets out there and dissembles wildly. People don’t get what’s not in it for them to retain a right wing government with serious democracy deficit disorder, and nobody is highlighting the downsides effectively. They are comfortable with John Key’s public face no matter what, and Key now has a media stacked to the gunnels with his cheerleaders. JK could rip a kitten apart on prime time TV and Hosking and Henry would proclaim it was the kitten’s fault and that, besides, the last Labour government crucified an innocent hamster. Hosking preaches mindless platitudes to over 500,000 viewers each night, and they swallow it because it’s what they wish to hear.

    Maybe I’m having a bad Friday…

    Canterbury • Since Jul 2008 • 259 posts Report Reply

  • Ewan Morris,

    can’t find the mandatory publication of it, which I think was in the print edition, anywhere on The Herald’s website

    Here

    Since Nov 2006 • 48 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    People who can afford lawyers. Since forever.

    It does seem to have company town strong-arming written all over it.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Euan Mason,

    Key now has a media stacked to the gunnels with his cheerleaders.

    Swine with mouths in the trough seems a more apt image

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to andin,

    Key now has a media stacked to the gunnels with his cheerleaders.

    Swine with mouths in the trough seems a more apt image

    The more talented ones seem to be able to cheerlead, trough, and tug at their cuffs all at the same time.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • tony j ricketts, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Someone needs to think hard about the Maori seats - turnout is usually low in these seats, which means that the simple numbers of actual party votes cannot be large, and it is party votes that decide parliament.

    wellington • Since Aug 2012 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Kevin McCready, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    'slick PR machine' ? And that doesn't describe Winston??? Peters is the flipflop champion of NZ history. It's just that he's probably the smartest at in in NZ history.

    Auckland • Since Jun 2013 • 119 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Bridges bribe was cream for Winston. Either Winston forced National to give 10 new bridges in 10 days or if not it proved they were dirty liars as has been seen now. And he made National pledge them even if they lost. So ,now Northlanders see more lies from National. Up here it felt like old NZ in action not a slick PR machine success.

    According to The Economist, ‘infrastructure and pipelines’ is one of the top 10 industries for rent-seeking and crony capitalism. The current lot in power have close ties to at least 7 of these industries.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Euan Mason,

    it's a funny old thing, life(buoy)...

    Sadly we’re probably looking down the barrel of a fourth term for Key. Andrew Little is a nice guy but he isn’t resonating with the public. ...
    Maybe I’m having a bad Friday…

    Hopefully that's just a case of premature capitulation - coupla years to go yet, I'm sure National is capable of getting a pedal extremity (or two) lodged in their mouth at the same time as they inevitably shoot themselves in the foot...
    ...and don't write Labour off so soon, the road to Damascus is long and winding, anything could happen to sway or cohere the minds of both their caucus and the voting group-mind...

    Sure things are a little rough at the moment, but let's just keep chipping away, the green is in sight!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    It crossed my mind to wonder. I'm still not clear if it was a giant mass mailing, or a targeted thing at addresses recently identified to have new occupants for the purposes of gauging political preferences at the address.

    The return slip address was freepost to parliament, but I guess it could be argued that anyone responding is trying to communicate with MPs (and also authorise partisan political spam in their email inbox).

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to tony j ricketts,

    When I went into the Council to vote in the Bi election, I spoke with a man who's wife was voting . He was trying to get off the Maori role as he felt it was worth a vote against National. He felt very strongly about it. Interesting times .

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Kevin McCready,

    Peters campaign up North was one man and 2 helpers on a bus . Standing on street corners with a microphone . Visiting pubs and halls and community centres and he talked with everyone who wanted to talk . He listened to what was being said. He is good at it but that is all people needed. Someone who cared about our lot up here instead of the platitudes being repeated along with the limo driven first time ever Politicians around the wealthier areas of KeriKeri, and the posing for photos. And the bribes that never were from Simon Bridges.
    He didn't go around lying about his ability in Parliament. He didn't make up policy on the hoof nor did he have the finances National were throwing behind their replacement of that Sabin. National have a full time PR machine that is there to further their agenda. Money is their power and greed is their driver. It is easy to spot. Just go and have a look .They have the slick PR machine.
    Please do tell, what is flip flop about holding Party decisions close to your chest when you are well aware of the way media responds. What's flip flop about being a politician who uses the system that is there . We may have laws that suck but they are law so yada yada yada. NZ first for all their foibles have touched a nerve. For some it's because many citizens feel shafted and they want to put NZer's first, for others it's zenophobic. I happen to feel it's both. But looking at their policies, I see some similarity with Greens because they both want best for this Country.
    So ,nah ,not so slick, just calling it how it is. IMO

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    It's pretty safe to say that byelections don't work like full elections. There's less at stake and an increased sense of the value of the vote, and the campaign is likely to be targeting entirely local issues. Also, in this case, there is the confounding factor of the extraordinary reason for even having a byelection in Northland. We still can't officially talk about it, but everybody knows something stank to high heaven there. A stench that could still be wafting around by the next election.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    For some it’s because many citizens feel shafted and they want to put NZer’s first, for others it’s zenophobic. I happen to feel it’s both.

    Well people being what they are, there's a whole lotta grey area in those two small things. Is the planet crowded yet?

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

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