Posts by Graeme Edgeler

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  • Legal Beagle: Threshold,

    the electoral college has spoken and therefore Obama IS the president-elect. By whom he was elected is not the point. Whether by citizens or colleges, it doesn't matter, he is the man in waiting

    The members of the Electoral College won't vote until December 15.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Threshold,

    Wait, who was first on the Bill & Ben party list?

    I'm pretty sure it was Billl.

    [checks]

    Yep.

    Oh, and Prime Minister elect my ass.

    Pleasantly surprised with Peter Williams talking about the Prime Minister designate, and the One News Reporter I next heard, the Prime Minister to be. TV3 had elect, however.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Threshold,

    Oh, and Prime Minister elect my ass. We do not elect the Prime Minister.

    I've never really found anyone before who might like my argument about the first elected woman Prime Minister...

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Threshold,

    Interesting thought, but of course some of the minor votes may have differed if there was no threshold.

    Absolutely, and my fantasy blocks aren't super-likely, either; but the numbers provide an interesting throught experiment.

    For completeness, at the last election, Richard Lewis of the then Destiny NZ Party would have been elected.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Legal Beagle: Threshold,

    And how do these blocs sound?

    National, ACT, United Future, Kiwi Party - 61 seats

    Labour, Progressives, Greens, New Zealand First, Māori Party - 60

    Bill - 1

    :-)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: Prospects,

    we turned down the snake lolly we were offered on the way out ...

    Dodgy.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: Prospects,

    I thought that was illegal? Can anyone help? I suspect this is the hall I will go to and I will say something if someone can inform me of the law.

    This, from the Chief Electoral Office, has the explanation.

    Candidates (and parties) are allowed scrutineers to make sure people aren't cheating. I guess the question is, would you prefer to know they were party-appointed scrutineers, or if they were just sitting there looking like official election people with no identifying material.

    And if one acts like a prat, maybe you'd like to know, so you can avoid voting for their party :-)

    I do think it's kinda cool, however, that New Zealanders all seem to really love section 197 of the Electoral Act. Most similar countries (US, UK, Australia) don't have a ban on election day campaigning but I'm pretty sure there'd be massive opposition to changing it.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Busytown: I believe in miracles,

    The thing that I pick up from your post is that even after 13 years of living in the US, playing taxes (I assume) and generally participating in day-to-day life you aren't allowed to vote without being a citizen.

    I am eternally grateful to NZ as my adopted country that they they allowed me to participate in the democratic process as soon as I was committed enough to become a resident.

    New Zealand is one of very few countries with a non-citizen franchise. And no-one is really sure why we do.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: History is now,

    He is however the first 1/2BPOTUS.

    Jefferson had black kids ... does that count?

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: History is now,

    but in regard to clark, in 96 there was jubilation at the thought of a female PM.

    winston rained on that particular parade.

    Not just Winston. The fact that she'd just taken Labour to its worst election result since 1925 probably didn't help her chances. Nor, I suspect, the 18% swing against Labour from their 1993 loss, or the 45% swing against its most likely coaltion partner, the Alliance.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

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